The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-04-03
Little Ohio City in Imminent Dan
ger OF Being Swept by a
Fierce Torrent.
BANKS ARE WEAKENING
And Twenty Thousand Acres of
Water Far Above the Place
May Be LooSed.
MANY MEN ARE AT WORK
Striving with Might and Main to
Prevent Break-Lewiston
Reservoir Also in Danger.

ST. MARY'S. O.. April 2.-The possibility
smaller scale. yet hangs over this little
city. which lies below the banks of the
grand reservoir. If the waters of the big
artificial lake, covering 10000 acres. are
loosed death and great disaster will result.
The people have been given ample warning,
but many yet remain in their threatened
homes.
All day the situation was critical. and at
midnight conditions were still alarming,
with the wind blowing hard from the west
and causing the waters TO lash in fury
against the weakening banks.
At IL o'clock tonight the wind changed
to the north. but an hour later 1t came
which hampered the men at work trying to
save the city. The banks are washing
badly, but the brush and logs placed at
critical points are breaking the force of
the waves. Sentries are patrolling the
banks. while hundreds of men are piling
sand bags at every weak point.
AMPLE WARNING GIVEN.
Laborers have been getting 50 per day
and more for night work and when IL was
impossible to get enough at these prices
hundreds of volunteers were secured among
business men and farmers. The fine trees
along the bank driveway have been felled so
that this summer boulevard now looks like
the track of tornado. These trees with
all the straw and hay available and in
Vulnerable sacks of sand have been used
for riprapping along the embankment where
the wind caused the water to wash into
the embankment. All sorts of material
have been used for riprapping, much of il
having been prepared for other purposes.
The canal inspector tonight called for
volunteers to work at St Mary's during
the night, the laborers who have been
employed the past two days were suffering
from cold and exposure. There was more
dread Of break during the night than by
day. But even If there should be a gem
eral break no great loss of life is now an
ticipated. The people within reach of the
reservoir have had warning for two days.
reservoir, is thirteen feet lower than the
bottom Of the reservoir bank. Old canal
men say that the entire town would be
washed away and great loss OF life follow
The County Commissioners of Mer-
Ger county to-day estimate the damage to
bridges and highways along Beaver creek
and Wabash river s15o,ooo Thousands of
acres Of farming lands are inundated
Great alarm caused at St Mary's
about noon by a strong southwestern gale
that dashed the waters against the eastern
bank In it's weakest places. The water broke
through the banks at different places, but
not in any uncomfortable manner at any
one place Every little leak or overflow
vas at once taken In charge by a gang OF
men.
Preparations were made at noon for a gen.
eral alarm on a moments notice as this
city would be overwhelmed with the lake
of 10000 acres. in event of a break II is
estimated that bad break would submerge
the southern part of St Mary's by from
eight to ten feet. The lowest part of South
st. Mary's is already vacated and many
moved out this afternoon.