Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-10-08
WHIRLPOOL.
This Islands In the Vicinity Of Minneapolis
Threatened.


MINNEAPoLIs, MINI, October G.-Mon.
day morning the Eastman Tunnel, half {
mile long, being excavated for the purpose
of making a water power on Nicallet
Island, pierced a sink-water cavern in tht
island, below the level of the river. The
gates at the head o the tunnel were closed,
but The rust ~ water could not be arrest
ed, and on iJv morning a large whirl-
pool was discovered near the shore of the
island, disclOsingthe mouth ofthe cavern.
All efforts to close up this hole by means
of RATS, cribs, bales of hay, ETC., proved
Ruthless, and the river is making a ire
mendOus eiOr. to cut a new channel for
itself. The mills at Hennessey Island are
in danger, as the ground is caving in from
the passage Ofthe water beneath. Athou-
sand men are at work night and day con-
structing R Golfer dam around the mouth
of the Whirlpool, and if necessary a sec
ton of the dam will be blown out to lower
the water, which is very high, and the
danger of a new channel imminent.
SECOND DISPATCH.
The volume of water rushing into the
cavity of the whirlpool and thence into
the tunnel, has been checked by masses OF
trees and sand bags. No damage to the
mills reported IS yet. Huge bOnfrvs
have been lighted. The men at work a.
the piers of Inc new cofer dan have
AAE1AAN A1AAaAANAAhA AAAAAs AAl B1gRaE ha1
excluded from the island and the work
goes bravely n The hole is sixty feet
deep and thirty broad. 1t is full of trees,
logs, sand, etc.
INSTRUMENTATION ATDAVENPoRT, IOWA
The Gazette of the Sd, SAYS: The great
rise in the Mississippi-the greatest ever
knownat this time Of the year-has caused
disaster which months cannot repair,
which is at least $4,000 damage to the
Government, and which throws hundreds
OF men out of employment, when en-
pIOyment is a cesideratum because d the
near approach Cf winter. THE Moline
water power is The scene of disssta-. To-
day the whole extent of its terf,yory is
one rushing lood.
Most OF q city readers understand the
situation of affairs at the water-power
work previous to the food. A Golfer dam
had been thrown across the South
Channel" as it is called on Government
maps, from near the South side of the
head OF the island to a point a few rods
above the Moline wooden mill. About
seven-eights of a mile below this was an
other dam, at which was placed an engine
and pump which, in the course of a few
weeks, lifted the water from the space be-
tween the dams, where it had flowed for
untold ages, and left the entire bed of the
river there dry as an emptied puddle.
Then work progressed on the great tone
dam, a little to the south side of this en-
closed space and designed to run the en-
tire length of it. A number of huge der
rieks and boOms were erected. Three
hundred labOrers and over fifty teams,
with scores of stone-masOns and stone
cutters. were engaged in pushing forward
this great government work. a
In this water-cieared territory a great
amoun of labor in clearing away the top
soil, and other necessary work in leveling
the bottom so as to allow a steady and
sure flow Of water for power in low water
seasons, had been done. Everything
looked like the first of December would
see the main wall of the dam, from the
bulkhead to the upper Golfer dam, about
completed.
The dam was ten to twelve feet high
from the river bed. The remarkable rise
during the last eight days caused Gen.
ROdman to take extraordinary precau-
tionary measures with the dam. Since
Saturday last relays of men have worked
night and day in strengthening the dam
in its resistance to the mighty pressure
which was threatening 1t. On Wednes-
day, the water rose very rapidly, and the
force of laborers was doubled, and a strict
watch was kept on Wednesday night.
But, at half-past eleven in the night, a
small leak was observed near the top of
AAU ain lAAAAAEhAEAS NAIOAhE MEAG hiaAlC
by the night gan to stop it. In a few
minutes the dam gave way near the shore.
the water rushed through, and, like a
swollen torrent, swept everything before
il. The great noise was a very peculiar
one. AZ first il was like the blowing of
steam from the boilers of a steamboat.
Then there was a roar like that of a young
Niagara, which gradually toned down to
the sound OF Niagara's rapids. Hum
dreds OF people in Moline were aroused,
and wen 40 She Golfer dam, where their
worst fear -ara realized. Two hundred
and two feet were swept away. The force
of the torrent was so powerful that four
of the seven great derricks and bOoms
used in building the stone dam, were
overturned and forced down stream hun
dreds of feet from their location.
The damage can only be estimated at
present, and it is quite certain that $50, 600
will not more than cover it and repair the
dams and get things in working order.
Some fourhundred labOrers and teamsters
and fifty stonemasons are thrown out of
employment.
The accident will not in the least inter-
fere with the manufacturing establish
ments of Moline. They were in full blast
yesterday.