The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1911-10-12
ENTIRE BUSINESS SECTION IS
NOW DOOMED TO DESTRUCTION

Black River Falls, Wis. Oct. T.
This city of about 1000 inhabitants,
practically has been blotted from the
map of wisconsin. Only a few Of the
CT business blocks have thus far es-
capped the fury of raging flood and
they are doomed to destruction.
Within a few hours this once rich
center of a prosperous farming com.
munity will have little to boast OF ex-
cept that 1T will go down In history
as the scene of n dire catastrophe.
What is known as lower town-that
section lying to the west OF the river
early today was place OF misery.
1t is here that the vast majority of
residents fed and following a night OF
anxiety and suffering, they face the
realization that no food Is available
except what was In their homes.
Homes Demolished.
Many of these homes have been de-
molished and 1t Is not an infrequent
sight to see several families partak-
ing of a quantity Of food which would
not be enough for hard working man.
Every grocery establishment and
meat market in the city has dlsap-
peared in the deluge. 1t was rumored
early today that provisions had been
sent by citizens of Camp Douglas, Wis.,
Two dozen dwellings have been swept
away and unless there is a sudden
change in the current, many more will
disappear INTO the tOTTeIlt, WHlCH 6tiI
roars In what once was the heart Of
the city.
So far as can be qscertained,
there has been Lu i:ves LOST Com
munication with towns Gown the
Black river is impossible, but 1t is
believed they have been carried
away by the flood, possibly entail
ing heavy loss Of life.
Buildings Undermined.
rha LET
| current and in tremendous volumes I'M
dermined one big building after
| another and as it collapsed and crushed
to pieces the debris was carried away.
The fremont hotel, a substantial three
story structure, was the first to go.
No precautions could be taken to
stop the wrecking OF the town, the resi-
dents finding it difficult problem to
secure safety for themselves. The
people, although they knew of the
overlooking of the Hatfield dam.
showed little fear until the water
| burst upon them.
Cause Of Disaster.
The disaster was caused by the sud-
den rise of the Black river behind two
| following rains which lasted almost
| week. The dams withstood the pres
sure. but in each case the river
washed around the side, raking out
big section OF the river bank and COM
ing down on the country below in al
most as great volume as though the
dame had not been there.
! Dam Will Stand.
The 100000 property of the Water
Power company Is not believed to be
greatly damaged, the bricks on the side
| relieving the pressure, and 1t Is said
| the main DAM which Is a concrete
structure 100 feet thick at the base and
so feet at the top, will probably stand
all the force which might be directed
against 1t.
Few Farmers Warmed.
| Besides the damage to Black River
| Falls a great tract Of surrounding
country was overrun. Efforts were
made to send warnings to farmers, but
the telephone wires were the first to
go down, and the fate of many set
tiers, who knew nothing of the flood
until 1t struck their localities, is the
| cause of some apprehension.
Below Black River Falls are several
villages. including Roaring Creek. Irv-
ing, North Bend, Melrose, Holmen,
| Blythes Midway and Onawaska