Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-04-27

SAINT PAUL, w
would sleep, nor did they care, and they pro-
badly did not realize that calamity had oc-
cured until they were put to bed in strange
house late at night.
POLICE PATROLS.
The chief of police assigned four officers
under Sergeant Walsh to take supervision OF
affairs in the inundated district, instructing
them to carefully patrol the region by boat,
and to render assistance wherever or whenever
needed. This they did all last night, alter
nately rowing over the flat and patroling Fifth
street. About II o'clock, however, the water
obtained such height that 1t broke over the
roadway of that thoroughfare in half dozen
places simultaneously. Teams were on hand,
and under direction of the police dumped
their loads at the points of danger, and strong
hands sought to build a barrier against the
rushing torrent. But it was of no avail. The
first faint rivulet was the precursor OF tor.
rent, and within an hour large crevasses had
been made in the street, and before l o'clock
the entire thoroughfare was sheet OF water
from point fifty feet east of the bridge to its
end.
| ''LoTs FOR SALE"
placarded here and there in the waste Of waters
was sad satire upon the existing state of
affairs. The lots were all under from one to
five feet of water, and even the ablest civil en-
gineer could find no metes and bounds to any
| Of them. A few real estate agents having
property in that locality drove over during the
day, but returned to the city Disguised after
a very brief inspection. During the day
OVER 4 HUNDRED FAMILIES
moved from the inundated district Some of
them departed for good. Many of them, who
| ter subsidies, but will at once agitate the sub
| ject of a levee and endeavor by every means in
| their power to make their habitations secure
against any future recurrence of disaster.
HELPING HANDS.
Among those who were promptly on hand
and ready to help all in need of assistance,
were ex-Ald. Jerry Mccarthy and Aid. Chas.
Ringwald. They appeared to be omnipresent,
and labored till long after nightfall to assist
| those in need of their aid County Attorney
Egan, l. v. D. Helrd, Esq, Sheriff Richter,
Chief of Police Weber, and other prominent
citizens, were also on hand ready for any emer-
gency and rendering assistance wherever it was
necessary.
Mr. John B. Hoxie, of the firm of Hoxie q
Jaggar, was early on the field, and with two
teams worked early and late, without money
and without price, to save the effects of the
people invested by the food. He received the
hearty thanks of scores whom he helped to
save their goods.
AT MIDNIGHT
there was a very perceptible rise in the water.
A perfect torrent tore through the culvert
over the creek, and almost every house on the
flat was surrounded by water. Currents had
made themselves manifest where they had not
hafo thoro wa ~
the houses would be undermined and fall No
such accident had occurred, however, up to
the time the GLOBE reporter left the scene,
and indeed no accident whatever endangering
human life had taken place.
An Erenin0 Call.
Between 8 and 10 o'clock last evening a
GLOBE reporter crossed the bridge on tour
of observation. AS he reached the opposite
side of the river he encountered considerable
crowds of people gathered in The street, dis
cussing the situation. Starting to go down
Fifth street, the .thoroughfare between the
flooded and the threatened portion Of the
ward, he was hailed by policeman who
gave the friendly warning:
"Unless you have very important business,
you had not better 60 down the street. It is
dangerous and you are liable to be cut OFT
and not be able to return"
In spite of this warning the reporter pushed
on picked his way half mile or more down
the dark and narrow street, which was serving
as a temporary breastwork to stay
the water from completely sub
merging the remainder of the fat.
He encountered men and women with chill
dren in their arms, the first group he met re-
peating the warning of the policeman as they
hurried along to the high ground. There
were two or three venturesome trucks still
uiYor
were met carrying away loads OF human
freight. Here and there lantern!would be
found carried by some Pedestrian land its feeble
rays showea upon what a slender thread the
waters were beng held. Numerous teams
were still engaged in dumping dirt on the
most threatened portions OF the street, and all
the way the water came up to the level OF the
street Occasionally low.spot would require
a little wading, as the water gently coursed
across. Many of the houses between Fifth
street and the bluff had boats drawn up at
their front doors, to be prepared
for the inevitable. A good many were out
anxiously watching the rising of the waters
and counting the time when the flood would
cross the street and render transportation only
possible by boats. 1t was gloomy scene as
the reporter hurridly inspected the temporary
later he found the water had
made rapid progress, and though
the teams were still dumping dirt, their work
was evidently fruitless and would soon have
to be abandoned. The last truck had left and
the last hack came whirling past the reporter
nearly crowding him into the river; as he re-
turned from his tour, only the working teams
and gangs remained on the street. Half an
hour later the efforts to stay the food ceased,
communication, save by boat, was cut off,
and, when he reached the high ground again,
the reporter fully realized that the warning OF
the policeman was pertinent.
Scenes and Incidents.
There were many incidents Of the flood that
would be considered comical but for the Sc
rious surroundings. 1t was
GENERAL MOVING DAY.
People dld not stop to effect q lease of a new
dwelling; they took up their beds and walked
to whatever house appeared to be above the
high water mark. Though they were heartily
| welcomed, they did not selicit the welcome.
They took possession with the utmost non
challance, and none challenged their right to
| any spot of ground they might choose to oc-
cupy. 1t was emphatically free-and-easy
| community. Those on high land shared their
| homes with whoever came, without even the
formality of an introduction, and freely abdi-