The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1911-10-12
BLACK RIVER FALLS
HALF WIPED OUT
BY HIGH WATERS
RISING WATERS, CAUSED az IN.
CESSANT RAINS, RESULT IN
THE BREAKING OF WEST
DYKE OF DELlS DAM.
PEOPLE FLEE IN TIME
TO SAVE THEIR LIVES
Nv ~
Wausau, Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire.
Prescott, Spring Valley and
Other Towns are Damaged
by the High
tSreams.

OLncT Towns. are OdHdOcO
by the High
tsreams.
La Crosse, Oct. 7.-More than halt
of the business section of Black River
Falls is in ruins, the homes of scores
of farmers have been swept away with
probably loss of life and the main
dam at Hatfield, Wis, momentarily is
threatened with destruction which
would release flood that would carry
death and destruction before it, as a
result of the breaking of the west
dyke of the upper Dells dam, fol.
lowing incessant rains which filled the
immense reservoirs of the La Crosse
Water company to overlooking.
The situation at Black River Falls,
the prosperous little city of 1000 PEG.
pie, Is worse by far than was feared
when the deluge burst upon the un
fortunate city.
Half of the business section has
been utterly destroyed. together with
considerable part of the residence
district, and it is admitted by the
townspeople who have taken refuge
on the high lands, unable to make even
an effort for the protection of their
stores and homes. that the city will
be utterly wiped off the map.
Whether or not lives have been
a iD -
have been scattered.
Business Houses Destroyed.
Between Is and 80 business houses,
comprising all the stores on both sides
Of two streets in Black River Falls,
have been destroyed, together with an
equal number of residences. The wat.
ef's are still rising rapidly and the de-
struction of the stores on the other
two business streets is predicted.
The water, flowing with resistless
current and in tremendous volume,
undermined one big building after an
other and as it collapsed and crum-
bled to pieces the debris was largely
carried away. The fremont hotel, a
substantial three-story structure, was
the first to go, and many others fol
lowed.
No precautions could be taken to
stop the wrecking of the town. the
residents finding it difficult prob
lem to secure safety or themselves,
their families and their more valu-
able possessions. None of the stocks
in the stores were saved and little of
the heavier furniture in the houses:
the people, although they knew OF the
overlooking of the Hatfield dam, show
ing little fear of it's effects until the
waters burst upon them.
City is in Darkness.
The city is in darkness the electric
light plant being one of the first
agencies to be put out of commits
sion, adding to the excitement and con-
fusion of the hour.
The disaster was caused by the sud.
den rise Of the Black river behind the
two dams the La Crosse Water Pow
err company, following rains which
lasted almost week. The dams with
stood the pressure, but in each case
the river washed around the side, tax
ing out abig section of the river bank
and coming down upon the country
below in almost as great volume MS
though the dam had been swept away.
The s5,000,oO0 property of the water
power company is not believed to he
greatly damaged, the breaks on tho
side relieving the pressure, and the
main dam, which is concrete struc-
ture 100 feet thick at the base and so
feet at the top, will probably stand all
the force which may he directed
against it.
Besides the damage at Black River
Falls, great tract of surrounding
country was overrun. Effort was made
to send warning to farmers, but the
telephone wires were the first to go
down and the fate of many settlers,
who knew nothing of the flood until
it struck their immediate vicinity is
the cause of apprehension.
Below Black River Falls are num-
Der Of villages, including Roaring
Creek, Irving, North Bend, Melrose,
Holmen, Lytles, Midway and Onalaska,
and the high waters are due to strike
them. Forces of men have been sent
out to strengthen the bridges in the
three counties along the river.
Cut off by telephone. the news from
Black River Falls was sent TO La
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