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| Mississippi river flooding in 1903. Steamboats moored. |
Cortland Evening Standard, Thursday, June 11, 1903.
EMBANKMENTS BROKE.
Two-Thirds of East St. Louis Is Under Water.
EFFORTS TO KEEP BACK FLOOD.
Five Thousand Men Working Day and Night to Strengthen Levees With Sand Bags—Rescuing People From Flooded Houses—Looters Reported Shot—Eleven Persons Drowned.
St. Louis, June 11.—Almost two-thirds of the territory of East St. Louis is under from two to ten feet of water. Between sunset last night and dawn 11 lives were lost and damage which no one attempted to estimate has been done to property.
When the Mississippi began to threaten the city last Thursday morning, Mayor Cook ordered men to work to construct sand bag levees at once. Since that time 5,000 men under the leadership of the mayor, without sleep, with little rest, and food snatched at intervals, have toiled unceasingly to strengthen levees. Not a wheel of industry is turning in East St. Louis and the vast railroad yards are outlined by hundreds of half-submerged cars.
To the south, beyond the railway yards, are thousands of homes submerged to the eaves. In northern East St. Louis the description is repeated, but not on so large a scale.
The business portion of the city and the district containing the better residences is still intact.
More than ten feet of water is pressing against Broadway from the south and in some places is sweeping through in streams as thick as a man's body.
Along the river front to the west a levee of sand bags from two to six feet high and two miles long keeps the river out.
Word was received that the Illinois Central [railroad] embankment skirting the river along the southern boundary of the city was threatening to give away. Couriers were sent to shout warnings and carloads of sand bags were rushed to the place. High and higher crept the water until a thin stream began pouring over the embankment and suddenly it broke.
It is known that numbers of people fled to the Central hotel and to the Washington and Franklin high schools. But none of these buildings today contained more than 250 persons, and although the rescue boats found many people in second stories and on house tops there are rows upon rows of cottages that did not show a sign of life. From the most reliable sources it is believed that 11 persons were drowned.
It was currently reported that seven negroes caught in the act of looting houses were shot to death.
While this was not confirmed it is known that there was heavy firing on the north side where these negroes are said to have been killed.
The deaths of a Polish carpenter and his three children were caused by trying to save three kegs of beer.
As fast as scows could be secured they were launched and volunteers started on' rescue missions.
When boats were rowed alongside homes where the occupants were marooned in second stories and on roofs, in the great majority of cases the occupants could not be induced to leave. They said that to leave meant that their belongings would be left to the mercy of the river thieves. Strangely the women were the most unwilling to be rescued. After being assured that thieves would be shot on sight the unwilling householders were persuaded to go to land.
MANY LIVES LOST.
Lower Part of East St. Louis Suddenly Submerged.
St. Louis, June 11.—The water which has submerged the lower half of East St. Louis is rapidly filling the depressions between Broadway and Missouri avenue, the next street north. It was pouring through the Broadway embankment between Eighth and Ninth streets, and all along from Seventh to Eighteenth streets.
All the dwellings between Broadway and Missouri avenue were being vacated as fast a s possible.
A break occurred in the Baltimore and Ohio [railroad] levee, which protects the city on the north and water was flowing into the low ground to the north and northeast of the city. The water got behind the levee below the viaduct along Cahokia creek and a cross levee was thrown up under the viaduct to check it.
The levee directly in front of the business section from the viaduct past the Relay depot to Cohn station held.
There is good reason for believing that many lives were lost when the water rushed upon the lower part of the city early this morning.
The greatest number of fatalities probably occurred in the district around Denverside. There was nobody to give warning there, it is thought, and the water rushed over that part of the city quickly.
United States District Attorney Dyer called upon the steamboat inspectors to confiscate all lifeboats on the steamers in the St. Louis harbor and send them to East St. Louis for use in the relief work.
Food is imperatively needed in East St Louis. Secretary Thomas L. Fekets of the relief committee said: "We have 10,000 people to feed and there is little or nothing for them to eat."
OFFERS OF AID DECLINED.
Foreign Representations Regarding Kishineff Displeasing to Russia.
Washington, June 11.—Numerous offers have reached the Russian government from American sources to help the families of sufferers in the recent Kishineff incident. All such offers have been declined for the reason that Russia is entirely capable of extending relief and under the circumstances cannot accept outside aid.
