Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-06-13
EAST ST. LOUIS UNDER WATER.
River Drives Thousands
From Their Homes.

Mississippi River Drives Thousands
From Their Homes.
East st. Louis, city Of about $4,000
inhabitants has been overflowed by the
Mississippi river The rising water
reached the danger point about ten
days ago, and from that time up until
an early hour Tuesday morning the
people fought with desperation IN the
hope of keeping 1t back. But there
was a frontage Of about seven miles
to guard, and at the 3s foot stage, the
heroic workers lost the fight.
East st. Louis is on the Illinois side
Of the river, and is the terminal point
for all the railroads from the north,
east and south. In addition 1t Is the
site Of numerous manufacturing plants
OF various kinds. It Is not nearly SO
high above the level Of the river as Is
the main city on the Missouri side. Up
against the river bank there is high
earthen levee, which has afforded the
city ample protection during great
many years, and further back running
parallel with this levee, there are two
massive walls built to serve at the
same time as streets and as projections
against the water.
When the flood began to threaten the
river bank levees, thousands Of labor
ers were put along its length to help
reinforce it. 1t was not until last
Monday that the situation began to
grow really alarming. Then the num-
ber Of levee workers was increased to
the entire force available for the pur-
pose. The mayor Of the city set the
example of carrying sandbags, and
thousands Of well-to-do people, includ-
ing women and children followed his
lead.
OF course, all of the people did not
remain at their homes. AS soon as the
danger became certain many went
across the river over the Eads bridge
to st. Louis proper. They got there
by means of boats, and in floating car
riages drawn by half swimming horses.
These for the most part included ladies
and children Of the more prosperous
classes.
The guard along the river front levee
was maintained until an early hour
Wednesday morning. At about dawn
the water began to flow over the top
most sandbags, and although the fight
ers realized that the battle was lost,
they were not yet willing to give up.
With frenzied energy the sandbag car
riers continued to rush forward with
their burdens. Presently the artificial
pile began to give way in places and
the water flowed through In floods.
Then it was realized that the greater
part Of the city would be submerged
and there was nothing to do but to
warn the people by the blowing of
steam whistles and the ringing Of bells.
From the main levee, the mayor
carried back as many workmen as
would follow to the first Of the stone
street walls. But the fight did not last
long here. Soon the water was gush-
ing through in torrents, and whole
blocks Of immense stone buildings filled
with all kinds Of merchandise, were
flooded. The section between the first
levee and the street wall had become
a vast sea with the roofs Of long rows
of one-story tenement houses just
showing above the surface. On some
Of these roofs were people, crying
aloud for help. They remained in their
dangerous and uncomportable positions
until taken off by relief boats from st.
Louis.
But all were not so fortunate as to.
be able to escape the flood by crawling
out on the roofs Of their cottages. 1t
is known that many have been drown
ed. Some estimates have put the num-
Der at certainly not less than thirty
or forty, and when the water subsidies
1t may be found that this Is small
estimate. Fully thirty thousand people
have left East st. Louis on account Of
the flood. The water was nearly as
high at this point in 1874 as it is now,
and again in 1854; but on neither of
those occasions did it come within
foot Of it's present level.