Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-05-15

The popuace was startled at 10 O'Clock
last night by the dread long whistle from
the waterwOrks accompanied by the
changing of the fire bells in the lower end
signals that the water of the overlooked
Mississippi had conquered human skill
and determination and was flooding one
of the most thickly settled parts of the
city. People hurriedly swarmed to the
lower end of town anxious to assist in the
saving of property, and life if necessary
The council, which was in the midst of
an animated discussion of the Fifth ward
election contest, adjourned without de-
Law and the mayor and aldermen hurried
to the supposedly stricken portions OF
the city. In the threatened districts peo>
pie rushed from their houses-some in
their night robes-whic furniture was
rapidly moved to places of safety
From Ninth street west to the Peoria
embankment and dixie, the people congre>
gated but all were to be disappointed,
and most agreeably disappointed, too, for
the alarm happily proved false one.
One of the guards on the embankment
was alarmed by the discovery of stream
of water upon the surface of the embank-
ment running off toward the slough
Without stopping to fully investigate the
cause of the stream he gave the alarm
agreed upon by shooting off his revolver,
- 90 lppC in
spreading through the city.
At the hour of going to press the en-
bankment is still holding its own
against the immense volume of water on
the outside. Water has been coming
through the tracks all day and entering
the south slough. but by means OF AT
additional dixie running parallel with the
railroad company's dixie for some dis
tance and then skirting about the border
of the south slough TO the east, 1t Is
hoped to sonfinc the water there. This
morning Messrs. VIM. Roth and Free
Denkman were directing body of vol
unteer workers in strengthening Thu
fertilization. A stream of water started
toward the saw dust bank built by Wey'
erhauser s. Denkman this morning
Unless controlled this stream would fint
its way to Fifth street and hence into thu
main slough, and the city's force wal
directed to strengthen the saw dust banl
with ratings. This was done and dan
ger from that source shut off.
The river has been rising all day, hav
ing gained an inch and half since yes
terday. Reports from above however, are
of cheerful nature. The water is de
clining at Dubuque, with no prospects o
another rise. If the embankment below
the city holds until tomorrow morning
all will be well.
NOTES OF THE FLOOD.
Like everything else, water comes higl
occasionally-but we must have it.
The Diamond 10 warehouse will b.
found for the present in the old Keller
strass warehouse on First avenue.
The visiting delegates to the two con-
ventions should not Judge Rock Island b.
aspire to be an American Venice, and
is only once in ten years that it get
caught in this shape.
An incident which happened at tn
glass factory yesterday afforded no littl
amusement to the spectators. One of tn
employees was endeavorlng to anchor
wagon bed which was floating around tn
yards, with the aid of Mr.. Mitchelrs ney
ducking boat, rather uncertain affair i
inexperienced hands. as the would>b
canoe man found TO his sorrow. In try
ing to catch the floating article, he foun
himself seated in the water with his toe
within the boat and just saving him fror
total imersion. His friends rescued hif
from the predicament, and the next tim
he will take something more reliable tina
canoe.