Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-05-11
A GREAT RESERVOIR BREAKS.
sudden foosinE of the Second Largest
Artificial Body of water In the world
Spreads Consideration Around 40 Loss
of Life Reported.

CISCISSArf, o. May G.-Ceutral and
southern Ohio is the scene of Widespread
and disastrous floods. At lewstown -
miles south Of Lima, the great dam hold
ing back reservoir of lt,Un acres burst
at O'Clock this morning and the rushing
waters flooded hundreds If farms in the
Miami valley. The damage vii! be tens q!
thousands OF dollars.
Almost by miracle no lives we're lost,
although the proximity Of several towns
and cities was thought sure to mean the
drowning of scores IF people, The rc>er.
votr was the second largest body Of artl,
tcial water i'll the world.
The Scioto river at Chi!icUthC has cut
of every avenue into the city, except one
leading from the west. Below ChilIicothe
the great valley Is one big lake. The
baltimore Il Southern and The Norfolk n
Western railroad have their tracks par
tally submerged. It Is still rising rapidly,
The damage to the Ohio canal will be
great. II Is feared Paint creek aquedttct
will be washed away
The greatest loss will be in the rich
corn-rais!ng valleys Of the Scioto aud it,
numerous tributaries. where such another
Hood was never known. Ground there
was ploughed ready for planting and all
this viii. nave TO be done over again.
Near Hisby's the largest iron bridge in
l'!ke county vas swop, away. \ number
Va H'AlA'A bt4AEEH dLENHsN IAtAI CREEK anu
other small streams have been either de-
stguyed or badly damaged. The loss be-
tween this city and WaSrrly will aggregate
S2pDUDU.
The damage in Springfield ana vicinity
from the fuol will reach $4,000 Two
hundred houses have been flooded. The
ono Southern railroads extension 10
Lima, which Is NOW battling. has been
badly damaget and two bridges are gone.
LITTLE Rock, ARK, May 3 The river is
stu rising slowly here. All the farm. IN
lerkinS township are uverA1wcI and crops
ruined. Toward conway the water n
pouring into the cotton fields, doing great
damage 10 the crops.
Sr. Ps.rl, Miss. May 3--'rhe Missis-
sippi passed the dongcr line II feet 1T ~
O'Clock last night, anu the rise to day was
more rapid than ii was Yesterday. There
seems 10 be no indication of II having
reached the limit of the rise. aut more or
less damage Ia properly has resulted.
The West 81, Paul electric plant has been
compelled to Suspend operations. tho
building being Hooded. lluuirtds ut
homes On Tile low lands abuyc the city are
unaer water ami many families haze lost
all their household effects Shuuld the
rise continue at the present rate for another
- hours serious results VIII follow
CtStiNNATl, o., May O. HE outlook at
Lewis:Own reservoir this morning was
more hopeful. The water was not going
out rs fast as expected, but the country
helow Is being greatly damaged hg tlr
water, which Stands from one to SIX feet
deep AMI is moving very rapidly.
No lives have been lost 50 far The
break at the reservoir mace a new chan.
mel for the Mamai river, and spreaI uur
over several farms. doing serious damage
TO the land owners. The gap IS growing
larger all the time, but the water has
fallen about foot since last night,
Frank McCullungh. member of the
Board Of Public Works. mas d large gang
of men at work filling cracks with sand
and stones. and dropping them into the
breach, They hope by this means to get
the water under control.