St. Paul daily globe., 1892-05-06

heavy rains that have been falling
throughout the state within the past
few days. the Illinois river has over
flowed its banks and caused many wash.
outs along the lines Of the Chicago Sc
Alton, Rock Island and Santa Fe roads,
stopping traffic on many branches. In
the neighborhood OF Joliet and Lock-
port there have been so many waShoutS
that neither passenger nor freight
trains could reach this city. The tele-
graph wires are down in many places.
No trains are running ON the Santa Fe
road between here and Fort Madison,
10. Chicago is also sufferer from the
prevailing high water in the surround
ing country, much damage being caused
by the backing up of water into the
cellars III outlying districts.
OTTAWA, Ill.,, May 5.-The most de-
Structlve and alarming food in the his
tory of this city visited this locality last
was thought to have passed, and last
nights storm took people unawares,
catching many residents of Marseilles,
Ottawa, Lasalle and Peru Slumbering
in peaceful cOntentment. when at their
very doors was q raging flood. Many
narrow escapes were had in the flights
for safety to the uplands, but no loss Of
life was entailed. The volume of water
from the bluffs north of the city contin-
ued to increase until section of low
land in the residence and manufaetur-
ing districts, one and half miles long,
and from quarter to mile in width,
was a continuous lake.
Small bridges were carried away, cai-
vertS torn out and railroad tracks
washed out until connection with the
outer world in all directions and to the
south as far as StreatOr was cut off. Tbs
manufacturing district, where are lO-
Gated the glass works. was the worst
sufferer from the flood. The De La
Chappelle Chimney works suffered the
largest individual loss, which cannot be-
estimated, but has resulted in the shut
down of the factories until the fall seas.
son. There is waShout 400 feet in
length one mile west of the city on the
Rock Island, another one 800 feet in eX,
tent two miles west and one 400 feet
long three miles west. Between there
and La Sale and Genesee all commnni-
cation is shut off by waShoutS of tracks,
culverts and small bridges.
The lowest estimate put upon the
time necessary to repair these breaks
and re-establish tratfice and mail sery-
ice is tWenty-fOur hours. The l. Y. &
n. has serious washout near Tonica,
tnereDy cutting OH the Belt service,
which connects the four largest cities in
La Sale county, and which has hereto<
fore been pressed into service. Water.
the main business street of Peru, is in
undated merchants and residents hav.
ing been suddenly aroused Ill the night
to find an angry flood invading their
stores and homes. During the after
noon the water has been receGng rap
IDLY at Ottawa, but no noticeable
changes at La Sale and Peru.
JOLIET, H., May 5.-.Joliet is partially
submerged in from one TO four feet Of
water, caused by the incessant rains.
People were warned out of their houses
this morning on account of fears that
the two dams would break, and are NOV
lug about with boats and RATS. Great
damage is reported from all surround
points to property and crops.
TIsKII.WA, ILL.,, May 5.-Probably the
worst rain storm ever known here
passed over the town Monduy and Tues
day. 1t rained almost continuously for
forty-eight hours. The water rushed
down from the surrounding hills in
torrents. The streets of the town were
all submerged, and cellars were filled
with water. Some families fled to the
hills. Pigs and other small stock were
carried away. and dams and bridges
were swept off. Damage to grain fields
cannot be estimated.