The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1896-06-11
BRIDGES SWEPT AWAY.
Redwood County Visited by an
Unprecedented Fall of
Rain.
The Dam at North Redwood and
Several County Bridges
Swept Away.


ever visited Redwood county, and, in
fact, southwestern Minnesota, was
that of last Saturday. Before the
storm finished it's work for the day it
successfully carried away the big
Touring mill dam at North Redwood,
swept out every bridge on the Grow
Creek east of the city, checked the
speed of railroad trains, filed cellars
with water, and as a climax to the
whole heavy bolt of lightning de-
scended from the ugly skies about Z
o'clock in the evening, struck the top
of the tall chimney on Burmeister's
steam plant, and sent the brick cornice
work toppling to the ground below.
The rain fall for the day was be-
tween five and six inches. The morn
ing came on cloudy but there was no
rain to speak of until about IL o'clock
in the forenoon. Then came one or
two flashes of lightning, followed by
quick cracks of thunder, that fairly
shook the armament and let the water
down on Mother Earth in this section,
just as though there had been a cloud
burst. In half an hour the streets
were rivers of the dirtiest kind of
water. The water forced it's way
through walls into cellars and those
not connected with the sewer system
we're quickly filled up. 1t continued
to come down with unrelenting fury
until after one o'clock, when there
came lull.
At three o'clock the Redwood river
was higher than at any time since the
freshet of 1881. The falls were roar
ing and large crowds we're attracted
that way to witness them at what was
supposed high water mark for this
season. At that time nearly the whole
rocks comprising the falls foundation
were covered with water. The sky
was apparently clearing up and for an
hour or more the sun made it's ap-
pearance behind clouds at frequent
intervals. But at five o'clock heavy,
black clouds we're again covering the
horizon and a misty rain commenced.
Prior to this time the fall was nearly
five inches. At six o'clock it CON-
menced to pour down again and kept
it up for about two hours without a
break. It was during this latter
shower, or about seven o'clock, that a
brilliant flash of lightning came down
from the skies and struck the smoke
stack of Burmeister's mill, with the
results above stated. A clap of
thunder followed the flash so quickly
that it seemed to be almost in
stantaneous With it, and it not only
produced general fear over this
community but also shook the clouds
for more rain. Again the streets pre-
sented the appearance of rivers and
again did the water make it's appear
apce through walls into cellars. 1t
was 81 o'clock before the final drop
fell.
The greatest damage done during
the storm was probably the pushing
out of the dam at North Redwood
which backed up the water in the Red
wood river for power for the Touring
mill at that place. The dam went out
about four o'clock in the afternoon
just as the great food from the upper
river reached it. The dam was heard
to groan amid the roar, at first, and
then came the crash, which did not
end until all but Is feet of the eastern
portion of the dam was washed out
The force of the waters tearing down
through the natural run of the river
tore down trees and covered them
with seaweed, mill dam debris, etc
The debris crashed up against the st
Louis railroad bridge, but without
effect, and this bridge acted as pro.
tector for the wagon bridge just be-
yond it.
The race leading to the mill was
left standing intact. Mr.. Nelson's
loss is in the neighborhood of $4,000
He was seen Sunday and when asked
whether he intended to rebuild tht
dam replied in the negative. H,
stated that he would allow the mill Il
remain idle. This, Notwithstanding