The Irish standard., 1908-04-18
FLOOD Wipes OUT
MONTANA TOWNS
CRAIG AND HAUsER LAKE ARE
DESTROYED BY BURSTING
OF RIVER DAM.
WATERS ADVANCE UPON
CITY OF GREAT FALLS
Al Last Reports Are Within Sever,
Miles of That PIace-couriers on
Horseback Warn Persons in Path
Much Damage ls Reported.

Helena, Mont, Apr. 16.-A great
body Of water, released from Hauser
Lake by the bursting OF the dam
across the Missouri river 15 miles be-
low Helena. is now pouring down the
Missouri river. The little village of
Craig and Hauser Lake have been
destroyed by the rushing waters, q
dozen cabins at Oxbow. where an
other dam is being constructed, have
ranches have suffered losses in build
ings and live stock The flood was
within seven miles Of Great Falls,
where the great Boston and Montana
smelter is situated ON the river bank,
but the hundreds Of employees. work
ing all night, probably saved the plant
from serious damage by the construo-
ton Of wing dam.
Courlers Warn Of Flood.
Couriers on horseback and warning
by telegraph have sent the people
living along the river fleeing to tho
hills. Only one loss of life is report
ed, Carl lde, a smelter employe at
Great Falls. being swept over the
dam and drowned Tuesday night while
working to save the property from
threatened destruction.
M. H. Gerry, general manager Of
the company. Wednesday received
advices from New York that the dam
would be rebuilt at once. Already
preliminary work is being done.
To Rebuild SmeIter at Once.
Offlcials of the smelter comapny an.
nounce their intention Of beginning
the rebuilding of the structure at once
and have made plans to supply their
customers with power until the work
is completed. Because of the fact that
the Wisconsin Bridge and Iron Com.
pany Of Milwaukee had not yet been
released from its bond for the con.
struction work, 1t Is said that this
firm will be held responsible for any
litigation to recover damages, which
may arise.
The loss to the power company, ac.
cording Fl. H. Gerry, Jr., manager ol
the local plant. will range from 5000,
600 to $350,OOO.
Blast Black Eagles Dam.
The Black Eagles Dam across the
Missouri at Great Falls was
Wednesday blown up with dynamite
in order to prevent the destruction of
the Boston & Montana smelter. This
materially helped, and a serious dan.
ger from the flood is now probably
over. A smelling workman, name un-
known, was drowned when the dam
was dynamited. the second man to
lose his life as result of the flood.
Cattle and Houses Swept Away.
I Cascade, Mont. Apr. 16.-The water
is rising rapidly and the big steel
, bridge at this point is doomed The
surface OF the food is black with
ranch houses, live stock and hay.
stacks.
lightning Burns $125,ooo in OIL.
Beaumont, Tex, Apr. 16.-Six inches
OF rain fell here. The rain was &C.
companied by terrific thunder and
lightning storm that lasted all day.
All streets in the city were under wa
ter for several hours and street car
service and other traffic was stopped.
Every kind OF wire service was par.
alyzed and damage to rice farms was
large, but no loss OF life has been re.
ported. Lightning struck an oil tank
at the plant of the Security oil refin.
cry, containing $4,000 barrels OF oil in
process OF refining. A part of the oil
was pumped from the tank and saved
and the remainder burned. The total
loss In oil, which is covered by insur.
! ance, Is about $125,0OO.
! Chief Arrests Police Judge.