The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-02-24
{ DAILY, Sf0 YEAR J
( 8 CENTS A COPY.
WEEKLY, LIS A YEAR
BREAKING OF THE DAM.
NOT TIE SLIGHTEST DOUBT WAS
ENTERTAINED OF ITS SAFETY.

Fears that the Disaster at Wicken-
burgh Wes Fully as Bad as at
Prescott-A Little Stream OF Water
that soon Developed into q Torrent
and Carried All Before II.
PREscoTT, A. T., Feb. 2s-Not the
slightest doubt had been entertained Of the
safety Of the dam which broke yesterday
morning early, and numerous houses had
been erected by the miners at various
places along the course of the stream. These
were uplifted by the raging waters as
though they had been corks, and foated
down the stream until they were dashed to
pieces. The first intimation Of the appall-
ing disaster was a sound resem-
bling thunder, and at the same
instant perpendicular wall of
water fully fifty feet high came rushing
down the narrow valley with almost incred-
ible speed. Fortunately there were but
comparatively few people living near the
bottom OF the hillsides, and Of these a large
number Were warned by the awful sound
aud escaped to the higher ground
wICKENBURGH's FATE.
The valley wdens about Wickenburgh,
and much Of the town lies upon low lands
olose to the course of the stream, and it ia
almost certain that the vast body OF water
which rushed out of the reservoir
has carried away manyIhouses at that place.
IL Is believed here that fully as many peo-
PIE were drowned there as Immediately
below the dam. The ruined dam is cut
from the top almost to the bottom, as
though a section b I'd beeu dragged out, and
the water above is only a few feet deep.
Heavy rains had fallen for several days,
nd t1ax ND a kak
water in the lake was approaching the
danger line.
A KNIFE-LrKE STREAM.
Rain continued Throughout the night, and
early yesterday morning the water roee to
the top of the dam and cut a small passage
near the center, which rapidly widened and
deepenei as the water poured over 1t, until
in less than twenty minutes, the little
stream had become a roaring cataract.
The storage company Is blamed
for not having provided a sufficient
outlet for the water in times Of danger. The
only way OF letting off the water was
through the fume, and this afforded nc ap-
preciable relief. This is the Il st Of the
great storage reservoirs projected in the
territory aud 1t is believed that to-day's
disaster will operate TO discourage the con-
struction Of similar dams.
FIVE BODIES REOo vERED.
A courier, who brought kilograms from
the ownors Of the Walnut Grove dam noti-
flying them Of thoir loss, arrived about
o'clock last night, and left Immediately
after daylight this morning. He could give
but little particulars further than to report
the number OF the missing, five bodies
having been recovered and identified when
he left. The distance to the storage dam
from Prescott, by the shortest trail. is forty
miles, while the service dam where tho en-
ployes were located is fifteen miles further
down the stream.
THE ADJUTANT GENERAL ON THE SCENE.
Immediately on receipt Of the news here,
Adjutant General O'Neil started for the
scene Of the dis ister with two sur
geons to care for the sufferers,
and TO superintend the burial Of tho dead
A representative of the Journal Miner, q
local paper, accompanied the party, and
will send a courier with particulars, but it
will take twenty-four hours or longer to
make the round trip. Yesterdays courier
came from the lower dam, and
as the road does not come by
The upper dam il was only surmised that 1t
had given away on account Of the immense
quantity of water. A more hopeful feeling
exIsts this evening ON account Of no news
being received direct that the upper dam
has given way. 1t is now hoped that the
reservoir Is still intact, and that the food
wes eau cd by the opening Of the gates to
relieve it from threatening danger.