Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-06-10
Sleeping City Awakened by the thrush of
Flood Waters-People Flee For
Their Lives In Darkness
GREAT LOSS OF LrRE IS FEARED
Messengers Were Out to Give the Alarm Warn the
People Soon the Break Became Uncomfortable But
Is Feared Many Were Warned Too Lte-Stuation In East
st. Louis Is Deplorable-The Details

st. Louis, June 1o.-Bulletin: a
telephone message just received from
Congressman Rodenburg, says that
thirty-five lives have already been iost
an the East st. Louis flood.
/ ST. Louis, June 10--With the river
risen to S7.9 feet this morning, tho
highest point reached during the pres
ent flood, East ST. Louis, a city opp
site here with a population of $4,000
having the largest manufacturing in
lterests and the terminal point for rail-
roads from the north. east, and south
hs partly under water and will prob
ably be totally submerged by noon.
The southern half of the city is deer
I'm the flood and the $500 levee build
iers have fallen back on Missouri ave-
hue In an atempt to save the remainder
@of the city, menaced by swelling waters
ifrom three sides. Broadway has been
abandoned to the food.
The Levee Breaks.
4 Seven miles of water, pressing from
The south and southeast overcame the
xity,s line of defense shortly before
b'ciock this a. m. and 5000 persons We're
driven from their homes. Numerous
heports of drownings have been re-
y,eived, but the East st. Louis police
aave thus far learned no names of VIC
aims. A thousand men were working
pn that part of the levee which broke.
FoE~ Several hours before the final
br they gave active assistance to
l. kndreds OF women and children. The
break cameat the St.Louis valley cros-
sing of the Illinois Central embankment
two miles south of relay depot. While
as many men, women and children as
could stand on the embankment We're
heaping sand bags between the rails to
prevent the menancing waters from
mounting over the top. the resisting
current broke thru the lower part of the
wall of earth and spurted in rivulets in
the faces of those carrying sand bags
up the bank. Bags thrown into the
opening by dozens of men were tossed
by the waters like feathers and then
the workers fled from their useless
task.
) Alarm Given.
Alarm was given by the ringing of
bells and blowing of whistles in every
part of the city
Z The awakened families saw water in
aeave with their hurriedly collected
stock of necessities the flood was at
their sills. All fed to the north. Wash
fngton school was the nearest point OF
safety. Many made for high ground
near the Illinois Central tracks.
Appeal to Yates.
The appeal from Mayor Cook to the
Governor of Illinois for state trops to
aid in guarding property was answer
ed by the promise that details of mill
lmediately
Negro Shot Down.
A few hours before the break of the
Ileyee, Ned Roberts, negro employed
las a levee builder, was killed by mem
lbers of the levee patrol for attempting
Ito tear down portion of the levea dixie
His action was caused by anger be-
cause he was not allowed to draw his
pay at once.
Relief Boats Sent.
Relief boats started from ST. Louis
for East st. Louis early this morning
Congressman Rodenburg has issued an
appeal for aid for the flood sufferers
Food, he says. is mostly needed and
means must be had for delivering it to
persons who are in the upper stories
of their homes or in box cars. AT nine
the waters were threatening the north
and east sides, preserved temporarily
by the Baltimore & Ohio railroad en-
bankment, and had reached to the via
duct only seven blocks east of the city
hall. All low points in the city are un-
der water.
Warned by Messengers.
When the break occurred warnings
we're first sent thru the city by mes
Isngers who discharged firearms, blew
Aorns, and shouted in stentorian tones
The news of the foods arrival Lights
cleaned in houses where the occupants
had retired in confidence that the em-
bankment would hold. Persons scantily
attired emerged from their homes and
N few moments the whole populace
If the low district attacked, six miles
a area, were fleeing to higher ground
IL efforts to insure the inhabitants
lat there was sufficient time to escape
Mess a gap was washed thru the en-
ankment failed to convince them, and
lost of them fled without any effort TO
We property.
People in Terror.
AS the bottoms filled and the river
.ined larger entrance, terror in the
lsiness section grew more intense. Il