Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1903-06-11
HIGHEST POINT YET
East 81. Louis Is in the Throes Of
the Mighty Waters
PARTIALLY COVEBED


point during the present flood. East
st. Louis. with a population OF $4,000.
and having large manufacturing inter-
ests and the terminal point for rail
roads from the north. east aud south.
Is partially under water. The southern
half OF East 81. Louis Is deep In the
food and the city's $500 levee builders
have fallen back on Mississippi avenue
in an attempt to save the remainder
OF the city. which Is menaced by swell
ing waters from three sides. Broad
way. a leading thoroughfare. has been
abandoned 10 the food.
Seven miles Of water pressing from
the south and southeast. overcame the
city's line OF defense shortly before
o'clock and 5000 persons were driven
from their homes. Numerous reports
OF drownings ahve been received. but
East 81. Louis police thus far have
learned no names OF victims. one
thousand men are working on that
part OF the levee which broke. For
several hours before the 1nal break
| they had the active assistance Of hun
| drcds Of women and children. The
break came at the 81. Louis Valley
crossing Of the Illinois Central en-
bankment, two miles south OF the rail-
way depot While as many men, women
and children as could stand on the en-
bankment hoping the sand bags be-
tween the rails would prevent the
menacing waters from mouating over
the tops. the resistless current broke
through the lower part OF the wall OF
the levee and spurted In rivulets In
the face OF those VINO were carrying
sand bags up the bank. Bags thrown
into openings by dozens OF men were
tossed by the waters like feathers.
Then the workers fed from their use
less task and the alarm was given by
the ringing OF bells and blowing OF
whistles In every part OF the city.
Some OF the workery on top OF the
embankment remained al their posts
until the rushing waters made Il nee.
essary for them To swim for their lives
They Joined their companions In warn.
Ing residents OF thickly settled dis.
tricts OF their danger. Awakened far1.
lilies saw water In the streets. When
they were ready 10 leave with their
hurriedly collected stock OF necessities
the i9od vas az the stills. All lied To
the nofth.
Washington school was the nearest
point OF safety. Many made for higt
ground near the Illinois Central tracks
Men from Alta sta and the Denve
side who had been working on tn,
abandoned ievee fastened to those 10.
calities TO tell their neighbors OF theli
danger. Every locomotive and factory
whistle Joined In the clamor ~ alarm.
A telephone message received from
Congressman Rodenburg says thirty
! lives already have been lost In the East
ST. Louis Hood.
Undismaycd by defeat which come
IN their seven-days battle with the
mood. the greater part OF the levee
| builders fell back 10 Broadway. where
| II was at first decided TO resist the
waters. 4 half hours work and "A sur
vey OF the prospect convinced those In
| charge that 10 was useless 10 try 90
| keep the water from Broadway and the
! food fighters fell back upon Missouri
! avenue. which runs east from Relay
station Here scenes of the past week
were repeated. as the street VS. rap
| idly transformed into a dyke of sand
bags and clay
An appeal from Mayor Cook to the
governor OF Illinois for state troops 20
aid In guarding property was answer
cred by the promise that details u mi
lltia would be sent 10 East ST Louis
81 once.
A few hours before the break In the
levee Ned Roberts a negro employed
as levee builder. was killed by MEM
bers OF the levee patrol for attempting
10 tear down "a portion of the dyke.
His act was caused by anger because
he was not allowed to draw his pay at
once.
Congressman william A. Rodenburg
has issued an appeal for aid for the
mood sufferers. Food he says. Is most
~ needed. and means must be had Tor
giving IL 20 persons who are In upper
stories OF their homes or In box cars.
Water has been threatening the north
and east sides. preserved temporarily
by the Baltimore and ohio railroad
emhankment. and reached to the Via
duct. only seven blocks east II the city
hall. In this public building four and
n half feet ~ water has collected.
Low points ~ the city are under water
Later Congressman Rodcnburg est
mated thirty lives lost by the Hood IN
the lower portion ~ East ST. Louis
While a general alarm was given 10y
the police and rDtr a'ng levsc work
ers. with shouts and p .tIls. there was
not time 90 call Ht every house OF the
thickIy settled district Those IN the
first stories ~ residences uwotc only
when IL was too late 90 ESCAPE leNer
workers who had laid down 20 rest ON
the cmbankmeuts worn out with hard
labor. were caught by the food and
drowned Il may never De- learned how
many died this way Among the
drowned Tuesday night previous TO the
break In the Illinois Central loyee we're
D. n. Sherwood and John kooIish
and their three children. They lost
their lives by the ovcrturning or % boat
IN the north part ~ the city A negro
/ was drowned in the waters which were
climbing up the entertainments support
| ing Broadway. In East St Louis. The
l to - IN