Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-07-28
GREAT FLOOD LOSS
ABOUT ASHLAND
cLouoeuRsT AND ToRRENTIAL
RAIN ovERwHELM COUNTRY
WITH RUSH OF WATER.
STATE FISH HATCHERY AT BAY.
FIELD ALMOST ENTIRE
LY pEsI RoYED.

Ashland. Wis, July ga cloud
burst followed by ~ hours of pouring
rain. caused heavy loss to property in
northern Wisconsin. The power plant
at White River built two years ago
by Nixon & Forbes, of Rhinelander,
was washed out completely. The
plant furnished power and light to the
city of Ashland ami the loss is easily
100000 The state fish hatchery
near Bayfield, was nearly washed
away and the millions of fish were
washed into the lake. The loss to
he state viii be heavy as the ponds
appear TO be destroyed.
The Northw osteln, Wisconsin Cen.
trail, Northern Pacific and Omaha
trains ere all held up and no trains
can get into Ashland from any direc-
ton. The south bound train from Ash.
land on the Central reached High.
bridge, where 1t was found that a wa
gon bridge he'd washed down the
stream and lay against the railroad
bridge. The valley was raging food
over which the train dare not attempt
to pass. Railroad and wagon bridges
foI miles are down.
Water to Housetops.
II is believed that people living in
tie valley of the White river escaped,
although from Highbridge houses can
be seen standing with the water up to
the roof. The dam breaking at White
river imperils Odanah and the people
there have been warned to leave the
houses before the food arrives.
Late advices from White River
state that when the earth fill adjoin-
ing tho dam went out, 1t swept the
power plant which was located a
short distance down the river, out
clean. Rain is still falling. Railroad
construction crews are being sent out
to repair damage.
Families Marooned.
Additional reports OF the cloud.
burst are coming in. There were two
distinct cloudbursts preceded and fol-
lowed by IL hours torrential rains.
Several are reported drowned at 0dan-
ah. Six families near the ore dock in
Ashland lad to be taken from their
houses. Chickens and small stock were
washed into the bay. Part OF the Ash
lard Bottling works was demolished,
100 feet of Northern Pacific track
near Ashland Junction is gone, and
nearly every bridge and culvert IN the
country Is out. II is utterly impos-
slble to travel country roads. Of
ficials of the White River plant are
now trying to reach the spot where
the dam went out but are prevented
by water everywhere.
The flood from the destroyed dam
on White river has reached Odanah.
Alarming reports continue coming In
from there but are impossible to con-
firm. Rumors of houses and whole
families being carried away probably
are not true but some loss of life is
not improbable
Millions Of Lumber Gone.
'1rtS uSiut Nls-s July SSs---OHb Oh tue
worst storms In years occurred In this
vicinity. causing washoats on the
Omaha railroad al Salmo and 3ayfield,
and no trains are running in or out of
bayfield,, The property loss on ac-
count of the rains is very heavy.
II is reported that 5000, 900 feet OF
logs belonging to the Stearns Lumber
company of odanah were flooded out
Of the booms at the mouth of Bad
river
The state fish hatchery ponds were
badly flooded.
In the summer resort country,
enormous damage has been done to
small summer homes. Mills on the
Odanah reservation are wrecked, and
in the neighbofhood Of Mellen, every
house in the valley Of one of the
small streams is reported TO have
been carried away.
100000 Loss at Duluth.
Duluth, Mimi, July 22.-Duluth was
flooded again last night, the second
time in "A hours, and the damage may
reach s1,000,000 Damage to the
streets will be several hundred thou.
/ .1x1fnua Baax. faNT q - 49,. - :. :,