The daily silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1903-1907, 1903-06-11
|ss,po Miles of Embankment
Gave Way, Submerging
d City
1000 PERSONS HOMELESS
pobsbIy Two Score OF Lives
We're lost-Excitement
Intense

T LOUIS. June 10.-With the river
rsn to 37.9 feet this morning. the
highest point reached during the
pssent food. East st. Louis, a city of
1000 is partly under water and will
nobably be submerged by noon. The
southern half of East st. Louis this
morning is caves deep in the flood.
Seven miles of water, pressing from
the south and southeast, overcame
he citys line of defense shortly be-
fore o'clock this morning and 5000
persons were driven from their homes.
Numerous reports Of drownings have
been received but the East St. Louis
police have thus far learned no mans
Of victims.
One thousand men are working on
the part of the levee which broke.
For several hours before the final
break they had the active assistance
Of hundreds of women and children.
While as many men, women and
children as could stand on the en-
bankment were heaping sand bags be-
tween the rails to prevent the men
acing waters from mounting over the
| top, the resistleSs current broke
! through the lower part of the wall Of
earth and spurted in rivulets in the
faces of those who were carrying sand
bags up the bank.
Bags thrown into the openings BY
dozens Of men were tossed by the
waters like feathers. Then the work
ers fed from their useless task. and
the alarm was given by the ringing ot
tells and blowing or whistles in every
part of the city. A few Of the work
ers on the embankment remained al
their posts until the rushing waters
made it necessary for them TO swim
iol their lives.
Undismayed by the defeat of wha'
has come in these seven days battle
with the food, the greater part OF the
evee builders fell back to Broadway
where it was first decided to resisl
the water. A half hours work ano
survey Of the prospects convinced thf
men in charge that it was useless tC
try to keep open Missouri avenue
which runs east from the Relay sta
ton.
Here the scenes of the past weet
we're repeated. as the street was rap
Idly transferred into a dyke OF sand
bags and clay.
An appeal from Mayor Cook TO th'
Governor Of Illinois for State troops
to aid in guarding property was ans
Vered by the promise that details o
militia will be sent to East St LOUIS
at once.
few hours before the break II
the levee, Ned Roberts, a negro. EN-
ployed as a levee builder. was killed
by members OF the levee patrol 10
attempting to tear down a portion o
the dyke. His act was caused o.
anger because he was not allowed U
draw his pay at once.
When the break occurred warning
We're first sent through the Dexte
Addition by messengers who discharg
ed firearms. blew whistles and norm
and shouted in loud tones OF th
foods arrival. Lights cleaned Il
houses where the occupants had retir
ed In confidence that the emoank
ment would hold. Persons scanu Z
attlred emerged from their nome
and In few moments the whole pop
ulation Of the low district attacked
slz square miles in area. were nyin
70 higher ground.
AS the noise of the approachin
uood was heard the fight. at first
rapid retreat with more semblanc
VI order. assumed a panic state. A
eaorts to assure the inhabitants ths
mere was sufficient time to escar
snless a gap was washed throug
NE embankment failed to convine
mem, and most of them fed withol
any effort to save property.
Messengers were sent to the mai
part OF the city telling Of the dang'
nom the new point OF attack and Il
sreatest excitement prevailed. As Il
Ooetoms filled and the river gained
'srge entrance the terror IN the bu