Omaha daily bee., 1903-06-10
FOur Gases Develop at Edwardsvills Among
Homeless Victims
HOUSE THREATENS COLLAPSE
Fifty Children Endangered at Newport by
Weakened Walls.
THOUSAND OTHERS REPORTED IN Peril
Starvation Faces Multitude which
FIees to Upper stories of Inun-
dated Sections of Madison,
Venice and Granite City.
East 81. Louis Inundated.

East 81. Louis Inundated.
At 2:l5 this morning the water is rushing
into East st. Louis from the south side in
a torrent and people are fleeing for their
lives. The heavy pressure OF the HOOD tore
swept other barriers aside and flowed on
in torrent to the southern portion of the
city is being Hooded, but 1t cannot be con-
At 1850 the river sun maintained a stage
OF 81. IS feet, the highest stage of the pres
| ent flood.
ST. LOUIS, June 9.--With an unexpected
ness astounding to the tired citizens OF
Fast st. Louis the Mississippi food, which
last night began TO recede after reaching
stage Of 375 feet. began a rapid rise today
and reached S7.T feet. establishing the
highest official water mark ever recorded
/ in ST. Louis.
The rise was rapid after the dawn OF day,
the water creeping up from 81 feet
steadily regaining lost ground and increas-
ing unti at noon the stage had reached
37.T5 feet From that time until tonight
| the river remained stationary.
Returning Flood the Cause.
What has caused the rise is problemat-
| ical Foreca ster Bowie advances the theory
that the water that has spread OUT through
broken levees to the north is being drawn
back into the channel by the receding
water ana mas Caused "A temporary ElSe at
this point. He says the rise will be of short
duration and the decline will consequently
be rapid.
1t is estimated that 5000 refugees have
found shelter In st. Louis and vicinity
People remaining in their flooded houses
in the inundated districts are being fur
lnished food as rapidly as possible. 1t is
estimated that 1000 people are still living in
flooded homes IN Granite CITY, Venice and
/ A hoa will lie Inf
trips to relieve suffering ,A
,rhe flood situation In East st. Louis Is
critical. Last night II was believed the
flood had been conquered and work on the
leyees was stopped. but the additional rise
of today caused efforts to further raise the
levees TO be hurriedlyr resumed and all
business was again abandoned while citi-
zens aided in keeping the water out of the
city.
The viaduct leading from East st. Louis
to the Eads bridge. which has been the
viewing point of thousands of people since
the flood began was ordered closed today,
as the water has, IL is believed, weakened
the abutments and rendered the bridge dan
! gerous The viaduct is the only present
, connection between East st. Louis and ST.
! Louis. Trains crossing the Eads bridge
must stop at the relay station and passen-
gers are taken by boat TO land and trans
be boarded for the resumption OF their
journey.
Reports are constantly being received
that river thieves are looting submerged
houses of the three stricken cities north of
st. Louis. They have no trouble In going
' from place to place and unless they are ac-
? tually caught in the act of robbery there
is no way to distinguish them from honest
workingmen trying to save their houshold
goods.
Death List May BE Large.
Reports received from Madison, Granite
City andVenice indicate that the death list
may be larger than first estimated. At
least twenty people have been drowned in
that vicinity. A report was received early
today from Newport. a small town three
miles from Granite City. that a school
building in which are sheltered nifty chill
dren was tottering and threatened TO col
lapse at any moment Appeals were made
for assistance. but there was no way to
reach them from st. Louis or East st.
Louis, the only places that can now render
aid.
City Attorney Robert Hagenur OF Venice
is reported by his relatives 10 he missing
. and they fear ne pershed when the city
was overwhelmed. Deputy Coroner Will
liam Ballhorn of Madison county and his
up as lost. Louis Fisher and wife. who
lived in Madison. are believed TO have
been drowned by the breaking OF the levee
, | that flooded that town. William Anchor
!. and Mrs. Clifton and her infant have been
= = missing for several days and it is thought
: they perished.
d Refugees Have Smallpox.
In one party OF refugees near Edwards
}. willie four cases of smallpox developed yes
S terday. The officials OF Madison county
are doing all in their power to isolate the
cases and prevent spread OF the disease.
5 Numerous families, penniess and having
no friends to whom to go, refuse TO leave
their flooded homes In many cases these
people are actually starving and food will
be furnished them by men In sklffs at
once.
At a. m. the oficial gauge registered
l. S7.4 feet, a decline OF Of OF a foot from
T. yesterday. when the crest Of the Hood.
II S7.5 feet, was reached. The tendency OF
le the river this morning seems to be on the
s. rise, but the great volume OF water COM
ing from above is spreading out and does
not make itself apparent ON the gauge by
,. added inches.
m In Madison, Venice and Granite City Il
m Is estimated this morning that at least
: ZOO men, women and children are in a
perilous condition. They are waiting
m rescue, many I'm the second stories and On
-, tops of houses and other points above the
A. flood. less In danger OF death than starva.
ton. Immediate steps are being taken to
NJ remove those people TO places OF safety.
m Many III from Exposure.
From police reports It Is learned there
m are $50 destitute hood sufferers IN St Louis
n, refugees from East St. Louis. Madison
N Venice, Granite City and Kaskaskia. There
are over 5000 refugees I'm the city, bnt
"a they are being cared for by relatives and
frislds I'm ST. Louis and It's environs. A
" number have become IN from exposure.
n: There were i.0o fiood refugees IN I'd
a. wardsyille. H.. last night. from the tri
cities ana Newport Because OF the con.
" gsstion it Nas found nsQsssary 70 dis