Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-06-17
FLOOD SWEEPS CITY.
RIVER BREAKS EtA5ANKMENTS At
EAST ST. LOUIS.
Thirty TO Fifty People Are Reported
Residents Aroused in the
Night by Bells aud Whistles Flee
from Their Homes in Panic.

Thirty lives are believed to have been
lost in the current which rushed into
East St Louis "Wednesday morning.
Nearly all Of the 10000 people He'd as the
result of the breaking Of the embank
ments which had stood between the Mis-
sissippi food and the busy town on the
eastern bank OF the river and Wednes-
day afternoon fully a fourth of the city
was submerged.
Factory whistles and men shouting
through megaphones awakened people in
the southern section of East ST. Louis in
the middle of the light, and they fled TO
the north end, leaving homes and goods
behind Before noon break was re-
ported in the Baltimore and Ohio South
western levee at the north. and the whole
city was in danger.
4 long procession Of dsheartened.
homeless residents whose houses are
from two to five feet under water wend
ed their way across the great Eads
bridge, seeking safety on the Missouri
side Others, panic-stricken. ran about
the streets knowing not whittier to go,
The river rose 10 $40 feet, and the
army of levee builders no longer could
cd and the city hall, filed with food vic
tins, was entered by the water.
Bridge the Only Nay Out.
Women with children in arms, men car
rying household furniture, horses, dogs
and cats were in the streets At sunrise
the Eads bridge was virtually the only
means of crossing the river open to the
throng. Traffic TO East ST. Louis from
the west side was suspended and police
men turned back all who attempted the
trip. The southern half of East st.
Louis was deepest in the flood, and 1900
men fell back on Missouri avenue in the
attempt to save the remainder of the
city, menaced by swelling waters frem
three sides
| A few hours before the break in the
/ levee Ned Roberts, a negro employed az
| a leyce builder. was killed by membe=s
/ of the levee patrol for attempting to tear
/ down a part Of the dixie. His act was
/ the result of anger because he was not
/ allowed 10 draw his pay at once,
/ An appeal from Mayor Cook to Lieut..
! Gov. Northcott for State troops to aid in
guarding property was answered with
| the promise that details of militia would
be sent to East St. Louis at once.
Relief boats started from st. Louis
/ for East St Louis early Wednesday
vorning. BY order of Park Commission
q Aull the skiffs used for recreation on
| Ne park lake were collected to be sent
10 the east side on a fcrryboat.
During the forenoon the w-.2r vas
| threatening the north and east sides, pre-
served temporarily by the Baltimore and
GS5o Southwestern Railroad embark
rgent. and had reached the yiaduct only
SVEN blocks east of the city hall. IL
the city hall foot e5d half Of water
had collected. 1t 10 believed many fami
lies in tirststory cottages awOke whet
i was too late to escape. l.evee work
cps who lay down to rest on the embank
ment, wore out with hard labor, were
caught By the flood and drowned llk'
sats. s. -.sy never be learned how man!
- in this way
Messengers Arouse People.
When the break occurred warning
were sent first through the Dexter add
ts<a by messengers, who discharged tirp
c.S,sS, blew horns and shouted in stent0
- tones. Lights cleaned in house
where che occupants had retired. cont
dent that the o.abankment would hold
Pers9ns scansssl,y attired emerged iron
their tssSzsa ard "a few moments tn
whole populacs of the low district wer
fleeing to higher ground.
As the noise of the approaching foo
was heard. the fight, at first rapid re
treat with semblance Of order becam
panic All efforts to assure the peopl
that there was time to escape unless
! 10
ment failed. and most If them fed witt
out making an effort To save property.
Messengers were sent to the main sex
.ssan Of the city telling of the danger froi
- new point Of attack As the bottom
ialed and the river gained larger Ell
SSance the terror in the business sectlo
grew intense. 1t was all the create
because of the darkness and the fea
that while guard was maintained in on
direction the torrent would break throug
Mt another point and engIlf the luckles
Inhabitants. BY the thousands peopl
y deserted their homes and ran up an
down tho streets seeking place % So
cor.
Hundreds Of families from the res
dence district, carrying trunks, grip
bundles OF clothing and valunbies, bega
to cross Eads bridge toward st. Loui
Most of the refugee. were scantily cla'
Strong men carried aged women in the
!, arms. followed by women with hahic
: Barefooted children were in the proce
sion over the bridge In the city Ia
alone 500 homeless persons. with Il
scant belongings they had been able
seize on short notice. We're assembled
, Water Breaks Through.
Seven miles Of water. pressing fro
the south and .outhcast. overcame Il
city's line Of defense shortly before
o'clock in the morning, and 5000 persor
were driven from their homes. One tho
sand men were working on the part
the Ievee which broke. For several hou
before the final break they had the assis
ance of hundreds of women and chi
> dren.
The crevasse appeared at the St Lon
Valley crossing Of the Illinois Ceutr
embankment, two miles south Of the X
lay station. While as many men, Wom'
and children a. could stand on the 81
bankment were heapng eandbags b
tween the rails 10 prevent the menacii
, waters from going over The top. the :
sistlq-s ct.rrent broke through the low
part Of the wall Of earth aud spurted
, rivulcts into the faces If those who we
carrying sandbags up the bank. Bai
thrown into the openings by dozens
, men were tossed aside by the water Ill
, feathers. The workers fed from the
] useless task and the alarm was given
ringing Of bells and blowing Of whisti
in every part Of the city. A few Of q
o. workers on the embarrassment remained
! their posts until the current c0mpel.'
p them u swim for their lives.