The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-09-01
is E. WASHINGTON ST.
A WONDERFUL IOWA FREAK.
Well-Borers Tap q Reservoir Which
Promises to Drown q Whole County.
A Sixteen-Inch Column of Water Spouting
Hundreds of Feet and Threatening to
Destroy Everything in the Vicinity.

CHICAGO, Aug 31-A dispatch was received
at the City Hall this afternoon from the Mayor
of Belle Plaine. Ia, which states that artesan
well, four inches in diameter burst when the
depth of 80 feet had been reached in boring,
and Instantly volume of water was forced into
the air to the distance of several hundred feet
UnIs gradually Increased IN size and volume ur-
I'll stream of water fully sixteen inches in
diameter was formed, and the upward force of
this stream is equal to the power of powder or
dynamite The water, in hugo volumes, is
Epouting high in the air, and the supply seems
inexhaustible. Rivers have been formed by this
water burst which are running 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 ara appalled, at their impending dan
ger, which at present they are powerless to over
come. Finding it impossible to divert this dam
aging food, an attempt was made to insert a six
teeninch boiler iron, which was blown out and
forced high into the air. Finding this plan use
less the terrified people then attempted to fill
up the huge aperture through which this terrible
geyser was spouting its deluge Fifteen car
loads of stone were emptied into the we'll, but
these were instantly blown out and forced
upward as though propelled by the force Of
bursting magazine of giant power. Bags of
sand we're then hastily constructed and cast into
the we'll, but these, too. hurled into the air
by the tremendous force of the spouting water
The Northwestern railroad was then called upon
for assistance and instantly sent large gang
L~s1 A.
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 i'm
mense volume IF water was spreading over the
lowlands in the vicinity. The Mayor of Belle
Plaine. in his last extremity, te'egraphed to Chi
cago.for the best engineers that cou.d be secured
to come Immediately to the spot and use
their skill aud energy in attempting to
stop this perilous condition of affairs.
City Engineer Artingstall. to whom the matter
was referred, at once started out to find an
engineer who would supply the demand and
succeeded in inducing Engineer Morgan to under
take the mission. Messrs Artingstall and Morgan
are, however, both of the opinion that but little
can be done. if anything, to stop the flow of
water, but that 1t may be possible to direct the
rivers into less dangerous directions and confne
them to their present channels. Mr.. Morgan
left for Belle Paine tonight and If more assist
ance is necessary, Mr.. Artingstall will send all
that is needed, This is regarded as one of the
most phenomenal freaks of nature which has
yet been known. and the threatened danger to
the people and property of Belle PLANE demand
instant and energetic efforts to stop the ruinous
deluge Of water.