The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1911-10-12
militia GUARDS
AGAINST L00TERS
GUARDsMEN ON DUTY At BLACK
RIVER FALLS TO WATCH
CITY'S SALVAGE.
DAMAGE TOTAL is s1.7oo.ooo
Efforts to Dynamite Dam, In Order to
Revert River Into Its Old Chan
mel, FaiI-SuppIies Being Rushed
In, but More Needed.

In, but More Needed.
Black River Falls, Oct. 10.-Looting,
which follows all catastrophes, has
begun, and two companies of militia
are here guarding the ruins, with
ball cartridges in their guns.
Stricken Black River Falls faces fur
Their complications in the piles of
wreckage and debris, sickness from
the backed-up sewerage and water
rotting vegetation, and further shift
ing of the sands on which the city is
built. Any one or all three of these
dangers now confront the flooded com.
munity.
Lack of consideration on the part
of hundreds of curious who came by
wagon, auto and train to the city
resulted in the establishment of
armed guards to prevent looting of the
deserted homes or salvage which is
piled high in the streets and yards.
With the last stick of dynamite ex-
ploded in a futile attempt to blow
UP the concrete power house dam, the
work of removing that obstruction in
the hope of reverting the river back
to it's former course, has been aban.
doned.
A relief committee, composed of
prominent citizens and merchants, is
in charge of the stores which are be-
ing dealt out zealously and only to
those who are in need and who have
families.
Of all the 5000 people who came
to witness the sad plight of Black
River Falls, many went without meals.
The three men in charge of the sup.
plies know by name every citizen
in the town. They reported that many
%sightseers appealed to them for mi
thing to eat but were refused.
The Black River Falls Advancement
association, a permanent organization
of business men, held a meeting in
the town hall to devise ways and
means to cope with the condition.
The back water in the southern part
of the city receded far enough for
parties to search the ruins. This por-
ton of the city presents the most
pitiful sight of the flood. About the
site of the wiped out business sec
ton, the damage is not so apparent
except along the edge of the torrent
which tenaciously holds it's new chan,
mel above the foundations of half. a
hundred buildings. :.
The steel wagon bridge which con-
nected the island with the mainland
was carried down stream to the bend
of the river. where it brought up
against some tall pine trees in Brights
Grove, a former picnic ground, which
now has the appearance of junk pile.
Everywhere the ground is covered with
the white sand and mud brought down
from German Hill.
Great damage was done by a long
chain of boom logs which was carried
by the water above the frame cottages
like a huge net. The string of logs
chained end to end, toppled over many
buildings, shaved some off at the first
story and carried other along with it..
1t finally wrapped itself among a
group of tall pine trees in Brights
Grove and stopped. All of this Sec
ton of the city is wired of, and un-
der constant guard.
A box car containing four tons of
supplies arrived from Chippewa Falls,
and another from Tomah, Wis. A car
containing 1000 pounds of dynamite,
waterproof fuse and caps, is on the
way from Warren, Wis.
Workmen have repaired some of the
sewers and water mains so that a part
of the town is now being served by
these.
A contribution Of 500 vas wired
In by citizens from Ripon. Wis, and
5000 was received by Mayor McGilli.
vray from Senator Isaac Stephenson.
On the edge of Main street the
postoffice and several other buildings
are about ready to collapse before
the water. which continues to eat the
foundations from beneath them.
A Minneapolis firm sent 600 loaves
of bread and that the Washburn.
Crosby Milling company had offered to
send a carload of -four. One carload
of -four, billed to John Dunn, is now
on the track here. Mr.. Dunn ordered
the flour before the food wiped out
lis store and left him without funds,
1t is probable that the city will con.
fiscate the -four and assume the pay.
ment for it.
The city's money and other deposits
from both the First National and
jackson county banks, amounting tc
about $4,000, are in the courthouse
under guard.
The total damage is estimated off
cially at 5 LOO, 600.
SLAYER HELD TO GRAND JURY