The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-06-28
CHICAGO'S WET SKIRTS.
MANY THOUSANDS OF ACRES IN THE
SUBURBS UNDER WATER.
The Loss Amount. to Muitons-A Large
Popuiace Driven from Their Nomes-The
Gala nifty Caused by Mischief Makers.


Tho los. Amount. to Muitons-A Large
Popuiace Driven from Their Nomes-The
Calamity Caused by Mischief Makers.
CHICAGO. June 27.-That part OF tho citylying
between Cottage Grove avenue and tho 1lli-
nois Central tracks from Seventy fifth street
south to the corporate limits. comprising
thousands Of acros Of land. is submerged
beneath from twenty -four inches to three feet
and a half Of water. The earth. always swainpy
refuses to take up tho vast flood. and there It
lies-a miniature sen
The situation to-day was practically what 1t
was last night Tho water stopped rising
about 5 o'clock this morning There is no
prospect of relief by draining tho sub
merged district and tho water must
stand until 1t evaporatos. People who
live in the western part Of Grand Cross
ing. Fordham. Brookdalc. Daurhin Park.
and Burnside have been forced to leave their
homes and sock shelter elsewhere leaving be-
hind them Mt the mercy OF tramns and robbers
all their effects. Scores of houses arc utterly
and irremedably cut off from passable
thorouEhfares. car lines, and railroads. Bust
ness in the region is totally at n stan6still. and
every ono is suffering the greatest discomfort.
Tho one bright feature OF the situation is
that thero is no danger Of loss Of life. No
fatality has been reported. and. in the absence
OF something moro extraordinary than the
present flood. there will probably DO none.
The ominous feature Is the certainty Of an in
creased death rate after the water subsidies
:, The dam mage done by the flood will run into
the millions. Navigation has been ut stand
sui Tor several days owing TO the swift cur
rent In the river. and it is estimated that the
loss sustained by vessel owners alone Will
exceed s5oO,UO0, There arc now $50 vessels
IN tho outer harbor waiting TO be towed to
their dock along the river. The damage to
tho lumber interest is placed at SOOV.OUO; Tho
fn-fu
current is still dangerously swift the work OF
moving the outbound fleet was begun,
nth street; is under water. In the same con,
dttlon are Dohson avenue. Ills Avenue. shell
Snne apd stern fm roys
nue.. from Nincty-llith to Seventy lth street.
is under water. and no electric cars have been
Sand. dirt. and straw have been used to elevate
the roadbed. but to 40 advantage 20 far.
trail tracks to TottnGo &C. Grove avenue is under
water. Seventy street. the main street OF
t9e glase; is mve; ,Ie neatiy as lady;
works and electric light works arc mcnnced
test Delivery wagons have been abandoned
and goods are carried by boat in the flooded
The estimated rise Of tho water since the
dam gave way is twelve to fifteen inchos. Tho
water Is within several inchos OF tho main
nth street, and in several places watch was
kept all night to remove goods in case tho
water continued to rise. The lumber yards
are under water and timbcrs'are floating in
the street At the Central Hotel six feet Of
water has forced tho moving Of goods across
the street. This is all west ot the Ilin9is Cen
trail tracks. the embank ment Of which has act
cd as dyke and kept the east sido from inun.
dation to n great extent
There were runorS last night that tho
Eighty-seventh street dyke had been cut.
These rumors have been confirmed by ono
witness and an examination Of the sido
lines Of tho foot torrent The son OF J. B.
who lives near tho dyke. saw four
men late on Saturday night cutting the dyke
with picks and shovels. He ask ed them what
they were doing. and was commanded to - get |
OUT in hurry. The boy. thoroughly fright |
ened. ran home. but told no ono OF tho occur
renee until his father returned from town late |
at night. He Immediately notified Street Com
kantzler. who carly yesterday. with |
a force Of workmen and n quad of police from |
Grand Crossing station, started out to repair |
the dyke and arrest the men who were seen |
cutting it,
The arrival and departure OF mail trains
mdny wnshouts on the Western and North
western roads No mail was sent ont or |
received over the Chicago. st. laul and Kansas |
City line to-day oyc!nS 10 big landslide near |
the Mississippi. The Illinois. Central is still in |
bad shape because OF n washout near Scales |
Mound. Illinois Central mail trains are arriv- |
ing and departing over tho Chicago. Milwau- |
kec and st. Faul road