The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-08
East st. Louis Unable to Secure
Enough Men. to Strengthen the
Levees and Save the Town.
HEAVY LOSSES IN KANSAS
DAMAGE TO CROPS ALONE is PROBA-
BLY, OVER FIVE MILLIONS.
Much Property i'm Cities Also De-
Observation-Disclosures Severe Sufferers
Throughout the State.

ST. LOUIS, June Like a millrace the
swollen Mississippi is surging past st. Louis
with stage of S69 feet at o'clock to-
night. making a rise of one and one-half
feet since the same hour last night The
government forecast is that the rise will
continue rapid until after midnight. and
tien the next two days the stage will creep
up slowly probably reaching IS feet. and be-
gin to recede
A small steamer from ST. Charles sue
ceeded in reaching Black Walnut tonight
and the 200 imperiled people. terrified and
in great distress for food and shelter. were
taken from the island in safety. All were
rescued.
BRIDGE IS IN THE WAY
Between Black Walnut and st. Louis the
Bellefontaine bridge stretches across the
Missouri. and the high stage of the river
precluded any large steamer passing under
Meath No steamer was available at st.
Charles to go down the river to them. The
Spread Eagle, moored at Alton. above st.
Louis. hurriedly manned and started
for the imperiled colony late last night, but
was forced to turn back at the Bellefontaine
bridge. A private yacht here at st. Louis
was manned by company OF policemen to-
day 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 cur
rent All steam was turned on and the
yachts screw churned the muddy waters.
but she made no headway against the cur
rent, and after vainly stemming the food
for several hours without making one hum
dred yards. the yacht returned to shore and
the venture was abandoned. None of the
large river steamers in ST. Louis harbor
capable OF forcing their way with their
powerful engines against the mill-race cur
rent can pass under Eads bridge and Mer-
chants bridge. and IL they could the Belle
fontaine bridge. which Is lower. would pre-
vent them reaching Black Walnut.
Black Walnut is located in a broad and
fertile valley of the Missouri and the land
surrounding 1t is said TO be the richest
wheat land In the State.
THRONGS VIEW THE FLOOD
Excursionists poured into st. Louis in
vast throngs to-day 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 Eads bridge.
The flood stage tonight has broken all
high-water records at St. Louis since May
10. 1885, when the high water mark was
37.5 feet. The highest mark known here
was reached by the great flood of June q.
1874, when ALA feet was attained. Other
high-water records here have been made as
follows: May 10. 1876. 32.5 feet; May 5. 1881.
1877 feet: July. 5. 1852. 32.5 feet; June g. 1883,
347 feet; May 10. 1892. SO feet; May g. Is93
3i.5 feet and May 2, 1897, 81 feet. The high
water records of 1874 and 1858 are not Of
fetal, as there was government station
here during those years. but there are many
people living here who remember both
those foods and their high-water marks.
Earth to stem the threatened breaks in
railway levees in East st. Louis was taken
from the worlds fair site to-day, and an
army OF men with wagons hurried il across
lust below St Louis and In the vicinity
of the River Des Peres is the little fisher
mems settlement OF Happy Hollow. The
denzens live In fiatboats for the most part
and until to-day had been beyond the raw
ages Of the flood. But the advancing wa
ter invaded the tract to-day and the inhab-
itanrs had 10 be hurriedly moved out Some
families moored their houseboats and re-
NAMED
REPORTS OF LOSS OF LIFE.
Reports OF supposed loss OF life have been
received The reports say that persons
have been seen TO disappear. but there is
no proof that any one was drowned. Near
Madison q dixie broke this afternoon and
wall of water rushed through. Mrs. Anton
clasping an infant In her arms. was, ac-
drowned. There are reports OF five employees
of the American car and foundry works
losing their lives
At 10 o'clock tonight a small steamboat
with a powerful propeller was secured and
hastily prepared for a trip TO Black Walnut
no rescue the people imperiled there. The
steamer swung out into the current and al
once began to make headway. The steamer
finally reached Black Walnut.
East ST Louis was unable to secure
enough men 10 work on the levee to-day.
Men apparently needy refused offers OF 80
cents an hour 10 pile sand bags on the
ievee Citizens. officials and even profess
sional men sprang into the breach and
worked with will 10 keep the water out
Of the city. while crowds OF men apparently
needing employment stood about and re-
fused all offers OF work. Police officers
temporarily became employment agents and
invaded saloons 20 secure workmen. but.
although the saloons were crowded. a small
Derceutage OF the patrons were willing to
help protect the city.