The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-04-21

water. The most persistent efforts are re
quired to prevent the washing away OF
bridges and buildings. With that stream
rising every hour, the people living along
its banks have every reason to believe thai
the worst of the flood is still to come. NJ
merous accidents have already occurred in
consequence of the high water but then
severity has been greatly exaggerated.
THE MILAN BRIDGE.
AS noted yesterday the wood bridge
nearest Milan, and owned by this city, was
in danger during the morning. In the af
ternoon at 5 o'clock the bridge was carried
away. At the time of the accident six mer
were standing on the bridge, two of whom
managed to reach the shore after the
structure had given away, and the remain
| ing four were carried down the river. So
swift was the current that the men were
carried down past the railroad bridge, some
forty yards distant, before they made
their appearance above the water. The
names of the men were G. Clippenger,
David Hakes, NJ Tullman and Frank
Schillette.
The bridge was not totally destroyed, as
only three spans and two piers were
swept away.
The disaster was the result of a collision
with large tree which had floated down
the stream. 1t was expected that the tim
Der would pass under, and the men were
watching the log at the very moment when
it struck the pier The pier gave away
and the spans fell. into the river.
THE MEN.
The men on the bridge fell into the
water and were carried down the stream
along with broken timber. The people on
the banks ran down the river so as to be
able to render any assistance that might be
required 1t was expected that the railroad
bridge below. would also be destroyed,
but this expectation was not realized,
The debris f1oated under that bridge and
no harm was done to it.
The first man to make his appearance
above water was Hakes, and soon
the others were seen striving to
reach shore In a short time all of them
were safely landed. Clippenger was badly
injured in the region of the spine, by a
timber falling on him. He was conveyed
to his home in Milan and now lies in a cri-
teal condition. The remaining three were
not badly hurt.
The report that the two Tindall boys
had been carried away on the bridge was not
| in accordance with the facts
THIS MORNING.
During the night the river continued to
rise, the stage showing that rise of five
inches had taken place from shutdown to
to sunrise this morning.
This morning the situation at Milan is
much the same, the only difference being
for the worse. The view of the rushing
water as seen from
| BLACKHAwKS TOWER
| is one calculated to inspire both terror and
admiration. AS far as the eye can reachup
the river, the country seems like one vast
lake, dotted here and there by houses and
barns partially submerged, fences appear
at intervals among the trees, while the
swift current is fast tearing them away.
| THE BRIDGES.
yet remain, although it looks as if they
must soon 90 and if the water keeps on
raising as it is now doing the damage
already suffered will be small in compari-
sion to that which is to come. There
seems to be no iminent danger now to
any of the bridges except the south rail
! In
MIDDLE PIER.
of it and but few inches
more rise is necessary to carry it
away. All teams, except those used in
Transporting material for the embankment
are stopped at the toll gate and spectators
must walk from it to the further scene
MILAN
is totally under water and presents the
appearance of a drowned village. The
only means of passage through the princi-
pal streets is by boats, and many residences
as well as stores have been abandoned
THE WORK OF SAVING
the city and vicinity is being conducted by
volunteer relief parties, and under the cap
able supervision of Mayor Carse, are doing
good work. But on one embankment
THREE QUARTER OF A MILE LONG
there are but fifteen men at work and they
have been on duty for "a hours. The water
has risen to within
TWO INCHES
of the top of this embankment, the one east
of the city, and unless help is soon given it
must go, and if it does it will carry away
the embankment near the railroad depot,
and the track at that place. The only
HOPE OF SAFETY.
lies in help from abroad, and it must come
from this city. More men and material
are needed, and needed badly, and unless
some aid is furnished, the damage will be
incalculable
RELIEF.
Men and teams to work on the embank-
ments, are requested to report to Supt
Warren at C,itv Haaduuortorc +omorro1,-