Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1883-06-14


a wagon belonging to Thos. O'Harrow
of Boice Greek. This was picked up
by the flood as if only feather. and
whirled down the street for about a
quarter OF mile where it lodged A
large pile of heavy rock was all that
saved the office of Mr.. Geo. Kinney and
DIR. Artz from being taken out, as the
raging storm swept around the Lewis
corner. just beyond this building was
heavy horse power. standing cross
ways of the street. This was picked up
and carried several rods and then drop
ped. Many cellars suffered from the
visitation, among them that of the Po-
tosi Creamery, run by M. c. Spaulding
d Co. Fortunately, the manufacturing
machinery was on the upper floor,
and the engine-room was well
protected, which saved the cream
cry from more than nominal damage.
The cellar at one time held two feet of
water, but drained rapidly out as soon
as the storm stopped.
Mr.. Geo. Lewis gives graphic dis
cription of the scene as the waters
broke forth from the culvert and came
down the street Mr.. Lewis had gone
to the front of his store when the rain
first began to fall, to wash off windows,
and was engaged in this when he hap
pened to look up street, and around
the corner by the mill saw the wave of
advancing water. To the eyes of the
gazer it appeared to be four feet high
and seemed to gather volume as it
swept along. Mr.. Lewis started for
his house,Iwhich lay in the track of the
flood, and had just time to fit in some
boards, prepared for occasions like this,
before the torrent swept by, carrying its
load of debris. AT one time the appear
ance of things was decidedly squally,
but the short duration of the storm saved
the town from being swept out, which
would have been the result, in the
opinion of many, had not the rain
stopped so suddenly. Mr.. Geo. Kinney,
Mr.. Rockwell and Mr.. Hunt, of the firm
of Hunt & jackson, all thought the
storm one of the severest they had ever
known in so short time, but Mr..
Kinney thought he had witnessed heav-
Ter storms in previous years. Mr.. Jas.
w. Seaton said the street was full
from shore to Shore opposite his
office, but thought the flood was sur
passed by one in 1850 or 81. The dam
age done here to fruits, vines and
gardens, was considerable. Mr.. III. III.
Wright was a heavy sufferer in the last
named, having had fine garden, on
which himself and family had put in
great deal of work, washed out, leav-
ing only a gravel bed in its place. In
addition to this Mr.. Wright had fine
crossing carried out which it will take
hundred or two dollars to replace.
Mr.. Chris Zeller lost heavily in dam
age done to his vineyard and hops by
the hail storm. From the surrounding
sections not much had been learned up
to the time THE HERALD commissioner
left. Over near Dutch Hollow the road
was reported blocked so badly by wash
out and washes in, that even a horse
could not be led through. AS there had
been no one in from the Boice Greek
neighborhood it was surmised that
the damage to bridges and roads in
that section had been great, but moth
ing definite could be learned, except
that the storm had been quite heavy all
through that region.
Having obtained all the information
in regard to the storm and its ravages
in this village, the expedition turned
its steps toward the regions in and
about