The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-06-17
EAST ST. LOUIS UNDER WATER.
Graphic Story Of the Fight Against
the Mississippi.
River Rises Suddenly Without
Warning.
Leyee 2 TO Feet High Protects the City
on the West, but on the South the
Illinois Central Embankment Gave
Way and the City is now from
2 to Is Feet Deep in Water.

ST. Louis, Mo, June 10.-Almost
two thirds of the territory of East ST.
Louis, Ill, is under from two to
fifteen feet Of water. Between sunset
last night and dawn today eleven lives
were sacrificed to the waters, and DAM
age which no,man today attempted to
estimate has been done to the prop
erty.
Probably never before in the history
of the country has more valiant fight
been made by brave men, with defeat,
staring them in the face, to protect
lives and property than has been made
by the citizens of East st. Louis.
When the rising Mississippi River
began to threaten the city last Thurs
day morning Mayor Silas Cook order
ed men to work to construct sand bag
levees at once. The river rose higher
and more men were employed. Citizens
of the best classes worked side by side
with the laborers. Since Thursday
morning five thousand men, under the
leadership of Mayor Cook, without
sleep, with little rest and food snatch
ed at intervals, have toiled unceaslng-
ly to strengthen levees and to do every
thing possible to save the city. Not a
wheel of industry is turning in East
st Louis. The smokeless chinneys of
manufacturing plants stand lifeless
while the food whirls at the founda-
tions.
The vast railroad yards are outlined
by hundreds OF half submerged cars,
and here and there stand locomotives
only half visible.
Hugh grain elevators stand surround
ed by a veritable sea.
To the south, beyond the railway
yard, are thousands of homes, mainly
humb BILE cottages, owned by the laborers
and containing their ALL, submerged
to the caves.
In Northern East st. Louis the de-
scription is repeated, but not On such
a large scale.
The business portion of the city and
the district containing the better resi-
dences is still intact; but for how
long?" is the question tonight. Broad
way, running from Eads Bridge east
to the city limits, a wide street walled
with stone fifteen feet high, divides the
city in halves. More than ten feet OF
water is pressing against Broadway
from the south and in some places is
seeping through in streams as thick
as mans body. If Broadway should
break the water would reach over much
of the city until Missouri avenue, run
ming parallel, one block north, is en-
countered.
Along the river front to the west q
levee of sand bags, from two to six
feet high and two miles long, keeps
the river out.
Without warning the river suddenly
began to rise. The city was made
safe along the river front, but sud-
denly new danger menaced. Word was
received that the Illinois Central en-
bankment. skirting the river along
the southern boundary of the city,
was threatening to give way. Couriers
were sent on horseback and afoot to
shout warnings to the Inhabitants of
the southern half of the city. Car
loads of sand bags were rushed to the
place and work was hurriedly begun
Accustomed to warnings the inhabi
tants did not leave their homes. High |
er and higher rose the water until a
thin stream began pouring over the
embankment and suddenly it broke.
Thomas Middleton, volunteer in
charge of gang of men VINO were
working at the point where the en-
bankment gave way, gave Descrip-
tion of the break. He said:
The break occurred at 11.40 last
night. My gang was hard at work
with the Others. The water was pour
ing over the top of the embankment
in a sheet, even after all our work.
Suddenly. with roar, lot of water
shot through the embankment almost
at my feet | was carried away, but
soon pulled myself out of the water.
One of the laborers standing by my
side was swept away and I saw him
drown. In an instant the water had
cut section of the embankment out