Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-09-01
A STRANGE SCOURGE.
An Iowa Village Being Inundated BY
the Waters of an Arlesian
Well.
Chicago Called On TO Keep Back tho Fear.
fui Flow that Threatens Death
and Destruction.

CHICAGO, ILL.,, Aug Sl.-A dispatch
was received at the city hall this after
noon from the mayor of Bell Paine lows.
which states that an artesian well four
inches In diameter, burst when depth Of
$50 feet had been reached in boring, and
instantly volume of water was forced
into the air to a dis of several hum
dred feet. This gradually increased in
size and volume until stream of water
fully I6 inches In diameter formed, and
the upward force OF this ST. cam is equal
to the power of dynamite. The water in
huge volumes Is sprouting high in air
ana the supply seems inexhaustible.
TWO GIGANTIC RIVERS
have been formed by this water hurst
which, running through the town at a
rate OF twelve miles an hour, are carving
everything before them. Houses ana
lives are threatened by this peculiar freak
OF nature, and citizens of the town are
appalled, at their impending danger, which
az present they are powerless to overcome.
Finding 1t impossible to divert this dam
aging Hood, an attempt was made to in
sert sixteen-inch boiler iron tubes In the
wells, but these were instantly blown out
ana forced high In the air. Finding this
plan useless
THE TERRIFIED PEOPLE
then attempted to FIJI up the huge
aperture through which this terrible
geyser Is spouting its deluge. Fifteen
car loads OF large stones were emptied
into the well, but these were instantly
blown out and forced upward as though
propelled by the force OF bursting maya.
zine giant powder. Bags OF sand were
then hastily constructed and cast
INTO the well, but these too were
hurled into the air by the tremendous
force OF the spouting water. The North
western railroad was then called upon Tor
assistance and Instantly sent large gang
OF men the rescue. The bridge garS
OF lhe county was also called upon. hui
10 tnls evening no abatement In the flow
OF water was perceptible, and the rushing
rivers formed by 1t were washing the
chanhei IL had made deeper and wider
wnlle the basin formed by this imm, nee
volume OF water was squirting over the
low lanos IN the vicinity. The mayor OF
belle tlaine In his last extremity tele.
giaphen TO Chicago for the best en-.
slneers tnat could be secured
TO COME IMMEDIATELY
NfSN NAh usu NutlN skill anu energy
IN attempting TO stop this perilous CON
dition OF affairs, City Engineer Arling.
stan, to whom the matter was r..
ierred, at once started out to dnd
an engineer who would supply the demand
and succeeded in indie ng Engineer
Morgan to undertake the mission. Messrs
Artinsstall and Morgan. however, both
are OF the opinion that but little can be
done, II ANYTHING IN atom ,ha a. - Wy
ter, but that 1t may be possible 10 dirsc,
the rivers into less dangerous djrections
ana connne them TO their present chan
nels. Morgan left for Belle Plaine n.
night, ana II more assistance "a
necessary Artings,al will send ali tha, is
needed: This is regarded as one Of The
most phenomenal freaks OF nature which
aSs ye' oeen known, aud threatens dan.
demands instant aud energetic efforts 10
stop TIE ruinous deluge Of water "