, 1896-12-02
HIGHER AND HIGHER.
THE CITY OF EAU CLAIRE IN I'M
MINENT DANGER OF IN
TNDATION
Numerous Ice Gorges Along the Chip
pewa River-Dynamite Being U.s.
ed in an Effort to Break the Gorge
at Chippewa Falls-Water Five
Feet Deep in the Streets.

Chicago, Dec. findings of a ca,
iimity threatening villages and towns
4 the Chippewa river valley of Wis.
;Jnsin were confirmed by passengers
and crews of incoming trains today.
According to them the city of Eau
Claire is in the shadow of a big ice
gorge which threatens to give way at
any moment and precipitate a food on
the inhabitants of the valley. Express
Messenger Arthur says hat the cen,
trail point of danger is at Eau Claire.
He continued:
An express agent whom l relieved
at Chippewa Falls told me that a
great ice gorge, nearly so feet high
and five miles long, has formed near
;he lower portion of Eau Claire. This
barricade of ice is forming a reservoir
CT water which is packed with lumber,
driftwood and great foes.
The only thing which keeps the
ticCd back is the ice gorge. When that
gives way something awful will hap
pen. Families are moving away and
carrying their household goods to high
land. The water has risen everywhere.
Four feet of water covers the Wiscon,
sin Central tracks. and it is rising at
the rate of six inches an hour.
COVERED WITH WATER.
The bottom lands are covered with
water and a great loss of stock is said
to have been reported by the farmers.
Cellars, where supplies are kept, have
been completely filled with water. l
hear That the river has already reach
ed the "A foot mark and is rapidly
rising"
The Chicago. Milwaukee and St.
Paul has suspended its service through
the Chippewa valley. it being utterly
impossible to get a train through the
flooded country.
Logs and lumber from the woods
are strewn on the tracks. On some low
grades the water rises many feet above
the ties and high enough t o extinguish
the engine fires. No effort will be made
10 run trains on this division until
the road structures are clear and eX-
amined.
Train crews report that an engine
and coach SEN out to the lowlands be-
low Durand came back with two score
1f men, women and children on board,
who were driven from their homes by
The flood. and were found nearly dead
from exposure and cold. The engineer
said that he could not finish the trip
on account of the rising water.
BRIDGES UNSAFE.
The Burlington bridge at Chippewa
is reported by train crews to be impass,
able. Reeds landing, above Alma. is
said to be totally covered with water.
and traffic is effectually stopped. The
railway officials received information
hat the Chicago, Burlington and
Northern road is also seriously handi-
capped by the gorge and rising floods.
Passengers on the Wisconsin Central
train, which arrived from the north at
noon, reported that the water is al
ready five feet deep in the streets OF
Chippewa Falls and that dynamite is
being used in an effort to break the
gorge.
Reports indicate that the Chippewa
river Is filled with gorges at many
points. At Flambeau farm the river
ran over its banks, destroying 800 head
of live stock and running a dozen farms
and buildings. 1t is feared today that
the course of the river will be changed.
throwing it directly on the town and
completely i%nundating it. In tina,
event heavy loss Of property and life
cannot be ayerted