Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-06-10

est point reached during the present
food, East ST. Louis, a city Of $1,000
having large manufacturing interests
and the terminal point for railroads
from the north, east and south Is partly
under water and win probably be to-
tally submerged By noon,
The southern half of East st. Louis
this morning is caves deep in the flood
and the clty's 1900 leyee builders have
fallen back on Missouri avenue in the
attempt to save the remainder of the
city menaced by swelling waters from
three sides. Broadway the central
east ana west thoroughlare, has been
abandoned 70 the food Lee Harper
former city engineer says that the wa
ter win be two feet deep In front Of
the city hall before o'clock this eYen-
ing.
SEVEN MILES or WATER.
Seven miles OF water pressing from
the south ana southeast, overclme the
city'si line OF defense shorty before
o'clock this morning and 5000 persons
were driven from their homes Numer-
GUS reports Of droWnngs have been re-
ceived but the East st. Louis police
have thus far learned no names Of VIC
tins.
one thousand men are working on
the part OF the leyee which broke. For
several hours before the final break
they had the active assistance Of hun
dreds OF women and children, The
break came ~ the ST. Louis Valley
crossing Of the Illinois Central embank
ment, two miles south Of Relay depot.
While az many mon, women
and children as could STAND
on the embankment were heap
ing sand bags between the rails 20
prevent tie menacng waters from
mounting over the top, the resistless
current broke the lower part of the
wall Of earth and spurted IN rlyulets in
the face Of those who were carrying
sand bugs up the bank. Bags thrown
into the openings by dozens Of men
were tossed by the waters like fea-
thers. Then the workers fed from their
useless task and the alarm was given
by the ringing Of bells and blowing Of
whistles IN every part Of the city. A
few Of the workers on the embankment
remained at their posts until the rush.
ing waters made IT necessary for them
10 swim for their lives. Then they
Joined their COMPANIONS in warning the
residents Of the thickly settled DISCREET
OF their danger.
Awakened families saw the water in
the streets. When they were ready TO
leave with their hurriediy collected
stock Of necessities the flood was at
their sllls All He'd TO the north.
NEAREST POINT OF SAFETY.
The Washington school was the near
est point OF safety. Many made for the
ground near the Illinois Central track
Men from Alta sta and Denverside
who had been working on abandoned
leveeG fastened to those localities TO
tell their neighbors OF their danger
Every locomotive and factory whistle
Joined in the clamOr OF alarm The
water IS not expected to reach lis level
IN the flooded part OF the city before
noon Engineer Harper predicts that
when the level is reached the water
Will be rgo feet higher than al Z
O'Clock this morning
Undlsmayed by the defeat of what
has come in their seven days battle
with the food, the greater part OF the
levee builders fell back 10 Broadway.
where II was at FIRST decided TO resist
the water A half hours work and sur
Ney OF the prospects convinced the men
IN charge that Il was useless TO try TO
keep he water from Broadway and the
food fighters fell back upon Missouri
avenue which runs east from the Re-
lay 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 10
aid In guarding property was answered
by the promise that details Of militia
would be rent to East st. Louis at
once,
DYKE DESTROYER KILLED.
A few hours before the break in the
leyee, Ned Roberts a negro employed
as leyee builder, was killed by mem
hers Of the levee patrol for attempting |
20 tear down a portion Of the dyke His |
act was caused by anger because he |
was not allowed 10 draw his pay az |
once.
Relief boats started from St Louis
for East ST. Louis early this morning. |
BY order Of Park Commissioner Aull. |
the skiffs used for recreation on the |
park lakes We're collected 10 be sent on |
a Wigglns ferryboat TO the east side. |
Congressman William A. Rodenburg |
has Issued an appeal for aid for the |
East ST. Louis flood sufferers. Food he |
says. IL most urgently needed and !
means must be had for delivering II TO |
persons who are In upper stories OF |
their homes or In box cars.
At o'clock this morning the water (
was threatening the north and east
eides preserved temporarily by the |
Baltimore & Ohio railroad embankment |
and had reached 10 the viaduct only 4
seven blocks hast Of the city hall In /
this public building a foot and q half OF
seep water has already collected.
when the break occurred warnings
were first sent through the Dexter ad-
dition by messengers who discharged
firearms blew whistles and horns and
shouted In loud tones Of the floods ar
rival. Lights CLEANED IN houses where
the occupants had retired In confidence /
that the embankment would hold. Per
sons scantily attlred emerged from
their homes and in a few moments the
whole ponulatlon OF the low drtrict a..
tackled, six square miles Ia area. were
flying to higher ground,
TEN THOUSAND REFUGEES.
81 Louis, June lO-Ten thousand
refugees from the east side district now
submerged and from districts threat
oned are fleeing toward the bluffs TO
the west, many taking trolley cars 20
Bcllevllle, ILL.,
An order was Issued closing the pub
lie schools Of that city for the day
and opening an the buildings FOR the
temporary accommodation OF the flood
refugees
REsCUlNG PEOPLE.
BY . O'Clock the work OF rescuing