Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1903-06-13
HIGHER THAN EVER.
River at St. Louis Astounds Those
Who Expected a Fall.
The Water Reached Stage of 31.7 Feet,
the Highest Ever Recorded There
Near Cape Glrardeau the River
Is 40 Miles Wide.

st. Louis, June 10.-With an I'M
-expectedness astounding to the tired
citizens of threatened East st. Louis
and vicinity, and even to Government
Forecaster Bowie in st. Louis, the
Mississippi flood, which Monday night
began to recede after reaching n
stage of 37.5 feet, began rapid rise
yesterday, reaching stage of 1915,
establishing the highest official water
mark ever recorded in St. Louis.
River 40 Miles Wide mt Cape Girardeau.
st. Louis, June 10.-Very little has
been said about the condition of the
river below here. From st. Louis to
Cape Girardeau, distance of 40
miles, the Mississippi has attained an
average width OF four miles. The
steamer Cape Girardeap, which has
arrived in st. Louis, brings accounts
of the immense damage inflicted on
the farmers located in the lowlands
south of here. THE entire wheat
and corn crop in the valley has been
ruined" said w. II. Wilkinson, COM
mission merchant in st. Louis, who
was one of the passengers. Il esti-
mate that 100000 acres in corn and
100000 acres in wheat will be lost.
AS we came up the river we saw
sights that amazed us. Some houses
were completely submerged. Others
showed ONLY the roofs. We saw many
persons standing on the tops of the
houses. They waved to us for assist
..ance, but on account of the uncer.
tain conditions of the river We were
unable to go to them. do not know
what will become of those people,
but as they have had flood eXpe.
sriences in the past l dare say they
will be able to take care of them
= selves. The damage to houses and
barns and live stock will reach into
.the thousands, but the loss in wheat
and corn will be the greatest item in
the disaster. / will venture to say
that S2.OO0,OOO will not cover the
losses on cereals" Mr.. Wilkinson
saws that in the bottom lands below
Cape Girardeau the water has
reached an expanse of 40 miles from
bluff to bluff.
1t is estimated that 5000 refugees
have found shelter in st. Louis and
vicinity. People remaining in their
flooded houses in the inundated dis.
tricts are being furnished with food
rs rapidly as possible. 1t is esti'
mated that 1000 people are still liv.
ing in flooded homes in Granite City,
Venice and Madison. A supply boat
has been QUILTED and will daily
make trips to relieve suffering.
In the tri-cities, Madison, Venice
and Granite City, it is estimated that
at least 1000 men, women and chill
.dren are in a precarious condition.
They are awaiting rescue, many in
the second stories and on tops OF
houses and other points above the
food, less in danger of death than
starvation. Immediate steps are be-
ing taken to romove these people
to places of safety and comparative
. comfort. In EaSt ot. Louis' "hSio
the railroad yards and that part
along the river on both sides OF the
Eads bridge is flooded, the condi-
tions are the same. All of last night
men were at work strengthening the
levee that is keeping the water back
from the business and residence sec
tions of the city. The railroad sit
uation shows no Improvement.
No passenger trains are crossing
the Eads bridge or the Merchants
bridge and union station is tempo
rarily abandoned as n terminal point
for all eastern traffic, both incoming
and southbound. Passenger business
is Frustrated. Relief from present
conditions is not expected before
Thursday and it will be several days
before some of the lines can resume
their regular facilities. 1t is thought
that all of the railroads combined
have thus far suffered total loss OF
IS, 100000.