St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-04-14
Water Went a Trifle Above
the Danger Point Yester-
day Afternoon.
DWellepS in the Low Lands OF
West st. Paul Drowned
Out.
No Very Serious Damage
Feared From the Encroach-
ing Waters.


gauge indicated that the waters OF the
Mississippi at this point had risen to the
height of 14.01, a gain OF i've lnches
since the preceding midnight, and one
inch above the danger point~<fourteen
feet. There was no appreciate gain
during the remainder Of the day, and
the opinion of Observer Lyons was that
the maximum of the flood had been
reached and that no fear of further
danger need be entertained.
In West st. Paul there was no great
change from Thursday. There was
considerable inundation of the yards OF
the st. Croix Lumber company, and
during the day large force of men
was employed in removing the lumber
piles therein to higher ground. The
swash of the waters wrench
ed from their foundations some
half dozen or more shantieS and out
houses Oh the flats beyond State street
and rendered uninhabitable the few
huts situate there that the tide did not
reach on Thursday. The unfOrtunates
thus compelled to abandon their homes
found shelter with charitable neighborS
living at higher altitude, and instead
of bewailing the fates that had rendered
them temporarily homeless, laughed
and chatted over this latest freak OF the
father of waters. When they saw that
instead of further rising, the waters re-
NAMED stationary, they began to make
preparation to reposSeSS themselves OF
their homes, which some OF them accom-
plished last evening, sleeping III the
attlcS.
AT THE UPPER LEVEE.
On the flats of the upper levee the
scene was one of utter desOlation. OF
the hundreds of huts that dot the ex-
panse populated by the BohemianS and
Poles of st. Paul proper, less than
score were inhabitable. Some of them
were completely submerged, and in
most instances the water was
even with the caves. Along
the inner line of the levee were
chaotic heaps of household furnish
ings, with top dressing of live stock,
comprising dogs, cats, cats. poultry and
hogs. Each pile represented the worldly
possessions Of at least one family, and
standing guard over the whole was a
moetly crowd of women and children,
such as can be found only on the flats.
enough to have selected high ground for
their homes, gave shelter to as many as
could be sandWiched in the already
crowded quarters. Numerous other
families found accommodations on a
barge, owned by the ST. Paul Santa
ton company. and which had been
converted into a sort of Noah'S ark for
use as floating stable. Mattresses
were placed in the the stalls on the
main deck, and the homeless ones were
glad of the privilege to sleep there, as
otherwise they would have been com
PEELED to court the droWSy god upon
the levee. 81.
Those who had boats spent yesterday
in removing thecontents of the partially
submerged huts to places of safety.
Others made RATS of the roofs OF houses
that had floated down stream, and piled
the. thought that no matter how
high the waters might rise they would
be on top.
Through the opening made in the
levee by the contractors for the Smith
avenue bridge the water flowed i'm
great volume, submerging the railway
track and almost everything except the
Ieyee itself AT this point were cOngre
gated half a hundred men and boys,
who, with an eye to the future, put in
their time gathering driftwood that
came with the flood through the open
ing in the levee. They realized in its
fullest sense the truism, ITS an I'LL
wind" ETC., and were glad of the chance
to lay in stock of fuel.
Among the buildings inundated was
the Saloon Francois, situated short
distance from the scene of the wood
OnoratinuS TtC fret Story
was entirely under water, but the rising
waters did not dampen the ardOr or en-
terprise of the proprietor. The first
thing he did was to move his liquors to
the attic. Then he made an opening in
the end of the building
NEAR THE GABLE,
constructed a pontoon bridge to his
saloon. and, placing a ladderagainSt the
structure, invited customers to ascend
and irrigate at the usual rates. If
that man only gets half chance he will
be millionaire some day.
Until there is a considerable falling
of the water which covers the upper
flats to the depth of several feet, none
of the numerous houses there which are
now partially submerged can be occu-
pied. unless the owners effect entrance
through the roofs. Some have already
: one to tenements out on West Seventh
street, and the others will probably be
allowed to sleep in the Sanitation COM
pany's ark until they can find shelter
elsewhere. 1t is estimated that at least
400 families resident on the upper flats
are rendered temporarily homeless by
the flood.
City Engineer Rundlett was asked
Yesterday if the OyerfiOwing of the
upper flats was not due to the fact that
the levee had been cut away by the con-
tractors building the new bridge at
Smith avenue. He said that the water
undoubtedly found its way through that
channel, but was of the opinion that it
would have backed through the Sher-
man street sewer anyway. Most OF the
residents there are sqnatterS and the
city cannot be held responsible.