Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-06-10
RECORD PITCH
Reached at St. Louis by
Swollen Mississippi.
About 5000 Refugees Have Sought
Shelter in the City.
And 1000 More Are Living in Their
And 1000 More Are Living in Their
Z Flooded Homes.

st. Louis, June 9.-The Mississippi
food which last night began to recede
after reaching a stage of 37.5 feet, be-
gan rapid rise, today, establishing
the highest water mark ever recorded
in st. Louis. The rise was rapid after
the dawn of day. the water creeping up
ut noon the stage had reached 1915
feet. From that time till tonight the
river remained stationary.
1t is estimated, that 5000 refugees
have found shelter in st. Louis and vi
entity. 1t is estimated that 1000 people
are still living in flooded homes in
Granite City, Venice and Madison.
The flood situation in East St. Louis
is still critical. The viaduct leading
from East st. Louis to Fades bridge,
which has been the viewing point for
thousands of people, was ordered
closed, today, as it is believed, the wa
ter has weakened the abutments and
rendered the bridge dangerous. -, a..
Reports are received constantly that
river thieves are continuing to loot
submerged houses of the three stricken
cities north of Feast St. Louis.
souri, and Mississippi rivers are falling
above here.
It is believed that the flood crisis is
over.
In Madison, Venice and Granite City
it is estimated, today, that at least
1000 men, women and children are in
precarious condition. They are await
ing rescue, many in the second stories
and tops of houses and other points
above the flood, less in danger of death
than starvation. Immediate steps are
being taken to remove them TO places
of safety.
In East st. Louis, where the railroad
yards and that part along the river on
both sides of the Eads bridge is flood
ed, the conditions are the same as yes
terday. All of last night men were at
work strengthening the levee, that IS
keeping the water back from the buAi-
ness and residence section of the city.
The railroad situation shows no inn
provement.
From police reports it is learned that
there are only 800 destitute flood suf-.
ferers in st. Louis, today, the remaind-
er having either secured transporta-
ton to other cities or are being cared
for by relatives and friends in st.
Louis. A number have become i'll
from exposure.
There We're 1900 flood refugees in Ed
wardsville, Ill. last night, from the tri-
cities and Newport. Because of the con
gcstion it was found necessary to distrib
ute the sufferers in the cities and villages
along the Wabash as far north as litcht'
field w.
Four-ffths of the 1000 inhabitants Of
Granite City remain within the limits OF
.hc town. One-half of them are homeless.
The officials of Granite City and those who
have been most active in relief work be
iicve that no deaths nave followed the
InOd there. Reports of drOWnngS have
not been verified and there is said to be
no sickness due to the flood.
No passenger trains are crossing the
Elds or Merchants bridges and the Union
station is temporarily abandoned as
terminal point for all Eastern traffic. 1t
is thought that the railroads combined
nave thus far suffered loss of S.. oo0,GN
Fifteen hundred of the 25G0 residents Of
Venice have been brought over to the
Missouri side in boats and by the Nor
rhants bridge engines, today
The viaduct leading to the approach of
.hC EadS bridge was ordered closed, to-
lay East St Louis and St LoNs are
hus shut off from communication except
East of st. Louis the full effect of the
flood is felt by the different railroads
md most of the trouble ccntcrs in the
clay station district of East st. Louis.
Nearly all the trains cnroutc cast pass
through the relay station which is now
loodcd These trains that 80 east over
the Merchants bridge are cuItailcd by
cason of the unsafe condition of the en-
'anl.ment approaching The bridge.
All lines. however. are moving traffic to
some extent. The Big -Four and the Chi
ago & Alton passengers are being taken
q Alton by boat where they connect with
heir trains The Nandaia track is bare
\ above water in the relay stations and
rains creep the stretch cautiously. Tho
;altimorc & Ohio, Southwestern and Hi
lois Central arc running trains but very
regularly.