Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-04-28
TIE MINNESOTA RIVER RISING.
But Upper Mississippi is not Ad-
vancinq at Any Alarming Rate.
THE SCENES AND INCIDENTS
AsGathered Hither and Yon by the
Water Nymphs Of the Globe.

The entire population of ST. Paul was agog
at an early hour yesterday morning, ald the
streets bordering on the river were early lined
with spectators watching the rush of waters
in the channel of the Mississippi river. All
eyos were strained in the direction Of West st.
Paul, and many were the speculations as to
the probable results OF the days rise. The
overflow of Fifth street had first been COM
municated to the public through the columns
of the GLOBE, and those who had previously
regarded the overflow as a mere incident OF
little significance began to fear for results.
THE OLDEST INHABITANT-
the greatest idiot In existence-was on hand
nlentifully, and expressed the usual predictions
and made the usual comparisons 1t was not
much of flood anyhow, according 10 his
idea. The river had been great deal higher
IN '59, or in 4o, or in some year in the far dis
tant past when Father Hennepin or Jonathan
Carver, ct al, were prowling about. He bad
seen the river on the rampage at some time
since he first settled in this vicinity, to which
the present rise was not a circumstance. With
hands in pockets he perambulated the streets,
recalling incidents of this or that overflow of
long years agone, and making nuisance oil
himself generally. 1t would not have been
difficult to prove, by the testimony of a score
of old settlers, that there was not drop of
water over the banks of the river on either
side. A float of logs or debris, with a sprink-
ring of outhouses and shanties, produced only
shrug of the shoulders, aud the
remark that though there was cousid-
erable water somewhere, 1t was of no
account when compared with genuine flood,
such as was seen decade or two ago.
In passing 1t may be in order to express the
hope that tie next time the fool-killer makes
his rounds he will rot overlook the fact that
the Oldest innabtant exists, and that very
numerously, in st. Paul.
While there may not have been as much
water in the channel opposite the city as there
has been in times past, there was enough to
satisfy the most exaeting resident of West St.
Paul. There was water everywhere, but not a
drop fit to drink, on the further side of the
bridge. Even the most enthusiastic advocates
of the water cure were of the opinion that the
business had been oyerdone, and were willing
10 foreswear their hobby for day or two.
AS stated in the GLOBE Of yesterday morn
ing, the waters swept over the slender barrier
in their course, created by the grade of Fifth
street towards midnight, and by daylight the
only avenue of communication with dry land
was
CUT OFF CoMPLETELr. -
Men who had retired on the previous even
ing needless of the warnings of their neigh
bors, awoke to fnd their houses surrounded
with water, and strong current sweeping off
their fences and outhouses. An attempt was
made by few venturesome persons to reach
Bridge street along Fifth, and establish CON-
munication by that avenue, but the rush of
the waters prevented, and they were obliged to
retire and wait for help from the outside.
t. To- ,x.;,, pr-I Iox l.
every man who owned or controlled a boat
was on hand--a few with the purpose
of receiving whatever of value might
be in danger of destruction, but the majority
intent on turning an honest penny. Pennies
did not suffice, however, for this latter class.
They recognized their harvest time in the
emergency, and demanded the most exorbit-
ant rates. From two to four dollars an hour
was demanded for the use of skiff that could
be constructed fora five dollar note. Some
paid the extortionate demands; others decided
10 run the risk of the loss of their furniture
rather than submit. The police force did
what they could to prevent the eXtortioD, but
in the absence of the law applying to water
craft were practically powerless. They insti-
tuted a sharp competition, however, by using
some half dozen boats to the utmost limit
and without charge removed score or more
families to terra frma.
The breaking of the Fifth street causeway
created
4 SCORE OF CURRENTS
of greater or less momentum that threatened
even the strongest of foundations with destruc
ton. These swept down the street with al
most resistless fury, carrying on their crests
masses of driftwood from the river that were
preclpitated against fences, houses and barn:
with extreme violence. The boatmen founi
their utmost strength and skill taxed to eros:
the torrent that poured along the avenues, ant
the utmost vigilence was required t. elude tht
drift that kept coming in almost endless sue
eession. The swish of the torrent was almos
Che only sound that was heard over the vas
expanse of five miles or more. At least al
other sounds were subdued compared with 1t
Men might shout at the top of their voices
but their most stentorian tones were pun,
and Insignificant in the pres
ence of the mighty rusl
and rustic of the a,l-pervading voters. It wa
grand yet terrible TO witness the resistless cur
rents rs they swept onward to the sea, lproot
Ing trees and bearing great masses of debri
upon their crests.
Those residents on the fat who had neglec,
ed to move their household goods were com
PEELED to make the best of their bargain. o.
Tuesday they could go or not; yesterday the
had
HopsoN's CHOICE.
They were obliged to move or be drowned, an
few of them cared TO run the risk of drown