The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-04-08

Beardstown, Ill, April S.-(By
the Associated Press belief that
the flood crisis is past was express
ed here this afternoon, when the
| Illinois river for the space of an
hour seemed stationary, and the
Lost creek levee remained unbro-
ken. Superintendent of Streets
Edward Broeker, directing work
ers, continued reinforcing the
levee, and would give no assur-
ance that he believed the danger
past.
THE river" he said, reached its
present height at noon"
ST. Louis, Mo, April S.-With a
/ 3 of foot rise over night, the llli-
nois river at Beardstown today was
at the 22.1 stage, and United States
Meteorologist Hays predicted it
would reach 22.5 feet Monday, the
highest since 1874.
Beardstown, ILL.,, April S.-(By
the Associated Press.)-A 9 O'Clock
this morning the water here had
registered % feet and inches and
was still rising. When it reaches
the height set by the st. Louis
weather bureau abserver for noon
today, the Lost Creek levee will be
abandoned. it was announced.
A rise of three more inches, as
predicted, will send a steady
stream of water over the top.
Beardstown, Ill, April 8.-(By
! the Associated Press. )-Laboring Z
at a nervous pitch throughout the
night, workers on Lost Creek le-
wee, which was still intact at day
break, had the satisfaction this
morning of knowing they had min
1 imized the damage of Beardstown' S
worst flood, and that when the
momentarily expected break does
come, it will find only empty
houses in its path.
! Only a near miracle can save
Lost Creek levee until noon, if the
Illinois river as forecast by the
weather bureau, rises to the height
of % feet inches. Its actual
/ breaking, however, will cause COM
paratively little additional dam
age, as the water at many places
in town is already at river level
in sewers and Easements, and two
thirds of the deserted homes have
already been flooded.
Protects Town Proper.
Lost Creek levee is the one pro-
tecting Beardstown proper. Be
side it there are nine others with
in a stretch of five miles of the
city, at which the water early
this morning was straining almost
to breaking point. All the leyees
are constructed circularly, and the
collapse of one, it is said, will not
weaken the others.
Five thousand acres of wheat
has already been destroyed and
that much more is in danger.
Within the city of Beardstown,
which, excepting the railroad right
of way and the hard road, is COM
pletely surrounded by water, the
food is being held in check by the
diking of sewers. AS many as Sc
individual dikes have been con-
structed, like enormous bowls,
about the openings. Water in them
/ in the lowest parts of the city has
risen to three feet. 1t is declared
here it is the first time this expedi-
ent has been resorted to in the
north
VIII Flood 200 Homes.
Mayor Wesley Perry expects that
between $50 and 200 homes will be
flooded when the levee gives way.
In the outskirts of the city are al
ready a solid sheet of water, dotted
| by isolated houses. The water
stands from one to three feet deep,
and some residents who count on
living throughout the high water
in second stories, move to dry land
| by means of boats embarked from
! the tops of front porches.
Practically all families, however.
whose homes will be reached have
vacated them, taking along most all
their household furniture. They
take their misfortune. for the most
part, as a matter-of-fact occur
renee. One man, unable to move
his piano, banked it on stills on
the second floor, above the high
water mark and moved out every
thing else. When the water goes