The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1896-12-08

cupancy.
Chippewa Falls, Wis, Dee 3.-Con-
tinued cold weather increases the ex-
tent OF the ice gorges which have
formed in the Chippewa river and the
stream continues to rise until it has at
tanned maximum height of twenty
three feet. The city is in more de-
piolahle condition to-day than ever,
and dle business portion is abandoned
to the flood Large retail stores have
moved their effects to places of safety.
and as a result there are six blocks Of
empty structures iii the heart Of the
business portion of town. The mer-
chants used good judgment in remov-
ing their possessions beyond the reach
of the water. for to-day over fifty
stores, restaurants saloons and shops
are flooded to the depth of three feet
The river continues to rise at the
rate of two inches per hour and ruin
and devastation follow in the path Of
the waters. The pOStoffice is under
three feet of water and Postmaster
Mccall has moved the office seven
blocks from its old station. Heller &
Jacobs, Jenkins Bros, e. PoSenanSki,
Weyenberg Bros, Goddard & Watson,
the Good Luck Drug company, the
Mitchell restaurant and about twenty
lesser firms have all vaca ted their
buildings and the water has filled the
recently occupied structures above the
first floor. The Independent Office is
flooded and the edition was not deliv-
cred to its subscribers until almost
noon. The Herald basement is filed
and the water Surrouns it on every
side. Both papers will be compelled
to remove their plants before morning,
provided the river continues to rise.
Fears of General InundatfOM.
Reports indicate that the Chippewa
river is filed with gorges ut many
points. At Flamhau farm the river ran
over its banks. II is feared to-day hat
the course of the river win he changed,
throwing it directly on the town and
completely inundating it. In that event
heavy loss of property and life cannot
be averted. There is much excitement
In town, but everything is orderly.
About fifty families on the South side,
who were forced to move from their
homes, are reported in Waut. and re-
lief was Immediately dispatched. Some
of these families had taken refuge i'll
empty houses and were without food
or warmth. The ice gorge which be-
gun at West Howton. OH the MisSis-
sippi. ard gradually extended up the
Chippewa since Friday. has reached
Round Hill. three miles below Durand.
The nearness of the gorge has forced
the water at this point higher than at
any time during the flood, although
the river is slightly falling The eigh-
teen miles of the Chippewa below
Round Hill is one field of packed ice,
and the bottom lands over which the
Chicago, Milwaukee & st. Paul rail
road track runs IS completely sub
merged at Round Hill The river is
1tanked by bluffs which makes a
gorge there dangerous to this city al
though the wide bottoms on the west
side. making the river over a mile
wide at this point, causes the water to
rise slowly. AS far as known no lives
have been lost, but those living on the
Chippewa bottoms have been rescued
with difficulty Several families on
the Buffalo county side We're driven
from their homes at o'clock Sunday
morning by the forming of a gorge at
Plum island Scantily dressed. they
waded through the ice and water to Il
high point on the railroad track, from
whence they were rescued by relief
train Several were badly frozen 9th
it formed around their homes. Du-
rand has not had mail since Friday
forenoon.
Chippewa Falls Wis, Dec. 1.-The
situation at Chippewa Falls is more
hopeful. The water has receded about
six inches, and it is believed that it
may not rise higher. although the city
has twice been fooled within the past
forty-eight hours by exactly the same
conditions. Last night the water re-
ceded eight inches but after that it
came up rapidly, until it had gone two
feet above high water mark. To-day's
bright prospects may be but a repeti-
ton of those of last night and the night
before. and many expect the water
will still be creeping up Bridge street
into the residence portion of the city
The gorge in the channel of the river
has been added to all day and it seems
veritable mountain, which tons of
dynamite cannot affect. If the water
is succeeding in cutting a passage
through this mass of frozen snow and
ice a further rise may not be expert
enced. but it is doubtful if a sufficient
volume can find its way under it to
save the city from further destruction
An immense amount of anchor ice IS
piled up in the river at the foot OF
Bridge street, indicating that the gorge
has anchored on the bottom and that
the water is no longer finding it's way
beneath it. The fact that the river has
fallen fifteen inches at Eau Claire
seemed TO warrant this belief, but
Yo1-ntthnIpSS thp wafer did NOT CON