The San Francisco call., 1896-10-21
w, ]. Dingee Declares 1t Was
Blown Up by an Evil.
Minded Person.
ADVENTURES WITH A FLOOD.
Much Damage Caused by the Kush'
ing of the Torrent Down the
Hillside.
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, !
9Os Broadly way, Oct. 20. J


9OS Broadway, Oct. ~.
The big reservoir owned by the Oakland
Water Company was destroyed this morn
ing. President Dingee believes that dyna-
mite was used to wreck portion OF his
plant. Some are OF the opinion that the
pressure of the volume of water burst out
the foundation, but Mr.. Dingee denies that
such could possibly be.
About $50 o'clock this morning the res
idents on Vernon Heights were startled
by an explosion, which they compare to
the noise OF thunderclap. About fifty
feet froom the reservoir to the north is the
residence of AL Wood. Mrs. Wood was
aroused by the noise and on looking out
of window she saw great mass of water
rushing toward the house. She called to
her husband to run for his life, but before
they could take any steps the water was
DETECTED and rushed through the yard,
completely vrecking walls and sheds. The
brick pulkhead was carried almost bodily
to the foot of the hill, although some OF
the pieces of masonry weighed 400 pounds.
Sidewalks were swept away and much
damage was done to gardens and houses.
The whole 1000, 900 gallons of water were
liberated and ten minutes after the ex-
plosion the great reservoir was empty.
The solid masonry of the reservoir was
thrown in all directions and large masses
of concrete were found distance of many
yards from the break.
Mrs. J. A. Johnson, at "a Wadsworth
avenue, was much frightened. Her hus-
band is connected with the United States
survey steamer Macarthur, and she was
alone in the house with three small child
dren. She says she heard a sound like
that of a big fire. When she looked from
the window she saw great Hood OF water
rush down upon her house.
She gathered her children together and
hurried to the front door. When she was
on the porch she saw that her house was
entirely surrounded by water. She could
she feared her house might be beaten
down by the floating wooden sidewalks
that were carried against the structure BY
the food.
w. J. Dingee, president of the water
company, made an inspection of the
wreck, and, after interviewing some of the
residents he said he believed the reservoir
had been wrecked by some eVil-dieposed
person.
"1 believe that that wall was blown up
and my reasons for so believing are that
persons in the vicinity heard two distinct
explosions and besides it was physical
impossibility for that concrete wall two
IeeC Jn1CK 10 give way unueI tne pressure
OF water that was then upon it." said Mr.,
Dingee. 1.-THE water was only two feet
above this surface when the break oc.
Cured, whereas we have had it clear uy
to the top, which is seven feet from the
surface. This portion of the reservoir ha;
been in use four months and has never
shown any signs of weakness
1.-The lower portion of the reservoir ha:
been in use for a couple of years. por
tion Of this wall near the corner was also
destroyed. This was strengthened by
wire cables, one and one-half inches il
diameter, which were imbedded in the
asphalt concrete, of which the walls were
composed. These cables ran back thirty
or forty feet from the corners. Notwith
standing their size and strength they were
broken, and this, think, is another evi
dence that some explosive was used tt
cause this big break.
''As to who would be guilty of such g
dastardly act as this, would not care tc
say. can only surmise. l know that il
cannot be any one of the great body o
people OF Oakland who have been benefited
by the com petition of the water com.
panies. However, this affair is in keeping
with the blowing up of our water main in
East Oakland on July of last year."