Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-16
A BURSTING CLOUD.
Twenty-Five Miles Of Territory
Covered. ~
GREAT DAMAGE BY RUSHING WATER
Bridges Swept Away and Wash
outs Made.
RESIDENTS FLEE IN TERROR

ST. PAUL, Mimi, May 16-severe storms
in the nature of a cloudburst extending
over about twenty-five miles of territory,
with, st. Paul on the western edge of the
storm, did terrible damage last night.
River Falls reports a dam burst and
thirty bridges washed away.
New Richmond, Wis, reports trains I'M
able to run on account of washouts. Mrs.
VIM. Brennan of Erwin Prairie was killed
and others severely injured by lightning.
No Chicago trains on time and some are
not yet in.
Washouts still hold yesterdays train on
the Omaha road In Hudson, and last nights
trains are very late.
A cut in Hudson has been washed full
and the running of trains Is indefnite. The
Wisconsin Central trains cannot run on &C
count of washouts. The Burlington got in
very late by going around over the Milwau-
kee, and that road also got its train in by a
roundabout way.
Scenes ut River Falls.
The wall of water sweeping down Black
river valley struck River Falls at 1 o'clock
this morning. The fire alarm bells We're
rung, and the residents hurried from their
homes to the aid Of those living in the path
of the flood. The dam of the Prairie mill
checked the rush of water for few min
utes. but the wall of stone could not with
stand the pressure and the dam gave way
Two bridges were carried away. Several
small buildings followed.
MealIys starch factory went down stream.
Another large bridge went next. Fosters
saw mill was in the path of the flood and
that suffered. The damage at the Prairie
mill Is about 5000, and at Fortunes mill 1t
is $4,000. Railroad lines suffered severely
from washouts. All the families on the
lowlands were rescued.
a RlOOmars 10
eral dwellings, large planning mill. the city
pumping house. and the fire engine house
are gone.
The immense dam across Black river.
near Black River Falls. was In danger and
the west wing was blown up to save the re-
mainder of the structure. This sent a great
Hood down the valley on Black River Falls
The mill district of GienwooL is a scene of
wreck and ruin. The big dam and sluice-
way of the Glenwood Manufacturing Com
pany We're carried away and several hum
dred thousand feet of logs were also carried
away. Every bridge on the entire length of
the TIFFANY creek Is gone.
Many dwellings, In the lower part of the
village are under water. The Wisconsin
Central Chicago train Is cut OF by wash
outs. and is In the woods about a mile and
half from town.
At Chippewa Falls and north toward
Bloomer the valley is under water. A ten
foot rise Is promised at Eau Claire. Every
has been badly tied up since last night.
The washouts on the st. Paul road ore
the most serious on the river division be-
tween Red Wing and St. Paul and the
limited from St Paul to Chicago due in
Milwaukee at 7;10 this morning, did not
arrive here until this evening
The damage on the Wisconsin Central is
serious for miles in extent from Chippewa
Falls west, and all the trains for ST. Paul
or from there were tied up. General Man
ager Whitcomb stated that the storm was
the severest ever known in that section,
and the damage more extensive than ever
before.
Heavy Loss ut Chippewa Falls.
The storm swelled the Chippewa river
and its tributaries over their banks, food
ing an immense area. Several dams broke
and caused most of the loss. Chippewa
Falls lost three bridges and other property
and property owners suffered heavy loss.
The loss In that city and county alone is
estimated at $4,000.
The Chippewa river Is still rising and
merchants in the lower part of the city are
removing their goods. rE-- "a. ~ -