The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1911-10-13

tu0 tOR VI = S0tORn0 Dole WHO cut
in and sent in his re1rt as well a. the
flooded lines permitt.
In . final desperS effort 10 save
the big dam. which stin intact and
holds back millions ofnllons Of water,
workmen dynamited = hanks OF the
canal leading from th&dat6eld reser-
voir to the power hou5 releasing the
water into the bed ofkhe river be-
low and thus relieving slishtly the
strain on the main dam.
II the main Hatfield d Rives way.
the flood which will foliw probably
win carry death and destAction down
the Black River valley. onicials of
the company. however. sayhe dam is
one Of the strongest in the cuntry and
they expect II to Withstand be strain.
The structure is two feet wier at it's
base than its total height an Is built
Of reinforced concrete.
Eleven Feet Of Water ovefDam
Eleven feet Of water is pourAg over
its crest and sweeping down IN the
stricken city of Black River, Falls
and the intermediate farms and ,ettle-
ments. The village Of Hatfield un.
der water and the cottages OF en-
ployes constituting small villagehear
the powerhouse, two miles below. we're
abandoned, In fear that the dynanit-
ing Of the canal would be insufficient
to ward OF the destructive food which
threatens to engulf the powerhoune
and settlement,
The water power company has hat
300 men fighting to prevent the disas-
ter for nearly a week. Farmers had
been warned in advance to expect the
break at any moment and many OF
them had fed with their families to
safety before the dyke gave way.
During the night, when the real
danger was apparent, a general alarm
was sent out. Residents Of the valley
were warned to fee for their lives.
In an effort to save those who could
not be reached by telephone, Care
taker True of the Dells Dam. mounted
a horse and rode at breakneck speed
during the remainder of the night.
warning farmers to escape. Wagons
were loaded with household goods and
started for high ground, but as the
country is fat for many miles. 1t is
not known whether all escaped.
Span Of Bridge Torn Out.
The flood travelled from Hatfield to
Black River Falls in one hour. Farm
houses, fences, barns and other debris
filled the waters and the strain Of this
this debris. pressing against the wagon
bridge at that city by the rising tor
rent, tore out one span Of this struc-
ture. Residents of Black River Falls
were warned just after the break oc-
Cured and the contents of the bust
ness blocks were rushed to higher
ground.
Upper Lake 10 Emptied.
The Hatfield water power consists OF
two great lakes or reservoirs. each
covering several miles. The first, OF
upper reservoir. has been retained by
the Dells Dam. a concrete structure
embedded in solid rock on one side
and with a core wall running to the
west. It was this wall which gave
way, emptying the great lake into the
lower reservoir.
The lower and larger dam at Hat
field Is built the same way and the
water, rising swiftly, washed out the
several feet of earth covering the ives
core wall here. and tore down tn,
canal and surrounding country. Elever
feet of water poured over thu
crest Of the main dam. These breaks
brought about the present flood. bu
the main body of water Is still re
tanned In the lower lake by the biz
dam at Hatfield.
The present flood Is the worst II
the history of Black River. Torren
tial rains above the reservoir sent tn
water up repeatedly and the efforts o
800 laborers who worked to proven
the disaster, were Of no avail. Tn,
workmen have been called of, as moth
ing more can be done, and PRACTICAL.
all depends upon the strength OF tn
big dam, and the elements.
The flood reached Melrose carrying
away roads and bridges, but the peopl
had ben forewarned and escaped Il
safety.