New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-17
RUIN CAUSED BY STORMS.
RAINS DO HALF 4 MILLION DOLLARS
DAMAGE.
FIVE LIVES LOST. AS FAR AS HEARD FROM
SWOLLEN RIVERS IN THE NORTHWEST
RAILROADS. AND FARMERS SUFFER

SWOLLEN RIVERS IN THE NORTHWEST
RAILROADS. AND FARMERS SUFFER.
ST. Paul, Mimi. May 16.-Half million dol
lars will scarcely cover the damage done by the
great storm of yesterday and last night in Min
nesota and Western Wisconsin. The downpour
of rain was the greatest ever known In this sec
| ton of the Northwest. and in many places was
as destructive as d waterspout. The damage
Is greatest along the ST. Croix. Eugallee and
7 Chippewa rivers where the rise In the waters
was so rapid that bridges could not resist it,
! and dozens of them washed away. In
several places also dams were washed out and
the swift-howing flood did large damage 10 busi-
ness property.
The death list so far includes five, one being
killed by lightning near Anoka. Mimi. and an
other near New Richmond. Wis. A woman and
two children We're drowned in the Eugaee River.
near Spring Valley. Wis. Railway traffic was
In state Of paralysis all day. because of the
bridges and washous in the tracks To-nghts
reports from the farming districts indicate that
the loss to farmers will be very large. On roll
ing land the rain fall was so heavy as TO wash
out the tender young wheat. Hundreds OF acres
OF grain are reported ruined In Goodhue, WASH
ington. Pine and Benton counties. The potato
planters OF Chicago County also report serious
loss
At Saltwater rain fell in solid sheets from II
o'clock last night until o'clock this morning.
and the damage done will amount to at least
100000
At St Cloud one Of the results of the deluGe
was the drowning of two men This morning
John Mooney and Andrew Swanberg. in attempt
ing to cross rivulet on horseback In the town
of Mindon Benton County, lost their lives. The
water was twelve feet deep and their horses be-
came nired in the muddy bottom. throwing of
their riders Their bodies have not been re-
covered.
At Anoka Minn the Rum River rose twelve
inches yesterday and is still rising There has
been no mail train on any road to-day. There
are washouts In all directions.
AT Sauk Rapids Mimi. the heaviest rain Of the
season. accompanied by hail. centred last night.
The Northern Pacific track suffered badly. all
bridges between Rices and Clear Lake being
washed out
At Bloomer a dam. sawmill. paning-mill.
bridges houses and 100000 feet Of logs were
carried away. No lives are reported lost In
that city great damage done to streets.
bridges and the railroad companies: The Wis
consn Central tracks from Stanley. Wis, 10
Chippewa, Falls. a distance OF thlrty-hve miles.
have been washed out Not piece OF track
half mile In length is left.
Chippewa Falls suffers the loss Of five bridges
cutting off traffic with the Omaha road. and the
loss Of the gas works. Chippewa City. six miles
north Of Chippewa Falls, loses a sawmin. DAM
barns and lumber yards. and the city is com
pletely wiped out. together with 6.0Oo09O feet OF
logs The Chippewa River is ten feet above low
water mark IT is reported that the Little Falls |
dam and the Flambeau dam have given away
II this Is true Il will rise of fifteen feet
more. completely flooding the business portion Of |
Chippewa Falls.
At River Falls. Wis. the heaviest storm ever |
known in that vicinity struck the place The |
river rose fully twenty feet. and four bridges |
were crushed and carried away In a few minutes.
The residence OF Swan Brolander was carried |
away but he with his wife and several small
children was rescued through the bravery Of cit
liens The dams Of the Prairie and Greenwood |
mills were carried out. the large starch factory,
owned by s J. Mealey. OF Monticello Mimi. en-
tircly swept away; also Foster Bros sawmill.
Thirty thousand dollars will not cover the loss
70 the city.
At Downing, Wis. rain last night flooded the |
town No lives were lost. but the damage to
property will reach well into the thousands