Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-06-25

to the river which was already
threatening the villages on its banks.
The people Of Grand Rapids were
aroused. but they did not take in the
situation, and only when the water
began to trickle through the slab
embankmentS, swelling into angry
brooks, which cut their way through
the main street, did the people con-
slider the situation. Saturday night
the water still continued to rise, in
creaSing in force and volume. Mr..
Bell. the nightwatch, was instructed
to arouse some of our citizens if, in
his opinion, it was deemed necessary.
At about 2:30, on Sunday morning. he
sent word to MeSSrS. Brundage and
Ferguson, that their place was in
danger: both hurried down and found
things threatening in the extreme.
The river was like an unclaimed
demon, and in it's anger threatened to
Submerge everything. People were
now coming from their homes to help
save property and render whatever
assistance was in their power. At
$3.50 the tin-ShOp connected with the
hardware store of Brundage &
Ferguson, parted from the main
building, carrying with its tons of
hardware, Mr.. Ferguson, who was in
the rear room, endeavOring to remove
the more valuable of the stock. The
building fell into the Seething waters
and the flood carried it to the bridge
and there it went into a thousand
pieces. Mr.. Brundage narrowly
escaped a like fate but he was near
the door and a spring saved him. He
fell upon the rocks, and grasping
sill, he succeeded in crawling out.
The streets were like river and no
hope was left but that the flood would
sweep the city. All available teams
and boats were busy removing goods
from the threatened buildings. BY
Sunday moon, the main street was a
Surging torrent; cables were attached
to some of the buildings on the river
side Of the street, to save them from
being swept into the main river.
Huge logs, pieces of bOOmS, trees torn
up by their roots, came sweeping
through the street. The slough lying
east of the city, became almost as
terrible as the main river, buildings
being swept down by its current. The
street near Geo. W. Bakers was
entirely washed out by its force. The
water was still rising at the rate OF
four inches to the hour. SpatfOrd &
Coles StOre-rOOm parted from the
main building and was carried down
by the current and departed for parts
unknown. By Sunday evening the
water had risen to nearly sixteen feet
above the low water mark About one
dozen buildings were swept down:
others were standing at all angles in
the street, crippled and jammed. 1t
is said that 1nghram'S store alone
saved the entire sweeping away of
every building north of the pOSt-Otfice.
On Monday the water began to fall,
and gradually fell until the river
resumed its natural bed.
The amount of damage caused by
this food runs up to about 5000, 900.
At about half past six o'clock, on
Tuesday, December 7th, 1880, the
building, commonly spoken of as Music
Hall, was destroyed by fire. The fire
caught in Belanger's saloon, then
went to the WorthingtOn block, in
which Silber'S store was located. In
less than twenty minutes the entire
stock of Silber'S goods were removed,
the greater part of which was stolen.
The loss by this fire amounted to
about $4,000. These buildings Occu-
pied the present site OF the Gardner
block and the EmmOns jewelry store.
The September rains of 1881 kept
the Wisconsin river at very high
stage, and Friday, September 18th, a
telegram from above, stated that the
river was rising at the rate OF ten
inches an hour Mayor Webb ordered
men and teams hauling rock from the
Rablin House basement onto the side
L. TO 1n If II
church; this formed dam or break
water, and is said to have saved the
city.
Men and teams were set to work
above W. Browns to break the flow of
water into the creek. Notwithstand-
ing all precautions the following per-
Ingrahm & Co., furniture; d. p.
Morrill,, meat market; McCamley &
King, hardware; JOS ClOsuit, saloon
and household goods; Spafford & Cole,
general stock; Miss Gordon, millinery;
N. J. McRaith, tailor shop; Brazeau
& Atwood. BARRIERS; JOS. Freeman,
groceryman; T. \. Barns, confec-
| tiOnary and baker; j. O. Hebert; pho
J. ID. La Breche, shoe shop: B. Silber,
| dry goods; on the river SIDE OF the
street. On the east side of the street
Jno. Wagner, carpenter shop; ID.
Lutz, cigar factory; E. T. BOdette,
shoe shop; H. II. Compton. general
stocks: and other people living along
water street The river continued
rising until it reached its former
height. lacking one foot: water flooded
! the streets and business was at a
St1nd-Sti11 Sunday the water re-
mained at its highest, and Monday it