The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1888-04-27
FIVE PERSONS PERISH.
Wisconsin Farmer, His Wife and Three
Children Fal, Victims to the Late Fresh.
et-The River Still Rising

ChAurcH L All NlctiinS TO. the Late EFeSns
et-The River Still Rising.
MILWAUKEE April 2L.-The first casualty
from the floods in the northern part Of
this State occurred Thursday night near the
little village of Embarras, small station
on the banks of the Upper Wolf river and
lear the line of the Milwaukee, Lake Shore
q Western railroad short distance
from the town lived farmer named
Lathrop, with his wife and three chill
dren. Their home was situated close upon
the banks of the river where its course
takes sudden bend When the Wolf
river commenced to rise the fam
Ny made preparations to leave their
home and take refuge on the higher
lands, but finding that the river re-
manned within its banks. they decided to
stay in, their own house. Thursday the
river commenced to rise rapidly, its waters
having been largely increased by
the melting snow in the for
ests along its banks In a short time it
had overlooked the land surrounding La
throp's house, and by evening the strong
current was striking the house, threatening
to tear it from its foundations. Lathrop,
fully aware of the danger to which he an d
his family We're exposed, resolved to tax 8
them to the town, where they could re
main until the waters subsidized Hs
accordingly built a raft as best h.
could out of the doors of his home, piecing
them with loose boards His work
was concluded about dusk, and thinking
that the raft was strong enough to bear his
family he embarked them upon 1T and
pushed away from the house, padding
along with a piece of board. He
had not counted on the strength
OF the current, which, when he
reached the midst of it, whirled him
rapidly down stream. He worked hard to
Cross the narrow strip OF water which sep.
arated him from the dry land, and had
nearly reached the shadows when the
raft suddenly went to pieces The whole
family were thrown into the water, and
though they struggled hard, were caught
by the current and carried dowa
stream. Lathrop's body was found some
miles below his home lying in meadow
where the waters had left it Tightly
clasped in his arms was the body of bis
youngest child, little girl, whom he had
evidently seized as the raft parted None
of the other bodies have been recovered.
At Prairie du CHEN the Mississippi river
still continues to rise, and already the
Fourth ward is entirely under water anG
many other portions of the city are sub
merged. The water in the streets is
from three to four feet deep, and In
many buildings the occupants have been
driven from the first floor. The depth of
the water In the streets forces the people ia
use boats and the streets are filled with
boats, skiffs and RATS, many peoplc
padding around because of the novel
ty of the situation In the morning raftl
and homemade boats, loaded with chill
dren, can be seen making their way to the
school houses rise of three inches more
in the water would submerge the track oil
the Chicago, Milwaukee & ST. Paul road for
a long distance. No great damage has been
done yet, as the saw mill yards have been
doomed in, and it is almosj iml IS BILE for
any of the property to float away.
At Kaukauna portion of the bank of the
Government canal has been washed away,
and gang of men has been hard at work
for some time endeavoring to reps!r the
damage before the water shall have risen
sufficiently to inundate the surrounding
country. The water has carried away 0
portion of the tiume of the American PulI
Company's mill, and the Kaukauna Lun bel
Manufacturing Company's works have
been shut down
At Portage the Wisconsin river is neither
rising nor falling, but continues to flow
over into the Fox river valley in consider
able quantities. The flats of Caledonia are
flooded, and there is no communication
with the west side of the river except by
boats No cattle were drowned as far as ia
known. they having been driven to the
bluffs before the floods became dangerous.