The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1911-10-12
CITY IS IN RUINS;
PEOPLE MUST GET
SUPPLIES AT ONCE
Black River Falls Wrecked By.
High Waters - Business
Houses Swept Away.

La Crosse. Wis. Oct. River
Falls, destroyed last night In the Hood
following the washing around of the
Hatfield dam on the Black river. 10
miles above the city, can never be res
built on Its present site. The new chan !
mel, occupied by the river today, goes
through the middle of the town.
The wall Of water that swept the city
was 10 feet in height when 1t cached
the town, and continued to gather
force. Black river makes a turn at the
falls in the city, and the channel mar
rows with high steep banks. Into this
narrow a the rs miles of water, go
feet deep in the Hatfield storage reser-
voir, poured, and gathering impetus
from this condition leaped with resist
less force on the town.
Mayor McGillivary today estimated
the loss at not less than $1,000, 600 at
Black River Falls alone.
TOWN IN DISTRESS, CALL
FOR SUPPLIES is ISSUED
La Crosse, Wis, Oct. 9.-Looking
down from the hills on the ruins OF
their little city, the people of Black
River Falls, whose homes were wiped
out yesterday last --::;s
Black river. today faced the problem
of subsistence. Almost every scrap OF
out of the reach of the flood, was des-
troged. Every grocery store n meat
market nj other food depots In the
city are gone.
An attempt vas made early today
to organize the work of relief. Mayor
McGillivray sent messages to La Crosse
and other cities appealing for food and
shelter. In La Crosse a committee was
set to work at once and at noon guam
tiles of food n tents We're sent.
Everything on the four business
streets comprising the heart of the
fpurY, I,,e 1ana,, xr.nr a rxyo n rHl,a NNrttLs
western railroad bridge over the Black
river at that point is still standing, but
is swaying as though the heavy spans
We're supported only by cables. Train
service is cut off at Black River Falls
and no physicians even are allowed to
cross or foot,
At Hatfield. 10 miles above Black
River Falls. the river a today cut
q new channel n appeared where 1t
was never known to run before. h
main channel has moved more than
500 feet on to what has until now been
has ceased and the waters nave fallen
far below the crest. The main part
of the big structure is still standing.
The power house, two miles down
from Hatfield. was flooded.
The nearest towns to this city are
Melrose, 19 miles down the river with
q population of $50, and North Bend,
% miles distant, with 100 in habit-
ants.
Streets Submerged.
What one We're the two principal
streets of Black River Falls, Main
street ana water street are submerged.
Only a few foundations show above
the whirlpools with here and there a
smoke stack. The river bed has been
moved westward, 65 rods and north
ware about rs rods. The banks of the
river are slowly slipping into the wa
ter.
Most Of the city is built on sane and
1t is said that before another day the
residence districts of Price and German
Hills may be engulfed. Hundreds OF
residents have moved their belongings
far from the dwelling sections Of the
city, some to nearby farms. AT day
light today, the owners of property
could be seen traversing the hill
streets. carving everything from bed
clothing to stoves. Many say they will
not spend another night like last night,
In dread of being carried into the river
by the crumbling banks, but will re-
main far removed from possible dan
ger.
First Approach of Water.
The first appearance of the disaste,
was manifested shortly after noon yes
terday, when the vast area of water
released from the reservoir, % miles
by river above this city. swept over tho
Hatfield dam, six miles below anG
aided in volume by the heavy rain OF
the night before, struck the Black Riv.
er Fails with tremendous force.
Business men seeing a general de.
molition of their property could not be
averted, gathered q few belongings ana
made for Price Hill, directly north o.
Water street n part of which includes
Main street. One after another in rap.
Id succession, brick. stone and frame
buildings were undermined by the wa.
ter and slowly carried into the river.
All afternoon and night the sound O
cracking timbers and the terrific noise
of brick structures crashing into tn,
flood could be heard.
Waves splashed throughout the city
striking terror into the hearts Of thos
whose dwellings lay near the water,
creeping edge.
The postofice and several banks wer,
among the buildings swept away.
The money from the banks was sayet
n is stored in the court house.
La Crosse, Wis, Oct. THE 200
Inhabitants Of Black River Falls toda,
are without food or shelter, afte
spending q night IN the hills watching
the waters from the flood Of the Blacl
Mayor McGill, they sent out an appea
to the people of the country for assist
ance.
The town continues cut off from tn
world by regular telegraph and tele
phone, and 1t was only by again resort
ing to the expedient of sending a ma,
up a telephone pole on the edge q
town thai the cry for help could be sen
out.
Need Food and Shelter.
Mayor McGill said that the peopl
needed both food md tents in which t
live until their homes could be rebuiI-
The population fled yesterday withou
stopping to take extra clothing. The
spent a disagreeable day under a piti
less rain. but in the evening the wealth
er cleared and there was less sufferin
from exposure during the night.
All along the hills camp fires burned
while below In the darkness could b
heard the rush of waters engulfng til
city.
The mayor of Black River Falls to
day aid that it would be several day
before the flood receded sufficiently /
permit even an examination of tn
BAILEY BECOMES COUNSEL
FOR c. M. & ST. PAUL RAILRoA
Sioux Falls. S. D., Oct. T.-G. {
Railey n proninent Cioyy Eyo Ils a+ta,