The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1890-03-01
A WAVE OF DEATH.
epetifIon OF the Johnstown Disaster in
the Ear M.st


PHGNlX, 4. L, Feb. 2t.-The town of
Wickenberg has without doubt been
swept out OF existence by the bursting
Of the dam of the Walnut Grove Water
Company, as 1t lay on the banks of the
stream, and great loss of life must have
occurred. The town was mining set
tlement, and the men worked in the
hills, SO they might have escaped, but it
) almost hopeless TO expect that any of
tie women and children eluded death,
The dam which held the waters back
was ll0 feet long Al the base, and 400
feet at the top. /. was 10 feet thick at
the base and ID .eet at the top, forming
lake 5 miles in length by ! OF mile
wide, and 10 feet deep.
Anupper dam broke first. When the
wall OF angry water struck the service
dam, fifteen lilies below the break, it
was checked !or an instant, but the dam
was unable to withstand the terrific
pressure and soon gave way, carrying
with 1t the extension system of fumes
and other structures.
The news OF the break in the reser-
volr Was received here bv messenger,
whose horse dropped dead as he en-
tered town. The courier SAYS the val
ley below the dam for miles was swept
clean. Immense rocks were carried
away as though they had been chips.
There are many prospectors IN the
country, and this fact makes it lmpOs-
slble to even estimate how many are
lost. AS rule they are in the iowlAnds,
and would be swept out OF existence
without moments warning.
I he messenger was some distance be-
low the dam when ii broke, being in
side gulch, but he saws that from the
SOUND the most Of the huge fabric must
have given away before the millions of
tons of water almost instaHtaneously
There WAS an awful crash that seemed
to shatteI the air, followed by q surgug
and roaring as though hundred
NIagaras were tearing their way through
mighty. mountain range.
lie ran Immediately to the top of the
hi, where the valley WAS visible, and
Lie describes the scene as something
awful. The valley was filed with foam
capped water, liiSI settutu anu Dub
bled as it spread itself over the valley
and into the side canons. Where he
saw the valley the water Was mile
wide and not less than fifty feet deep.
Monster trees were cut oil by the ROCKS
and water like reeds. Nothing living
was visible.
The Walnut Grove Company was one
of the most extensive storage and hv-
draullc mining companies III the terri
tory. Their works We're of vast extent,
and when in operation were expected
TO revolutloniZe this district.
Many families lived in the narrow
canons below the dam, and, il they had
no warning, they were surely drowned.
The story Is that the upper and
larger dam has gone as well as the lower
distribution dam.
Up to a late hour this afternoon 10 in
formation has been received in regard
TO the break in the Walnut Grove dam
The fall OF rain and snow has been
very heavy III the mountains lar to the
north and east, and the water here is
very high. Salt River rose sew
enteen feet in fifteen hours
Saturday morning. The railroad bridge
across 1t ls swept away for 200 feet, and
a half mile of track on the bank of the
river is gone. Telegraphic c0mmuni-
cation WAS interrupted, but wire WAS
placed across the river last nigh t.