Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1880-06-10
A notwithstanding Sight as thu
Waters Recede.
DAMAGES 100000 DOLLARS

nothing SO terrible as the flood which
has devastated our city the past week.
The freshets Of 1S47 and 1864 were
most terrible manifestations of the
power of water, but they pale into
comparative insignif canoe before the
terrible picture presented by the food
of 1880. Then, the country was new,
and both commerce and mechanics
were comparatively strangers among
us; to-day, we had grown into a pros
pering city with promising outlook,
betokening prosperity and happiness
to those who have struggled against
misfortunes in the past years.
But little fears of food were APP
pretended when, little over a week
ago the water came up to a frightf'll
stage. 1t receded and no damage was
experienced. Heavy and sweeping
rains followed, extending to the water
shed on the north. and the country al
ready soaked, had only to contribute
it's vast rain fall to the tributaries of a
mighty river which was already an
gered and threatning.
On Saturday the 18th inst. the riv-
er began again to swell, and telegram
received from Wausau brought the un-
welcome news that the river had risen
to height tDeaty three inches above
the highest water mark of the subsid-
ing flood. Our people were aroused,
but they did not take in the situation.
The vast contribution Of the tributar-
les this side Wausau were not consid-
cred, and only when the water began
to trickle through the slab embank-
ments and run in little rills. fast swell
ling into angry brooks, cutting their
way through the main street of the
city, did we consider the impending
peril in all its terrible proportions.
During Saturday night the water
continued steadily to rise, increa sing
in force and swelling in volume.
Mr., Bell, the night Waterman, was
directed by some of our citizens to
arouse them if, in his opinion, it were
necessary, and about half past two
o'clock Sunday morning he dispatched
messengers to Messrs. Brundage &
Ferguson that their place was in dan
ger. Both Immediately hurried to
their place of business, finding the
aspect threatning in the extreme. The
river, like an unclaimed demon, was
threatning to submerge everything in
the path of its terrible anger.
As day dawned the streets began to
be peopled with anxious ones, many of
whom worked with a will to extend
help in the extreme peril.
HARDWARE STORE GONE.
About half past three o'clock oc-
Cured the most terrible calamity of
the flood. The tin shop connected
with the hardware store of Messrs.
Brundage & Ferguson parted from the
main building and with it tons of
stoves, nails and heavy goods went
down in the seething tide, carrying
with it Mr.. Ferguson, who was in the
rear room endeavoring to remove the
more valuable Of the stock. The
building careened and fell in to the
hell of waters, upon its south corner,
precipitating the vast stock upon the
unfortunate man and probably burying
him with the debris in the bottom of
the river. He
MADE NO CRY
and the food bore on the doomed
building till crashing against the
bridge it went into a thousand. pieces
and foated away mass of splinters
in the food below, Mr.. Brundage
narrowly escaped like fate. He was
in the building, but so near the door
that spring saved him. He fell in
to the food, but striking upon rock,
and Just grasping the sill, he sue
ceeded in crawling out, bruised and
partially stunned, but arouslng he ran
down to the bridge crying
HELP! HELP MAN IN THE RIVER,
but before he reached the bridge the
ruins clinging to the pier told the aw-
full fate that had befallen ''poor
George"
By this time the city was aroused.
The waters had materially risen. and
it was only with difficulty that parties
could make the transit of the street.