The Russian position in the matter, in brief, is as follows:
Russia has not been unappreciative of the generous offers which have come to her from America since the affair at Kishineff nor of the humanitarian motive which may have prompted these offers. In view of the fact that the emperor has the means at hand to relieve suffering wherever it appears in his empire, outside aid is unnecessary and all offers of such must be declined.
Nor will it be possible for Russia to receive any representations regarding the Kishineff incident from a foreign power. The Russian government takes the same position as that long held by the American government namely, that it refrains from interference in the internal affairs of another power and must insist on similar treatment for itself.
Should any foreign power take steps to restrict immigration of Russian Jews on the ground that they are undesirable, Russia will not protest. She admits the right of every nation to say who shall come through its gates and who shall not. Should any country, as a result of the Kishineff incident, adopt measures restricting immigration of Russian Jews, Russia will regard such a step only as a defensive measure on the part of the power taking it and not in the light of a reflection on the Russian government.
PAGE FOUR—EDITORIAL.
Spelling in School.
The board of education of the city of Utica is agitating the subject of more careful training in matter of spelling. The complaint is made that this important branch of education is being most lamentably neglected, and there is promise of a reform. The move is a wise one. The bad speller is an unfortunate being. He is subject to mortification all his life. His blunders stand in his way as he goes on. They come up at important times. He writes a letter of application for a place, and if the desired position has anything to do with clerical work a misspelled word in the letter is likely to be fatal to his aspirations. Correct spelling, correct capitalization and correct punctuation, together with a plain and legible hand writing, are essentials, and should be conscientiously and persistently cultivated. The measure of many a man or woman is taken by these and on these features often depend the question of whether a would be employer cares to know more of an applicant. Spelling, capitalization and punctuation have been passed over too lightly in many schools in recent years, and it is a glad day now that a reaction has set in.
The Utica Observer commenting on the situation in that city says: The subject of spelling in our public schools is never up without calling to mind an incident in The Observer office several years ago. We think we have told it before, but not recently. A young man came into the office to be a reporter. He could write good matter on occasions; but he couldn't spell. One day he handed up an item in which occurred the word "income." His attention was called to the word, which he had misspelled "incum." "Oh, yes," he said, brightly,—"I left off the 'b', didn't I?"
Dance at Park June 19.
Dillon Brothers will give a party to the married and young people at the Cortland park on Friday evening, June 19. They have engaged the Cortland orchestra to furnish music for their parties at the park during the summer and for their dancing classes and all receptions for the season of 1903 and 1904. [Street] cars will make their usual trips for the evening of 19th.
Business and Pleasure Trip.
Stephen E. Dillon left Tuesday night on the late train for New York and will this week join the National Dancing School association, whose convention is being held at Asbury park. He will familiarize himself with all the up-to-date and improved methods of popular dances for the coming season. This convention will not only bring the best instructors in the United States and Canada, but from Europe as well, and the meeting is to be the most important ever held. Dillon Bros. are also members of the Normal school association. Mr. Dillon was accompanied by his mother and they will later be the guests of John and Harry Dillon at their summer home at Centerport, L. I.
MISS RATHBUN'S CLASS
Takes an Outing at Little York Lake Yesterday.
The members of Miss Amie Rathbun's class of young men in the First M. E. Sundayschool [sic] enjoyed their fifth annual picnic at Little York lake yesterday afternoon.
This picnic, which has become one of the regular features of the class, becomes of more interest from year to year. The membership of the class is large and is composed of many of the most popular young men of the city and of the Normal school.
The class accompanied by an equal number of young ladies left yesterday afternoon in single rigs, and carryalls. They had chartered the boats at the lake and supper was served at the Raymond House. It goes without saying that all enjoyed the usual good time.
The toast list was as follows:
Toastmaster, R. Guy Leonard.
Our Teacher, Carey C. D. Briggs.
The Class, Miss Rathbun.
The Meeting Place, Ernest Conrad.
The Ladies, H, L. Bostwick.
Reminiscences of Former Gatherings, Miss Wright.
The Sundayschool, Elmer McCarthy.
Faces Old and New, R. Paul Higgins.
