Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1881-02-03

with IL = whole rews.
Yesterday afternoon about $50 o'clock
the large irrissting reservoir situated
about six miles above Franktown,
washoe Valley. at Little Valley, on
Hobart creek. suddenly gave way. The
reservoir was about thrse-quartsrs Of a
mile wide. a mile long and from thirty
to fifty feet deep. When the reservoir
broke q perfect wall Of water came down
the canyon to the valley. Franktown.
standing near the mouth Of the canyon
in the course Of the torrent. was swept
away % though the houses had been 20
many match boxes. Only two build
ings are LEFT standing in the place, the
depot and the hotel.
The reservoir was built last summer
by the ranchmen Of wsshos Valley for
the purpose Of storing up water to DO
used in the irrigation Of their lands. II
had been feared for two or three days
that the dam would break. a. II began to
leak very badly. The Virginia and
Truckee Railroad was sure to be badly
damaged In case Of the dam giving way.
and the railroad folks comforting with
the ranchmen. 1t was thought advisable
to let the water out. a. the weather bo-
ing very threatening and the dam liable
to 60 at any moment. The sluioe.way
OF the reservoir was opened and the
water was being drawn OF when the
whole structure gave way. probably from
the current cutting round the sluios-Way
once the water vas In motion.
A number OF men who were below the
dam when II broke were caught by the
rush OF water aud carried various dis;
taucss down the canyon. but luckily oil
were able to catch hold Of various
objects aud drag themselves ashore.
There were from 150 to 200 people liv.
ing in aud about Franktown. All had
for two or three days been alive to the
dangers Of their position, and bad 70.
moved oil the lighter and more valuable
part Of their household goods. The
families had also been sent away. many
persons fading shelter at the Bowers
Mansion.
The telegraph operator was almost the
only man left in Frapktown yesterday
afternoon. He remained at his post.
but was on the alert. Finally he heard
q tremendous roaring and crashing In
the mountains, and looking out saw a
perfect wall Of water coming down the
canyon. He says this wall appeared to
him to be about 1000 feet high. He
grabbed his instrument. tore II loose and
ran. He had the good fortune to reach
= place OF safety before the flood struck
the town. -.
The damage to the railroad is copsid.
cradle. When the main torrent rushed
down on its way toward Wsshoe Lake 1t
made n clean sweep OF the roadway for
a distance OF about 100 yards. The track
for this distance ri broken and carried
bodily for some distance, where 1t was
left lying In the sagebrush. For q dis
lance Of half Q mile the track 10 covered
with sand, ssgebrush and debris OF all
kinds. The telegraph poles were swept
away for O distance OF about hall q mile.
The ranchmen Of Washoe Valley are
great sufferers by the food. II 10 said
that several ranches arc ruined. In
some places the ground is torn up and
in others is covered with sand. powders
and all manner Of debris. The build.
iuss are all swept away. and 1t Is said
many domestic animals we're drowned.
Ths'damaRe to Franktown and vicin.
ity 10 put down at sbou, $50, 900, and
the damage to the railroad at about
ST. OO. A wreeking train carrying
about seventy.6vs men was at once sent
up to the break from Carson, and the
work OF clearing the track was pushed
a. rapidly as possible. No through
train was sent out from Virginia last
evening, and the Virginia and Truckee
railroad mseagement think that It VIII
be impossible to run any through trains
over the road before tomorrow.
The dam Was situated ut . height Of
between three and four hundred feet
above Frsnktown. across Q narrow gorge
ut the foot Of Little Valley. and was built
| Of stone and earth. was about ffty.six
feet high, and cost about $4,000. In
places below II the canyon 10 quite pre-
cipitous and the tumblina down OF the
water was fearful. Dams Of tree trunks,
brush and tumblipg rocks would be
formed in an instant, the water piling
up to an immense height (soue say lOO
fset), and an instant after all would give
way, there would b. q rush, another
dam would form and give way. In this
way. by u succession Of great leaps and
with Q tremendous roar and commotion
the flood tumbled down into the valley.