The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1911-10-13
DAMS BURST;
FLOOD TOWNS
Collapse onReservoir mandates
Black River Falls.
PEOPLE FLEE TO THE HILLS
Town Of 1000 People, Turned Into a
Lske-Concrete Face Of Dam
Stands While Water Tears
Away Abuttine Hillsides.

La Crosse, Wis.-Damage aggre-
eating many millions of dollars, the
wiping out of the business district Of
Black River Falls, a city of 1000, and
great damage to the $4,000 } plant
OF the La Crosse Water Power Com
pany as well az loss of life, was
caused by the flooding OF the Black
River through the collapse OF the
wings of dams at the Dells and at
Hatfield, due TO heavy rains.
The Dells dam withstood such an
enormous pressure that, while the
concrete work itself stood, the lake
above the dam dashed out the side OF
the valley in which the dam is built,
and the water rushed down stream
for Ave miles. to be checked again
at the Hatfield dam, until this dam
burst and the water rushed out the
side OF the valley again. An hour
later the City OF Black River Falls
was isolated from the surrounding
country.
At least thirty OF the best business
buildings in Black River Falls and
many farmhouses were washed away.
One story is that ten families on
farm buildings were seen at various
points floating down stream on the
crest Of the flood, and that probably
all these persons have been lost
With head OF water thirty feet high
sweeping down the valley no boat
could attempt q rescue
Definite reports from Black River
Falls show only two persons missing
there. More than 800 men worked all
day and night In a vain effort 10 save
the Dells levee.
Telephone connections with Black
River Falls were cut off. While al
most every resident fed out OF town,
the girl operators there remained at
their boards, giving warning In ev-
cry direction. They only left when
the water started TO food the noor
OF their Offices.
The Black River Falls townspeople
have taken refuge on high lands, un-
able to protect their stores and homes.
The buildings have not been mere
ly flooded. but destroyed The water,
flowing in tremendous volume, under
mined one big structure after anoth-
er, and as each collapsed the debris,
for the most part was carried away.
The fremont Hotel, three-story
brick building, the leading hostelry
in Black River Falls. and half dozen
other big buildings in which the prin-
cipal businesses OF the city were
housed, were washed out. They were
undermined and collapsed.
The Hatfield dams are solid con
crete structures 60 feet high and 100
feet deep at the base. They were
considered strong enough to hold any
food OF water which might be turned
against them.
The breaks followed a weeks rain
that filled the reservoirs to overflow
ing The water broke through the
embankment at the west side OF the
upper dam, and before noon break
occurred on the west side Of the lower
or main dam.
Chippewa Falls. Wis-Two dams
went out in this city and one at
Bloomer. The country is flooded. The
Chippewa River rose eight feet in ten
hours anr is overfowing its banks.
Water ran in the streets as a result
OF an eighteen hours downpour OF
rain. This is the heaviest deluge ex-
perienced along the Chippewa River
since June, 1904