The record. [volume] (St. Maries, Idaho) 1913-1918, 1913-05-30
Hard Fight
To Save Dyke
BELIEVE DANGER LINE IS PASSED
Thirty Hours Of Hard Work Places Milwaukee
Co. Yard Out of Danger

During the past few days the water
ia the river has been higher than at
either nf the other two high water
stages this spring. The flats on both
sides Of the river are entirely under
water. The river Is up to the side
walk along the river front. The
water Wss nearly a fuot deep on the
dock In front of the Red Collar line
warehouse.
Wednesday afternoon 1t IeRan to
come into the kitchen at Anna o.
Gara's restaurant aud by six O'Clock
1t was on the dining room floor, al
though she continued to serve meals
that evening. Yesterday morning It
was so high that she was obliged to
close the restaurant.
Ever since Sunday the high water
has been menaoing the dyke to the
east Of the CITY and along In front of
the Milwaukee Lumber compauy's
plaut at that time a rise of
foot 0r less would have put It over
In some places. The dyke itself had
become so saturated that water was
constantly seepiug through aud the
soil vas becoming so soft aud full of
water that Il was feared that the
river would push through any time.
The Milwaukee Lumber company
had made every possible precaution
to protect and strengthen the dyke or
to stop my overflow and men were
ooustanly patroling 1t day aud
-, wHtchiug for any possible
ASIesday night the condition be
ON G alarming as the water was run
W. & even With the banks at the cedar
f.fle yard above the dykes and by
Wednesday morning 1t was overflow
ing the railroad tracks there and
running down onto low ground be-
hind the dyke. The lMilwaukee rail
road WIS appealed to Iaud ri once put
It's work train and a lFle crew of
men at work hauling ihNdirt and soon
had an Elm baukment bukt along the
river from the high ground TO aud on
the dyke, which was also strengthen
ed at that end. By night the Inflow
was Effectively stopped In that quar-
ter. Meantime the Milwaukee Lum.
Der company had all the men aud
teams they could get hauling dirt
aud putting It into sacks to streugth-
en- other portions of the dyke.
A stretch about 500 feet long just
below where the wagon road leaves
the dy ke gave the most trouble and
for a time 1t was feared that the river
would break through here In spite of
all that could be done to prevent It.
It did reach the top In one or two
places aud Was only prevented from
coming over by bags filled with dirt
being placed along the top.
Water was running through the
bank in small streams and 1t became
necessary 10 drive stakes and hll IN
with bags of sand to check this flow
as we'll as to strengthen the dyke and
keep the river from breaking
through.
Il Was q bard fight here but the
men worked like troians and finally
conquered. although for a long time
IL looked doubtful
This part of the work WIS under
the direct charge of j. P. Goodwin
aud to say that he was on the job all
the time would be doing him soani
justice It WAS four O'Clock Wednes'
day morning when he began the fighl
and hs held to It all day aud all
night stopping only long enough tC
eat. A large number Of the men also
worked all night. Along about av'
O'Clock tina river began to fall al
little aud the worst of the danger be
ing over, be sent the men to bed auc
went home Cor breakfast himself
Seven O'Clock found him back on th'
job again and hustliug Tor man u
take the places of those who hHc
worked all night.
Over three thousand sacks had beef
filled With sand, hauled With wheel
barrows and piled up along the bacl
OF side of the dyke during that tWen
ty four hours.
The work was continued all de-.
yesterday. Besides tails hve ca
loads Of dltt we're dumped at thI
lower end Of the dyke, near the rail-
road where the water was cominI
through. With the water falling
little or stationary aud the work tha
hss been done IN the fUrty-eigh
hours. It is thought that there is n
more danger. but the patroling Of tn
dyke will be continued as long q
Ifha hfgh uatar kaena m