The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1894-05-17
HEAVENS OPENED
And tho Floods Descended Over Q
Large Area Of Country Adj
jacent to st. Paul.
The Greatest Damage Reported From
River Falls, Wis.,, and Still
water. Mimi.
Houses Undermined, Bridges and
Dams Gone and Railway
Traffic Interrupted.

81. PAUL, May 1.-THE storm which
swept over st. Paul and the surround
ing country Tuesday night was one OF
the most. destructive for many years.
Reports Of damage from the surround
ing country are coming in constantly.
though not 20 rapidly a. would be the
case II the wires were in good working
order. The most damage appears to
have been done to the north and east of
the city, Saltwater. River Fsllss New
Richmond and other places reporting
great destruction. ~
AZ River Fails.
The wall Of water sweeping down
Black river valley struck River Falls
ut 1 .. m. Tho FIRE alarm bells were
rung and the people hurried from their
homes to the aid Of those living in the
lower parts Of the city in the path of
the flood. The dam Of the Prairie mill
checked the rush Of water for few
minutes, but walls of mud and stone
could not Withstand the pressure and
The Dam Gave Way.
Two big bridges were swept from their
fastenings and were crrried away on
the torrent. Several small buildings
followed. MeRly's starch factory was
torn from its foundation and went down
stream. Another large bridge went
next. Fosters sawmill was in the path
of the tide and that suffered 81, 900. The
damage at the Prairie mills is s., 900, and
at Fortunes mill it is "a 900. All the
families on the lowlands were rescued.
BAD as Bloomsr.
At Bloomer, In the Chippewa valley
several dwellings,, large planning mill,
the city pumping house and the fire en-
CINE house are gone. The immense
dam across Black river near Blakely,
near Black River Falls. was in danger
and the west wing was blown up to
save the remainder of the structure.
This sent great flood down the valley
on to Black River Falls. The mill dis
trict Of Glenwood is q scene of wreck.
The big dam and sluiceway of the
Glenwood Manufacturing company
went out and several hundred thousand
feet of logs were carried away.
Every Bridge Gone.
: Every bridge on the entire length of
Tiffany creek is gone. Many dwellings
in the lower part Of the village are un-
der water. The Wisconsin Central
Chicago train is cut off by washouts and
Is in the woods about . mile from town.
At Chippewa Falls and north toward
Bloomer the valley is under water. A
1O-foot raise is promised at Eau Claire,
where the water is now very high, be-
fore 10 o'clock p. m. This will cause
heavy losses to mill owners and others.
Advices at the railway offices in Mil
waukee report washouts on all roads
north and west Of the city. No trains
are arriving from st. Paul and Mime
apolis on any line. Every railway be-
tween Milwaukee and st. Paul has been
badly tied up.
Flood Damage Enormous.
The flood loss in the Chippewa valley
alone is estimated at $4,000, 900. At
Bloomer the dam. saw mill, planning
mill, bridges, houses and 5000, 600 feet
of logs were carried away. No lives
are reported lost.
In Chippewa Falls damage wac done
to the extent Of 100000 to streets,
bridges and railway property. She
suffers the loss Of FIVE bridges, cutting
off traffic with the Omaha road, and
the loss of the gas works.
The Chippewa Logging and Boom
company's Office building, barn and
mill are aAoat, also the American
House, Box g. Squire, Lange Bros,
8. F. Martin, E. Hodge, Good Luck
company, postoffice and Panier Wagon
works; also the woollen mill, sash and
door company and many small build
ings and residences situated on the
creek.
At Chippewa City, six miles north of
Chippewa Falls, the saw mill
dam, barns, lumber yards and in.
fact almost the whole Of the city
are completely washed out, together
with 5000, 700 feet of logs. Chippewa
river Is ten feet above low water mark,
but the worst has not come yet as re-
ports are that Little Falls dam and
Flambeau dam have given way,
which, If true, will raise the river Is
feet more, completely flooding the bust
ness part Of the city.