The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-06-11
Reports Of the Flood Situation in
East st. Louis Have Been
Exaggerated.
The Chief Of Police Says That No
body Has Been Drowned by
the Flood.
Little if Any Recession of the
Water Is Noted This
Morning.

washington. June 11.--Mayor Fern Of
Belleville, Ill.,. has telegraphed the war
department that several thousand flood
refugees have come to that city from
East ST. Louis and other points in the
vicinity and are without food and asks II
the war department can furnish supplies
Acting AdJutant General Hall telegraphed
the commanding officer at Chicago to take
the necessary steps to relieve the imme-
date necessities of these people.
st. Louis June 1.-THE situation in
East st. Louis was about the same this
morning. The flood on the south was still
being held back at Missouri avenue where
the levee is watched increasingly, as else
where, by thousands of workers ready
with bags of sand to stop any break.
decline in the rivers stage of fraction
of AN inch since last night does not
make any apparent difference In the
height of the flood, but shows that the
river has a tendency to fall. The stage
at Z a. m. was s7s Until there is
decided decline in the flood, the city will
be at the mercy Of the wall of water that
surrounds 1t on three sides.
The night was cold for this time Of
the year and there was considerable suf-
fering among the thousands Of homeless
persons on the East Side, most of whom,
however, We're taken care Of in compare
shelter.
s Almost o-thirds Of East ST.. Louis.
Ill, is under from two to fifteen feet of
water. Eleven lives have been sacrificed
to the angry waters, and damage which
no man to-day attempts to estimate has
been dore to property. Not a wheel OF
industry is turning in East st. Louis but
the flood waters whirl and suck at the
foundations Of many buildings, which
have been deserted.
The vast railroad yards are apparent
by half submerged cars and locomotives.
Huge grain elevators stand surrounded by
running water. To the south beyond the
railway yards are thousands of cottages,
owned by laborers and containing their
goods, all submerged to the caves. In
northern East st. Louis the condition Is
not so bad.
Lack of drinking water is one Of the
worst Inconvenience suffered by the East
st. Louisians, who were caught In the
second stories Of their dwellings by the
flood. Many are compelled to drink OF the
water that surrounds them on all sides,
end much sickness Is likely to result If
sfhis continues.
congressman w. A. Rodenburg, who has
charge Of the rescue work In East St.
Louis, sent hundreds Of men out early
with boats thru the submerged district.
taking off people from the second stories
and roofs Of houses and removing them
to-places Of safety.
Reports Are Exaggerated.
Chief of Police Purdy says that the
Shove report Is exaggerated,
mot one person has been drowned by
the nundation of this city," said the
chief to-day. Several persons have fall
en- from RATS and from overturned boats
and been drowned by accident, but not
q. life has been lost by the inundating
water. r If all the bikes surrounding East
st. Louis were to break at once to-day
There would be no loss of life and the city
would not be flooded in the residential
district and there would not be more than
two feet of water In the business por-
ton. The bikes are more than sufficient
| to protect the city from damage and the
crisis Is over. want to assert that mar
tial law has not been proclaimed and will
not be. / will be able to preserve order
In the ordinary police manner, and altho
there are militiamen here the soldiers
are under my direct orders and are doing
police duty
In order to prevent curious outsiders
from idly collecting in the city and tc
protect exposed property from thieves
the police department issued passes by
the hundred to accredited citizens. Nc
others are allowed to pass into or from
the city without special permit. 1t Is
impossible to get water to-day except
on an official order signed by the city
clerk. This is to prevent waste of the
scant supply.
Water is still seeping thru Broadway
but, that thorofare which is made ground
still holds.