The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-01-04
Three Days Of Drenching Rain Turned
Suddenly Into ~ Howling JAM
Iary snowstorm.
MAY REACH THIS CITY TODAY
MERCURY EXPECTED TO DROP THIR-
TY DEGREES BEFORE NIGHT.
Path of the Storm i'm the West and
South Marked with Wrecked Build
inSs and Dead Bodies.

CHICAGO. Jan. 4.-The bowling blizzard
from the Southwest reached Chicago at
midnight and the city to-day will be
plunged into the worst OF wintry weather
after three days OF rain and Florida tenn
perature The mercury began to fall short
ly before IL o'clock tonight. and by ! a. m.
the rain had turned TO snow and the wind
was roaring through the streets.
The continuous rain OF to-day following
without intermission the downpour OF the
two previous days caused a deluge which
has rarely been experienced in Chicago and
Cook county. In the midst OF the city,
where the drainage facilities were in bet
ter shape. not much Inconvenience was felt.
but in the outer districts the streets looked
more like ponds than thoroughfares and
many Easements were flooded. Outside OF
the city many roads were impossible and
the fields we're covered with large expanses
of water. The Desplaines river. the Illi-
nois and Michigan canal and the drainage
canal were torrents. In number of To-
calities the former burst over its banks and
flooded the surrounding country. South
Englewoood was almost submerged to-day.
Sidewalks were covered with water and
Easements were flooded. but no very serious
damage was done. In the stock yards re-
gion the same condition existed. The pump
ing works at Bridgeport were forced 10
shut down, the drainage canal being so fun
of water that it was found impossible TO
force 1t back. AS result the current OF
the river was turned toward Lake Michigan
and all the impurities of the stream were
emptied i'm the direction OF the source OF
Chicago's water supply.
Tie condition of affairs at Summit was
alarming. The water of the Desp.aines
river tonight rose TO within two feet OF
the top OF the dam. and il was feared If
the water continued to rise il would over
flow into Ogden's ditch and both streams
would pour towards Chicago. At midnight
il looked as il the water might break its
banks at any moment. At Lamont things
looked equally serious. At late hour to-.
night il was feared that the Illinois and
Michigan canal would leaves its banks and
sweep away the lumber yards located
there. That portion of the country north
of Lemont known the Flats" was
flooded for miles. The rain turned TO snow
about midnight. the weather suddenly turn
| ing cold.
Reports from all parts of the West tell
of damage by flood and storm during the
last twenty-four hours. In Illinois heavy
| rain has fallen streams are flooded maxi
| ing the roads impassable and damaging
winter wheat. Joliet is threatened with
| one of the worst floods in its history Hick-
| ory and Spring creeks out of their
| banks and the Desplaines river and the
lower level of the canal have raised sixteen
inches to-day. Families moving out of
| their houses and low lands are flooded.
| Water is sweeping through the lumber
yards and the Rock Island track Is sub
merged. In the vicinity of Lacon wheat
| has been damaged badly by the thirty-two-
| hours rain and the roads are impossible
| for marketing corn. The Sangamon river
| is rising. threatening destruction TO thou
| sands of bushels of cribbed corn. IL has
| rained for sixty hours and Is still raining.
| but growing colder.
In northern Michigan the rain Is also
severe. Near Menominee IL has rained for
| forty-eght hours. Logging has been sus-
| pended and hundreds OF men have come out
of the woods. Ice gorges at Fischer and
ening serious consequences TO Menominee
and Marinette.
In Minnesota a blizzard ragged an day
Yesterday with alternating rain and sleet
and with falling temperature.
South Dakota suffered severe snow
storm. which prevailed all day yesterday.
Nebraska is suffering from the worst bliz-
Zard IL has experienced for years Snow
was twelve incnes deep on the level
last night and the wind piled great drifts
six and seven feet high. Trains are de-
tanned i'm the vicinity of Hastings. Last
night a binding snow was falling and a
| sharp wind was blowing. AT Grand Island
there were five feet of snow in the Union
| Pacific Railroad yards. Telegraph and tel
| ephone service is greatly impeded.