The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-09
SITUATION APPALLING
RIVER PIRATES USING SKIFFS TO
LOOT DESERTED HOUSES.
St. Louis Flooded Along The Water
FrOnt-Mississippi Slowly Fall.
ing This Morning.

ST LOUIS, June $50 great extent
of territory is covered by the flood, so con-
stantly changing are the conditions as the
water creeps higher and renders the situa-
tion the more chaotic, and unreliable are
the various rumors Of the devastation that
substantial summary of the loss of lives
and property cannot be obtained. but to-
night information from apparently reliable
sources showed the situation to be as fol-
lows:
River stage BIS feet: stationary.
Twenty lives known to have been lost.
under water.
All of Venice and the greater part of
Madison. Granite City and several smaller
places under water.
Twenty-Five thousand people homeless
Freight traffic paralyzed and passenger
traffic crippled.
OF East ST. Louis for three miles along the
river front under from two to eight feet of
water.
Hundreds OF head OF stock drowned
East st. Louis threatened with inunda-
St. Louis flooded only along the water
front
Entire property loss estimated at 5000 900.
The flood has probably reached the zenith
of it's devastating power and the situation
Is appalling. The climax came last night
when. by the breaking OF the levee near
Granite City. a wall of water six feet high
rushed down on Madison and deeper en-
quilted the already stricken city, sweeping
houses from their foundations and drown
ing fifteen refugees who were vainly fleeing
for their lives. The report was current
that fifteen worknen in the st. Louis car
and foundry works had been drowned, but
later IL was found that, while seven en-
ployes had lost their lives. thirteen others,
men. women and children, had perished.
Hundreds OF persons were forced to the
roofs of their floating houses and an ap-
peal was sent to St. Louis for assistance.
Every effort was made to force steamers
against the heavy current four miles north
to the stricken town, but IL was noon be-
fore the steamers Mark Twain and Annie
Russell lsshed together and their engines
working under every ounce of steam, after
FIVE hours OF battle with the current were
able to reach Madison For the remainder
OF the day and into the night the work of
rescuing refugees from floating houses,
tree-tops and various high places pro-
ceeded. and there being no place to take
them nearer than st. Louis, they to-
night pouring into the city by hundreds.
wet. hungry and dispirited
1t Is more than probable that the esti-
mate OF twenty lives lost is below the
actual number. On all sides persons are
found who tell of having seen men strug
Cling in the water too far from land to re-
ceive assistance of women apparently
drowned under various circumstances. but
these stories are so varied that confirmation
is impossible.
River thieves are looting the various
vacant houses. Men in skiffs have been
seen to enter half submerged houses in
Venice. Madison and Granite City and car
nv away everything they could find.
At East ST. Louis to-day Mayor Cook or
dered all business suspended and called on
every male citizen 10 render service In
preventing the inundation OF the city.
Mayor Cook went about seeing tnat signs
we're nosted Offering men 81 cents an hour
TO build the 1evees. but the offers of en-
plovment were ignored by most OF the
fhrongs of unemployed negroes and white
workmen- But citizens hurried to the work
OF saving the city and tonight the city is
still dry. but still menaced by the flood.
REFUGEES IN CARS.
From Cahokia creek bridge nor the
railroad yards still out OF water by reason
of the levees are lined with freight cars
containing refugees Each car contained
two o. three families and nearly every
family had from two 10 three dogs.
Strings OF freight cars and houses with
only the roofs above the surface told OF
the depth OF the water. Grain elevators
that ordinarily stand at the edge of the
Mississippi now mile from dry land.
Business in the railroad yards was almost
at a standstili. The streets and stores. ex-
ceptfng those along the impromptu levees.
were deserted. Only the saloons continued
20 do business
In St Louis the rising water has not
caused any material increase in damage.
Ievee saloons continue TO do L iness de-
suite high water. Spectators demand bev-
erages and are content to crawl along
plarfks through doorways two feet high
and drink from the improvised bars in a
crouching position with their heads touch
ing the ceilings.
BeIow Eads bridge Is moored the steam
or Dubuque. which came down the river
from St Paul So swift was the current
and so high the stage OF the river that the
Dubuoue was carried under Merchants
bridge AZ high speed and both smokestacks
were sws pt TO the decks. Workmen to-day
beean resetting them and the steamer will
remain In dock until the flood shall sub
side
THE CASUALTIES
The casualties reported far follow:
John crfttenden. aged ten. drowned near
Shs Merchants bridge In Venice; woman