St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-09-15
Chippe,ra Falls. We.

CHIPPEWA FALLS, Wis, Sept. 13.-The
city and river banks present a deplorable
condition. The waters have receded SO much
that the streets mostly dry, but the base
ments are filed almost full with mud and water.
AT this writing the fire engines are at work
pumping the water from the easements, many of
these Easements have been occupied by saloons
and barber shops. Barber chairs, boxes of CT
gars, billiard tables, barrels of whisky and bar
fixtures are swimming aronnd promiscuously.
As the water rushed into the cellars of the bust
ness blocks it swept away large portions of the
abutments and has left them unsafe and very
dangerous. Posenanski, one of the largest
wholesale dealers, is moving out this morning on
account of the condition of his building
great many men are engaged in the DEBRIS that
was caught by the tressle work
of the Wisconsin Central road,
picking out carriages and sleighs. machinery
saws, betting and all kinds of property. The
Omaha railroad bridge alone stood the test, and
that seems badly strained. There is only one
span of the large wagon bridge left. Several
families have been imprisoned in the upper parts
Of their houses until yesterday evening and
barely escaped, remaining as near to the top of
their houses as they could get. The boats are
all in use, and command fabulous prices. The
city has gone to work with energy and despatch,
and will soon have one bridge spanning Duncan
creek The comfy board Of supervisors met
yesterday and have advertised for bids to build
large new bridge across the Chippewa. A large
ferry boat is now in process of being built. There
is hardly thousand feet of lumber left in
the French Company lumber yard. Their loss is
estimated at $4,000. The Chippewa Lumber
and Boom company's lumber yard, in which
was piled about six million feet of lumber, is in
terribly damaged condition, with not one pile
left standing upright. 1t is strewn about and
| twisted and filled with mud and the broken
houses and machinery. Their planning mill is
partially tipped over, and most of the machinery
broken or injured by water, which reached the
ewes of their large dry house, in which was
stored thousands Of dollars of valuable lumber
of all kinds. Their immense mill only saved
by miracle. A large jam of logs lodged above
it and directed the water toward the opposite
bank, which tore and undermined
over hundred feet OF solid
river bank Both ends Of Paint creek
dam are gone. Their loss is varously estimated
at from S25O,OOO to 100000. j. B. Kehl &
Co. lost heavily. Most Of the dam at the Glen
mills, the fume and much Of the machinery
went out, as also their sash, door and blind fac
tory, entaling loss of perhaps S25, OO0 Stiles
81 Co. lost in the neighborhood of $4,000 The
mill, known as the Gravel, is land MILL located
aboutthree miles below this city, owned by the
State Lumber Co., has been damaged greatly in
the loss of booms logs and machinery, to the
extent of say 100000. The Wisconsin Central
Railroad company has gone to work quite
cheerfully with their construction
trains from the st. Paul branch
and are filing in and repairing the
tracks and roadbed in this city,
and making more bridges to place across the
Chippewa, and claims it will be running regular
trains into the city in a short time
Only one death is reported, that of Mr.. Wal
lace, who started across the river to save the IN
mates of house that was two-thirds under wa
ter. The boat which he and another man was
in capsized in the waves. He was drawn under
the floating boards and beams OF a house and
never again, while his companion, who was
good swimmer, reached the shore, but in ter
ribly exhausted condition. Many instances OF
great heroism have been displayed by the river
men in saving lives and property. 1t is reported
that there has been found two houses floating on
the delles in one of which were discovered the
lifeless bodies OF a man, woman and two chill
dren In the other boy about six years
! old, and baby six months old were tied up to
the ceiling for safety and were both alive and
well, but very hungry.
AS part Of one Of the railroad bridges passed
one of the standing on the bank of the
river, ne saw six freight cars loaded with gravel
| standing just the same as when they were run
on to the bridge, with brakeman still holding
on to his brake. Going down Birch street, which
! follows Duncan creek and up River
street which lies along the Chippewa
one can picture not often met with or
| seen. There is not basement but which is
filed with water and all kinds of property. Not
a whole Sidewalk, is to be found or crossing
Windows are broken and houses tipped partially
| over, and the streets filed with dirt and rub
bish. Every available team is employed in
cleaning away the remains of what has been the
most disastrous and memorable storm in this
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