The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1911-10-12
IMMENSE POWER DAM AT HAT
FIELD, WIS.,, UNABLE TO
HOLD WATER.
AT BLACK RIVER FALLS
Floods, but Waters Rush Around
the Ends in Small
Breaks.

49,
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
lam at Hatfield, Wis, ~momentarily is
threatened with destruction which
would release a flood that would carry
death and destruction before it, as a
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,
the prosperous little city of 1000 peo-
pie. is worse by far than was feared
when the deluge burst upon the I'M
fortunate city.
Half of the business section has
been utterly destroyed, together with
a considerable part of the residence
district, and it is admitted by the
townspeople who have taken refuge
On the high lands, unable to make even
an effort for the protection of their
stores and homes, that the city will
be utterly wiped off the map.
Whether or not lives have been
lost is not yet certain, as the people
have beer scattered.
Business Houses Destroyed.
Between % 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 it collapsed and crum-
bled to pieces the debris vas largely
carried away. The fremont hotel, a
substantial three-story structure, was
the first to go, and many others fol-
lowed.
No precautions could be taken to
stop the wrecking of the town, the
residents finding it a difficult prob
lem 10 u safety for 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 CT the Hatfield dam, show
ing little fear Of its effects until the
waters burst upon them.
City Is in Darkness.
The city is i'm darkness, the electric
light plant being one of the first
agencies to be put out of commits
sion. adding to the excitement and ON
fusion Of the hour.
The disaster was caused by the sud
den rise of the Black river behind the
two dams of the La Crosse Water Pow
err company, following rains which
lasted almost a week. The dams with
stood the pressure, but in each case
the river washed around the side, TAX
ing out a big section of the river bank
and coming down upon the country
below in almost as great volume as
though the dam had been swept away.
The $4,000, 900 property of the water
power company is not believed to be
greatly damaged, the breaks on the
side relieving the pressure, and the
main dam. which is a concrete struc.
ture 100 feet thick at the base and 30
feet at the top, will probably stand all
the force which may be directed
against it.
DaCiInC tho Ian,ann ot DlnrG DiNar
Falls, a great tract of surrounding
country was overrun. Effort was made
to send warming TO farmers, but the
telephone wires were the first to go
down and the fate of many settlers,
who knew nothing of the flood until
1t struck their immediate vicinity, is
the cause of apprehension.
Villages in Path of Flood.
Below Black River Falls are a mum.
Der of villages, including Roaring
Creek, Irving, North Bend, Melrose
Holmen, Lytles, Midway and Onalaska,
and the high waters are due to strike
them. Forces of men have been sent
out to strengthen the bridges in the
three counties along the river.
Cut off by telephone, the news from
Black River Falls was sent to La
Crosse by the Wisconsin Telephone
company, which stationed a man on
the top of a telephone pole who cut
in and sent in his report as well as the
flooded lines permitted.
In a final desperate effort to save
the big dam, which is still intact and