The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-05-26
LOCAL AFFAIRS.
HEAVY THUNDER STORM.
Immense Fall of Rain.
Great Damage to Streets and
Sidewalks.
Incidents, &c.


self, ever witnessed greater fall of rain in so
short a space of time as that which fell from
the shower which passed over the city Satur.
day afternoon. About four o'clock in the of:
ternoon heavy, dark cloud was observed to
be raising in the west. An occasional fash OF
lightning would light up the horizon and the
muttering of distant thunder foretold one OF
those magnificent thunder storms for which
Minnesota used to be famous, but which dur
ing the past two or three years have been
strangers to the State. The dark mass passed
around to the north of the city at first, when
the south and east For time it seemed as
though the windows of heaven were opened
and another flood to overwhelm this portion of
the globe. In very few moments the ground
was covered as with sea. During short inter-
walls, when thu violence the storm would cease
for q moment, the water which everywhere
covered the face of the earth would collect
together in miniature lakes, and the ground
appear in scattered sections or rushing onward
would tear its way to the low ground toward
the river. Trout Brook was suddenly swollen
into river of respectable dimensions, and the
water disdaining the small channels left for its
accommodation in passing through the culverts
along the grading of streets which cross the
stream or that of the railroad, took these en-
bankments at a flying leap, and rolled its
mighty volume down to the Mississippi. Chan
nels were dug where no water ever flowed
before, and any impeachment in the way was
either undermined or carried away bodily.
Sidewalks were torn up, cellars and Easements
were filled, trees were uprooted, and on every
hand the mighty flood held high revelry. The
storm lasted for over an hour, during portion
of which time considerable hail fell also.
The principal damage done was to streets,
roads and sidewalks, and for some time to come
the street commissioner will find plenty OF
work for his entire force.
Among the sufferers in lower town was a
Belgian family, occupying the basement OF
Judge Goodrich's building on Jackson street.
The torrent rushing down the stairway flooded
their apartments so suddenly that they had no
time to remove any of their furniture. and
much Of what they had is total loss.
The stream that runs down Rice street was
swollen to the dimensions of river, covering
the whole street TO the depth of nearly foot,
and running like mill-race. The bridge on
Summit avenue was undermined, and one end
of it fell to the bottom of the stream. In
front of Mr.. Berkey's new house the street was
so much quilted as to be rendered impossible.
An unbroken sheet of water poured down Fort
into Eagle street, filling the cellar Of the stone
building just below the old Winslow House, to
the depth of three feet, and injuring goods be-
longing to Mr.. Webb to the amount OF several
hundred dollars. The flat between 81. fetel
and the upper end of Fort street was covered
with water which occasioned hasty evacua
ton of ground floors of many houses. VIZ
hear of but lille damage to property, but Il
will take considerable labor to put some OF tht
streets in as good condition as before thu
shower.