Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-09-01
A WONDERFUL TALE.
An Artesian Well Which Threatens to
Drown Out a Town.

Drown Out a Town.
CHICAGO, August 3l.-A dispatch was
received at the city hall this afternoon,
trem the Mayor of Belle Plain, Iowa,
which states that an artisan well four
inches in diameter burst when the depth
of $50 feet had been reached in boring and
instantly volume of water was forced
into the air to the distance of sew
eral hundred feet. This gradually in
creased in size and volume until astream of
water fully sixteen inches in diameter was
formed, and the upward force of this stream
is equal to the power OF powder or dyna
mite: The water in huge volumes is spout
ing high in the air and the supply seems
inexhaustible. Two gigantic rivers have
been formed by this phenomenal water
burst, which are running through the town
at the rate of twelve miles an
hour, and are carrying everything before
them. Houses and lives are threatened
by this peculiar freak of nature and the
citizens of the town are appalled, at their
impending danger, which at present they
are pOwerleSs to overcome. Finding it i'm
possible to divert this damaging flood, an
attempt was made 10 insert siXteen-inch
boiler iron tubes into the well, but these
We're instantly blown out and forced
high in the air Finding this plan
useless the terrified people then attempted
to fill up the huge aperture through which
this terrible geyser was spOuting its deluge.
Fifteen carloads of stone We're emptied into
the well, but these were instantly blown
ont and forced upwards as though pro-
PEELED by the force Of Il bursting magazine
of giant powder. Bags of sand were then
constructed and cast in the well, but these
too, were hurled into the air by the tre-
mendous force of the spOuting water. The
Northwestern railroad was then called
upon for assistance, and instantly sent a
large gang of men TO the rescue. The
bridge gang of the county was also called
upon, but up to this evening no abatement
in the flow OF water was perceptible, and
the rushing rivers formed by it were
washing the channel it had made
deeper and wider, while the basin formed
by this immense volume OF water was
spreading over the low lands in the vicin-
ity. The Mayor of Belle Plains, in the last
extremity, telegraphed TO Chicago for the
best engineers that could be secured, to
come Immediately to the spot and Use their
skill and energy in attempting
to stop this peIilOus condition of at-
fairs. City Engineer, Artingstall to whom
the matter was referred, at once started 10
find an engineer who would supply the
demand, and succeeded in inducing En-
gincer Morgan to undertake the mission.
Messrs. Artingstall and Morgan are, how
ever, both of the opinion that but little
can be done, if anything, to stop the flow
of water, but that it may be possible to
direct the rivers into less dangerous
directions and conflne them to their
present channels. Mr. Morgan left for Belle
PlinS tonight and if more assistance is
necessary Mr. ArtingStall will send all
that is needed This is regarded us one of
the most phenomenal freaks of nature
which has yet been known and the
threatened danger to people and property
OF Belle Plains demand energetic efforts to
stop the ruinous deluge of water.