The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-06-12
NIGHT OF TERROR
= ~
IN EAST ST. LOUIS
Levee That Defended the City
Broke at I O'clock This
Morning.
THOUSANDS DRIVEN OUT
River Higher Than at Any Previous
Time, and Militia Have Been Sent
For to Assist in Protecting
Life and Property.

Lie and Properly.
st. Louis, June l.-With the river
to379 feet Wednesday morning, the
highest point reached during the pres
ent flood, East st. Louis, opposite here,
with a population Of $4,000, having
large manufacturing interests and
terminal point for railroads from
north, east and south, is partly under
water and will probably be totally sub
merged by noon. The southern half OF
the city is deep in the flood, and 2,50o
levee builders have fallen back on Mis-
souri, avenue Ia an attempt to save the
remainder Of the city, menaced by
swelling water from three sides.
Broadway has been abandoned to the
flood. Seven miles Of water. pressing
from the south and southeast. over
came the city's line OF defense and
shortly before o'clock this morning
5000 persons were driven from their
homes. r
Numerous reports of drownings have
been received, but the East st. Louis
police have thus far learned no names
Of victims.
When the Levee Broke.
A thousand men were working on the
part Of the levee which broke. For
the active assistance of hundreds Of
women and children. The break came
at the st. Louis valley crossing Of the
Illinois Central embankment, two miles
south of the relay depot. While as
many men, women and children as
could stand on the embankment We're
heaping sand-bags between the rails to
4 prevent the menacing waters from
mounting over the top, the resistless
current broke through the lower part
Of the wall Of earth and spurted in
| rivulets in the faces of those carrying
sandbags up the bank. Bags thrown
into the openings by dozens of men
were tossed by the waters like feathers;
| then the workers fed from their useless
task and the alarm was given by the
ringing of bells and blowing Of whistles
4 In every part Of the city.
Awakened families saw the water in
the streets; when they were ready to
leave with their hurriedly collected
stock Of necessities the flood was at
their sills. All fed to the north. Wash
lngton school was the nearest point of
safety. Many made for the high
ground near the Illinois Central tracks
An Appeal for Troops.
An appeal from Mayor Cook to the
/ governor Of Illinois for state troops to
aid in guarding poperty was answered
i by q promise of details of militia to be
sent to East ST. Louis Immediately.
A few hours before the break Of the
leyee Ned Roberts, a negro employed
as a levee builder, was killed by mem
4 bers of the Ievee patrol for attempting
to tear down a portion of the dixie. His
act was caused by anger because he
was not allowed to draw his pay at
| once.
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 upper stories of
their homes, or in bex cars
/ At 9 a. m. the water was threaten
Ing the north and east sides. preserved
/ temporarily by the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad enlbanknaesrt, and had reached
to the viaduct. only seven blocks east
Of the city hall. AN low points Of the
city were under water.
When the break occurred warnings
i were sent through the city by mes
seTgers who discharged firearms, blew
\ horns and shouted In stentortan tones
the news Of the foods arrival. Lights
CLEANED in houses where the occupants
had retired in confidence the embank-
4 nent would hold Persons scantily at
tired emerged from their homes and in
4 q few moments the whole populace Of
<
In area, were fleeing to higher ground.
All efforts to assWre the Inhabitants
there was sufficient time to escape un-
less the gap washed through the en-
banknaent failed to convince them, and
most Of them fed without any effort
to save their property.
4 Derisness and Panic.
i AS the bottoms flied and the river
gained larger entrance the terror in
A. nsl.
4 intense. It Was all the greater because
4 Of the darkness. Hundreds of families
from the choicest residence portions of
the city, carrying trunks, grips and
bundles Of clothing and valuables, be-
gan to cross the Eads bridge toward
St. Louis. Most of the refugees were
scantily clad. Strong men carried aged
women in their arms followed by wo-
men with babies Barefooted children
4 were in the procession which continued
steadily over the bridge.
Hundreds Of others sought protection
in the second story Of the public
4 library building. AS the water en-
croached about it many dashed through
the shallow overflow to find a more Sc
4 cure refuge. In the city hall alone SOC
4 homeless persons with such scant be-
longings as they had been able tc
seize on short notice We're soon assem-
bIed. Provisions for time being have
been supplied them and they We're made
/ as comfortable as possible.
4 Business Is totally suspended. The
streets are filled with the almost panic
stricken inhabitants of the invaded
districts The common direction Of al
movement Is toward the bridge, over
4 which. the refugees are hurying to st
Louis.
AT sunrise the bridge was practically
the only means of crossing the river
4 All traffic to East st. Louis from the
west side was suspended Policemen
!; turned back all who attempted the trip
lHCahokia creek kviaduct is in precarioul
a condition and is not expected to stans
long.