Birmingham state herald., 1896-12-04
LL-FATED CHIPPEWA FALLS The City Seems Doomed to Be
 Swept Away. SLOWLY THE WATERS RISE And No Power Seems Able to Stop Them Much Suffering Among the Poor
 -Proffers of Help.

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 still remote. The water extends half way to the Gen. traI street now, and many buildings 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 busi- hess houses there continue to transact business. although it now appears that they will be forced to vacate in a short time
 Up to o'clock tonight 2.000 pounds of dynamite had been used on the gorge but with little effect. To make mat ters worse a heavy snow storm has set in and more ice is forming. The people are panic stricken and men are asking each other where it will end. Business is demoralized and the loss will be very great. Reports from the farming coun- try are distressing. Hundreds are home less, all their personal effects being swept away by the relentless waters. The government will be asked 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 inundat ed.
 Water began rising about o'clock this morning and came up with a rush. In two hours it had passed far beyond its maximum height of yesterday. Those who had vacated their stores had the satisfaction of knowing that the move was not an unnecessary one, and they were the only persons who claimed any measure of consolation out of the cheer less situation. The water filled every basement in the affected blocks to the
 
 were drowned out today The water threw business farther up town and the postofiice on the corner of Bridge and Willow streets became the center of &C., tive business life. The freight and pas- senger depots of the Wisconsin Central and Milwaukee roads are in a sadly de- moralized condition. The Milwaukee freight depot stands at an angle of 45 degrees from it's former position, and the fact that it is tied to the tracks with strong cables alone prevents it from falling into the river.
 Mayor Lindley has received numerous telegrams proffering assistance in case aid is required Gov. Upham telegraph ed for information this afternoon, ask ing if any help could be given by the state to remove the danger. Mayor Rauschenberger, of Milwaukee tele- graphed that that city stood ready to do all in its power to offer relief in the event of distress. To all telegrams the mayor ICpllGQ that iU dSSlSlduce was yet re- quired.
 It is impossible to get room for all who have been obliged to move, and mer- chants 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 the Cardinal house and adjoining buildings have about two feet of water On the first floor.
 The ladies of the city held a meeting and made arrangements for confar- ence 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 as much as possible from using the sewers. There are number of cases of typhoid fever, and with the sewers in the busins ss part of the city stopped up. the community will be great ly impaired unless precaution is uyed