Among the members of the class are: Carey C. Briggs, Stuart Dye, R. Guy Leonard, Lynn Brown, Ralph Ames, Charles Hammond, Albert Brown, Ford White, Charles Sanders, Ernest Conine, Harry Huling, Eugene McAllister, H. L. Bostwick, Ernest Mudge, Merton Pearce, Seward Harris, Elmer McCarthy, Glenn Persons, Willis Greenfield, LeRoy Finn, Vernon Peck, R. Paul Higgins, Dr. Joseph E. Burchall, Edward McCullough, Earl Phelps, Truman Thompson, Collins Holcomb, Earl Conrad, Ernest Conrad, Floyd Relyea, Smith Van Marter and Edward Vincent.
Farewell Party.
The students of the Cortland Business Institute will give their friends a farewell party at the Cortland park, Friday evening, June 12. Those attending may take any regular car which will run one half hour schedule on that night. Dancing and light refreshments. Music by the Cortland orchestra. Admission by ticket. Present your invitations at the door.
Free! Free! Free!
Friday and Saturday, a handsome china salad dish with 50 cents worth of tea, coffee, spices, baking powder or extracts. Great A. & P. Tea Co., 10 Main-st., John P. Mack, Mgr. [Paid ad.]
The Ithaca Epidemic.
Careful statistics are being compiled of the number of people in Ithaca who were ill with typhoid fever during the recent epidemic. It appears that the number will slightly exceed 1,300. Dr. Soper, the representative of the state board of health, is compiling the statistics.
NEW NORMAL TEACHERS.
One Vacancy Filled—Two Additional Teachers Appointed.
At a meeting of the local board of the Cortland Normal school held yesterday afternoon, Prof. Chas. B. Robertson, instructor in science in the Pennsylvania Normal school at Indiana, Pa., was chosen to succeed Prof. W. M. Booth, resigned; Miss Mary M. Conway, now training class instructor in the Springville, N. Y., High school, was chosen as an additional critic in the Intermediate department, and Miss Ella M. Van Hoesen, now a primary teacher in the Central school in this city, was chosen an additional critic in the Primary department. Both the ladies are graduates of the Cortland Normal in the classical course, Miss Conway in '95 and Miss Van Hoesen in '89.
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| Photo credit Cortland County Historical Society. |
A LIVELY CHASE
Revolver Fired Before Prisoner Would Halt—Officers Busy.
Four officers and a citizen had a lively time last night in securing the arrest of fleet-footed James Fairchild. On April 27 be was sentenced to six months in Onondaga penitentiary for public intoxication and between police court and the jail he gave the slip to Officer James Edwards, who is no sprinter, and disappeared across the Normal school grounds going at a 2:40 [horse racing] gait while the best speed the officer could put in the pursuit would not exceed a three minute clip. All trace of him was lost, but several times since he is known to have been at his home in the east side of the city.
Last night word came that he was there and Night Captain Baker, Patrolmen Bowker and Townsend, Deputy Sheriff Jas. E. Edwards and B. O. Van Buren, a citizen, went down to get him. The house was surrounded and Officer Edwards was sent inside to get the man. Fairchild rushed up stairs and came out on a piazza roof, not knowing that the others were in the yard. When he saw them he remained on the roof. He was told to come down but refused. Officer Bowker was then sent in and up to the roof to make the arrest. He went out through one window and at the same moment Fairchild went in through another window and locked both windows on the inside leaving the officer standing on the outside. He finally broke a glass and unlocked the window.
Fairchild then ran into the cellar and the three men on the ground tried to guard four sides of the house. Officer Bowker followed into the cellar and Fairchild escaped through an outside hatchway on the east side of the house. Officer Townsend had just stepped to the other side of the house to guard a window. Van Buren saw him go and shouted "There he goes." Officer Townsend at once gave chase and the race was a hot one toward Port Watson bridge. The officer was simply holding his own. He called to him to stop, but he ran the faster. The officer then fired one shot past him from his revolver. This had no effect and a second ball followed the first one. This kicked up a dust pretty close to the fugitive's heels and he halted for a moment, but as he saw the officer approaching dashed on again. Just at the approach to the bridge, however, his wind gave out and the officer got him by the collar.
He was soon behind barred doors.
This morning in police court he was resentenced to Onondaga for six months. Officer Edwards was detailed to take him up tomorrow and he says if the prisoner gets away from him this time no one will ever see him in Cortland again.
BREVITIES.
—The new display advertisements today are—Mrs. Everts, Fashionable millinery, page 6; J. B. Kellogg, Half price special sale of ladies' tailored suits, page 8.
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