Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-10-07
Speed Night On Hills
Drenehed by a Cold
Rain.
NO DEATHS REPORTED
Slxty-one Business Blocks of
Black River Falls CrumbIe
Before Torrent.

Lacrosse, Wis, Oct "A thousand
people in Black River Falls today are
without shelter after spending the
night in the hills watching the water
from Black river overrun the town.
They have sent an appeal TO the
country for assistance. Wires are
down and only by resorting TO the ex-
pedlent OF sending a man up a tele-
phone pole at the edge of town that
a cry for help could be sent out.
The population fed yesterday with
out stopping TO take extra clothes.
They spent a disagreeable night in d
pitiless rain.
81 BLOCKS GONE.
Only few of 81 business blocks
in this town thus far have escaped
the fury of the raging food and they
are doomed to destitution. Every
thing on four business streets was
swept away. The current sweeps
through what once was the heart of
the city. SO far as can be ascertain
ed there has been no loss of life.
Communication with towns down the
Black river is impossible, but it is
believed a certainty that they have
been carried away by the food, pos
sibly entailing a heavy loss of life.
FOOD Is SHORT.
What is known as Lower Town
Black River Falls. or Grove-that
section lying to the west of the riv-
er-today was place of misery. 1T
is here that the vast majority of
residents live. and following a night
of anxiety and suffering. they face
the realization that no food is
available except what was in their
homes. Almost every scrap Of food
in the city. except that in houses out
OF reach OF the food was destroyed.
Every grocery store, meat market
and other food depot in the city is
gone. An attempt was made today
to organize work of relief Mayor
McGiI sent messages TO La Crosse
and other cities appealing for food
and shelter.
CITY BUILT on SAND.
The banks of the river are slowly
slipping into the water. Most of the
city is built on sand, and 1t is believed
before another day passes the resi- /
dence district of Price and German
Hills will be in danger. Two dozen /
dwellings already have been swept |
away. The postoffice and banks are
among the business buildings destroy
ed. The general opinion is the town
can never be rebuilt on the present /
location. The new channel of the 4
river now goes through the business !
streets.
The mayor today estimated the loss |
of a million dollars at Black River /
Falls alone, not considering the dam
age at other points. RumoTs today I
were that three lives were lost.
RIVER CUTS NEW CHANNEL
At Hatfield. the river today cut a /
new channel and appeared where it |
was never known TO run before. !
Pressure at the dam ceased and the
waters have fallen below the crest. 7
The main part of the big structure is /
still standing.
LAKE WAUSAU OVERFLOWS.
Wasau, Wis, Oct. THE govern 1
ment river gauge shows the Wiscon-
sin river reached eight and a half
feet above normal. which equals the
record of 1881, the highest so far
known. The water of Lake Wausau .
broke through the embankment at
both ends of the Rothschild dam to-
day. doing several thousand dollars
worth of damage. Dynamite blast
ing was resorted TO at the west end
TO draw away water from the east
end. where it is flowing through the
streets. for fear il will undermine
several costly buildings.
CIoUDBURsT IN COLORADO.
Denver. Col, Oct. Reports
from various parts OF the state re
garding the extent OF the damage
from cloudburst which swept both
sides OF the range. carrying mill
lion tons of water into the lower val
ley. breaking reservoirs and drown
ing settlers. indicate much loss of
property TO ranchers. The isolation