Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1867-07-27
THEGREAT FREsHET
Detailed Account Of EFents at
81. An.hOny's Falls.
50, ,ooo, 900 Feet Of Logs Over
tho Falls.
90, 100000 FEET LEFT.
A LADY'S PRESENCE or MIND

4 LADY'S PRESENCE OF MIND.
From tho we'll written, but somewhat
lengthy account furnished the St. Paul Press
Of the 23d, by its Minneapolis reporter, un-
der date Of 5P. NJ, July 22d, We extract
the folio wing particulars Of the great ireshe.:
rBB LOGS.
Since my last report we have been pass
ing through series of misfortunes. The
report closed at ) p. NJ. on Saturday alter
noon, and the subsequent telegram announc
ed the loss In logs. Perhaps after tha, there
was no great increase IN the volume II wi>
Ter, but such was its immense power and
dee,ruciveness, that il seemed impossible
that the night could pass without new dis>
n.ters to tue booms above Us.
The shores Of the river were lined with
citizens, watching the rushing current At
l. o'clock It was discovered that the river
was Fl ling with logs. and in few moments
was black with them from shore to shore.
The grcs. Coon Creek boom had at last
: ven way, and the dark objects svsrmed
in such numbers as to precluds oil then
ories Of . lesser disaster. For three hours
ttto tCriotis iIVul pibtIiSs NV dtibcu past,
aud twenty two million fee. of logs went
4 wn over the falls. When Sabbath morn
ing da~nea only few straggleis Of the
grand army were driving past, as II to over
take it.
Tue BRIDGES.
ATT A. NJ, OH Sunday the abutment on
Nicolet Island, belonging to the main
bridge Of the Pacific railroad. between Mn
neapoiis and the Island, toppled forward
aud el into the current. Tue uncertain
strata OF stone on which it had been built
mad been undermined by the rushing wa
ter. The end of the span of trestle work
supported by the abutment dropped also,
and now rests upon the submerged pier. 1t
was fortunate position Of affairs, for if the
masonary had gone to pieces, the span
would have gone down stream, and our sus-
pension bridge would no longer have
stretched its graceful line across the river
Two men were on the span next west OF
the falling portion, and young woman wa
actually on the falliEs trcstlc at .he time Of
the disaster. She clu.ched at an iron sup.
port, caught it, and was saved Her feet
touched the seething current. With great
presence OF mind she walked up the inclin-
ed plane to the intact portion Of the struc
ture, and retraced her steps across the bridge
TO her home IN Minneapolis. She has been
unable to te about since, SO great was the
shock to her nerves.
Ilhm diate measures were taken to secure
the fallen restle. A dozen stout ropes and
| several chains now secure the framework
| to the island, and hopes are entertained
that it is safe. If the span is saved, two
tl,nnoonA Aniiava 10 ho ta Vanfaca
the abutment and put the treste in position
W When the disaster to the railroad bridge
| occurred, imme li4te efforts were made to
secure tne Suspension Bridge against the
impending danger. Strong cables were OBJ
tanned, W hich stretched from the maj br d ge
cables up the stream TO the trees on either
| side OF the river. The piers which sustain
the guys on the upper side of the bridge
were gone, and tho bridge swung laterally
usder the influence of the wind. This and
the wooden bridge over the st. Anthony
channel was closed to foot travel, and tn e
only avenue to the island was by the ST.
| Anthony railroad bridge.
| Attention was next turned to the wreck Of
the old North Minneap1 lie Bridge, one span
| Of which and the turn table survived the ice
run in the spring of 1866. II was indeed
| IN most precarious condition, seric uslv
endangering the safety of the bridge aud
n,lls below. The supporting bea MS Of the
span and the turn>table beam were cut,
r, pes we're fastened to the span, and before
long it gave way and fell of before the cur
rent, amid the shouts Of the multitude -
The turn>tab.e now remains, but in its old
position, and should it fall arrangements
bave been perfected to prevent il dong any
| damage.
| The 81. Anthony bridge remains in the
same state as at the es,s of my last report
| Strong cables have been literally attached
TO it The middle span has moved aaout
foot on the piers but does not overhang
the masonry. The jam Of logs, between
the -lond aud ST. An,hcny shore is tre>
Inendous, and the whole pressure is against
the piers al d treste work Of the briige.-
Should the bridge give way. the mills on
the ST. Anthony side will certainly be
swept Oft Hopes are entertained of say
ing the bridge. Not person is allowed on
1t, as the slig htest vibration may star. the
mass.
THE SAW MILLS.