St. Paul daily globe., 1884-09-14
THE WATER WASTE.
The Floods Subsiding at Eau
Claire and Chippewa
Falls.
The People Getting Into Their
Houses and Preparing to
Start Afresh.
The Total hOss to Property in the
Chippewa Valley Estimated at
Over Half a Million.
The Business Men of Eau Claire Refuse to
Ask Assistance for the Needy from
Outside Cities.
Some Account of the Damage to Crops,
Stock I'm hor.
Some Account of the Damage to Crops,
Stock, Lumber, Etc.--Work of the
Relief Committees.
Especial Telegram to the Globe I

Eau CLAIRE, WIS.,, Sept. 13.-There has been
little change in the situation during the past
twenty-four hours. The river is steadily falling,
ana While 1t shows much damage it is not as
great as anticipated. The streets as matter of
course, are blockaded by debris and the places
overfiowed present wretched appearance
People have gone to work with will to repair
the damage and in few daps all will be cleared
up. Between here and Chippewa Falls millions
OF feet of logs are jammed in the river. All the
saw mills are damaged greatly and scores of
farms partially under water and out houses and
buildings more or less injured. A few cattle
have been killed, but the majority find safe
shelter in the high lands. There is
no authentic report Of suffering
among the people between here and Chippewa
Falls. The people here are making prepara-
tions for repairing damages. The principal
damage to houses results from the flooding of
cellars. Some houses in the flooded district
have begun to settle and the walls to crack but
only slight trouble is anticipated this account
Almost all the cellars on Barstow, Kelary, Ho-
bart, First, River, Water, SAlill and Menominee
and Second avenues are flooded.
Taking it altogether Eau Claire looks gloomy.
There are yawning chasms, ruined houses streets
washed out and objects Of all kinds piled up in
lndescribable shape. The stores and houses
still surrounded by water lock like desolated
islands Sidewalks, fences and gates are heaped
together in the way, making sight hard to for
get. The people have begun to move back, and
there is more cheefulness. The weather is favor
able and the work plenty. At Delrs pond there
are twenty or more floating houses An immence
wreckage is standed at Porterville. There have
been but few casualties SO far, but there were
many narrow escapes. There are many rumors
ahoat of deaths below and above, but they are
unreliable.
1t may truthfully be said that no person in
the city limits is suffering for want of food or
shelter. On the north and east sides the suffer
ing is not so great as the west, where there is
less water. Where the water has subsidized and
left houses free, people are returning to their
homes TO find everything swept away or des-
troyed. The walls of some house have settled
and cracked, but principally these with stone
foundations. Others escaped. No troubles an
ticipated from this, which is proved by the fact
that at citizens meeting this afternoon almost
every speaker held that the damage done would
oon be repaired. Such undoubtedly is a fact
The excitement is cooling down and business,
which has been suspended since the flood, re-
sumed to-day. Communication with the West
side is practically suspended. Careful estimates
place the loss to city property at $500, 900. and
the Chippewa valley $3.50, 200. The river is
clear of logs. The following are the principal
losses:
Chicago, Milwaukee & st. Paul. 1925, 900.
Valley City Lumber company, 10000.
Three bridges, $4,000.
Mayhew's mill, $4,000.
Matt johnson, 5,OOO
Phoenix Manufacturing company, So, 600.
Hubener 81 Miller, S25, 900.
DelPs Improvement company, 1000.
Anderson, groceries, 81, 500.
Street Car company, $1,000
Phelps 81 Richardson, $4,000.
Albert II. Stevens, 81, 500.
Geo. W. Robertson, g., 600.
Heinricks & Hartman, $500.
Mike Horns, 5000.
John ii. Norens, $4,000.
Geo. w. Smith Bros, 81 200.
Opera house, 1000.
Bonell, photographer, $4,000.
Mrs. Stoepler, $500.
e. M. Fish 81 Co., 81, 500.
The telephone connection across the Chippewa
has been made.
mass meeting Of citizens was held this after
noon and organized relief committee to care
for the destitute
visit to the north side shows that all the
buildings in two streets are In a deplorable con-
dition. All houses that have not been swept
away are tipped over and many foundations are
undermined and crumbling away. The bridge
which spans the Eau Claire at Bartlett street is
being repaired. In the Second ward large
number of business blocks have foundations
washed out and tonight much fear is expressed
that some OF them will fall. The occupants are
removing their stock.
The Third ward which is the location of the
best dwellings In the city, presents bad appear
ance since the water has gone down. Valuable
pianos and other costly furniture, are scattered
about in every direction. great many citizens
Of this ward were asleep and had hardly time to
get to place of safety, consequently much
valuable property persisted. In this ward alone
the damage done to household goods amounts to
many thousands of dollars.
The citizens Of the Fifth ward suffered most
of any, as the water flooded ten blocks of the
ward. All this damage is done among the labor
ing classes, who lose everything they had and
are left entirely destitute. This class of suffer-
ers at present is being taken care OF by the citi
zens Of the west side. The Fourth ward was
almost entirely under water, and while there are
great many at present homeless they will be
able to occupy their dwellings again as soon as
the water recedes few feet MORE
In the Sixth ward comparatively little damage
is done, Business men this afternoon held a
meeting and took measures for the relief OF the
sufferers, and appointed committee OF nine to
receive contributions and ascertain the names
and location Of all the needy. 1t was decided
that it is unnecessary to call for aid from the
outside at present, the city is able to take
care Of itself.
The news from Mcmillan tonight Is encourage
ing. The loss Of property will be comparatively
small. The news from Porterville is also en-
couraging. The Northwestern Lumber company
there will probably lose its boom, rafting sheds
and shingle mill and there Is much damage to
its stock of lumber. The lumber is carried into
the lakes below the mill, and can be recovered.
but in damaged condition.
The farmers In the vicinity have crops badly
damaged, aud some live stock has been drowned.
A few buildings have been swept away
The loss OF the Northwestern Lumber COM
pany is estimated at 9, 100000 feet of lumber.
Yesterday afternoon 3 relief party left here
with boat load Of provisions for the sufferers
on the river bottoms. and returned tonight. At
Porterville they found part Of the Kelsey street
bridge and part Of another bridge, also Granger
hall. The lumber yards and larger buildings at
Porteryille appeared to be uninjured. At barn
on tae farm OF John Whipple they found about
$50 people camped. They stated that no lives
were lost and only five small buildings carried
away. Several houses were seen passing down
stream and on some were seen people crying for
help, but no boat being at hand rescue was i'm
possible. Cries were also heard from the river at
night, and it was supposed people were floating
by.
Leaving Portervlfle the party found the farms
n uakS a. -