The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-04-09

creased volume OF water WHlcn came
down the river last night undermined
the power house at the dam at 1880 this
morning and It fell into the river, car
rylng with IT s3OO,OOO worth of machine
cry.
AUSTIN. Texas. April S.-Fully 10000
people gathered to-day at the dam and
power house stationed north of this city
TO witness the ruins Of the plant which
cost this city one aud three-quarters
millions of dollars, few years ago.
The waters Of the Colorado rivers were
still plunging and foaming around the
wreck, eating away the big pile Of
granite which once formed the dam, as
though 1t was nothing more than chalk
rock. so fierce was the current that
great boulders were carried half mile
from the dam, being rolled over and
over by the turbulent tide.
The power house which succumbed to
the terrific wash of the water at 2
O'Clock this morning. lies a mass of
wreckage on the edge of the river, all
the valuable machinery either having
been thrown into the river or badly
damaged by the falling tlmbers of the
power house.
The Plant Complete Wreck.
The wreck of the plant is complete.
The situation in the city is most SER
ious. The wreckage of the plant means
that 1t will take several weeks to secure
even temporary water and light sys-
TEN, II 1t can be made possible even
then. In the meantime the city will be
In n bad sanitary condition. All the ho-
tells, private residences, stores and the
like are without water and there is no
fire protection. Churches were unable
to hold services tonight for want of
light, and all public meetings were
abandoned. The daily newspapers are
handicapped lr their publications, being
deprived Of their electric power.
The river is falling tonight.
Reports from the neghborins country
are to the effect that everything is un-
der water. In Williamson county, north
Of here, railroad bridges and trackage
have been laid waste and all trains
have stopped running, Hundreds Of
head Of cattle have been drowned and
miles of fencing torn down and washed
away, In Bastrop county and in the
southern portion of this county similar
conditions prevail, everything being
under water and much loss OF property
is reported.
The Country Inundated.
The country tributary to the Colorado
river all the way dowa its course is be-
ing inundated, and while 1t is believed
the worst is over, the loss as estimated
to night, will exceed soma three million
dollars, counting Austin as the lnrges.
loser. The list Of drowned. according to
reports up to tonight, is limited to
those reported IN the Associated Press
dispatches last night, ali of whom lost
their lives here when the dam broke.
A mass meeting Of citizens has been
called for tomorrow In order that
some steps may be taken to relieve the
situation.
There were no trains operated on the
International & Great Northern as
much OF its tracks and quite number
of bridges were washed away during
last night The Missouri. Kansas &
Texas railroad Is also a heavy sufferer
from a like cause.
Reports from several sections of Cen
trail and Southern Texas are to the ef-
feet that a large acreage is under wa
ter and much damage has been suffered
in property and live stock.