The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-12-04
CHIPPEWA IN CONSERVATION.
THE RIVER STILL SLOWLY CREEP
ING INTO THE CITY.

Two Thousand Pounds OF Dynamite
Already Used ON the Giant lee
Gorge Ina n Futile Attempt TO Break
II UP--A Heavy snow storm Sets In
and More lee OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
tion show That the lee Pack Is 1S
MiIes Long.
Chippewa Falls, Wis, Dec. 3.-The wa
ters of the Chippewa still creep slowly
into the city and the prospect of an early
end of the trouble is stll remote The
water extends hair way to Central street
now and buildings that were occupied
yesterday are inundated. That portion
of the town which It was expected would
be the first to suffer-the block on the
bank of the creek between Spring and
Central streets, has escaped so far and
most of the business houses there con-
tinue to transact business, although IL
now appears they will be forced to va
vate in a short time.
Col Jones, the government engineer,
who is here examining the situation, has
few encouraging words to offer. He be-
lleves the gorge will not 80 out suddenly,
but is not prepared to say whether or not
dynamite can bulge It. 1t is believed he
will not authorize such an attempt to
he made. Up to O'clock 2,OO0 pounds OF
dynamite had been used on the gorge, but
with little effect.
TO make matters worse heavy snow
storm has set in and more Ice is forming,
The people are panic stricken and mem
are asking each other where 1t will end.
Business is demoralized and the loss will
be very heavy.
Reports from the farming country are
distressing Hundreds are homeless, ali
their personal effects being swept away
by the relentless waters. The govern
ment will be asked tomorrow TO send
men to try and blow up the gorge. This
Is believed to be the only hope now to
save the entire city from being inundated
The water began rising about o'clock
this morning and came up with rush. In
two hours it had passed far beyond ita
maximum hight of yesterday. Those who
had vacated their stores yesterday had the
satisfaction of knowing that the move was
not an unnecessary one and they were the
only persons who claimed any measure out
of consolation out OF the cheerless sit
uation. The water filled every basement
in the affected blocks to the tops, and fur
naees that escaped yesterday were drown
ed out to-day.
The hustle and excitement yesterday
were followed by a day of comparative
inactivity. The only business that was
transacted was such as the flood made nec-
essary. few merchants got out OF the
way this morning, but inasmuch as the
majority had moved yesterday, the scene
was not nearly as busy to-day.
The freight and passenger depots OF the
Wisconsin Central and Milwaukee roads
are in a sadly demora.ized condition. The
Milwaukee freight depot stands at an an
gle of As degrees from its former position,
and the fact that II is tied to the railroad
tracks with strong cables alone prevents
It from falling into the river. The water
edded around Il all day slowly eating its
foundation from under 1t, and total COD
lapse will follow before morning.
AS much care was not taken by the
Wisconsin Central Company to preserve
its passenger station. The old structure
stands out gloomily I'm its bed of water and
never will be At to use again. On every
side OF II is water and the current runs
swiftly over the platform. The tracks
are twisted and snarled and will not be mt
for use for some time.
Mayor Lindley has received numerous
kilograms proffering assistance In case aid
Is required Gov. Upham telegraphed for
information this afternoon, asking II any
hep could be given by the state to remove
the danger. Mayor Rauschenberger OF
Milwaukee teegraphed that the city stood
ready to do all in It's power to offer relief
in the event Of distress.
To all the kilograms the mayor replied
that no assistance was yet required and
the city was In good condition so far as
danger to life is concerned
II is impossible to get room for all who
have been obliged to move and merchants
have been obliged TO store goods In private
residences on the hill. Scores of drays
have been kept busy all day and every
barn and shed is being utilized In addition
to the houses
on River street the water is about four
feet deep The ottawa house and Cardinal
house, adjoining buildings, have about two
feet Of water on the first floor and the
goods were moved to the upper stories.
The ladies' Of the city held a meeting and
made arrangements for a conference at
the Stanley house tomorrow to arrange
for taking care Of the poor who have been
driven from home by the high water.
The board OF health has asked that the
people refrain al much as possible from
using the sewers. There are a number
Of cases of typhoid fever, and with the
sewers of this part of the city stopped
the health OF the community would be
greatly impaired unless precaution 10
used.
Gen. Jones, the army engineer, says ne
cannot give any opinion yet as to what
is best to do. He found the ice PACK or
Ice gorge extended eighteen miles. and
that while the water was rising in Chip
pewa Falls the river itself was falling,
ana that no did not believe that the dan
ger was so very great just now. Further
than this, he would not speak until he
had Investigated more thoroughly.