Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-04
LUNA PARK FLOODED
BURSTING OF BIG RESERVOIR
EARLY THIS MORNING.
Undermined by Recent Heavy Rains
Grounds Quickly Restored to
Good Condition.

In the early hours of this morning the
big reservoir on the hill above Luna Park
broke. and the whole of the park came
near moving out into the middle of the Po
tomac. That the damage was not greater
Is due largely to the fact that tht, buildings
i are all raised foundations and while
the flood swept through the grounds and
loaded the floors of all the concession
buildings with mud. there was not much
other actual damage done. and a force of
several hundred men was Immediately put
to work cleaning up. BY the time the ar
rivals from town were due there was not
much left in sight of the ravages of the
inundation.
The reservoir holds 100000 gallons of
water, but. fortunately for the park, it was
not full at the time of the accident The
trouble. 1t was said came from the way in
which 1t was built. Instead of losing height
by going down into the crown of the hill
for the reservoir, 1t had been built at the
top of the hill and the earth piled on the
outside. The recent and almost continuous
rains had washed the earth and weakened
the structure. About o'clock a. m. the
crash came and the water poured a flood
down through the park, cutting
a gully five feet deep and several hum
bred feet wide around the Chateau Al
phonse. and flooding all of the buildings
along the trail.
The flood did not break through the
" lIe pdTh anu ~ Inc ldGeAS WI
the railroad were saved. The water found
its way into the lagoon. which was flooded.
but which acted as safety valve for the
deluge.
Prompt Action Taken.
Manager George e. Gill was notified of
the catastrophe by a watchmen, who
awoke him at the park residence. which is
occupied by Mr.. and Mrs. Gill and Henry
Edward Warner press representative, and
Mrs. Warner. Mr.. Gill at once arranged
for the employment of a force of several
hundred men, who came from Alexandria
and the surrounding country and assisted
in repairing the damage the first thing
after daylight.
AS result patrons of the park who
arrived at 10 o'clock. saw few signs of the
HOODS ravages, tons of earth and Gin
ders had been placed In the grounds al
various points. and the excess of water
had been forced out by the use of the
ground hose and scores of broom and
shovel men" The only signs at noon of
the damage done were deep gullies cut
through the grounds at different points,
and the huge aperture in the hillside run
ming from the reservoir down the hillside
past the Chateau Alphonse and into the
grounds. Work on repairing the reservoir
has begun, and within two days with the
largest force of men possible to work at
one e time, the reservoir will be stronger
than before, and will be filled to the brim
giving its customary force of from 100
to 40 pounds without the pumps.
There have been twenty-seven DAYS of
rain since the park opened May 2s and all
or these rains have been extremely heavy
During the past three days there have been
heavy showers and sudden downpours
which did more damage in loosening the
earth about the reservoir than would have
been done by steady rain. Yesterday aft
ernoon the downpour was especially severe
and every attack of the elements added TO
the loosening of the soil
Mo. IN L. ,.-xI,@
meantime a great volume of water had been
seeping through the soil to the foundations
of the reservoir. At . o'clock this morning
as stated. there was without warning
roar from the top of the hill. The first inn
preston was that a heavy storm was COM
ing up. and that the noise was caused by
the wind and rain. But that impression
was quickly dispelled when the water from
the reservoir pouring down the hill with
the speed of express train, followed the
pipe line from the reservoir and tore the
earth up in great masses, tossing rocks,
roots, branches, shrubbery, underground
aside in its progress
The Trail Flooded.
In an instant the trail along which the
various amusements are located. food
ed. The water reaching the end of its self
cut path down the hill. poured over the
grounds and down toward the lagoon, taxi
ing advantage of the natural slope toward
the south which afforded it an easy outlet.
At everyS open space it forced its way
through, tearing at the foundations and
piling mud and debris under the various
buildings But for the substantial manner
In which the buildings were put up there
is no doubt that Luna Park would have
heen put out OF business temporarily, at
least. by the flood.
AS II is. the water flooded under the Jap
anese tea gardens. tours of the world, Cha
teau Alphonse carrousel, temple of mys-
terry scenictorium and other amusements.
and at the lagoon cut a path under the soda
water concession straight for the water
into which the chute's boats glide. Under
the floors the mud piled in a heavy mass.
All this will have to be removed and ctnder
beds put in to replace 1t Nlthln forty
eight hours it is believed, there will be
little If any external evidence of the flood.