River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1881-10-20
THE RAGING WISCONSIN.
The Crooked and sandy Old River On
a Rampage-Great Destruction OF
Property.

y
EAU CLAIRE. Wis, Oct. IA heavy
rain set in the night before last and
continued all day yesterday. The
Chippewa had fallen several feet since
the rise of last week, and yesterday 1t
stood seven and half feet above low
water mark. Since then il has risen
six feet, and is coming up at the rate
of two and half inches per hour. The
Eau Claire has been rising still faster.
and bids fair to be the highest ever
known A telegram has just been re-
ceived hat the dam on Coon fork has
gone out The dam had a fourteen-ioot
head, and tAis, added to the already
large volume, is creating great anxiety
among all classes. At 4:30 this after
noon the southwest corner of the Chip
pewa block fell into the river. The
first story and basement were occupied
by the Free Press company. Their
type, imposing stones, ETC., situated in
the composing room, slid off into the
river and are a total loss. Tue presses,
engine, and other material in the base
ment, are badly broken and covered
with debris. The upper story was
leased by the Temple of Honor society,
and at the time of the accident the an
nual meeting of the state Christian
Temperance Union was in session with
some forty or fifty ladies in attendance.
At the first admonition of danger the
ladies and employees of the Free Press
company made rush for the street,
and happily all got out safely, but none
too soon, as the building fell almost inn
mediately. The loss to Chappell & Co
and the Free Press company is about
$4,000 each; Temple of Honor, $500.
People living on the flats in North and
West Eau Claire have been moving
their effects in anticipation of a flood.
1t is generally thought that the water
will reach eighteen to twenty feet above
low water.
MILWAUKEE. Oct. IA. The Wiscon-
sin river has been rising at rapid rate
the past "a hours. AT Wausau, water
covers the railroad track to the depth
of four or i've feet AT Stevens Point,
the dikes have been ordered opened,
and, if rain does not cease falling soon,
terrible results are anticipated from the
flood. Considerable damage has alrea-
dy been done The Black river has
risen eight feet in the past "a hours, and
is flooding the country about. At Port
age, the Wisconsin river is rising, but
more slowly, and no immediate danger
is anticipated unless rain continues to
fall for another "a hours.
MCGREGoR, Iowa, Oct 14.-Ten miles
of the track from Prairie du Chen east
on the Chi ago, Milwaukee and St. Paul
railway is under water, due TO the I'M
usual rise in the Wisconsin river.
Freight and passenger traffic here is
seriously interrupted by the high wa
ter, particularly between here and
North McCregor. Yesterday morning
passengers were transferred to North
McGregor from here by ferry boat. No
freight has been received here for ship
ment for several days. The water is at
present at standstill
ST.. PAUL, Mimi, Oct 1.-THE late
heavy rains have revived fears of fall
flood along the rivers This morning
at o'clock the river gauge at the levee
registered - feet inches, fall of 2
inches since 6 p. m. on Tuesday. Ate
O'Clock the register showed u feet 6
| inches, indicating stand in the river
The upper Mississippi is probably fall
| ing, which accounts for the present
condition at st. Paul. But, as an offset
that may have future effect, is the fact
that the Minnesota river at st. Peter is
rising. At 10 o'clock yesterday morn
ing at that point the river rose two or
three feet above the wagon roads, and
was still rising There has been hea-
Wy rain throughout the night. At 10
this morning there was a partial wealth
er clearance, succeeded by drilling
rain If there be any further rise in
the river at St. Paul it will probably
come from the Minnesota river. The
danger is greatest il towns along that
stream.