Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-10-07
WISCONSIN TOWN
B[O11[D FROM NAP
BLACK RIVER FALLS DESTROYED
BY FLOOD WATERS FROM
BLACK RIVER.
BUSINESS HOUSES cRUMBLE.
NO LIVES REPORTED LOST
Fears Entertained For Villages Fur.
thor Down vaIIey-Communieati
Cut off-Residents Of Black River
Falls Face Hunger and Cold-Food
Supplies All Swept Away.

Black River Falls, Wis, Oct. This
city Of about 1000 Inhabitants practi-
cally has been isolated from the map
OF Wisconsin. Only few OF the six
ty-one business blocks have thus far
escaped tho fury OF the raging nood
and they are doomed to destruction.
Within a few hours this once rich CEN
ter Of a prosperous community will
have little to boast OF except that it
will go down in history as the scene Of
a catastrophe.
What is known as lower town early
today was place Of misery. 1t is here
that the vast majority Of residents
lived. and following night Of anxiety
and suffering they faced the realization
that no food is available except what
was in their homes.
Many Of these homes have been de-
iro!ished Every grocery Establishment
and meat market in the city has disap-
peared in the deluge. Two dozen
dwellings have been swept away and
unless there is a sudden change in the
far as can be ascertained there has
been no loss Of life
Communications with towns down
the Black river is impossible. and 1t is
believed they have been carried away
by the flood possibly entailing heavy
loss of life.
Break in Dams.
The water, flowing with tremendous
III n (y,<
after another. No preca utions could he
taken to stop the wrecking of the town.
the residents finding It difficult to Sc
cure safety for themselves. When
darkness fell, the electric light plant
being one Of the first buildings to be
put out Of commission, there was no
light.
The disaster was caused by the sud-
den rise Of the Black river behind the
two dams Of the La Crosse Water
Power company. caused by the rains Of
last week. The dams stood the pres
sure, but in each case the river washed
around the side. taking out a big sec
ton Of the river bank and coming
down upon the country below in tor
rents.
Besides the damage at Black River
Falls, great tract Of surrounding
country was overrun.
Efforts to Warn Farmers.
Efforts were made to send warning
to farmers. but the telephone wires
went down and the fate Of many set
tiers, who knew nothing Of the food
until it struck their immediate locali-
ties. is the cause OF some apprehen-
sion.
Below Black River Falls are number
CT villages, including Roaring Creek.
Irving. North Bend, Melrose. Holmen,
Lytles, Midway and Onalas ska, and the
high waters are due to strike them
during the night and tomorrow
Cut off by phone the news from
Black River Falls. was sent to La
Crosse Telephone Company. which had
stationed a man on the top Of a tele-
phone reported that the town was IL
able to be swept away any moment.
". W. Molcomb. manager Of the
Standard Oil Company here. who re-
turned last night from the threatened
city. also told Of the immense loss.
When he left there at 4 o'clock yes.
terday afternoon the main portion Of
the town was under water and the
food was racing thru the streets at
the rate Of apparently twenty miles an
hour.
Buildings Disappear.
II saw a big stone building on a
hill 100 feet from the water. crumble
like an egsshell and disappear COM
pletely with the hill that supported it.
The water had undermined the hill and
carried everything away. There wasn't
4 piece OF the building a foot square In
sight moment afterwards. saw
buildings disappear before the onrush
o. the water.
when left, there was water on the
site Of these buildings deep enough to
float 4 steamship.
when the waters appeared. the fire
bell called everyone to the streets.
TN order to get out Of the town
rad to so around over a railroad
bridge, one approach to which had
been taken out.
Il heard Of no loss Of life. The in
habitants simply kept backing away
from it and when left they were
standing on the hills Watching the
work Of destruction going on. unable
to do thing to stay its progress"
Some Heroic Work.
Harry Bettman Is the "Jack Rinns"
OF the flood. Perched on the top Of
a sixty oot pole, with a telephone In
strument cut in. he sent news to La
Crosse and warnings to all points he
could reach. wherever &c could raach
a country exchange or a farmers tele-
phone, he shouted a warning.
Mslrose Cut on.
President Ferris Of the water power
company, estimated the damage to his
property at $4,000.
This morning when residents of Mel.
rose. eighteen miles north on the Black
river. awoke they found the river had
risen twenty-feet during the night and
that all roads into the town had been
destroyed. The town Is situated on
high ground and will probably escape
Appeals for Aid.
Lacrosse, Wis, Oct Looking