The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-09-08
A Subterranean River Tapped while
Boring for an Arteslan Well.

CHICAGO, H., Aug. PA dispatch
was received at the City Hall this after.
noon, from the Mayor Of Belle Plaine,
To-, which states that an artesian well,
four inches in diameter, burst when the
depth of 1SG feet had been reached in
boring, and instantly a volume of water
was forced into the air to the distance of
several hundred feet. This gradual ly
increased in size and volume, until a
stream Of water fully sixteen inches in
diameter was formed, and the upward
force Of this stream is equal 20 the
power of powder or dynamite. The
water, in huge volumes, is spouting high
in the air, and the supply seems mex
haustible. Two gigantic rivers have
been formed by this water burst, which
are running through the town at the rate
of twelve miles an hour, and is 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 1T present they are pow
erless TO overcome Finding it impos-
sibIe to divert this damaging heod, an
attempt was made to insert sixteen inch
boiler iron tubes in the well, but these
we're instantly blown out, and forced
high in the air. Finding this plan use.
less, the terrified people then attempted
10 Gil up the huge aperture through
which this terrible geyser was sp0uting
it's deluge. Fifteen carloads of stone
were emptied into the well, but these
we're instantly thrown out and forced
upward a. though propelled by the force
Of bursting magazine of giant powder.
Bags of sand were then hastily con-
structed and cast into 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 30 this evening no
abatement in the flow of water was per-
ceptibe, 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 lowlands in the
vicinity. The Mayor of Belle Plaine,
in his 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 perilous condi-
tion of affairs.
THE WELL AND IT'S SURROUNDINGS
Special Dispatch to the Globe-Democrat;
CEDAR RAPIDS, To-, August 3l.-The
excitement at Belle Plaine continues on
account of artesian we'll, which is still
boiling at a great rate and throwing out
an immense amount of water and sand.
The history of the overflow is as fol-
lows:
Monday, August %, VIM. Weir s
Sons begaa boring an artesian we'll at
the intersection of Beech and Worling-
ton streets in Belle Plaine. This Is on
the fat about four blocks south of the
Burley House. The contract called for
a well with three-inch casing, and 9
dow was guaranteed. They bored {
two-inch hole, and theorized that the
flow of water through it would wash i
cut so they could sink three-inch cas-
ing. Thursday they struck water, at
depth of lS5 feet. At this time they
had about sixty feet of three-inch casing
down, and the water rose with stirring
tUrce twelve feet above the surface, In I
solid threeinch stream, plainly showing
the strongest flow ye. struck. Friday
morning the flow was under control, but
during the forenoon, in the attempt tc
force three-inch tube into twolncf
hole, it broke loose, wore away suflicien
space outside the tubing to allow tn
water to boil out around the tubing a
the surface. At sundown Friday ;
stream OF water foot in diameter wa:
A. G.Qn 81 off
ties were appealed to take control AM
give relief iron, the impending danger
Already many lots and houses wer'
more or less flooded. At 9 in the even
ing gang of men we're set at work, tn
Mayor and Council personally superin
tending them until nearly morning. Al
expedients that could be put in practlc
we're tried, but the water could not b
controlled. Saturday morning Eugen
Palmer promised that fifteen inc
tubing could be driven down to the blu
clay, believed to be about fifty feet, an
0y thus cOnfning the flow TO commo
center the outside flow could be stop
ped, and then the one in the tubing cor
trolled.
VOMITING Forth SAND.
IL is impossible at this time, 10 est
mate the damages. The south part
the town is more or less flooded, an
cellars are filed with water 10 da
there were at least 1000 people visltin
the place, and no relief has yet bee
found. The hole has increased to To
size of barrel, and the water Is bur
bling up some four feet above the SUI
lace, throwing out immense quantitie
Of sand At least five hundred carload
have been emptied by the flow, and
gang of men are kept constantly
work, day and night, shoyeling IL ava,
channel has been dug for an outlet
the Iowa River, and this channel ni
double the volume of the river at tn'
point. There are several other wells
Belle plaine, but they have all cease
lowing since the outburst OF the IA
one. The citizens have grave apprene