Omaha daily bee., 1903-06-08
Bridges Block Large Steamers, but Little
Boats Finally Make Trip
)UR TOWNS ARE UNDER THE RIVER
Stream Still Rises, with Prospect of Going
Far Higher
STATION REPORTED TO Be SAFE
one bridge Is Already Damaged and
Several others In Danger of
Going Down Before the
Ringing Current.


from ST. Charles succeeded in reaching
Black Walnut this morning and the two
hundred imperilled people, terrified and In
great distress for food and shelter were
taken from the island in safety. All were
rescued, particulars have not been learn
ed.
At one o'clock levee near Madison, on
which gangs Of men were working gave
way and fifteen men. employees OF the Amer
lean Car and Foundry Works. lost their
lives. About 15O men, It is reported are
! imprisoned on a section of the levee that
is slowly crumbling and all means Of es-
| cape has been cut OFF. Word has been sent
to the st, Louis side TO rush the private
yacht Annie Russell to the rescue. Annie
Russell started to Black Walnut this
afternoon and icould not force its way
against the CURRENT and it is feared 1t
cannot make its way to Madison.
ST LOUIS. June Like millrace, the
Mississippi is surging past St. Louis with
! a stage of 1868 feet at tonight, making a
rise of one and a half feet since the same
hour last night. The government forecast
is that the rise will continue rapidly until
after midnight, and then for the next two
days will creep up slowly. probably reach
| ing thirty-eight feet before receding.
| No word was received today from the
200 people imprisoned at Black Walnut
The river has spread round the island until
it is a veritable sea with a swift current,
| and although every effort has been made
to reach them, nothing was accomplished
today and there has been NO means OF
communication.
| Bridge Blocks steamers' Passage
Between Black Walnut and St. Louis
the Belle Fontaine bridge stretches across
the Missouri and the high stage OF the
river precludes any large steamer passing
| underneath. No steamer is available at
| ST. Charles to go down the river. Spread
| Eagle moored at Alton, Ill, above St
Louis, hurriedly manned and started
for the imperiled colony late last night,
but was forced to turn back at the Belle
Fontaine bridge
private yacht here was manned by
| company OF policemen today and started
for Black Walnut, as the craft sat low
enough in the water to pass all bridges
But another factor had TO be reckoned
with. and that was the swift current. All
steam was turned on and the yachts screw
| churned the muddy waters but 1t paade
no headway against the current and after
vainly stemming the flood for several
hours without making 100 yards, returned
to shore and the venture was abandoned
None of the large river boats in St. Louis
harbor capable of forcing their way with
their powerful engines against the mill
race current can pass under Fades bridge
and Merchants bridge, and IL they could,
the Belle Fontaine bridge. which is lower
would prevent them reaching Black WAL
nut.
Black Walnut is located in q broad and
fertile valley OF the Missouri and the land
surrounding is said to be the richest wheat
land in the state.
Aside from loss OF life II such catastrophe
occurs, the property loss will be heavy as
the entire valley is under water and homes
have been washed away, farms depleted
and stock drowned.
Trippers View the Flood.
Excursionists poured into st. Louis in
vast throngs today and the big excursion
steamers, loaded to the guards, piled up
and down the harbor all day. An arc of
curious humanity stretched high above the
torrent from Missouri TO Illinois completely
obliterating the top of Eades bridge.
The flood stage tonight has broken all
past records at ST. Louis since May 10, 1878
when the high water mark was S7.5 feet.
The highest mark known here was reached
during the great food OF June q, 1854, when
Ala feet was attained. Other high water
|
May 10, 1876, 1926 feet; May g. 1881, 35.7 feet;
July s. 1882. s25 feet; June 25,1sss sLT feet !.
May 10, 1892, S2' feet. and May 2. 1897. 81
feet
The high water records OF 1874 aud 1858
are not Official there was no government
station here during those years. but there
are many people living here who remember
both.
Earth 20 stem the threatened breaks in
railway levees in East st. Louis was taken
from the Worlds fair site today and an
army Of men with wagons hurried IT across
the bridge to strengthen the water barriers.
Rumors have been current that the hood
would shut off the st. Louis pumping sta
tion and stop the city's water supply These
rumors have been without foundation as
the river must rise at least eight feet more
before the pumping station will be In
danger.
Just below st. Louis and in the vicinity
, OF the River Des Pres is the little fisher
mems settlement of Happy Hollow. The
/ denizens live in fatboats for the most part
/ and until today had been beyond the raw
ages Of the flood, but the advancing water
invaded the tract today and the inhabit-
> ants had to hurriedly move out. Some
families moored their houseboats substan-
E TALLY and remained.
Four Towns Buried.
All Venice. Madison. portions OF Granite
City and 1900 acres of rich bottom farm
:. ing land are in the grip Of the flood north
a OF EaR st. Louis. Houses have been swept
!, from their foundations and set aa-its.
The east approach to the Merchants
= bridge is reported severely injured. A sec
= ton OF the forty-foot embanknent has
been eaten away where the East St. Louis
r street car line passes under the bridge.
Passing through break in the Chicago &
J, Alton roadbed, the water banks up agalns
" the bridge approach and. having marrow
n space I'm which TO pass through. It shoots
into the lowlands like cataract The
" current inside the dixie consequently rushes
" north or up stream. and houses that have
\ heen aWept into that current by the rush