Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1910-08-19
Il. l. LANG.
OPTOMETRIST.

ty, and wagons coming to carry away
the effects of persons moving out.
This break carried down the wall of
the residence heretofore referred as
being occupied by Mr.. James Todd
and it is believed that the next break,
which seems imminent. will carry
under the ell of that house if not the
entire structure. Mrs. Mary Glenn,
who owns and occupies the next house
on Lewis street south of the Todd or
Wilson house, became greatly alarmed
at this. and her friends became alarm
ed Tor her, 80 that she at this NOM
emit Is moving her effects and getting
ready to abandon her property.
The deep detonations of this break
and the sudden sweeping Of trees in
to the vortex, and carrying them out
of sight in their downward plunge,
indicates plainly that by the falling
of the earth at previous caves-in wat
er lad been damned, and that when
this break occurred it was similar to
the breaking Of dam and the falling
earth, trees and debris, we're carried
down in its mad rush toward the op-
ening into which this water is pour
ing. 1t seems now since this break,
that in addition to the outlet we have
mentioned above, that there must be
some subterranean passage or cave or
other outlet fof this volume of water,
and that too bf no ordinary dimenl
ions.
TRY TO MEASURE DEPTH
A short while ago a measurement
of the crevasse in front Of the fire en-
CINE house was attempted by attach
ing a weight to a rope about eighty
feet in length, dropped from the Sec
ond story window. No bottom was
found which would indicate at least
seventy feet of rope was below the
level of the street. This place being
filed with water it is impossible to
see down into the detphs and there
fore even this attempt, has failed
to indicate how deep is this crevasse.
ALI day persons from the city, OF
course, but many hundreds from the
surrounding country came in to visit
the disaster, and interested throngs
were >een about the point of trouble,
and on the streets again today, As yes.
terday this phenomenon was almost
the sole subject Of interest and
conversation. Since three O'Clock, when
our accountas issued in our EXTRA
edition ended, there has been no SER
ious change in conditions. The city
authorities concluded later not to tear
down any portion of the fire house, $50
it is still standing, but they determjp
ed upon another plan, which is DAT
tempt to fill the crevasse at least that
portion of it under the house of the. fire
department., and this has been going on
during a portion of the afternoon.
Large stones have been hauled and
they are being thrown into the cav
ern, but of course as yet no impression
has been made upon any part of it,
and the stones when rolled in disap-
pear under the water with sound
which indicates that their stopping
place is to be far beyond the water
surface. This afternoon some street
cars were permitted to pass over Lewis
street as the cracking of the earth had
not seriously continued in that direc-
ton, but they were moved slowly, and
the police observed considerable dis
erection in permitting persons to pass
the ropes on that street, allowing only
those to go who they we're certain had
urgent business. or lived thereon.
SUFFERERS HOUSED
Mrs. Mary Glenn, whose house became
involved by the break heretofore de-
scribed as occurring at 1870 has re-
moved to the house Of her son VIM. A.
Glenn in another portion of the city.
Prof. Wilson has moved into the
Plecker Building and is making'him
self as comfortable as circumstances
will permit. Mir. Todd is stopping
temper arily with Mr.. William Ham.
lick, his brother-in-law on west Main
Street. Their belongings are being
taken care of by persons in the neigh
bOrho0d.
The kitchen of the Todd house has no
fallen but the opening there is becom
| ign wider and wider, and it is mos
likely to be carried down. The kit
chen of Prof. Wilson's home is con
stantly sinking as the cavern Their
continues also to widen. The hrs
opening which occurred on Thursda.