Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-06-24
OdDy hennebee Journal
VAUDEVILLE.
-.
A SMALL LEAK
The Cause Of Heavy Damage
at the Chase Dam.
Torrent Sweeps through the Power
House, Badly Wrecking It.
Tlmsly Rescue Of {. E. Roberts BY los. Seywood
Tlmsly Rescue Of E. E. Roberts BY los. Seywoot
from Death.


Union Gas & Electric Co. would go
rushing in raging torrent through
the power house and on out into the
Kennebec before night, he would have
been laughed at. or perhaps asked
where the sell came in. But this is ex-
actly what happened, at about noon
yesterday. In Is minutes after the
flood started the power station, which
is reckOned as one of the finest in the
country, was indeed a desolate sight.
The dam, which is known locally as
the Chase DAM is situated about a
mile and a half from the business CEN
ter of the city on the Messalonskee.
Its location was considered a natural
one, as the banks of the stream are very
high at that point. The structure was
of solid masonry, IS feet high and gave
a head of 40 feet. This furnished over
1000 horse power. 1t has always been
considered one of the finest stone dams
in the country and was finely quilt.
The power station is situated below
the dam and on the west end, the roof
not coming much above the top of tho
dam and the building almost abbutting
it. This end of the dam is lcdgy.
There is no ledge, however, at the east
end. The masonry was extended into
the bank to what was considered
safe distance. This bank was compos-
ed of clay and sand.
Several days ago, a small leak was
discovered at the east end of the dam
which showed that the water was
working in under the bank in some
manner. This leak was not considered
especially serious, however, and no
repairs were made at the time.
1t is supposed that the water work.
ed into the bank around the masonry
and finally made an outlet for itself
around the end. The rest was easy
for the water.
AS the outlet grew larger the force
became greater, and soon broke all
bounds, ripping and tearing the bank
away from the end of the masonry of
the dam as if it was pile of sugar.
This hole was semi-circular in shape
and the great amount of water had no
straight away outlet, as 1t shot across
the stream against the power station
on the west side. The windows of the
building are just high enough to be
out of reach of high water, but the tor
rent from the other end of the dam
reached them in a few seconds.
Ernest T.. Roberts, who has charge
by day. and friend, Joseph Seywood.
were in the station at the time. Mr..
Roberts knew of the leak in the dam
and when he saw the water rising he
realized what had happened. His first
thought was to shut down his ma
chimes. 1t is said that this can be done
in seven seconds, but before Mr.. Rob-
erts had reached the third machine
the water had carried him off his feet
and was whirling him about the sta
ton. He then began to think of getting
out and looked for the door. The wa
ter did the rest hurting him out of the
building with more speed than cere-
mony.
Mr.. Seywood had fled at the first sign
Of danger and was on the bank watch
ing for his friend. AS the latter was
fiOated out the door by the current he
seized him and pulled him out. If, he
had not been there to give assistance
the chances are that Mr.. Roberts
would have been drowned in the rag
ing torrent.
The water as it escaped around the
east end of the dam rose nearly to the
roof of the building but quickly subsid-
GU. w Uell IL Was All SOilt tuc po"Si
station was a sight. There was mud
and gravel everywhere. The windows
were broken and the doors had floated
off. The large timbers used in the crib
work on the east bank below the dam
had flOated across the stream and in
the windows. Some were in the build
ing and others had smashed up against
the side.
Everything movable, no matter
what it's weight might be, had been
hustled around. The telephone booth
had been torn from it's mornings and
had floated off down stream, instru-
ment and all. The furnace, weighing
something like 500 pounds, had been
moved by the water like shoe pox.
The splendid switch board was crack
ed and ruined. Almost everything was
knocked out of line by the tremendous
force of the water, and it was all done
III very few minutes.
Over at the east end of the dam
hole in the bank made by the water
was large enough to hold good sized
house After the water once got pur-
chase for it's force nothing could hold
it, The bank was cracked a good dis
lance back from the edge of the mole
as by an earthquake. Tons and tons OF
the dirt was removed in the twinkllng
of an eye. The havoc created by the
water in few minutes is almost in
credible. 1t is a regular pocket edition
of the Johnstown flood.
In his devotion to his duty Mr.. Rob-
erts very nearly lost his life and ne
considers himself very fortunate IN
deed to have escaped as well as he
did. I!is prompt work in shutting down
the Hachnes prevented a much great
er loss.
Tie damage to the plant is estimated
at from 5000 to $4,000, but nothing
accurate can be given until d more