The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1881-04-28

We cave was remarked by those
"old settlers " who had seen the Min
nesota disregard all etiquette i'll 1855
and 1867 and spread out its surplus ele.
ment beyond all reason, and rise to the
unprecedented height of % feet. They
had told these marvellous legends of by,
gone years with the utmost sang ,froid
SO many times TO the fresh ones, that
they really began TO think the like
would never be observed by the present
generation. But last Sunday rs they
critically watched the present flood
creep up foot by foot to their old augcr
holes and carefully marked trees, their
minds began TO waver, and when on
Monday they saw these self same labels
disappear from view under several
inches of water, they forcibly ejacu-
lated, We cave, the boys can use our
heads for footballs if they ever hear
us Dragging of high water again" In
fact, the situation began to- look des-
perate in some localities on Monday
morning, for the water had raised an
extra IL inches Sunday night, and it
continued rising slowly but steadily un-
til Tuesday, when the unparalleled
height of "a feet above low water mark
was reached. 1t was not until last
week Thursday and Friday that any
grave apprehensions were felt for the
safety of the big bridge. Then the au-
thorities ordered loads of stone and rub
bish to be drawn for the protection of
the approach on the Nicollet side,
which availed but little, for the Ell
croaching flood soon cngulfed all their
labors and crept up the stone piers of
the main structure to an uncomfortable
height. Saturday, the Mayor ordered
the main bridge kept clean, and sta
toned men upon it with long hooks to
prevent the floating trees and snags from
lodging. Saturday, Sunday and Mon
day boats piled between Cummings adj
dition and the foot of Jackson street
bringing over families, household goods
and live stock.
The railroad company also recognized
the perilous condition their grade would
be in if the water rose much higher,
and in anticipation of such crisis kept
an engine, fiat cars and men to work
night and day rip-rapping and driving
stakes and brush, but too late, the strain
was so great that On Sunday afternoon
the whole north corner gave way and
the rushing torrent swept the tons Of
quicksand, together with the ties and
rails away in the twinkling of IN eye,
Twisting the iron track nearly double
with the same ease rs if they were made
OF straw. Gradually, too. the long piles
that looked uncomfortably high only II
week ago. became submerged until
their tops were no longer visible the
ice breakers were lost sight of by the
rushing torrent days ago the entire
territory of West Mankato was sub
merged on Monday, as well as the bottom
lands of the Blue Earth river, sight no
one ever before saw; the Van Brunt
slough, the wagon road to the Wells
depot and the high foot bridge to the
same all became submerged: Monday
the water backed up in the cutters to
Second street: the office of the Boo
bachter became flooded, and all the base
ments along Front street were hastily
empticd of their contents; skillful boat
men were stationed above the city to
obstruct the trees and trim off their
branches before allowing them to float
further. Every precaution has been
taken by the authorities to prevent acct
dent and loss of life or property, for
which they have merited the thanks OF
the community.