Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-10
MENACED BY FLOOD
East St. Louis Submerged in
Mighty Tide.
THOUSANDS HOMELESS
RIVER BROKE ALL BARRIERS
AND POURED INTO CITY.
Reused by Whistles, People Fled in
Panic Before Rushing
THOUSANDS HOMELESS

redCHeu curing tne present HOou CdSttsoe.
Louis. city opposite here, with popula-
tion of $1,000. having large manufacturing
interests, and the terminal point for rail-
roads from the north. east and south, is
partly under water and will probably be to-
tally submerged by noon.
The southern half Of East st. Louis this
morning is deep in the flood. and the city's
$500 levee 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 and west thoroughfare, has
been abandoned to the flood.
Lee Harper, former city engineer, says
that the water will be two feet deep in
front of the city hall before 9 o'clock this
evening.
Thousands Driven From Home.
Seven miles of water, pressing from the
south and southeast overcame the cty's
line of defense shortly before 1 o'clock this
morning, and 5000 persons were driven
from theis homes Numerous reports of
drownings have been received but the
east st. Louis police have thus far learned
no names of victims.
One thousand men were working on the
part of the levee which broke. For several
hours before the final break they had the
active assistance of hundreds of women
and children. The break came at the ST.
trail embankment, two miles south of the
relay depot
While as many men, women and children
as could stand on the embankment were
heaping sand bags between the rails to pre-
vent the menacing waters from mounting
over the top the resstless current broke
through the lower part of the wall of earth
and spurted in rivulets in the faces of those
who were carrying sand bags up the bank
Bags thrown Into the openings by dozens of
men We're tossed by the water like feathers.
AT O'Clock Congressman Rodenburg es-
tlndted that thirty lives were lost in the
flooding of the lower portion of East St
LOUIS early this morning. While general
alarms were given by the police and re-
treating levee workers with shouts and pis-
tots, there was not time to call at every
house In the thickly-settled district and it
Is believed many families in one-story cot
tages awoke only when it was to4 late to
escape.
Levee workers who laid down to rest on
the embankment, worn out with hard la
Dor, were caught by the flood and drowned
like rats. 1t may never be known how
many died in this way. Among the drown
ed last night, previous to the break in the
ILLINOIS Central levee, were D. II. Sherwood
and John Koolish and three children They
lost their lives by the overturning of a
Doat IN the north part of the city. A ne
gro was drowned this morning In the
waters which are climbing up the side of
the embankment supporting Broadway
Every effort is being made to rescue
people from the second stories of dwellings
In the submerged district. Rats are being
built. boats improvised and wagons even
are being used, the horses of which houn-
der around with only their heads above
water while on their errands of mercy
The naval militia of St Louis and Alton
are on duty rescuing men, women and
children. Lieut. Gray. landing the
St Louis naval militia has his force snraad
out along the embankments guarding
against levee cutting and depredations by
hordes of hoodlums that are to be seen
everywhere Arms are stacked at police
headquarters, where reputa bic citizens NAV
obtain carbines and ammunition TO Guard
their property.
Many Arrests Made.
large number of arrests have been
made by the police. who are marching their
prisoners across the bridge to St Louis
as there is no place to keep them in the
Hooded city. The East st. Louis city iail
Is also being emptied and the prisoners
taken to the -Four Courts in ST. Louis for
safety.
Broadway, fifteen feet above the sur
rounding territory, divides East st, Iouis
in two. 1t was first thought this street
would serve as q protection to the north
east portion of the city, but the flood that
covers the southern part has broken
through in small stream between Sth and
9th streets. Should the embankment form
ed by broadway give way suddenly as
threatened, it will send a wall OF water
hfteen feet high over the remainder of
the city.
The flooded district in East ST Jouis
due to the breaking of the embankments
early this morning. Is one mile wide south
or Broadway and four miles long from
east 10 west. 1t comprises about one
fourth of the city. That part of East ST.
Louis known as the island was flooded
several days ago.
The district that is inundated includes
the second and third wards which are
known as Illinois Town and Denverside
Alta Sita, the suburb east of Denverside
VI ct al haN
morning. The population OF that district
Is about $500. all of whom have abandoned
their homes and fled TO higher ground.
Alta Sta, Denverside and southern East
St Louis devoted to manufacturing
plants and the residences of their en-
ployes
works. the Wiegraft-Tebben Manufactur-
ing Company, the st. Louis sirup refinery,
the Elliott frog and switch works, the
Central Brewery Company, the Pittsburg
reduction works, the Peters Bread Com
pany and other large manufacturing plants
under water.
Then the workers fed from their useless
task and the alarm was given by the ring
ing OF bells and blowing of whistles in
every part OF the city. a few OF the work
ers on the embankment remained at their
posts until the rushing waters made il nee
essary for them to swim for their lives
Then they Joined their companions in warn
Ing the residents of the thickly-settled dis
trict OF their danger.
Awakened families saw the water in the
streets When they were ready to leave
with their hurriedly-collected stock of ne
cessities the flood was at their sills All
fed to the north The Washington school
was the nearest point of safety Many
made for the high ground near the Illinois
Central tracks. Men from Alta Sta and
Denverside who had been working on the
abandoned levee FASTENED to those locaIi-
ties to tell their neighbors OF their danger.
Whistles Sound Alarm.
Every locomotive and factory whistle
Joined in the elamor of alarm.
| The water is not expected to reach its
level in the flooded part of the city before
noon Engineer Harper predicts that when
the level is reached the water will be two
feet higher than at O'Clock this morning
Undismayed by the defeat which has
CONTINUED on Tenth Pagal