New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-10-07
CITY WRECKED BY FLOOD
Overlooking Dam mandates the
Black River Falls, Wis.
PEOPLE FLEE TO THE HILLS
Half the Business Section and
Many Homes Swept Away
Waters Still Rising.

MdUy nOulSS OWCpb A"oJ
Waters Still Rising.
/ Lacrosse. Wis. oct 6.-Rlack River
Falls. a prosperous little city of two
thousand inhabitants. was swept by
/ food this afternoon, when the waters
/ Of the Black River. swollen by recent
rains. washed through the embankmen'
Of the concrete dam of the Lacrosse
| Water Power Company. AT Hatfield. The
Hatfield dam was unable 10 Withstand
4 the rxtra pressure Of water caused by
/ the breaking OF the Dallas dam, hve
miles above. The torrent Of water
rushed down the valley to Black River
/ Falls.
Half Of the business section has been
DESTROYED. together with part OF the
reridence district. and it is said by the
/ t,Unspeoule who have taken refuge on
high lands. unable TO make an effort Tor
the protection of their stores and homes
/ that the city will be wiped out Whether
or not lives have been lost is not yet
certain. The people have been scattered.
and tonight canvasses are being made
10 determine how many, if any, are
missing Thus far two persons have not
/ been accounted for.
Al o'clock tonight between twenty
five and thirty business houses, comprls-
ing all the stores on both sides Of two
streets. had been destroyed, together
/ with an equal number Of houses AZ
/ that hour the waters were still rising
rrpidiv. and the destruction OF the stores
on tho other two business streets was
expected before morning.
The buildings have been totally de-
..,roved. Tho water. flowing in tremen-
dous volume. undermined one big build
ing after another. and as each collapsed
tho debris for the most part was carried
avsv The fremont Hotel. three
story structure. was the first 10 go.
Va precautions could be taken TO stop
the wrcckng Of the town. the residents
finding IN a difficult problem TO secure
safety for themselves. families and more
valuable possessions.
City Wrecked by Flood.
] The city u tO-llEul lH dothliN'77' $50
electric light plant being flooded.
The disaster was caused by the sud-
den rise Of the Black River behind the
two dams of the La Crosse Water Power
Companv. The dams withstood the press
,re hut in each case the river washed
around the side. taking out a big sec
tior NJ the river bank. and coming down
an the country below IN almost as great
volume as though the dams had been
swept away.
The five million dollar property oil the
Water Power Company is believed TO De
not greatly damaged. and tonight II IS
said that the main dam. which is con
crete structure. one hundred feet thick
M the base and fifty feet at the top
yrould probabIy stand AL the force which
might be directed against n.
Besides the damage at Black RiNef
/ Fails ii great tract Of surrounding COun-
try WAS Overrun. Effort was made 10
/ send warnings 20 farmers. put the 'e'e-
/ rhoDe wires were the FIRST 10 go d"Nh'
and the fate of many settlers, who knew
nothing OF the food until II struck their
! localities r. the cause Of apprehension.
Ralow Black River Falls are num-
/ her of villages including Roaring Creek.
/ Irving. North Bend. Melrese, Holman,
/ 7 ,-ttIas Midway and Onalaskg ana the
I high waters are due 10 strike them dur-
/ ing tho night and tomorrow. Forces ot
( men have been sent out 10 strengthen
/ the bridges I'm the three counties along
! the river.
/ cut off bv telephone the news from
placl, River Falls Is being seut to- La
I Crosse Tonight by the Wisconsin Iele-
phone COMPANY. which has stationed a
man uu tho top Of a telephone pole. VINO
ha. cut in and is sending iu his re-
port as well as the flooded lines permit.
City Will Be Wined Out
/ Black River Falls is doomed the
town will be wiped off the map was
the comment of W ". Holecomb man.
aver of the STANDARD Oil Company here.
! who returned Tonight from that city.
When I left there az 4 o'clock this
/ afternoon. tho main portion of the city
was under water and the food was rae
! ing through ~ the rate of twenty miles
/ am hour. Z saw a big stone building on
\ a hin one hundred feet from the water
crurnbIe like an cggshell and disappear
with the hill that supported il. The
water had undermined the hill Shortly
arterward a knob sixty feet long was
/ undermined and then the county poor
house. great white building. went
/ with 81.
/ Chippewa Falls Wis. oct. 6.-Two
dams went out In this city to-day and
one m Blocmer The country il flooded.
The Chippewa River has risen eight
( feet in the last ten hours and ls over
flowing It's banks. Water y running IN
the streets n a result OF an eighteen
/ hours dOwnpOur of rain. This IS the
heaviest delugc experienced along the
/ Chippcya River since June. 1901.
FRENCH FLAG AT AGA0IR
Premature Display of Tri- Color
Fnllnwad nv DisavnWal