Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-05-31
CHAPTER xxv.-THE DAM BURSTS.

strolled into the weaving shed, and COM
ing to standstiI beside our hero, re-
marked in his light cynical way:
'Fine weather this, Mark, isn't it?'
"It's fearful, - Eliot responded, as,
ceasing work for moment, he glanced
through the glass roof overhead, upon
which fierce and incessant patter of
raindrops were laundering.
''If this sort of thing lasts much lon
ger, A" Hesketh rejoined, "there IS going
TO be some trouble. Look at the river,
how swollen it is already, and people are
saying that the reservoir up at the South
Forks higher than it has ever been be-
fore-lt is Overlooking, in fact. r"
THE young fellows voice was very Sc
Jrious, his face was much more thoughtful
than usual. md, noting these words,
Mark asked:
"surely, Charlie, you are not afraid
that the dam up there is unsafe?"
Honestly, Mark, l am, - Hesketh
replied. AT first 1 used to think it was
safe enough, and 1 used TO laugh at the
prophets who predicted that it would give
way. But so many people are talking
about it, that there must be something
wrong.
''Have you heard something lately?''
al have just left Mr.. Crossley the
gentleman named was one of the owners
of the Johnstown spinning mills-''and
he sage there's been a lot of talk this
morning in town about the South Fork
dam, and not a few of those who ought
10 know, have said it cannot resist the
70 MI 10
longer. -
"In that case the townspeople ought
TO be warned of the danger; don t you
think so?''
81 hardly know what to think. I only
know that if the dam does burst it will
be one Of the most terrible disasters that
ever happened either in America or else
where
"someone has frightened you,
Charlie, it is evident Mark said.
perhaps, after all, the dam is safe
enough"
"Let US hope so!'' Hesketh replied,
modify.
Then he turned away, going to an
other part of the weaving shed, and
Mark Eliot bent once more over his
looms.
Outside the ram was still falling in
heavy sheets, aud although it was still
early in the afternoon, the skies over
Johnstown, the neighborinE villages and
the rugged Alleghanies were as dark as
If it had been night.
Inside the factories, workshops and
great iron foundries the gas had been
lighted an hour ago, so black and lower
ing had the heavens become, and still
high in the west the sun hung surrounded
by wide, ragged halo of luTid clouds.
During the past three days the storm
had ragged, and as yet it showed no signs
of statement. 1t had originated in Col
orado, and passing eastwards HAD been
greatly depressed over the lake region
This had caused tremendous southeast
erly gales from the Atlantic seaboard |
towards the lakes, bringing the warm,
moist air OF the gulf stream into the AL !
leghany mountain region. Thus the |
heavy rainfall had resulted; the wide |
slopes ot the Alleghanies had been liter |
ally flooded with water for scores of !
hours, and the numerous mountain |
streams had been converted into roaring, |
swelling torrents
Many of these mountain freshets |
smptied themselves into the great reser-
voir up at the South Fork, and the lake
as higher than ever it had been since
e~ construction. The waters of the lake
covers already topping the huge wall
zea i lIhles-iammed them back and leaping,
q ana : into the great gulf below with
p Witty roar.
eP'harlie Hesketh had only spoken the
ltuth when he stated that many people
the strongest doubts of the
,.am IS power to resist the enormous sea
4 water, which was imprisoned behind
All that afternoon wOrkmen had been
the wall of masonry-nearly
100 feet long, and over thirty yards high
which crossed the gorge like huge weir.
signs of weakness had been detected in
he structure, and then q warning was
ent to the inhabitants Of the town be-
ow.
Some OF the people at once made a
ush for safety; others more daring or
ess fearful remained at their posts, or
Il their homes, and things went on very
much as usual. No one dreamt that an
wful catastrophe was impending-a
alamity, which in the space of an hour
T two would change the face of those
oiling, prosperous slopes and river val
5ys.
Presently the ram ceased falling, and
he skies cleared. The change inspired
hose who were sffrighted with courage,
nd those who had refused to fee de-
ided those who had been less courage
us. And all thought that the danger
as past, or passing. But the awful
low was even then falling.
At o clock those who stood on the
ank OF the reservoir heard q loud re-
ort, sharp and loud as the swapping
sunder of q thousand stout trees. Then
he dam was seen TO melt suddenly
way, and the Gagged sea was freed. H.,
When the dam broke, the towering
ali OF water behind it seemed to dart
Iddeuly forward. and scarcely touching ,
ie ground, it appeared, It bounded !
long the narrow valley on its work of (
cath and destruction.
The front of the flood was like a solid :
all many yards high, and crashing,
'sriug, it swept on down the narrow 7
orge, carrying everything away its !
rong hands touched. The front of the !
lrrent appeared to those who beheld it
ke cloud OF dust; it must have been {
he spray. !
On, on it poured down the South Fork, I
airing along for miles circuitous deep 1
alley TO Its junction with the Cone :
augh river, already feartully swollen. !
hen the dire work began as the waters
read themselves and envsloped all they =
luld reach. .
The devastating power of the r,luncine