Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1910-08-17
APPALLING DISASTER
CITY OF STAUhT0N
Streets and Buildings Went Down
to Great Depth

city OF Stanton last Thursday by
the caving-in of a portion OF the
streets in the heart of the city and
the sinking of buildings into cavities
more than hundred feet
deep. The caving-in continued for
several days and struck terror to
residents OF that section Of the city.
The catastrophe occurred at about
ten o'clock Thu sday morning i'm
mediately in front of the public
school building on Baldwin street,
and the first intima:ion of the inn
pending calamity was a rumbling
sound which was followed by the
shaking Of buildings and the sinking
OF the pavement. Foundation walls
Of nearby buildings were cracked
and the sinking continued until
great holes were made in the ground,
in which we're engulfed portions OF
buildings, trees and other debris.
The area extended during several
days, and that section of the city
seemed doomed to destruction.
Throughout several days and nights
following Thursday, detOnations
we're heard in the dismal and ever
increasing caverns, showing that
the falling-in OF earth and rocks was
still in progress. Immediately be-
meath the stricken section Lewis
Greek runs. and this creek Cor years
has been culverted SO that build
irgs might be erected over It's
course. The postofice, 6remen's
building and other structures are
located within the fatetul district,
aud great anxiety was felt for their
safety.
Adjoining the cave-in was located
the ice plant OF the Smith Fuel Com
pany, and they recently sunk well
eight hundred feet deep. which
I pumped water at the rate of about
one hundred gallons minute.
Whether this had anything to DO
with the cave.in is a question.
General Manager Ashburner sum-
moned from Washington Mr.. f. B.
Van Horn of the U. S. Geological
Survey, who spent Saturday in
that city making observations. Mr..
Charles Catlett, a local geologist
and Prof. J. S. Grasty OF the Uni
Yersity OF Virginia, also inspected
the situation. From their obser-
vations the Stauntou Leader pub
lished the following report:
The great bulk OF the damage
has already been done, accordin &
to their opinion, which is certainly
authoritative. The caving-in may
possibly extend North eastward be-
yoad the fire house and the arches
= between the holes will very likely
} give way with the first heavy rain.
? In all probability the caving-in has
4 reached its limit in the direction Of
3 Lewis street. Lewis street is
3 either on. or just misses solid rock
= A ledge Of thick limestone running
s southwest and northeast passes
). Just in the rear Of the Smith Fuel &
Ice Co. building, and in all proba
bility under the post Office and Sec
1 ond Presbyier ian church. Th,
post Office, church, and school house
s are thought to be safe beyond &
!. doubt.
- Mr.. Van Horn says that the
: whole business is due to Seepage o
S surface water, accommodating from
r the surrounding hills and the many
II underground springs known to bt
in this marshy ground. This water
}. percolated through the yielding
mari soil along the bedding planes
u of the limestonC converging from al
g directions into stream which Gu
i out channel deep underground
Q The process went on for years, ths
l. water in its descent gradually tax
L ing down the soil from above unti
the roof became too weak to support
itself, and the cave in resulted.
Mr.. Van Horns advice is to Dor,
holes in Lewis street, in the post
Office lot and other places TO ascer
:, tain the direction and the extent o
= this water recourse, or rather tht
- outline of the probable sink. Will