The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1896-12-03
WAS MOVING DAY
The FuSineS> Men Of Chippewa
Fails Become Thoroughly
Ala, med,
HasteninS to High Ground With
Goods Previously Placed in
Second Stories.
Change in the Course of the
River Now Considered AL
most inevitable.
Durard and q Err Places Watch
inc the Gorge With Great
interest.

MILWAUKEE, Dec. 3.-A special to
The Evening Wisconsin from Chippewa
Falls, Wis, says: Confusion reigns
IN Chippewa Falls and the thoroughly
alarmed people are making every effort
to leave as little for the incoming
waters to Destroy as they possibly can.
Two hundred teams and drays have
rushed hither and thither and the
streets are Uttered with various kinds
of merchandise which spilled over the
sides and ends of the overloaded
wagons as they were hurried to places
of safety. The water remained station
sry until about 3 O'Clock a. m, then
t began to rise rapidly and inside Of
four hours All additional rise of lS
inches had been registered. The river
ut 10 a. IN. is "a feet high and rising.
Merchants Taking No Chances.
The Spring street merchants who had
stored their goods OH second floors de-
termined to take no chances and every
thing is again being moved, and by
night there will not be dollars
worth of material remaining. Busi-
ness is abandoned and the city is
in state of tumult. Thousands
of people are anXiously waiting the
flood and groups of 30 or more eXcitedly
discuss the situation on every corner.
Anything is expected and nothing may
happen. but the greatest danger lay Ill
the probable changing of the rivers
course to throw it into the town. This
dangerainmore insured now for it is
plainly to be seen that the water can
never cut its way under the ID miles of
ice gorge which has formed i'll the bed
of the river Experts believe that the
gorge will soon become anchored to the
bottom of the river In this case, the
river must flow out around it. Its nat
ural course III this event lies directly
behind the town. Three thousand
pounds of dynamite arrived and men
have been at work at various points
along the river The attempt has SO
far failed to relieve the situation. All
buildings Oh River street are
Flooded to the Second story
and the formation of ice around them
is doing serious damage to the struc-
lures. The Central depot Is under
three feet of water and will be carried
away before night. The Milwaukee
freight depot Is Iii IL similar situation,
and the coal sheds near by are wrecked
and torn by ice. \ report has reached
here that the gorge at LATHE Falls dam,
16 miles above the clty, had broken
away, permitting il rush OF water upon
the town. If this rel ort is authentic
IA fnNn will Ina lnnnInt pI II sf
as soon as the water reaches us. Man
ager Irvine of the Chippewa Log and
Boom company discredlts the story.
The report had caused considerable
CONSERVATION, and there will be 10 ces-
sation of worry until it is denied. Fifty
of the largest business firms have aban-
doned their structures entirely, and
every resident has made preparation to
|" Seek Places Of Safety
in case the worst occurs. An estimate
of the damage already done i'll this city
and the rich farming country above 1t,
cannot be made now, but it is he. .ieved
II loss of $1,OOO,00O has already been
sustained. Not until after the flood
has subsided will the full measure OF
damage be estimated.
A special from Durand, Wis, says
Ice gorge below the city has forced the
water within four feet of the great u
food, filling cellars and overfiowing the
lower streets. The ice has closed IL
and the line OF formation Is il mile
above the city, the river slightly fall
ing here below Round Hill. The gorge
has broken and the river has tallei
rapidly there. Should the Chippew;
Falls gorge break, Durahd will be i,
great danger, as the bluffs at Rount
Hill will hold the gorge there.
A special from Black River Falls
Wis, says the recent flood on Blacl
river surpassed anything in the histor,
Of the county at SO late period in tn
fall. AS returns from the lower rive
counties come in, much loss of stocl
and other property is reported.