The Nevada journal., 1857-02-20
THE FLooD-MoRE CALAMlTIEs.


tains, has raised the water of the creeks
to an almost unprecedented height
Deer Creeks said to have been eighteen
inches higher than at any time since the
food of 1851. Throughout the county,
portion. Little or no damage would
have occurred to our citizens from the
natural rise of water. The breakage of
Mr.. Laird's large reservoir on Sunday
morning last has involved Nevada again
in serious calamity.
We have heretofore had occasion to
speak of this reservoir, and to express
some fears of its capacity to withstand
the pressure of the immense mass of
water confined by it. The dam how
ever was said to be substantially built,
and we did not then expect that our
fears would be so soon and so unhappily
realized.
The reservoir was situated upon Deer
Greek about seven miles above Nevada.
The dam was forty feet high, construct
ed of timbers, and when full would have
Hooded an area of two hundred acres,
with an average depth of twenty-five
feet AT the time of the breakage, it
was not entirely completed, but was
filled with water to within about ten
feet Of the top. We have been informed
that on Saturday fears were entertained
of its safety and that workmen were
employed in cutting holes for the escape
of the water. Unfortunately the flood
gate was so choked as to render it use
less for that purpose On Saturday
evening word was sent to some of the
residents along the banks of the stream
to pnt them on their guard. But the
general confidence in the strength of
the dam was slch that most of those
who were accustomed to do so, slept in
their houses near the stream, as usual.
About four o'clock Sunday morning,
a tremendous crash and tumult awaken
ed those of our citizens who reside in
the lower part of the town, and on rush
ing out of doors, they saw body of
water fifteen feet in heighth rushing
down toward them, filled with timbers,
planks and drift wood, and bearing every
thing before it in lis course. There was
ne time to think of property or clothing,
anything but life. Messrs. Boswell
Il Hanson who were sleeping in their
store by the Main street bridge, rushed
half naked into the street, leaving their
watches and considerable amount of
money in their rooms. Others barely
escaped with their lives. The scene is
described by eye witnesses as being ter
rife in the extreme. Large buildings
such as the store of Boswell & Hanson,
and boarding house OH the opposite side
of the creek, were carried bodily along,
only falling to pieces when they reach
ed the rapids below. The roaring of
the water, the crash of falling houses,
the darkness of the night and the howl
ing of the storm, combined to render
the scene imposing and magnifcent-to
one who had no property thereabouts to
be affected by the flood.
The damage occasioned by this acci-
dent within the town limits is itself con-
siderable Boswell & Hanson lost their
store with large and valuable stock of
goods, and their money and watches.-
One half of the Monumental Hotel,
owned by S w. Crush was undermined
and shattered though not carried entire
ly away. Wait & Co.'S blacksmith shop,
wagon shop of Mr.. Whitmarsh, the feed
store of L. S. Ely, the houses of David
Belden, and of Niman & McElroy were
swept off and destroyed. All the bridges
over Deer creek except the Pine street
bridge, very high one, were carried off.
Below we give rorgh estimate of the
losses sustained within the town:
Boswell Hanson $4,000
A L. Laird, reservoirs &C.. 1000
City of Nevada, bridges 5000
s.. W. Crush, damage to hotel 5000
Wait Co, blacksmith shop, &c. 1000