New-York tribune., 1903-06-11
TVO-THIRDS SUBMERGED.
The Work of Rescue in East st.
Louis
cBy The Associated Press.l

ST. Louis, June 1O.-Alrnost twO-thirds Of thu
territory of East St. Louis is under from two 10
fifteen feet of water Between sunset last night
and dawn to-day eleven lives were sacrificed 70
the waters and damage. which no man to-day
attempted to estimate, has been done 10 prop
erty Probably never has a more valiant fight
been made by brave men. with defeat staring
them in the fact to protect lives and property
than has been made by the citizens Of East
St Louis When the rising Mississippi began
to threaten the city last Thursday. Mayor
Cook at once ordered men to work TO con-
struct sand bag levees The river rose higher
and more men were employed Citizens OF the
best classes worked side by side with the
Iaborers. Since Thursday morning five thou
sand men, under the lead of the Mayor. with
out sleep with little rest, and with food
snatched at infrequent intervals. have toiled
increasingly to strengthen levees. and TO do
everything possible 20 save the city.
Not a wheel of industry is turning in East
St. Louis Manufacturing plants stand life
less while the food whirIs at the foundations
The vast railroad yards are outlined by hun
dreds of haIf-submerged cars, and here and
the stand locomotives only half visible. Huge
grain elevators are surrounded by a veritabls
sea To the south beyond the railway yards.
are thousands Of homes. mainly humble cot
tages. owned by laborers and containing their
all submerged TO the caves In Northern East
ST Louis the scene is repeated but not on 50
large scale
BUSINESS SECTION SAFE.
The business part Of the city and the dis~
trict containing the better residences are still
intact But for how long," is the question to-
night Broadway, running from the Eads
bridge east to the city limits wide street.
walled with stone fifteen feet high. divides the
CITY. More than ten feet of water is pressing
AGAINST Broadway from the south. and in some
r~aces is seeping through in streams as thick
as mans body. If Broadway breaks. the
water will rush through to Missouri-ave. run
ming parallel one block north Along the river
front to the west a 1evee Of sand bags from
two TO six feet high and two miles long keeps
the river out.
without warning the river began TO rise last
night The city was made safe along the river
front but suddenly danger menaeed.
Word was received that the Illinois Central sm-
bankment. skirting the southern boundary Of
the city was threat tening to give way Couriers
were sent on horseback and afoot to shout
warnings to the inhabitants of the southern half
Of the city Carloads Of sandbags were rushed
to the place and work was hurriedly begun
Accustomed to warnings OF impending danger.
the inhabitants did not leave their homes.
Higher and higher crept the water. until thin
stream began pouring over the embankment.
and suddenly IL broke.
HOW THE BREAK CAME.
Thomas Middleton. a volunteer in charge %
a gang of men who working at the point
where the enbankmeat gave way, described the
break as follows
The break occurred at II 10 o'clock last night.
MY gang was hard at work with the Others
The water pouring over the top of the EN-
bankment in sheet. even after all our work
Suddenly, with a roar a Jet OF water shoc
through the embanknent almost at my feet T
waS carried away. but seized some hrm object