The Van Buren press., 1903-06-13
faces of those who were carrying
sandbags up the bank.
Tossed Out Like Feathers.

sandbags up the bank.
Tossed Out Like Feathers.
Bags thrown into the openings by
dozens of men were tossed by the
waters like feathers.
Then the workers fled from their
useless task, and the alarm was given
by the ringing of bells and blowing of
whistles in every part of city.
\ few of the workers on the en-
bankment remained at their posts un-
til the rushing waters made it neces-
sary for them to swim for their lives.
Then they joined their companions in
warning the residents of the thickly
settled district of their danger.
Hurried Exodus.
Awakened families saw the water in
the streets, When they were ready to
leave with their hurrcdly collected
stock Of necessities the flood was at
their sills,
All fed to the north, The Washing.
ton school was the nearest point Of
safety Many made for the high
ground near the Illinois Central
tracks.
Men from Alta Sta and Denverside
who had been working on the aban-
doned lcvee FASTENED TO those locali-
ties to tell their neighbors of their
danger. Every locomotive and fac
tory whistle joined in the clamor of
alarm.
Fell Back to Missouri Avenue.
Undismayed by the defeat which
has come in their seven days battle
with the food, the greater part of the
levee builders fell back to Broadway,
where it was at first decided to resist
the water.
\ half hours work and survey OF
the prospect convinced those in
charge that il was useless to try to
keep the water from Broadway and
the food fighters fell back upon Mis-
souri avenue, which runs east from
the Relay station. Here the scenes of
the past week were repeated as the
street was rapidly transformed into
dixie of sandbags and clay.
An appeal from Mayor Cook to the
governor of Illinois for state troops
to aid in guarding property was an
swercd by the promise that details of
militia would be sent to East st. Louis
at once.
had Negro KILLED.
4 few hours before the break in the
levec Ned Roberts, negro, employed
as a levee builder, was killed by mem
bers of the levee patrol for attempt
ing to tear down a portion of the
dixie. His act was caused by anger be-
cause he was not allowed to draw his
pay at once.
Relief boats started from ST. Louis
for East st, Louis early this morn
ing. BY order of Park Commissioner
Aull the skitfs used for recreation on
the park lakes were collected, and
sent on a Wggins ferry boat to the
east side,
An Appeal for Ala.
Congressman William 4. Rodenberg
has issued an appeal for aid for the
East ST. Louis food sufferers. Food,
he says, is most urgently needed, and
means must be had for delivering it
TO persons who are in upper stories
of their homes or in boXcars
At nine o'clock Wednesday morning
the water was threatening all along
the north and east sides, preserved
temporarily by the Baltimore q Ohio
railroad cmbankment, and had
reached TO the Naduct only seven
| blocks east of the city hall.
steadily Advancing water.
At / p. m the water was rapidly
! filling the dcpreSsions between Broad
way and Missouri avenue, the next
street north II was pouring through
the Broadway cmbankmcnt in n
stream as big as a barrel and all
along from Seventh to Twelfth
streets In smaller streams.
Dwellings between Broadway and
| Missouri avenue were being vacated
as fast as possible, Residents were
making an effort to save their furni.
! turc.
\ cayc.in on Broadway was i'm.
mincnt, 0s the walled cmhanllmcnt Of
sand appeared 10 have been honey.
combrd and the brick.puycd crown
was expected 10 sink,
TROOPS ron EAST 81. LOuISI