The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1874-05-28
THE aArE-KEEPER's STORY.
BON the sprinEtald Repuhllcan

George Cheney, the gate-keeper, lives q
little below the reservoir, on the western
bank, but out of range Of the food. He
is about thirty-fve years of age, of little
education, and no more than ordinary in
telligence. He has held the place for
nearly three years, his duty being to at
tend to the opening and the shutting of
fhe gates, keep close watch Of the condi=
tion of the reservoir, and report to his en-
ployers anything which seemed to de-
mand attention. 1t has been his practice
upon rising in the morning, TO go out and
inspect the condition of affairs. He said
he went out as usual on Saturday morn
Ing, about o'clock. Everything looked
all right. Tho reservoir was as full as it
had been for several days. The water was
flowing out of the waste-way on the west
side past his house, the gateway having
been closed for fortnight. There was no
sign Of the impending catastrophe, and
| Cheney returned 10 his house.
The family, including his wife, several
| children, and his father, sat down to
breakfast. They were just finishing their
breakfast when great noise WsS heard,
and the cd man, who was standing ct one
of the eastern windows, exclaimed, "For
Gods sake, George, look there r. About
forty feet IN length Of the bottom of the
reservoir on the east side, just beyond the
gate, was shooting down the stream.
Cheney seems to have realized the situa-
ton and the emergency at once. With 3
single eye to the discharge Of his duty,
and almost as one would infer from hear
ing him tell the story, without stopping
to consider the dangerinYolYed, he rushed
down to the gate and let on the water full
head, in the hope that this might possibly
afford relief and avert the threatened dan
ger.
This done he paused moment to in
vestigate the condition of the wall wher'
the break had taken place. A glanc'
|, showed him that it could hardly fail in 9
few minutes to give way entirely. Stream
of water as large as q mans ara were fore
ing their way through, new ones appear
ing every moment. The wall was con
stantly crumbhng away, its utter down
f fall was evidently only question of q fev
g minutes.
e Cheney rusked up to his house and toll
i his father he was gong to the village t
8 warn the people. Together they hurrie
q to the barn, few rods below, and Will
d | Cheney was throwing bride upon hi
e horse his father cut hlm stick, Leapin
d on his horses back and plying vigorousl
It his lash, he rode at topmost speed dow
n the road that skirted the streams back t
}, Williamsburg, covering the three mile
d he thinks in fifteen minutes. 1t was the
l. about half past z o'clock. Driving to th
,e house of Mr.. Spel'man, who had generI
charge of the reservoir, he summoned thi
l. gentleman from his breakfast table
l. startle him with "The reservoir is q
1t ing"
y It was but the night before that Chene
n had been talking With him about the re
ervoir, and both had agreed that ever,
y thing looked ali right for the summer.
10 is not strange. therefore, that spellmi
IN could not at first credit the statemen
n He thought the man q little ''seared," !" al
to his startling announcement replie
r. "No, it can't be possible" But Chem
t. quickly told him about the giving way
On the earth, and the streams Of water rus
d. ing through, and soon convinced him th
the danger was most imminent The fl
duty was to warn the people further dcI
the stream. Cheney's horse was exhau'
= ed, and Spellman directed him to go
livery stable, where again precious n
ess ments were lost in convincing the cred
ng lous people that the messengers sto
rF could be true. Finally horse was ma
ready and fresh man got off to notify I
dWeilers further down the stream.