Madison County News 1890's

Madison County, IL Newspaper Data

1890's

Alton, Ill,, July 6.—Special Telegram.—The large ice house belonging to the Alton Coal and ice Company was destroyed by fire this morning. It is supposed the fire was kindled by a falling sky-rocket on the Fourth. The loss is about $6,000 on the ice house, with probably another thousand added for the minor losses on a dozen houses that were fired by flying sparks.The Daily Inter Ocean, (Chicago, IL) Tuesday, July 07, 1891; Issue 105; col B

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Alton,-Ill., June I8.—Special Telegram.—A disastrous fire occurred in this city at an early hour this morning. Shortly before midnight Arc was discovered in the rear of B. T. Hull's berry box factory. In a short time the whole building was afire and the names spreading to adjoining buildings. The building occupied by Hull was owned by Charles Steiner and is a total loss. When the west wall fell it went Into Tomllnson's blacksmith shop, and that structure was soon destroyed. In the Wilkinson building, adjoining the Hull building on the east, were the barracks of the Salvation Army. This building was partly destroyed. In the rear of the Steiner building Moses Rubenstein had $3,000 worth of rags and iron stored. These were totally destroyed. Rubenstein had no insurance.

The summary of losses Is as follows:

Charles Steiner. $5,000 on building; insurance, §3.500.

E. T. Hull, loss $875; insurance, $600.

D. G. Tomllnson, loss $1,000; insurance, $300.

Matthew Wilkinson! loss 11,600; insurance,

Moses Rubenstein, loss $3,000; no insurance.

Total loss, $11,375; total Insurance, $5,000,

The Daily Inter Ocean (Chicago, IL) Wednesday, June 19, 1895; pg. 9; Issue 87; col F

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Flood In Alton

Water Knee Deep in Some of the Thoroughfares
Much Damage Done Alton, III., May 15.—Special Telegram,— Last night's rain was the heavies! for several years. The streets were soon flooded and behaved pedestrians waded knee deep at places along Third street. The rain had its effects. on the river and this morning a rise of nine inches was recorded, which was increased by live more inches before night fall. The river is now running in the gutters on State street nearly to Second street. On the southwest corner of these streets is the mark of 1844 on an iron pipe, apparently but about four and one-half or five feet above the present stage of water. This morning the Big Four New York express Stopped hero on account of several washouts on that road near Wann. It is reported that the trestle on that road jus? south of the Wann yards is in shaky condition, and will have to be virtually rebuilt. The New York express left at 10:40 o'clock, going by the way of the Chicago and Alton Road. Early this morning Branson Dorsett, the proprietor of a bout house, received appeals from numerous farmers on Missouri point, begging him 4'for God's sake to send skiffs to them." Himself a loser by the high water, he immediately dispatched .all his skills to their rescue. In some instances the persons were found silting on house tops and in trees, and others were waist deep in water. Later ex-Mayor McPike, in the absence of Mayor Joseting, organized a number of relief corps, and on his personal responsibility chartered several steamboats and ten skills, and before night fall every refugee had bean relieved. Captain Starr also assisted in the rescuing and saved many horses and cows, besides the families and their furniture. The ' owners of the steam yacht Rambler rescued fifteen persons from precarious positions. Losses by the floods. The Bluff line will be n loser by the combined action of the high water and rain of Saturday night. Their long trestle, extending from Union Depot to Henry street, is afloat, except on the upper end, where several cars hold it in place. This is but minor damage age compared to that along the river bank, where the roads run to Grafton. The track is nearly all under water, and has been undermined and weakened to such tin execute that its repair will amount to rebuilding the road In other places landslides have come from the bull's, covering the tracks and adding to the damage, The loss to the company will amount to S40.000 Thousands of people lined the river bank all day yesterday and but few could remember the nine when the water was higher than at present. At the Labelle Roller Mills, Stanard's mills, Spark's Mill, vinegar factory, and water works, levees have been built of Bricks filled with a sticky clay and every effort is being made to keep the water back. At the water works the firemen and engineer have to wade about in rubber boots. The big pumps have had to be abandoned and only the small ones in the inside pits can be used. A levees has been built inside the building to keep the water from going into the pit. The water is in the trial-:s factories, and but one or two factories will be operated tomorrow, and should the rise continue all will be closed. The currents in the Missouri Woods lead to the belief that the Missouri River is cutting a channel across the narrow neck of land south of Portage. At this joint the rivers join as they do near Missouri Point, At those places a skill: can be taken ten miles across country before finding landing. The present high water is the banner record for the month of May, and should the June's rise follow soon after this one another 1844 flood would not be improbable. All Trains Delayed. The trains were all delayed by reason of the overflow south of Alton and around Venice and Bridge Junction. The Chicago and Alton Company this morning procured all the available sacks in the city and sent them to Venice for use in building levees. The heavy rain of Saturday has caused great damage to growing wheat and especially to the asparagus crop, which is quite large in this vicinity. Late this afternoon twenty-five cars of rip- rap were sent south on the Chicago and Alton for use in preserving the tracks. This the management has determined to do at any cost. The great Madison levee has given way and untold damage wilt result along the American bottoms. A citizens' meeting was held this afternoon under the guidance of ex-Mayor McPike, soliciting and and relief, committees were appointed and several hundred dollars subscribed. Over ten families were rescued today. Most of than huddled in groups along the Ievee surrounded by a few of their household goods. In every face was the picture of abject despair, and in several instances women were crying as if their hearts would break. "We haven't lost any of the children," said one woman, "but everything we have is under water, and we haven't even a place to sleep." This expresses the sentiment in n majority of the cases. The relief committee this evening has provided for all these refugees, and found food and shelter for them.
The Daily Inter Ocean, (Chicago, IL) Monday, May 16, 1892; Issue 53; col G

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Three Fatal Accidents Five Lives Ended Suddenly at Alton, Illinois

Alton, Ill., Oct. 27.-~Three fatal accidents by which five lives were lost occurred here yesterday. Train No 4 of the Chicago and Alton railroad struck a section hand named John Madison yesterday .morning at Mitchell, Instantly killing him, cutting off one leg and his head. His home is unknown. Three colored men from Memphis, whose names are unknown, went Into a caisson of the Bellfontaine bridge and not understanding the airtight door were smothered to death. Patrick O'Neill, city contractor for street cleaning, was thrown down and run over by a runaway team on Monday and died of his injuries last night.

Rocky Mountain News, (Denver, CO) Friday, October 28, 1892; col A