The herald., 1896-12-03
FLOOD THREATENED CITIES
Hope to Escape Complete
Destruction
THE TREACHEROUS RIVERS
Find Temporary Outlet Under the
Accommodations Of Ice
The Gorges Grow and Find Anchorage
on the River Bed, Defying Human
Efforts to Break Them.

Associated Press Special Wire
CHIPPEWA FALLS. Wis. Dec. g.
At 10 o'clock tonight the situation in
Chippewa Falls is more hopeful. The
water has receded about six inches, and
1t is believed it may not rise higher, al
though the city has twice been fooled
within the last forty-eight hours by ex-
actly this same condition. Last night
the water receded eight inches between
the hours of and II, but after that hour
1t came up rapidly until it had gone two
feet above its former high-water mark.
Tonight's bright prospects may be but
a repetition of those of last night and the
night before. and many expect that he
fore daylight the water will be creeping
up Bridge street into the residence por-
tion Of the city. The gorge in the chan
mel of the river has been added to all day
and tonight it seems a veritable noun
tain, which tons Of dynamite cannot af-
feet. If the water succeeds in getting
a passage beneath this immense mass
of frozen snow and ice, further rise
may not experienced, but 1t is doubt
full II a sufficient volume can find its way
under 1t to save the city from further
destruction. At 6 o'clock tonight an
immense amount Of anchor ice piled up
in the river at the foot of Bridge street.
indicating that the gorge had anchored
on the bottom and that water was no
longer finding its way beneath. The fact
that the river had fallen fifteen inches
at Eau Claire seemed to warrant this
belief. but, nevertheless, the water did
not continue to rise in this city after
that hour. 1t may be possible the water
found another means Of passing down
the river, but the citizens will not feel
absolutely safe until it has been demon
strated by several days observation that
the river has reached dts maximum
height.
The situation here was interesting in
the extreme today. The city was panic
stricken, and men, with blanched faces.
rushed back and forth, scarcely con-
scious Of their actions. The alarm may
be unfounded. but nevertheless 1t exists,
and the condition of the river seems to
augur Ill for the entire city. Wild ru-
by the steam above, and a terrible cat
astrophe may overtake the city at any
moment.
No one knows Just what IL in store and
the conditions Of uncertainty adds more
to the excitement of the moment than
the actual destruction Of property by
the river possibly could. One rumor to
the effect that the river would, cut pas
sage for itself through the high banks
north of the city gave rise to a great deal
of apprehension.
The rivers course IL seriously OBJ
structed by the gorge which has now
reached to within a short distance of the
dam. and the probable turning of the
course Of the stream upon the city seems
so plausible that every one became more
panic stricken. Hundreds Of teams
started at daylight to move the effects of
merchandise out Of the way Of possible
danger, and Bridge and Central streets
were choked with wagons loaded down
with merchandise. In many instances
these wagons were filled to such an ex-
tent that the contents spilled over the
sides and ends and the scene was one of
indescribable confusion. By morning
not building in the business portion Of
the city will be occupied.
Both the Lumbermen's and First Ma
tional banks moved this afternoon and
the higher portions of the city are fairly
congested with the enormous amount of
material that has been stored there for
safety.
At II o'clock Spring street was impa.-
sable between Bridge and Bay streets.
The water was climbing steadily toward
the basement of the city hail. It is i'm
possible to see how any of the lower por-
tion of the city can escape, for the COM
ing Of the waters seems as sure as 1t Is
deliberate, and this valley may be COM
pletely inundated.
1t is thought that the flood may have
spent its force for the outlying districts.
The critical condition here. however,
continues to excite fear and the develop
ments of the next twenty-four hours will
be anxiously awaited.
NO LIVES LOST.
MILWAUKEE,, Wis, Dec. IA spe-
cial to the Evening Wisconsin from Du-
Hdii0, w icss odyo vi " OSlOCh ILLS dl
ternoon the Chippewa river at this point
has fallen five inches since morning.
The ice jam at Round Hill is still firm
and the river closed In, but there is no
further danger here unless the Chippewa
gorge breaks. No lives have been lost
In the bottoms as stated by the United
Press, anu no persons are missing so far
as known. The loss of stock and prop
erty is heavy. The valley division Of the
Milwaukee railroad is washed out be-
tween here and Wabasha.
A GEORGIA STORM.
ATLANTA, Ga, Dec. "A snowstorm
of almost unprecedented severity for
this season of the year broke upon this
section this morning. Snow began fall
ing at o'clock and fell without cessation
until H. when it lay four inches deep.
The street car service is badly impeded.
IRRIGATORS IN SESSION.
DIInENTX Arix T1oo O-D~aro