The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1893-05-04
A DAM CAUSES ALARM.
The Breastwork of Reservoir No. 8 Weak

The Breastwork of Reservoir No. Weak
ems and Threatens tn. Town.
At ten o'clock this morning George David
son and William Mackie, two employees of
the Kelley Run colliery, ran down the hill
side to town and warned the people that one
of the dams of the Shenandoah Water Com
pany threatened to burst.
The two men had been sent out to warn
the people by the officials of the colliery, who
at the same time stopped all work and ordered
all men out Of the mines.
Superintendent Thomas Baird, of the
Thomas Coal Company, had feared serious
consequences from the heavy and continual
rains of yesterday and last night, and for
that reason had some of his men watching
the dams, which are so located above the
colliery that break in one Of them would
cause great damage to the mine
Shortly before ten o'clock outside Fore
man KEEPER reported that the breastwork of
the largest dam, and which is the uppermost
but one of the fve was weakening.
Immediately upon receipt of the alarm the
Union street schools were dismissed and
families in all parts of the First ward pre-
pared for the worst. This part of the town
would suffer the most in case of flood, as it
is directly in line with the ravine in which
the dams are located.
Much excitement prevailed, and it was not
without some cause, for the creeka that take
the overllows from the dam and pass through
the First ward were greatly swollen and
rushed under the bridges and past the house,
in roaring torrents.
A visit to the dam was enough to satisf!
one that the breastwork was in a yer,
threatening condition. Its appearance indi
l Gated that the water had undermined it, 70
the stone facing on the southside of tn
breastwork had fallen to the north and left
p gap about thirty feet in length, and extend
e ing from the top to almost the bottom.
L The north facing of the breastworlz SCENE
. intact and was holding the water back
. noon. But small part of the breastworlz
k top had fallen down. although it was badl
cracked.
y Mr.. S. D. Hess superintendent of IL
y water company, arrived from Pottsville
noon and hastencd to the dam by carriag
After inspecting the break he put a numb
Iof men at work making water courses to t.
the reservoir.
When the HERALD went to press the e.
e citement had subsidized considerably al
there was a general belief that the crisis ha
a a passed.
70 The dam affected covers an area of abo
Of four acres.
y People shronged to the dam when IL
e reports of danger spread, among them beir
. Rev. II. F. O'Reilly, who said he did n,
Q think there would be any great DANCE
Sc Councilman Betteridge was also there and
t. did not seem to be alarmed.
u A gentleman who made full examinatc
- of the place stated just before the HERAL
n went to press that there was no more DANCE
ic He said that the break was not really OF
II to cause much alarm. 1t was simply a was
due to the rain beating on the outside of IL
II breastwork and was in no way caused t
t. a pressure of the water in the reservoir.
s. The water company has a force of $50 me
at hand in case there should be an extra
ordinary rain tonight and extra watC
# courses should be required to relieve IL
b strain on the breastWOrks.
Watchmen will also be kept on dut
r throughout the night
/. None of the water company officials seel
IS to be alarmed in the least. In answer to a
> questions they say, "There is more excit,
\ ment than is called for. We do not thin
3. the dam will give way"