Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1913-04-03
WIND AND FLOODS
DO MUCH DAMAGE
WISCONSIN is SWEPT BY THE
MOST DESTRUCTIVE STORM
OF THE YEAR.
RIVERS SENT OUT OF BANKS
High Water Again Endangers Fond
du Lac, Large Area of City Being
Inundated-S20o 600 Loss in Mil
waukee-Other Points Suffer.

Fond du Lac.-Following a thunder
storm on March % the two rivers pass
ing through this city went on a ram
page and the city experienced the
most disastrous flood in history. With
a foot of snow covering the ground
when the storm started Sunday even
ing, the downpour melted the snow
and added to the water which poured
into the already swollen streams.
For the first time in a score of
years, the residence district on the
east side of the city was flooded,
scores of the handsome homes of the
citys wealthiest citizens being iso-
lated by water On the west side the
conditions were worse. the lowland be
ing completely. inundated for many
blocks.
An appeal for help from the
stricken district on the west side sent
police and fremen scurrying about in
boats carrying people to high land
Manufacturing and business institu-
lions which never had to shut down
able to operate. some because of hav-
ing boiler rooms flooded, while others
were isolated so that their employees
could not reach them
East of the city the farm lands were
inundated and the road leading along
the east shore of Lake Winnebago was.
washed away. A number of bridges
on this road were destroyed. In the
city several railroad bridges which
were threatened with destruction were
saved when heavy ore cars were
placed on them.
Bishop R. H. Weller of the Fond
du Lac diocese of the Episcopal
church, had to be ferried in a row
boat from his residence to the church
to conduct mass at 9 O'Clock this
morning.
100000 Damage at Milwaukee.
MISUNDERSTANDING estimated at
$22S,000 was done by the severe wind
storm that swept Milwaukee on March
"A. Five of the six coal conveyors OF
the st. Paul e Western Coal company
went down almost simultaneously. The
wind twisted the skeleton work and
found resistance enough to hurl tbs
heavy masses to the dock. 1t will be
weeks before the damages can be re
paired.
Much Damage at Racine.
Racine.-The severe storm did great
1ar in, ga vSnSxx
Fronts of stores were driven in by
the rain, trees were uprooted and al
Mound cemetery monuments were
overturned. At the Wisconsin-IlIino
league park the roof of the grandstand
was carried away and parts were
found 500 feet from the ball grounds.
The entire east fence of the park was
razed The damage is $1,000. The
directors of the Racine Baseball asso
citation will hold a meeting and deter
mine whether the grandstand and
fences shall be rebuilt, or the parE
rebuilt on the south side. From all
districts of the country come reports
of much damage having been done
by the storm.
Fox River High.
Depere.-A heavy electrical rain
storm caused high stage of water
in Fox river, breaking up the ice
nearly a foot thick, which went over
the dam in large masses and de
stroyed the foot bridge which con
nected the piers. About two feet oil
water was going over the dam and
the locktender, j. M. Page, was work.
ing on the dam and had a narrow
escape from being swept away with
the footbridge. Some of the telephone
lines were put out of commission.
The Storm in WaIworth.
Elkhorn.-The storm was the sever
est that has visited this section in
years. Barns, silos, windmills and
chimneys suffered the worst, very
many being destroyed. Telephone
telegraph and electric light wires are
also in bad condition.
Destruction in Monroe County.
Tomah.-Eastern Monroe county
suffered great loss of property through
the most severe wind storm in years
Reports have been received of the de
struction of scores of buildings in the
rural districts surrounding this city