Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-04-15
An Uncomfortable Flood is Fast
Advancing on the Mon
tana Town.
SHELTER SEEMINGLY DOOMED
Built on River Bank, Fears for
Its Safety Felt at Every
Flood.
Bursting of Hauser Dam Has Caused
Widespread Observation-Disclosures
Swept Away-Rcaches UIm.

Helena, Mont, April 15.-Early today
an uncomfortable food IS rapidly adj
Nancing upon Great Falls, city OF
1000 population, and il is believed
that the Boston and Montana smelter,
one of the largest in the world. is
doomed to destruction. 1t is built on
the river bank, and fears for It's safety
are felt at each recurrence of high
water 1t employs more than 1900
men.
The employees have been engaged all
night in the construction of a wing
DAM around the smelter Prepare
IONS nave also been made to dynamite
the dam at Great Falls, from which
the smelter secures its power and this
may be done as a last resort
1t is believed that the food will reach
the city by daylight, and that the low
lands of the town will be submerged
before noon. Craig, Mont, probably
has been wiped off the map although.
as far as is known, all of the 400 in
habitants escaped. Cascade, town
of 400 population, 60 miles from Helena
and 20 miles north of Craig. is now UNI
der water and in danger OF being
swept away.
relief train and Inspecting party is
scheduled to leave Great Falls at
O'Clock this morning to Investigate the
| situation. thus far no loss of life has
| Deen reported, although The river Is
thlekly strewn by the debris of ranch
houses and haystacks among which
many ANIMALS are battling for their
| lives.
Officials of the company announce
their intention of beginning the re-
building OF the structure at once, and
nave made plans to supply their Gus
toners with power until the work is
| completed.
| Because OF the fact that the Wiscon-
sin Bridge and Iron company of Mil
waukee had not yet been released from
It's BOND for the work, it is said that
| this firm viii be held responsible for
| any damage litigation which may arise.
| The loss to the power company ac-
cordlns 10 Mr.. NJ. II. Gerry. Jr., mana
ger of the local plant, Will range from
100000 TO S350,000.'
A special to the Independent from
Cascade at 1870 o'clock this CWednes-
day. morning says that the water con
tinues to rise radily and that the big
steel bridge at that point Is doomed
The surface of the flood is black with
ranch houses, live stock and haytacks
IL is believed that nothing can pre-
vent the river from engulhng the low
er sections of Great Falls,
LAKE HAUsER DAM DISASTER.
Helena, April 15.--Later develop
ments in the bursting of the Lake
Hauser dam near here yesterday in
dicate that the first reports as to its
enormity We're not exaggerated and it.
is now estimated that the financial loss
| viii exceed 100000. The immense lake
covering 20 square miles IN the valley
below Helena had been completely
drained at an early hour today and at
10 o'clock, Wolf Creek. 20 miles north
OF the dam site, reported the stage
OF the river as normal, Below Craig
and as far as ulm. the Great North
ern tracks were under water according
to the latest Geographic communica-
tons. Because OF the fact that the
telegraphic and telephone wires are
washed out, no further details are
obtainable at this time but ample
warning has been given all residents by
riders and by wire, II Is not thought
that there has been any loss OF life.
Great Falls is prepared Tor the on-com-
ing waters. which, owing TO the sinuous
nature OF the rivers course, is slow
in being reached, although there has
been a rise reported. The entire village
Of Hauser lake was swept away To-
gether with the belongings OF 30 fam-
lies OF employees. This was the sltua-
tion at OK Bow, where the third dam
is In process Of construction.
Work had progressed only IN slight
degree there however. and the damage
IS confined 10 a dozen cabins and tim
bers which We're boing used in the pre-
liminary false structure. number OF
houses in Craig and Cascade are re-
ported to have been washed away
CRAIG WIPED OUT
suacial "a the Reoord Yron NVoIf
creek states that the town OF Craig
has boen wiped away by the Hood.
every structure in the place being car
ried away. Craig Is situated about 70
miles from Wolf Creek and had
population OF 49, Warning had been
given the residents IN time TO reach
the hills but all their belongings wers
carried away. IL Is estimated that
there were from 30 to 40 buildings In
the place, including a half dozen stores.
the Great Northern station and nearby
farm buildings. Considerable livestock
has been destroyed
Carl Ide was drowned NJ Great Falls
today while working on the dam 10
resist the Hood. two others being res
cued. The food rs now seven miles
from that city.
vi. H. Geery. general manager OF
the company today received advices
from New York that the dam would
be rebuilt al once as soon as equip
ment can be secured Already prelim-
mary work Is being done and con-
struction Of the thiid dam win con-
tlnuo as IL the second had not been
injured,
WATERS REACH ULM,
Butte. Mont April l5-A special %
the Inter- Mountain an II O'clock says
that the flood waters from Hanscr lake
have reached Tim, IS miles up tho
river and are not expected tp reach the
Boston ~ Montana smelter for several
hours.
A o'clock this morning Carl Ide,
workman employed by the smeitlng
company ON work incident Ia the eN'
pectcd Hood was swept over the Black
Fngle falls dam and drowned, So
far as known this is the only casualty
incident 20 the Hood Supt Wheeler
IS making every preparation TO take
care OF the flood waters and n the
river does not rise more than eight
feet. ne believes there VIII DO no loss
o. consequence at Great Falls. - ~