The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-05-17
Dams, Bridges. Factories, Mills and
Houses Washed Away in the Black
and Chippewa River Valleys.
LOSS PLACED AT MILLIONS
Railways Also Heavy Sufferers by
Numerous WaShOuts.
Great Northern Trains Delayed in Min
nesOta-Damage Near st. Cloud and
Stillwater-To-Day's Forecast.

MILWAUKEE,. May 1s.-wisconsin has
been visited by disastrous floods. The Black
n Chippewa rivers are out of bounds and
their waters have swept away dams.
bridges, mills, factories and dwellings,.
Great damage has also been lone to rail-
way tracks. The loss in the Chippewa val
ley alone is estimated at 100000. AT
Bloomer the dam. saw-mill. planning mill,
bridges, houses and six million feet of logs
were carried away. No lives are reported
lost. In Chippewa Falls damage was done
to the extent Of $5OO,00 to streets, bridges
and railway property. The city suffers the
loss of five bridges, cutting off traffic with
the Omaha road. and the loss of the gas
works. Bridgewater avenue, River and
Lower Bridge and Spring streets are flood
ed. together wfth buildings on the streets.
The Chippewa Logging and Boom Com
pany's office building, barn and mill are
afioat, also the American House, the fac
tories OF LANCE BROTHERS, s. F.. Martin. E.
Hodge and Gocdluck company, the post
office, Panier wagon works, the wooden
mill, Sash and Door Company, and many
small buildings and residences situated on
the creek. Chippewa City. six miles north
of Chippewa Falls, is almost wholly under
water.
A dispatch from Black River Falls says:
1.-The biggest flood here for years visited
this section of the State last night, and the
destruction Of dams, bridges and stock
along Black river and its tributaries is
large. The Dells dam. about twenty miles
above here, and the most important on
Black river. was In danger Of being swept
away, and a force of men were ordered to
blow up a portion OF it to save 1t from en-
tire destruction. Black river has been at
twenty feet rise at this point all day. Sew
eral families have been forced to abandon
their homes to save themselves in the lower
portion of this city. The loss of dam and
bridges about here will amount to chou
sands Of dollars. The city is in darkness
tonight, it being impossible TO operate the
electric-light plant with the present stage
of water"
At Blooms. In the Chippewa valley, sew
eral dwellings,, a large planning mill, the
house are gone. The mill district of Glen
wood is a scene of wreck and ruin. The big
dam and sluiceway or the Glenwood Manu-
featuring Company were carried away, and
several hundred thousand feet of logs were
carried away. Every bridge on the entire
length of Tiffany creek is gone. Many
are under water. The Wisconsin Central
Chicago train is cut off by washouts in
the pine woods about a mile and a half
Word late tonight from Menominee states
that Red Cedar river is rising rapidly. a
dispatch from Rice Lake says the water
could not be held, and the dam has been
opened. The dam at Cedar Falls has given
away, and now the river is rising and
threatening. At Menominee it is feared the
dam will give way. Menominee is cut off.
Several hundred houses were badly dam
aged by lightning during last nights storm.
Hudson reports that the storm Tuesday
night caused Willow river and Trout brook
to overflow their banks, with a damage of
over $4,000. H. I. Drake, of St. Paul.
owned a private trout hatchery, and lost
10000 yeariings and $4,000 fry, F. Q. Crazy
and others, of Hudson, owned another like
hatchery, and lose 100000 fry md 10000
yearlings. The whole of Trout brook bot
toms is a sheet of water. Such a sight
was never before seen or heard OF in these
parts. The two dams at Burkhardt's can
not withstand the pressure should IL con-
tinue many hours longer. Lake St. Croix
is rapidly rising.
Advices at the railway offices in Milwau-
kee report washOutS on all roads north and
west of the city. No trains are arriving
to-day from 81. Paul and Minneapolis on
any line. Every railway between Milwau-
kee and st. Paul has been badly tied UP
since last night. Washouts exist on the
Chicago, Milwaukee & st. Paul, the Chi
cago Great Western and the Wisconsin
Central.