The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1911-10-13
RISING WATERS, CAUSED ~ IN.
cEssANT RAINS, RESULT IN
THE BREAKING OF WEST
DYKE OF DELlS DAM.
PEOPLE FLEE TO SAFETY
Wausau, Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire,
Prescott, Spring Valley and
Other Towns are Damaged
by the High
tSreams.

La Crosse, Wis. - More than half
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 II. as
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,
he prosperous little city Of 1000 peo-
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
4 considerable part of the residence
district. and 1t is admitted by the
townspeople who have taken refuge
IN the high lands, unable to make even
an effort for the protection Of their
stores and homes, that the city will
be utterly wiped of the map.
Whether or not lives have been
lost is not yet certain. as the people
have been scattered.
Business Houses Destroyed.
Between 25 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.
ers 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 II collapsed and crum.
bled to pieces the debris was largely
carried away. The fremont hotel. a
substantial three-story structure. was
the first to 60. and many others fol
lowed
No precautions could be taken to
stop the wrecking of the town, the
residents finding II a 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 its effects until the
waters hurst uDon them
City Is In Darkness.
The city is in darkness the electric
fight plant being one of the frs
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 tn,
two dams the La Crosse Water Pow
er company, following rains which
lasted almost a week. The dams with
stood the pressure. but in each cas-
the river washed around the side, TAX
Ing out abig section OF the river banl
and coming down upon the countr
below in almost as great volume a
though the dam had been swept away
The 100000 property OF the waite
power company Is not believed to b
greatly damaged. the breaks on tn
side relieving the pressure. and tn
main dam. which is a concrete stru,
ture 100 feet thick at the base and 5
feet at the top. will probably stand a
the force which may be directe
against II.
Besides the damage at Black Rive
Falls, = great tract of surroundin
country was overrun. Effort was mad
, to send warning to farmers. but tn
; telephone wires were the first to &
! down and the fate of many settler,
who knew nothing of the food unit
II struck their immediate vicinity,
the cause of apprehension.
; Below Black River Falls are a nun
, Der Of villages. including Roarin
: Creek. Irving. North Bend. Metros,
Holmen. Lytles. Midway and Onalask,
, and the high waters are due to strik
them. Forces OF men have been ser
out to strengthen the bridges In Ii
three counties along the river.
, Cut on by telephone. the news frol
: Black River Falls was sent to L
, Crosse by the Wisconsin Telephon
company. which stationed a man O
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