The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1888-04-26
FIVE PERSONS PERISH.
4 Wisconsin Farmer, His Wife and Three
Children Fall Victims to the Late Fresh.
et-The River Still Rising.


4 Wisconsin Farmer. His wife and Thfes
Children Fall Victims to the Late Fresh.
ct-The River Still Rising.
MILWAUKEE, April 21--The first casualty
from the floods in the northern part Of
this State occurred Thursday night near the
little village of Embarras. q small station
on the banks OF the Upper Wolf river and
near the line Of the Milwaukee, Lake shore
d 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 o sudden bend When the Wolf
river commenced to rise the FAM
lily 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 1t
had ovcrfiowed the land surrounding La
throp's house, AMI by evening the strong
current was striking the house, threatening
to tear it from its foundations. Lashrop,
fully aware OF the danger to which he and
his family were exposed, resolved to take
them to the town, where they could re-
main until the waters subsidized. lie
accordingly built raft as best he
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 it and
pushed away from the house. padding
along with piece OF board. lie
had not counted on the strength
Of the current, which, when he
reached the midst of it, whirlcd 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 Tho whole
family were thrown into the water, and,
though they struggled hard. were caught
by tho current and carried down
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 his
youngest child, u 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
IOuIIu Ndlu - tHlI1Giy uHuC1 NaUcI
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 hoor The depth of
the water in the streets forces the people to
use boats, and the streets are filed with
boats, skiffs and RATS, many people
padding around because of the novel
ty of the situation In the morning RATS
and homemade beats. loaded with chill
dren, can b seen max ng their way to the
school houses. rise Of three inches more
in tho water would sIbmeIge the track OF
the Chicago, Milwaukee 4 ST. Pun road for
a long distance. No great damage has been
done yet. as the saw-miil yards have been
| doomed in and 1t is almos inn o 3 BILE foI
any OF the property to float away.
| At kaukauna q portion OF the bank of til
Government canal has been washed away
and gang of men has been hard at Wor
| for some time cndeavoring to repair the
/ damage before the water shall have risen
/ sufficiently to inundate the surrounding
country. The water has carried away !:
portion Of the fiume OF the American FulI
Company's mill. and the kaukaIna Lumber
Manufacturing Company's works havs
| been shut down.
At Portage the Wisconsin river is neither
rising nor falling, but continues to fioa
over into the Fox river valley in consider.
able quantities The flats of Caledonia ar,
! flooded, and there is no communication
/ with the west side of the river except b,
boats. No cattle were drowned as far US i
known. they having been driven to tn,
bluffs before the floods became dangerous