The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-02-26
HOW THE WATER BURST ITS BONDS.
The Worst Fears Regarding the Dis
aster more Than Realized.
Scarcely a vestige Left Of the Big
Dam at Walnut Grove.
A Hurricane Distributes Real Estate
In Northern Texas.

PRESCOTT, Arz., February 25.-The worst
fears in regard to the Walnut Grove disaster
are more than realized. Particulars come in
slowly, and are still meagre. Two prospec
tors arrived late last night from the upper
dam. They say they camped near the dam
Friday night. at 1 o'clock Saturday morn
ing, the dam broke, and the water rushed
down the narrow and steep canon in a so,-
i'd body, so feet high. One man was rescued
from the top of tree. The prospectors
state that not even remnant OF the dam ex-
lists. The immense body Of water, one and
one-half miles square and 60 feet deep. was
empted in an hour They had talked with
many from the smaller dam, 10 miles below,
who said that up to Saturday evening 25 bod
les were recovered, but could give no addi-
tional names. The survivors are in the
greatest destitution, having neither provis-
ions nor clothing. Coarse grain sacks are
used in lieu of clothing. The camp Of the
workmen building the hume was ,s.a not heard card
lost. No news has yet been received here
from Wickenburg or from the settlements
below the dam.
A messenger sent by Sheriff O'Neil has ar
rived with further particulars OF the disas-
ter. Sheriff O'Deil writes:
The desolaton along the Hassayampa river, be-
low the sites of the dams, is complete. A tornado
could not have made such wreck. For miles the
waters filled the bed of the creek with bodies.
enormous b0ulder5, trees, and every other kind
OF debris. Thirty-three of the drowned have
been identified. Besides these. IL or 13 miners
in the placer mines, between the upper and lower
dams, with number of rancherS along the
stream, are missing. When all the casualties are
ascertained, the entire loss will probably be be,
20 or 80 miles from the place where the flood
overlook them. All the remains are more or less
mutlated. In several cases only fragments were
recovered, as the force of the flood was terrific.
Many bodies are doubtless buried in the sand and
others torn in pieces and carried far to the SOUTH
Immense boulders, weighing tons, were turned
around as a child might toss ball. Enormous
trees were broken or torn into shredS. Iron bars
were broken and twisted, and ordinary fiat iron
picked up and carried five miles to be embedded
present level OF the stream. A large safe, con-
tanning In the neighborhood of $1,000, was swept
away and no trace found of 1t. Whatever the
water struck went down.
The flood struck the lower dam at so and five
minutes later the headquarters, five miles below,
were watching but notwithstanding this number
of men were drowned at each point. Those who
did escape did so with only what they had on their
backs. Many were in their night clothes.
Early on the evening of the 2lst, courier was
sent from the upper to the lower dam to warn the
residents at the latter point that the former struc
ture was In danger of breaking. Owing to the
storm and darkness the messenger could not
keep ahead of the flood and lost his life within
sight of the camp he tried TO save. Charles
low Wickenburg, and who lost his ranch above
the lower dam, reported that nine bodies were
discovered at Wckenburg and three ashore, in
addition to those already reported.