Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-04-21
DAMAGE
BY FLOOD AND FIRE AT DIFFERENT
POINTS.
The Western Waters Cause Havoc in Many
Cities-Great Damage to Railroads
Several Towns Entirely Destroyed
by the fitful Flames.
THE GENERAL NEWS OF YESTERDAY.
THE RAGING WATERS.

Bridges, Railroads, Houses and Other OBJ
stacles Swept Away-The Damage In
calculable.
CHICAGO, April 20.-Dispatches from
along Rock river, in Illinois and Wiscon-
sin, say that it is higher than ever known
before and is doing immense damage.
At Sterling, Illinois, it is twelve feet
above low water mark and still rising
For twenty-four hours the immense
manufacturing interests OF Rock Falls,
opposite Sterling, have been threatened
with destruction, and night and day
hundreds OF men have been working for
dear life to protect the hulkheads and
race way. II the water should rise
another foot the loss would be
enormous. The lower portion OF
Sterling is flooded, the fair grounds
submerged, and distilleries with one
hundred cattle are on an Island with
water crowding on all sides. The Chi
cago and North Western track for five
miles is covered with water and much OF
it is washed away. The track between
Clinton and Dixon has been abandoned
and there is no communication with the
outside world except by telegraph wire.
Between Sterling & Erie it has over
flowed and is covering the country for
miles, and il it continues rising the de.
struction will be fearful. Thousands OF
anxious people line the river watching
the fearful flood which at times runs in
waves three or four feet high.
At Fl. Atkinson, Wis, all the low
lands near the river are flooded, and the
ice comes down in large chunks, crush.
ing bridges and every obstacle in its
path. The water is within few inches
OF the top OF the piers Of the city bridge,
and the ice has already moved the
bridge over a foot on its foundation and
broken two stringers. The Chicago and
Northwestern bridge is much damaged,
and it is pronounced dangerous to
travel.
At Rockford, all the dwellings on
Loomis, Montague, Wall, Morgan and
Knowlton streets are flooded, the water
in many cases running in the windows,
and the people have been forced to leave
their homes.
The water is 90 inches higher than the
high water mark of 1877. The river is
two miles wide at some places north and
south of here, and many farmers have
large fields Of winter wheat five feet
under water. The White Meadows are
equally flooded above Elgin. Fox river
broke its gorie and dam, and the ice and
water tore out the dams at Carpenters
vile and burke, and at Elgin the river
rose two feet above high water mark,
breaking the dam and sweeping away
the fine iron bridge OF the Chicago Mil
waukee and st. Paul X. X. Just south oil
the city, taking barns and out houses,
and flooding the easements and first
floors of the stores in the chief streets.
The damage 40 far is estimated at from
$4,000 to 100000, and another ice
gorge threatens the city with further
havoc. All the mills, manufactures
and water powers have suspended oper
ations indefinitely. 1t is estimated that
the water in Kane county alone has
damaged properly to the extent OF $780,
600. At Beioit there has been some
damage and great apprehension, but
the worst danger seems to be over. In
the newspaper offices the hands are
working with foot of water under
them.
Five Men Drowned in the Flood.
BKLoIr, Wis, April l0.-At four this
morning the bulkhead and part OF the
drawout of Barrett, Arnold & kimbalPs
straw board mill went out. The night
foreman, VIM. Comstock, and five men
from the Rock River Paper Companys
Fast Side mill started across the river in
a scow to help save the bulkhead, and
were capsized. All were drowned save
Jno. X. Lingberger, who was rescued
two miles below clinging to tree. The
names OF the drowned are VIM. Com
stock, Al. Griffin, Dan Onderkirk, AL.
Bucklew and John Onderkirk. All
leave families.