The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-09-01
GUSH OF THE GEYSER.
ARrEsIAN WELL DREAKs LOOSE
At Belle PlainO, Iowa, Flooding the Town
and Endangsrlng Life aud ProPeFty-Ono
of the Most Remarkable of Natures
Phenomeua-Th Town In Peril,

CHICAGO, August Sl,-A dispatch was
received at the City Hall this afternoon
from the Mayor Of Belle Plaiue, Iowa,
which states that an Rrtesisn well four
inches In diameter burst when the depth
Of $50 feet had been reached in boring,
and instantly q volume OF water was forced
in the air to the distance Of several hum
dred feet, This gradually increased in
volume and size until a 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 huge volumes is
spoutng high in the air aud the
supply seems inexhaustible, Two
gigantic rivers have been formed
by this phenomenal water burst,
which are running through the town
at tho rate Of twelve miles IN ho1r,
and are carrying everything before them.
Houses aud lives are threatened by this
peculiar freak Of nature, and the cltlz1ns
OF the town are appalled, at their impsnd.
ing danger, which at present they are
powerless to overcome, finding It impossi'
bic TO divert this damaging flood, An at-
tempt was made to insert sixteen inch
boiler iron tubes into the vol but these
were instantly blown out aud forced high
in the air, Finding this plan useless the
terrified people then attempted to ill up
the huge aperture through which this
terrible geyser wes spouting its de!uge.
FORCE OF THE GRYsRR,
Fifteen carloads OF stone were emptied
into the well butthess,were instantly blown
out and forced upwards as though pro-
PEELED by the force OF bursting magazine
OF giant powder. Bays Of sand were then
hastily constructed and cast into tho we'll,
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
rescue. The bridge gang Of the county
was also called upon, but up to this even
ing no abatement in the flow OF water was
perceptibe aud the rushing rivers formed
by 1t wero washing the channel 1t had
made deeper aud wider, while the basin
formed by this immense volume OF water
was spreading over the low lands in the
vicinity.
TIE LAST RESORT,
The Mayor Of Belle Plaine in the last
extremity telegraphed to Chicago for the
best engineers that could bO secured to
come Immediately to the spot and use
their skill and energy in attempting to
stop this perilous condition OF affairs.
City Engineer Artingstall to whom the
matter was referred at once started to find
an engineer who would supply the de.
mand, and suCCeeded in inducing Engi.
neer Morgan to undertake the mission.
Messrs. Aftingstall and Morgan are, how.
ever, both OF the opinion that but little
can be done, II anything, to stop the flow
oil water, but that 1t may be possible to
direct the rivers into loss dangerous direc.
tions aud conane them to their present
channels. Mr.. Morgan left for Belle
Plaine tonight and II more assist
ance Is necessary Mr.. ArtingDtGll 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 people and prop.
erty OF Belle Plaine demands energetic
efforts to stop the ruinous deluge Of
water.