The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-08-04
TIE NEVADA CALAMITY.
THE BURSTING OF wATER-sPoUr OVER
EUREKA-ScENEs oFTHR DISASTER

THE BURSTING OF A wATER-SPoUr OVER
EUREKA-scENEs oFTHR DISASTER.
A correspondent of the Cincinnati Com
mercial, writing from Eureka, New. gives
the following account OF the recent disaster
at that place: Yesterday an appalling
calamity befell the town of Eureka, involv-
ing the loss. within few minutes, of twelve
lives, and property of the value OF at least
Sl5O,0OO. In the forenoon we had several
heavy showers, with occasional CLEANS o.
sunshine. but about 2 O'Clock Ia the after
noon the sky. to the southwark over Pros
pact mount ain, which has an altitude
of 5000 feet above the town stand
ing at its northeastern base. be-
came dark and threatening. Numerous
flashes OF lightning were followed by loud
peals of thunder, and then were seen on the
mountain slopes great masses of water pour
ing down from the clouds ia broken sheets.
The many side ravines branching from the
canon or main ravine. in which the town is
built, were speedily carrying turbulent
streams to their exits, and when united.
these streams formed an impetuous river
varying in width from $50 TO 400 feet. with
depth OF from two to three feet. Before
the flood reached the upper end
of the streets, its approach was
signaled by noise like the waving OF
wind in pine forest at some distance
and several horsemen galloped ahead OF il,
giving warning to tie inhabitants MANY
persons flew. at once to the hillsides. but
Others seemed stupified, or Were so anxious
TO save their effects that they failed to es-
cape in time, and some even laughed at the
idea OF danger being entertained. As the
lumber buildings directly in tee lire of the
current were struck. most of then. ,yare firsf
II
rising and falling 3 time or two. they
We're seen TO careen over and GO 10
pieces. \ public hall, 100 by % feet, received
the full force of the stream on its side.
end as it gave way it produced lateral cur
rents which were very destructive. For q
distance of three quarters OF mile scarcely
any frame buildings were lefs standing,
Fortunately, at the time, the presence of a
deep chsnnci contract d the surface limits
OF tbs water, but while this saved MANY
buildings 1t involved human beings and an
finals caught in it i'm
ALMOST CERTAIN Destruction,
it being in places eight to ten feet deep, and
of great velocity. Several persons escaped
after having been borne along half a mile.
and others were seen on wrecked buildings
rolling over and over, making hopeless ef-
forts to reach some place of safety. Charles
l.. Broy, who tour weeks ago was married
to young lady who came from the State
of Virginia to link her fortunes 10 his, was
carried OIL by the seething food with her
clssped In bis arms. Half a mile below
ne was dragged out bruised
of his wife was found a mile and a half
still lurther down. Roger Robinette, an &C
complished member of the press, was stand
ing in his room looking at the current, when
he discovered that on the front his way of
escape was cut off. With the building he
was swept away, and though rescued two
thirds of mile off in life. he died soon
after. Several horses were seen in the tor
rent, but were uterly unable TO extricate
themselves. The loss is heavy one, com
ing as it does mostly on comparatively poor
people, many of whom have lost their all.
Without estimating The indirect less, there
can be no doubt that $4,000 will
not replace the property. Up to
the present time II dead bodies
have been recovt red, eight being those of
white persons and four Cinnamon. 1t is
thought that several others will yet be found
in the piles of rubbish which extend for
miles in the direction of Diamond Valley.
Owing to the washing away of the stage
road, no mail left this place yesterday. To
the shame Of some of our hoodlums it must
be said that theft, even from dead bodies,
and drunkenness, with violence, prevailed
to some extent. Trunks that contained
money were found, but the contents were
gone. As a set-of to these evil deeds, IL is
gratifying to be able 10 state that the COM
pany controlling the lumber business here
has taken no advantage whatever OF the
calamity as an excuse for enhancing prices.