Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1911-10-18
RISING WATERS. CAUSED ~ IN.
cEssANT RAINS, RESULT IN
THE BREAKING or WEST
DYKE OF DELLs DAM.
PEOPLE FLEE IN TIME
TO SAVE THEIR LIVES
Vausau, Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire,
Prescott, Spring Valley and
Other Towns are Damaged
by the High
tSreams.

La Crosse. Wis. - More than half
the business section Of Black River
alls Is In ruins. the homes Of scores
farmers have been swept away with
robably loss Of life and the main
am at Hatfield, Wis, momentarily is
lreatened with destruction which
'ould release a flood that would carry
cath and destruction before it. as a
esult OF the breaking of the west
yke OF the upper Dells dam, fol.
)wing tncessant rains which filled the
immense reservoirs of the La Crosse
Water company to overfowing.
!: The situation at Black River, Falls.
he prosperous little city of 1000 peo.
lie, is worse by far than was feared
hen the deluge burst upon the un.
ortunate city.
Half OF the business section has
cen utterly destroyed. together with
considerable part of the residence
'istr1ct, and 1t is admitted by the
oWnspeople who have taken refuge
the high lands, unable to make even
N effort for the protection of their
torres and homes, that the city will
9 utterly wiped of the map.
Whether or not lives have been
ost Is not yet certain, as the people
ave been scattered.
] Business Houses Destroyed.
) Between 25 and 30 business houses.
comprising all the stores on both sides
: t two streets in Black River Falls.
ave been destroyed. together with an
'qual number Of residences. The wat,
'rs are still rising rapidly and the de-
,truction of the stores on the other
Two business streets is predicted.
The water, flowing with resistlcss
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. a
substantial three-story structure. was
the first to 60, 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 to secure safety or 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 of the Hatfield dam, show.
ing little fear of It's effects until the
waters burst upon them.
City is IN Darkness.
The clty is in darkness the electric
light plant being one of the first
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 the
.wo dams o the La Crosse Water Pow
er company, following rains which
'asted almost week. The dams with.
stood the pressure, but in each case
he river washed around the side. TAX
ug out abig section of the river bank
nd coming down upon the country
'eloW in almost as great volume az
hough the dam had been swept away.
The 100000 property of the water
over company Is not believed to be
realty damaged, the breaks on the
de relieving the pressure, and the
ain dam, which is concrete struc-
re 100 feet thick at the base and 50
'et at the top, will probably stand al,
'e force which may be directed
;ainst 1t. .--
Besides the damage at Black River
Ais, great tract of surrounding
untry was overrun. Effort was made
send warning to farmers, but the
!ephone wires were the first to 80
, wn and the fate of many settlers
10 knew nothing of the flood until
struck their immediate vicinity. is
e cause of apprehension.
Below Black River Falls are a mum.
# of villages, including Roaring
eek, Irving, North Bend, Melrose.
olmen, Lytles, Midway and Onalaska,
I'd the high waters are due to strike
EN-. Forces Of men have been sent
It to strengthen the bridges in the
rec counties along the river.
Cut off by telephone, the news from
lack River Falls was sent To "a
rosse by the Wisconsin Telephone
ompany, which stationed a man IN
REVOLT IN PORTUGAL.