Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-04-29
AMPHrBIOUS GLOBE REPORTERS
Gather Up the Incidents, Accidents and
Events Of the Day.

Yesterday was the third day OF lle 1ood at
West st. Panl, but IL differed little from the
two preceding days, save in the fact that those
who had clung to their houses through evil
and good report found when the morning
broke that the necessity for hasty removal
was greater than ever. There were but few of
these-not more than score of families who
were located east of Bridge street in the
vicinity of Langevin's hotel. They had per-
sistentiy refused to vacate their houses, laugh.
ing at the fears Of their neighbors and scout
ing the warnings of their friends, asseverating
that 1t wasn't going to be much Of flood
anyhow. When the water began to creep into
their kitchens, and then mounted to the sitting
room and parlor, and gradually came within
reach of the window sills they began to mani
fest little anxiety.
SIGNALS OF DISTRESS
were flung out here and there on the fiat, and
sk ifs hastily summoned to the rescue. These
we're promptly on hand, and manned by ex.
perienced oarsmen were instrumental in bring
ing to Bridge street causway and The bluffs
beyond the town nearly all the human beings
imprisoned in the submerged district.
NIGHT UNDER WATER.
Few have any conception of what terrors
some of the people on the flat passed through
on Wednesday night. A lady who was shut
off from communication with thu shore, and
who reached Bridge street about 10 O'Clock
Yesterday morning with child in her arms
and few precious household effects about her,
described to GLOBE representative her feel.
ings during her stay amid the raging torrent
IN the blackness of the night. Her house was
situated short distance from Fifth street on
piece of raised land that had resisted the en-
croachments of the food up to Wednesday
evening. When night set in there were ten
feet of dry lard in the door yarda on either
eide of the house and no current
refused the offers Of assistance to remove to
place of safety, considering there would be
no danger during the night. The family re-
tired early, fatigued with the labors and anx-
ietles of the day. About 10 O'Clock narrow
neck of land that had hitherto kept back the
food was washed away, and current at once
set in. The family was awakened by tie rush
of mass of debris against the building, and
almost simultaneously the water poured with
unrestrained fury in at the basement windows.
In an incredibly short space of time the entire
basement was filled with water, and outside
could be heard the wash of the torrent as 1t
rushed under the windows ard around the cor.
ners of the house. Every few minutes mass
OF driftwood propelled with giant force would
strike the house, causing it to tremble vic.
lently, and exciting apprehensions that it
would be swept from It's foundations. As
the waters encroached the carpets were taken
up and everything portable placed upon the
tables or carried into the upper
story of the house. Sleep was banished from
every eye, and in anticipation of the worst, a
raft was nailed together and securely fastened
to the doorstep. When all possible to be done
had been accomplished, the lady, her husband
and two children seated themselves 10 await
the coming crisis. 1t was night of genuine
terror for all. None knew what great
calamity was in store for them, and as all sur.
rounding objects were obscured by the dark.
ness, they possessed double terror. Every
piece of timber that floated by was magnifed
a hundred fold, and the approach OF section
of fencing appeared like large float of logs
bent on sweeping all before it. When the
morning began to dawn there was great
feeling of relief among the imprisoned people,
for it was then discovered that the rise had not
been as great as had been thought, and that
the house would be able to resist the food for
hours if not until Its complete subsdence.
But the prospect was anything but pleasing
one. The waters were surging
and seething in every direction,
and apparently Increasing in momentum
each minute. Efforts to attract attention
from the shore were fortunately successful,
and the family was safely landed, after some.
what perilous journey, upon the Bridge street
causeway. Subsequently much of the furni-
ture of the house was removed to secure
place.
THE APPEARANCE OF THE FLAT
yesterday morning was not greatly changed
during the night. There was more water
flowing over Fifth street, and boats that the
night before were unable to cross that
thoroughfore found free passage. The
fences had disappeared from many localities,
and most of the outhouses and summer
kitchens had been swept down the stream Oh
were lodged in some clump of trees or against
some other obstruction. Quite number OF
the smaller houses between the river and
Fifth street had become undermined and were
toppled over, some on their sides and Others
on their corners. They were nearly all well
anchored. however, and would remain in posi-.
tion permanently unless at least foot more
water should come down stream or float OF
logs should come along in force. There were
currents in every direction whirling first this
way and then that, and threatening almost
every point on the fiat. The streams that
swept through the culyerts with terrible force
widened as they progressed, and scattered the
debris far and wide over vast extent of coun
try, but most of it was carried far adown tht