The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-03
GRAND RAPIDS FLOODED
Houses and Barns Swept Away by
a Sudden Rush of Water.
City Reservoir Bursts ard mandates
Twenty BIOcks-Streets Torn Up to
age to Property, But Only Two
Persons Injured-Trains Delayed.

GRAND RAPIDS, July 2.-The city res
ervoir burst this morning at O'Clock, re-
leasing 100, O00,0 600 gallons OF water, which
flooded twenty city blocks, occupied by
10000 persons, destroying property OF
great value, but injurirg only Two per-
sons, one of whom. a woman. may die.
First estimates of the loss to property
were exaggerated, many placing it as high
as 81, O00, 900, but later and more conserva-
tive estimates placed 1t under a million,
although this may be increased by dam
age suits against the city.
The reservoir covered an area of four
acres, and the water in it measured TWEEN
ty-six feet deep when the break came.
The tremendous volume broke forth with
out warning. and in an incredibly br eff
space of time deluged the lowlands lying
under the high elevation on which was TIE
reservoir. Houses and barns were sw pit
away by the rush of waters, and some
were smashed into kindling wood. Streets
were torn up to depth of forty feet, and
water mains that lay deep below the SIR
face were left exposed and some were
broken.
The break In the reservoir was discov-
cred by Albert Botsford, news carrier.
As the boy was passing the Livingston
side of the reservoir, he saw tnIn stream
trickling through the side near the gate
house. He at once aroused half dozen
families and sent them scurrying down
the hill toward the sleeping neighborhood.
In the mean time, the little rivulet had
rapidly enlarged until it had bored Il hole
three feet across in the solid cement.
Then pieces OF cement two feet thick gave
way and the water came with great roar
into food. The stream was thirty feet
wide and more than ten feet deep.
The home of William Cooper, on Clancy
Street, four blocks from the reservoir.
was picked up on the crest of the food
and carried across the street. The Occu-
pants were asleep when the stream
struck the house. Mrs. Cooper, thirty
years old, was swept in the water down
Clancy Street, to Bradford Street and
down Bradford Street to an alley when
the waters lodged her against a barn
There she chung with sand and water COW
ering her body and leaving exposed only
a part OF her head. When the flood
lessened she was rescued and taken to
hospital, where she lies in critical con-
dition. Her husband was also swept down
with the current and badly injured
No others were hurt, as nearly every
body had been aroused in time though the
second stream struck the house Of Mr..
Emma Mcintyre, a widow, while she, her
brother, and two children. were asleep. The
entire front of the house was torn away,
but the inmates escaped through the back
door The house Of l.. H. Curtiss was also
struck before the only inmate, Mrs. Aus
tin, had been aroused. This house fioated
down hill intact and landed across the
railroad tracks. The women did not
awaken until 1t had grounded.
The Detroit. Grand Haven and Milwau-
kee is completely tied up by the flood.
One wrecked house lies across the tracks
and tons of sand must be shoveied off. The
main line is also Undermined and must be
filled All passenger trains were held ex-
cept one sent around on the Pere Mar
quette line.
Superintendent Meyers. of the city
pumping station, stated at a meeting of
the board Of works today that there was
but twenty four feet OF water in the res
eryoir or two feet below the danger line;
but two citizens who were aroused by
Young Botsford declare that the water was
running over the top. Meyers was re-
Gently appointed and there is disposition
TO hold him responsible for failure to
watch the condition of the water more
closely.