The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-04-06

The river was almost stationary yes
terday, rising less than three inches
in the eighteen hours ending at +
o'clock last night. The general i'm
preston is that the end is in sight but
the old river men say that it is the
lull before the final storm, and they pre-
dict that before the end of the present
deluge the old Mississippi will throw
it's record of 1881 away in the shade.
These predictions are not to be re-
garded as idle talk, for they are borne
out by the statements that are coming
in from UP river points to the effect
that the water is rising rapidly and no
signs of let-up.
There was little or no change in the
conditions locally yesterday. The break
ing of the levee on the upper flats Sun
day afternoon has caused the most
serious damage since the beginning Of
the flood, for it has thrown the strong
current of the river directly over the
flats and the roadway surrounding
them, and every house on the flats, in
Guiding those built on the very highest
points on the levee, is submerged in
from two to twenty feet of water. 1t
is feared that the levee will be entirely
washed away, for it's foundations are
not Of the strongest, and just previous
to the flood the frost had gone out OF
the ground, leaving it in a very soft
condition. It was a noticeable fact
Sunday that, after the first small
stream of water went over the top of
the levee and the breach was started,
- ic1oiY TO
the ground crumbling away like so
much sand Yesterday there was not a
living thing on the upper flats with the
exception of a few water fowl, whose
owners had left them behind, knowing
that they were we'll equipped to care
for themselves. All the industries that
have been conducted on the flats have
been abandoned and left to the mercies
of the water. The Mcmillan Packing
company plant is in water three feet
deep, and it was only with the greatest
difficulty that the products which the
concern had on hand were moved to a
place Of safety.
On the West side flats there seems
to be no end to the trouble that the
flood is causing. The only low ground
that is not covered with water is that
bounded by Fillmore and State streets
and Indiana avenue. All the people
living on the north side of Fillmore
were compelled to vacate their homes
yesterday, and the force Of police under
Capt. Getchell were kept busy all day,
moving a total of fifteen families, who
were penniless and unable to help
themselves. Several families who had
been living west of State street and
south of Chicago avenue and who had
vacated their homes several days ago,
leaving their furniture behind them,
were compelled to move it out yester-
day These people were Of the more
well-to-do class and in no case was as
sistance needed.
Capt Getchell had one peculiar case
to deal with yesterday. An old man
was found in one of the houses north
of Fillmore street, with all his goods
packed up ready for removal. He was
known to have plenty of money, but
refused to pay for the removal of his
belongings, and when the police offered
to assist him he told them that he
would not raise his finger to the work
unless he was paid for it. The police
informed him that so long as he had
money the saving of his property was
his own lookout, and when they left
him he was grumbling about the In
justices that were heaped upon the
poor man. This is the third case the
police have found where people have
refused to accept help that was Of
fered them unless paid for it.
The water is from two to three feet
deep all about the Lafayette school,
and while the building is in no danger
and the rooms are all dry, it was
thought best to dismiss the school yes
terday until after the flood subsidies. In
the meantime as many of the children
as can be cared for will attend the new
Humboldt school,
Five more families were given nIar-
ters in the old Humboldt school build
ing yesterday, and there are now some
twenty-five families living there. An
that can be has been done for then
and they are as comfortable as could
be expected under the circumstances.
The building has been repaired where
ever communication with the outside
air was too free, and stoves have been
put up in every room so that the peo-
pie do not suffer from the cold. They
have plenty of provisions and are In
all ways much more comfortable than
they would be in their own homes If
there were no flood Several ladies
including Mrs. Fred Bellamy, Mrs. N
Chadwick and Mrs. Manifold. were In
attendance at the building all day look,