The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1869-10-14
Flood and Disaster.
From the Davenport GaLet


The great rise in the Mississippi-th
greatest ever known at this time of the
year-has at last been characterized by
disaster at this point; disaster which
months cannot repair, which is at least
$50, 900 damage to the Government, and
which throws hundreds Of men out of
employment, when employment Is
desideratum because Of the near APP
proach of winter. The Moline water
power in the scene Of the disaster. To-
day the whole extent Of its territory Is
one rushing flood.
The upper Golfer dam was originally
built with reference to the depth of four
or five feet of water, which prevails in
moderate seasons at the place Of its site.
But the strange freaks of swelling which
the Mississippi has INDUCED in at most
unreasonable times since spring, COM
pelled the elevating and strengthing Of
the dam till it was ten or twelve feet
high from the river bed. The remark
able rise during the last eight days
rss,,aah General Rodman to take extraor-
binary precautionary measures with the
dam. Since Saturday night last, relays
Of men have worked night and day,
to the mighty pressure which was
threatening it. On Wednesday the
water rose very rapidly, aud the force
Of laborers was doubled, and 0 strict
watch Was kept OH Wednesday night.
But at half past eleven in the night a
small leak was observed near the top Of
the dam, about seventy-tive feet from
the Illinois shore. Immediate efforts
were made by the night gang to stop it..
But the water was resistless. In a few
minutes the dam gave way near the
shore, and the water rushed through
with tremendous power. carrying away
more dam, and. like q swollen torrent,
sweeping everything before it. The
great noise was a very peculiar one. At
first it was like the blowing of steam from
the boilers of steamboat. Then there
was roar like that Of great Niagara
toned down to the sound Of Niagara 5
rapids. Hundreds Of people In Moline
were aroused, and went to the Golfer
dam, where their worst fears were re-
allied.
Two hundred and two feet, according
| to measurement Of A. NJ. Gould, Rock
Island County Surveyor, yesterday
were swept away. Probably in less
than twenty minutes the tract intended
! to be protected by the Golfer was flooded
| to tho depth of several feet. The force
vi Viz IoTIeIt WAS 81 po"cilul tuiSL iOOG
of the seven great derricks and booms
used in building the stone dam, were
overturned aud forced down hundreds
of feet from their location. A portion
| Of the lower dam was carried away and
the engine house was most completely
submerged. The bulk head was badly
damaged. Several of its bents were
torn away and altogether it was badly
damaged.
Fortunately the break occurred in the
night, when the men at the dam were
the only ones employed. Had it occur
red in day time, the probabilities are
that several lives would have been sacri
feed.
The loss Of tools, barrows, DC, IL com
paratively small, as all order had beer
issued the previous day for the convey
ance of all such property to the mair
shore.
The damage can only be estimated n
present and it is quite ceitain that SO,
600 will not more than cover it, and r.
pair the dams aud get things in working
order. Some four hundred laborer
and teamsters and fifty stone mason
are thrown out Of employment.