Western cyclone. [volume] (Nicodemus, Kan.) 1886-1887, 1886-09-09
A REMARKABLE STORY.
An Iowa Town Inundated by an Artesian
Well

An Iowa Town Inundated by an Artesian
Well
CHICAGO, ILL.,, August 31.-A dispatch was
received at the city hall this afternoon from
the mayor of Belleplaine, Iowa, which states
that an artesian well, fo1r inches in dame
ter, burst when the depth of $50 feet had
been reached in boring, and instantly vol
ume of water was forced into the air to the
distance of several hundred feet. This grad
ually increased In size and volume until
stream of water fully sixteen in hes in diam
eter was formed, and the upward force of
this stream is equal to the power of dyna-
mite, the water in huge volumes spouting
high in the air, and the supply seemed mex
haustible. Two gigantic rivers have been
formed by this water burst, which are run
ming through the town at the rate of twelve
miles an hour and 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 mt present they are pOwerless
to overcome. Finding it impossible to di
vert this damaging flood, an attempt was
made to insert sixteen inch boiler iron tubes
into the WE'LL 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 aperature
through which this terrible geyser was
spouting its delnge. Fifteen car loads of
were instantly blewn out and forced up
ward as though propelled by the force of
bursting magazine of 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 Northwestern railroad
was then called upon for assistance, and in
stantly sent large gang of men to the res
cue. The bridge gang of the company was
also called upon, but up to this evening no
abatement in the flow of water was percep-
tible, as the rushing river formed by it was
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 vicinity. The
mayor of Belleplaine, in his last extremity,
telegraphed to Chicago for the best engin-
GERS that could be secured to come immedi-
ately to the spot and use their skill and en-
ergy IN attempting to stop this perilous con-
dition of affairs. City Engineer A,lingstall,
to whom the matter was referred, at once
started out to find an engineer who would
supply the demand and succeeded in Undue
ing Engineer Morgan to undertake the
mission. Messrs Arlingstall and Morgan,
are, however, 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 direo-
tions tand confne them to their present
channels. Mr.. Morgan left for Belleplaine
tonight, and if more assistance is necessary
Mr.. Arlingstall will send all that is needed
This is regarded as one of the most phenom-
email freaks of nature which has yet been
known, and the threatened danger to the
people and property of Belleplaine demand
instant and energetic efforts to stop the
ruinOus deluge of water.