Situation Serious

Milwaukee, Wis., Dec. 2. - A special to The Evening Wisconsin from Chippewa Falls says: The situation in Chippewa Fa.lls is growing more serious every minute. The mammoth ice gorge which formed six miles down the river has backed into the eity, and the immense volumes of water coming from above are spreading to each side, inundating large portions ofthe town. Every merchant in the city is moving to places of safety. The water has filled the basements of the business blocks almcst the entire length of Bridge Street, and it is expected the water will reach the court house, eight blocks trom the river. There is much excitement in town, but everything is orderly. About fifty families on the south side, who were forced to move from. their homes, are reported in want and relief was immediately dispatched. Dynamite of Xo Use. Some of those families had taken refuge in empty houses ánd were without food or warmth. Bridge Superintendent Callahan of the Central road was Instructed to Wast out the gorge at our east, but he would not undertake the task. He said that all the dynamite manufactured could not budge it, and it seems that all that can be done is to sit hands down and watch the approach of the nood. The water Tuesday morning began to rise at the rate of one foot an hour, and it looks as though the entire town would be inundated. It is a critical condition of affairs, but there seems to be no remedy. As far as known, no lives have been lost, but those living on the Chippewa bottoms have been rescued with difflculty. Several families on the Buffalo county side were driven from their homes by the forming of a gorge at Plum island. Scantily dressed, they waded through the ice and water to a high point on the railroad track, from where they were rescued by a reüaf train. Several of the party were badly frozen. KAILWAT TRACKS ÜNDEK WATER. Trafflc Delayed by the Flood In the Wlsconsin River. Milwaukee, Dec. 2. - A special to The Wisconsin from Wausau, Wis., says: The flood in the Wiseonsin river continúes, and at Granite Heights, ten miles north of here, the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul tracks are about half a foot under water for half a mile. This water is thinly sheated with ice, which is not strong enough for transfer and yet is enough to seriously impede any attempt to clear the track. No part of the track is yet washed out, but it is not considered safe to attempt to run through the water. The northbound passenger train got through Monday morning and was caught by the rise, so that it can only run now between Minoqua and Merrill. Eau Clare and llnraml Protected. Eau Claire, Wis., Dec. 2. - There is a total suspension of railway trafflc on the Wabasha and Durand branch of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul railway. Great damage has resulted to farms along the Chippewa river. Farmers' families escaped to railway tracks from rising water and were rescued by trainmen. The great ice gorge is causing the inundation of Chippewa Falls, but is protecting Eau Claire r.nd Durand. It extends for miles and cannot be broken. Unless it should give way no great damage is looked for here.