The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-06-09

and King secured boat and took their
families to the roundhouse near the Mer-
chants bridge. They arrived at the Sixth
District Police Station about noon. Not an
article of their belongings was saved and
the refugees were scantily clothed.
RACE BETWEEN REFUGEES
AND ROARING TIDAL WAVE.
John Shier, who escaped with his wife, but
thinks that his son. George Shier, was lost.
tells a thrilling story of a race between the
refugees and the tidal wave which plowed
through the Terminal embankment and
swept over the streets of North Venice in
wall nearly as high as mans head.
When the residents found that they were
caught" said Shier. they attempted to
head of the flood by running around it. 1
s-w the great wave splash over them be-
fore they reached place of safety. and 1t
seemed that every one was instantly washed
away. 1t was sight that turned me sick
and / could not look upon the men and
women struggling in the water. 1 believe
they were all lost"
Shier and his wife were among the first
to take refuge in the Venice schoolhouse
ard there they spent the night. being res
CT ed yesterday morning, with 400 others.
just before the wave came. He went with
others to work on the levee. where it was
thought the break would occur. His parents
hope that he may be found later.
NIGHT OF HORROR
IN SCHOOLHOUSE.
1T was the most terrible night I ever
spent" said Mrs. John Shier. -Four hun
dred women. children and men were hud-
died together on the second floor of the
building and the water was tearing away
parts of the foundation below.
THE blowing of whistles. shooting of pIs-
tolls and screams OF persons on the outside
trying to attract the attention of rescuers
added TO the alarm OF those who were in
the schooihouse. and every one believed that
| the next minute the structure would be
| washed away.
AT the first break of day there was dry
| Ing Of tears and raising of hopes, for the
men began to provide means for escape In
| removing the crowd from the building to
| the Merchants bridge women and children
| we're allowed to go first. but none lost their
| lives who waited, and all who took shelter
! in the schoolhouse have been accounted
| for"
| HOLDS WINCHESTER ON BoATMAN
| UNTIL DRY LAND IS REACHED.
| Hiram Smith employed a man to row
| him in a skiff from North Venice to the
Merchants bridge and paid him 50 cents.
When the boatman completed half the dis
| lance he refused to take Smith any fur
Their unless he gave him 81 additional
| Among Smiths effects which he was
| trying to save was Winchester rife. and
picking this up. he leveled it at the man
and commanded him to proceed. He
| reached dry land without having to pay the
| additional fee asked.
Efforts were made to apprehend band
| of looters which was said to be operating
among the food sufferers yesterday.
| Instances are related where boatmen re-
fused to take persons from house tops aft.
er rowing out to them because the refugees
had no money to offer them.
| Others say that they were left to the
| mercy of the flood while boatmen were
busy gathering up chickens and live stock
CHURCH SPIRE LIFTED
ABOVE FLOODED CORN FIELD.
With its spirc Just above the water top
| the Venice Methodist Church Is anchored
in corn field near the approach to tn.
| Merchants bridge. a mile from where Il
| formerly stood
! The building was carried away. 1t may bC
| restored. the building is right side uy
and apparently in good condition 1t Is
J frame structure and one Of the largest IT
the r-Cities.
| POLICEMEN SAVE FAMILY
FROM GLUE FACTORY.
Thomas Reardon, his wife and three chill
! dren were rescued on this side OF the river
by the heroic act of Patrolmen Glynn ant
Courtney OF the Sixth District Sunda,
midnight.
Information was received at the polio,
station that the Reardons were on the thirt
floor Of the glue factory at the foot o.
Bremen avenue aud unable to escape. TIL,
two patrolmen hurried to the place and sue
ceeded in swimming a team of horses ant
light wagon to the roof of the factory
Reardon and his family were loaded upoi
the vehicle and taken safely to shore Th,
glue factory is almost completely unde
| water now.
WOMEN WALK ACROSS
UNPROTECTED TRESTLEwoRK.
1t is estimated that 5000 persons crosses
the Merchants bridge afoot yesterday an,
all Of them were former residents of Venice
Madison anc Granite City. whose home
have been washed away and who wer
picked from the water by the rescuers. N
one was allowed to cross the bridge from
the st. Louis side
Women who had braved the dangers O
the tidal wave did not shirk at tho task O
boarded trsstlework that spans the raginl