The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-05-17
MILLIONS SWEPT AWAY
Destructive Floods in Minnesota
and Wisconsin.
HOUSES AND BRIDGES WRECKED.
The Loss in Chippewa Valley Alone Is
Estimated at Fully Two Millions of
DoIiars-soveraI Bridges Gone and Rail-
road Traffic Interrupted.


Estimated at Fully Two Millions of
Doilars-soverai bridges Gone and Rail-
road Traffic Interrupted.
MILWAUKEE, May 1.-THE wall of water
sweeping down Black River valley struck
River Falls at o'clock in the morning.
The fire alarm bells were 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 a few minutes ~but the
wall of stone could not Withstand the
pressure, and the dam gave way. Two
big bridges were carried away Several
small buildings followed. Mealys starch
factory went down stream. Another
large bridge went next.
Fosters sawmill was in the path of the
Hood, and that suffered. The damage at
the Prairie mill is 1000, and at Fortunes
mill it is $4,000. Railroad lines suffered
severely from washouts. All the families
on the lowlands were rescued
The immense dam across Black river
near Black River Falls, was in danger
and the west wing was blown up TO save
the remainder of the structure. This sent
n great flood down the valley on Black
River Falls.
The mill district of Glenwood is a scene
of wreck and ruin. The big dam of the
Glenwood Manufacturing company was
carried away, with several hundred thou
sand feet of logs. Every bridge on the en-
tire length of Tiffany creek is gone.
Many dwellings in the lower part of the
village are under water. At Chippewa
Falls and north toward Bloomer the val
ley is under water.
The food loss in the Chippewa valley
o1 DO 4 s,..., Il esln ln.
or the dam, sawmill, planning mill, bridges,
houses and 100000 feet of logs were car-
ried away. In Chippewa Falls damage
was done TO he extent of 500 900 to streets,
bridges and other property. The city suf-
fefs the loss of the gas works and five
bridges, traffic with the Omaha road be
ing cut cfi. Bridgewater avenue, River,
Lower Bridge and Spring streets are
| flooded, together with buildings on the
streets, and Il number of buildings are
| afloat. .--..
At Chippewa City, six miles north of
Chippewa Falls, the sawmill, dam, barns,
lumber yards, and, in fact, almost the
whole city, nre completely washed out, to-
| Gcthcr with 60C0,c00 feet of logs. Chip
| pewa river is ten feet above low water
mark, but the worst has not come vet, as
reports are that Little Falls dam and
Flam beau dam have given way, which. if
true, will raise tine river fifteen feet more,
completely flooding the business part Of
the city.
ST, PAUL, May l7,-Severe storms in the
! nature of a cloudburst extending over
1 about twenty: five miles of territory, with
/ ST, Paul on the western edge of the storm,
did terrible damage. River Falls, Wis.
reports dam burst and three bridges
washed away, the damage on the dam be
ing ut least S2j, 900 New Richmond Wis.
reports trains unable to run ON account of
washauts. Mrs. William Brennan. of Err
win Prairie, was killed and others severely
injured by lightning.
/ At Saltwater, Mimi, several houses
were undermined by the storm and let
down into gully thirty feet deep. The
| yard and shops of the penitentiary were
Hooded with sand, and the loss to the ST ate
will be heavy. Big rocks from the hill
side were loosened, and one crushed in the
roof and wall of the Schupp warehouse
The loss is estimated ut $jO, 900.
Word from Menominec, Wis, states that
the Red river is rising rapidly. Word
from Rice lake says the water could not
be held and the dam was opened The dam
at Cedar Falls has given way and now the
river is rising and threatening At Me.
nominee it Is feared that the dam cannot
stand the combined strain.