The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1911-10-07
SWOLLEN Ia CROSSE RIVER RE
LEASES WATERS OF POWER
RESERVOIR
RUsHES THROUGH STREETS
ToPPLiNo BUILDINGS OVER
LIKE CARD HOUSES.
INHABITANTS FLEE TO HIGH
oRoUNo-LosS or LIFE
NAY BE LiCrT.
BIG POWER DAM HELD. GUT
RIVER CUT THROUGH EH-
eAsknENT RELEASING
WATER

Ia CROSSE. Wis. OCT c-rls
situation M Black River FaIis the
prosperous little city ~ 1000 Iu-
habitanta. which was swept by a .od
this afternoon whom the waters OF
the Black river. swollen b. recent
rains, washed through me "mbsnA.
ment OF the la Crosse Water P.fecr
COmpany's dam az Hatfield I8 tonight
worse b. Tar than Vas even feared
when the food swept upon the civ.
Half OF the business section has
been destroyed. together with d part
OF the residence district. ami q is
alleged BY the towns people who
have taken refuge on high lands. un-
able 10 make an EFFORT Tor tha pro
lection OF their stores and homes That
the city will be wiped out Mhc.uer
or not lives have been lost. "a not yet
certain. The people have Deen scat
tered and tonight cauvasseE are be
lng made to detcrmiu, how many ~
any. are missing Thus lar $50
persons have n0t been accounted :or
Waters stu Rising
At o'clock tonight between 80
and 30 business houses. comprising
all the stores on both sides of two
streets. had been destroyed. together
with an equal number OF houses ~
that hour. the waters were stiil rising
rapidly. and the destruction of the
stores on the other two business
streets. Was predicted before morn
ing
The BUILDINGS have not ben merely
flooded bat destroyed The water
flowing In tremendous volume. under
mined on blk building after another
and ~ each collapsed the drhrs for
the most part WAS carried away Tho
fremont hotel. three story Etruc-
ture. was th" first Co g". The people.
although th-v knew - the overflow INK
~ tho Hatfield dam. show ID little fear
~ - effects until tho waters burst
upon them
1hc disaster wnv caused Pos the
sudden risc of the BLACK river. h.hiud
the two dams OF the la Crosse " afrr
Power comp1Ht. following rains whirh
lasted almost week. The dams
withstoud th" pressure but iu tuch
case the river washed around the side
takipg out a. Dlr section ~ th- river
bank. and coming down upon the
country below lu almost us great .ol-
ums as though thr dams had been
swept away
Dams No, Damaged.
The hNr million dollar property ~
the water power ,ompaus ia believed
10 be not greatly damaged. tho breaks
on the sid, relieving tho pressure. and
tonight 20 is said that the main dam
which is a. coueret. structure Too feet
thick ~ she base and 90 feet az the
top. would probably stand al fhc
force which might 10. directed against
a.
Horid's the damage ~ fIack River
Fails. a Ersat tract 90 surrounding
country WIS "N'rrun. Enort wns made
to send warning 90 farmers. but the
tcicnhunn wires were th. first fp gu
down. and fhr fate ~ nanyr SETTLERS.
who knew nothing - che hood until
~ struck their immediate locality. is
the cause "f SOM" apprehension
Below Iurk River FaIis are t mum
ber 20 Villages. Including HnurinE
Greek. Irving. Nurth Hcnd. MeIrus..
Holm~n. Lttl.s Midway and tho high
waters are due fn afrikr them during
the nlzht and CD. morrow Forces of
men have been sent out tl strengthen
the hritEes in fh" IhrDe counties along
the river