Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-10
MENAcED BY FLOOD
Continued from, First Page.)

Continued from First Page.)
come in their seven days battle with the
ers fell back to Broadway, where 1t was at
first decided to resist the water. A half
hours work and survey of the prospects
convinced those in charge that 1t was use
less to try to keep the water from Broad
; way and the flood fighters fell back upon
Missouri avenue, which runs east from the
relay station. Here the scenes of the past
week were repeated, the street was rap
idly transformed into a dixie of sand bags
and clay.
An appeal from Mayor Cook to the gov
ernor of Illinois for state troops to aid in
guarding property was answered by the
promise that details of militia would be
sent to East st. Louis at once.
few hours before the break in the levee,
Ned Roberts, negro, employed as a levee
builder killed by members OF the
levee patrol for attempting to tear down
portion OF the dixie. His act was caused
by anger because he was not allowed TO
draw his pay at once.
Relief Boats Assist.
Relief boats started from st. Louis for
East st. Louis early this morning. BY or
der Of Park Commissioner Aull, the skiffs
used for recreation on the park lakes were
collected, to be sent out on a Virgins fer
ryboat to the east side.
Congressman VIM. A. Rodenburg has 1s-
sued an appeal for aid for the flood suf-
ferers. Food, he says Is mostly neeoed
and means must be had for delivering 1t
to persons who are in upper stories Of their
homes or in box cars.
At o'clock this morning the water was
threatening the north and east sloes, pre-
served temporarily by the Baltimore ana
Ohio railroad embankment, and had reach
ed to the viaduct. only seven blocks east
of the city hall In this public building
a foot and half of water had alreaOy
collected. All low points of the city are
under water.
When the break occurred warnings were
first sent through the Dexter addition by
messengers, who discharged firearms blew
horns and shouted the news of the flood
arrival. Lights cleaned in houses where
the occupants had retired IN connoence
that the entertainments would hold. Persons
scantily attired emerged from their homes
and in few moments the whole populace
of the low district, six miles in area, was
fleeing to higher ground.
People Fly in Panic.
AS the noise of the approaching food was
heard, the flight, at first a rapid retreat
with more semblance of order, assumed a
panic stage. All efforts to assure the in
habtants that there was sufficient time to
escape unless a gap was washed through
the embankment failed to convince them,
and most of them fed without any effort
to save property.
Messengers were sent to the main portion
of the city, telling of the danger from the
new point of attack and the greatest eX-
element prevailed AS the bottoms filled
and the river gained larger entrance, the
terror in the business section Of the city
grew intense. 1t all the greater be-
cause of the darkness and the lear that
while guard was maintained in one direc-
ton the torrent would break through at
another point and engulf the luckiess m
habitants between two floods. BY the thou.
,lr how atr To
run vainy up and down the streets seek
ing a place of Succor.
Hundreds Of fals from at the earpTins
uables. began to cross Eads bridge toward
ST. Louis. q" ~ S'S
Refugees, scantily Clad.
Most of the refugees. were scantily clad.
Strong men carried aged women in their
arms followed by women with babies. Bare
footed children were in the procession,
which continued steadily over the bridge
Hundreds of others sought protection in the
second story of the public library building,
AS the water encroHehed about 1t many
dashed through the shallow overnoW 10
find a more secure refuge, In terror of the
rising tide of water, refugees in hundreds
throng the streets, crowd the cars and be-
seech public officials for aid
In the city hall alone 500 homeless per-
sons with such scant belongings as thoy
had been able to seize on short notice, wer4
assembled. Provisions, for the time being
were supplied them. and they were made as
comfortable as possible In the Audltoflupl
on the third floor -.:rr-o....-.. r.
All Business Suspended.
Business is totally suspended. The streets
are filled with the almost panic-stricken Ia
habitants of the invaded districts Women
with children in arms, men carrying house
9th
mains of once comfortable domestic estao-
lishments, parade the streets. The com
mon direction of all movement is toward
the bridge, over which the refugees are
hurrying to st. Louis.
At sunrise the bridge was practically the
only means of crossing the river open to
the throng. All traffic to East st. Louis
from the west side was suspended and
policemen turned back all who attempted
the trip. The Eads bridge cars go to the
west side of Cahokia creek viaduct where
passengers dsmount, walk over and take
the cars at the east end. The viaduct is
in a precarious condition and is not
pected to stand long.
Thirty Reported Drowned
ST. LOUIS, June 1O.-The utmost confu-
sion reigns in East st. Louis, and it is i'm
possible to confirm any of the reports of
drowning which may aggregate fifty, and
which may probably be much less. Con-
gresham RodenDefg. VINO mas charge or
the patrol along broadway, which cuts the
town in two east and west and leads to
the Eads bridge, gives it as his opinion that
the number will be about thirty. The only
drownings coming under his personal obser-
walton were those of two women and man
who lost their lives near his post of duty.
Numerous drownings reported among
levee workers, who were caught asleep by
the food but their number is not known
All railroad and wagon communicat ton
with East st. Louis has been cut off. Only
a limited number of pedestrians are allowed
to cross the vaduct to East st. Louis
Refugees from East st. Louis are allowed
to use the viaduct.
Telegraph and telephone communication
is still intact. Although water has entered
the first floors of the buildings occupied by
the telegraph and telephone companies, the
instruments have been elevated out of it's
reach and the managers say that they
will maintain service to the last.
ST. LOUIS, Mo-, June 1o.-The pressure
of the flood forced a passage through the
Illinois Central railroad embankment in
the southeastern portion of East st. Louis
shortly before 1 O clock this morning. The
break speedily widened until torrent one
hundred feet wide and twenty-five feet i'll
depth was pouring through, threatening
East ST. Louis and the village of Center