Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1858-1859, 1859-07-09
Terrible Storm in Olmstead County.


The Rochester Free Press of the End, re-
lates that on the Thursday preceding, tre-
mendous rain storm, accompanied with wind,
lightning, and heavy peals of thunder occur
red at that place. The Free Press says:
1t is estimated that from twelve to sixteen
inches of rain must have fallen during the
progress of the storm.
Bear Greek rose in the night to such an ex-
tent that its waters spread cut, east of town,
like a lake. The bridge which spans it, and
the emSankment across the bottom, both of
which have recently been built at considera-
BILE expense, were washed away, and crossing
was rendered utterly impossible.
The mass of water from Bear Creek pour
ing into the Zumbro raised the latter stream,
below the upper bird &c, to a height equal to
that attained in the freshet of last year, and
the water then kept increasing, while above
the bridge, at this time, e o'clock, A. NJ it
had risen but very little. 1t shortly, howev-
err, began to give indications of what was COM
ing, and rapidly began to rise. From half
past eight, A. NJ, to one O clock, P. NJ, it rose
a little over ten feet, a height three feet great
er than it attained at the freshet last year.
The embankment around the reservoir at
the lower mill was mostly swept away, and
an amount of damage done which it will take
several thousand dbllars to repair. The up
per part of the race of the upper mill was con-
siderably injured.
About noon the embankment at the east
end of the College street bridge became I'M
dermined by the rapid current, and about
twelve o'clock NJ. the whole structure sudden
ly gave way, and sinking into the steam was
swept down by the force of the torrent. The
bridge parted in several pieces but the most
of the timbers, by the eXertions of Mr.. Van
Dooser and several other citizens, were safely
landed and tied up to the bank, about quar-
ter of mile below the place where it had
stood
Several buildings on the east side of the riv
er were speedily surrounded by water, and the
occupants forced to leave, to escape drowning.
Head, Covill & Wilson'S Addition has suf-
fered considerably by the freshet The en-
bankment on the east, has been mostly, if not
entirely, washed away; but the dam at the
sou4h side being built of brush and earth
probably has not been greatly damaged. We
do not know the amount Of Messrs. Covill &
Co.'S loss, but it must be considerable.
We are unable at present to ascertain, even
approximately, the sum of the damage which
has been done by the recent storm along the
valleys of the Zumbro, Bear Creek and other
places liable to overfows from such heavy
and sudden rises of water, as the present
1t can, however, but be great Almost all the
farms in the low lands bordering the river,
are submerged, and the crops in such loca-
tons are probably ruined
To what extent the farmers have suffered,
we shall not be able to learn until the waters
have subsidized, which, if we have no more
rain, we moy reasonably expect in day or
two. At present, however, we are cut off
from all communication with the surrounding
country.
The present rise of the river and all the
other streams in this section, is unparalleled
in the history of the country, and the great
freshet of 1859 will ever be remembered by
our citizens.