The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1911-10-13
RISING WATERS, CAUSED BY IN
CESSANT RAINS, RESULT IN
THE BREAKING OF WEST
DYKE OF DELLS DAM.
PEOPLE FLEE IN TIME
TO SAVE THEIR LIVES
Wausau, Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire,
Prescott, Spring Valley and
Other Towns are Damaged
by the High
tSreams.

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 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 PEG
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
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 theil
stores and homes, that the city will
be utterly wiped off the map.
Whether or not lives have beer
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 ar
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 was largely
carried away. The fremont hotel, &
substantial three-story structure, was
the first to go, and many others fol
lowed.
No precautions could be taken tt
stop the wrecking of the town, tn,
residents finding it q difficult prob
lem to secure safety or themselves
their families and their more valu
able possessions. None of the stock!
in the stores were saved and little O
the heavier furniture in the houses
the people, although they knew of thu
overfowing of the Hatfield dam, show
ing little fear of its effects until the
waters burst upon them.
City is in Darkness.
The city is i'll darkness the elctri,
light plant being one of the frs
| agencies to be put out of commits
sion, adding to the excitement and con
.uSion of the hour
The disaster was caused by the sud
len rise of the. Black river behind tn,
;wo 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 concrete struc
ture 100 feet thick at the base and S,
feet at the top, will probably stand al
the force which may be directed
against it.
Besides the damage at Black Rive
Falls, a great tract of surroundin,
country was overrun. Effort was mad,
to send warning to farmers, but tn,
telephone wires were the first to e,
down and the fate of many settlers
who knew nothing of the flood unit
1t struck their immediate vicinity, il
the cause of apprehension.
Below Black River Falls are a mum
Der of villages, including Roarin,
Creek, Irving, North Bend, Melrose
Holmen, Lytles, Midway and Onalaska
and the high waters are due to strik,
them. Forces of men have been sen
out to strengthen the bridges in tn,
three counties along the river.
Cut off by telephone, the news from
Black River Falls was sent to L;
Crosse by the Wisconsin TELEPHONY
company, which stationed a man OF
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REVOLT IN PORTUGAL.
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