The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-16
Stoney Creek Dam Bursts
and Sheet of Water Is
Hurled Upon Val
ley Homes
SWOLLEN STREAM
JOINS POTOMAC,
CAUSING FLOOD
Inhabitants, Warned Of Onrushing
Waters, Seek Safety in Hills
While Icy Torrents Sweep
Through Homes-$200,-
900 Property Loss

Cumberland. Nd, January 15.-Hud-
died in rude shacks and about blazing
campfires, hundreds of flood refugees
tonight watched and waited in the
West Virginia hills while the northern
branch of the Potomac river, swollen
to an Icy flood, swept through their
homes In the towns that dot the valley
below.
A wall of water, starting from the
broken dam of the West Virginia Pulp
and Paper company on Stoney creek,
moved down to the Potomac, inundated
the town of Schell, w. Va. where the
two streams meet and started flood
wave. laden with wreckage and ice down
the Potomac valley.
Warning of the approaching flood sent
the residents of small towns along the
river scurrying to safety in the hills,
where, tonight, from vantage points they
peered through the darkness in an icy
gale toward the swollen waters below.
Communication Cut Off
Telegraph and telephone communlca-
tion was cut off by the flood during the
day, but was re-established tonight. Ru-
mors of several men caught in the flood
waters at Shaw, w. Va, 20 miles from
/. Schell which could not be confirmed,
We're the only reports of casualties at
tending the flood. The flood warning
emptied the town of Shaw and sent many
residents of Blaine, Harrison, Kittsmeue
and other small places hurrying to the
ridges Fear that the waters might rise
still further prevented many refugees
from returning to their homes, even in
towns where little damage was done.
The flood wave apparently expended its
energy in a mad 20-mile dash down the
valley ofrt@aes sStaahey ,sssEsseek, from the
5,urste6 dam TO scfieli. THIS vH14eyrnow-
ever was virtually uninhabited. 1t was
owned by the West Virginia Pulp and
Paper company as a right of way and
watershed.
The big Gam which impounded lake
of water. five miles long and which was
81 feet high, had been weakening for
several DAYS. Last night it began to
crumhle. and a farmer from the noun
tain village a. Mount Storm rode down
tno valley wa<<iing the few inhabitants
of the impending break. A part of the
big structure gave way early today and
/ at noon the sweeping waters carried
1 away the greater part of the face of the
dam The released weight of water In
q wall like wave swept down to Schc.l.
There the loadbed of the Western Mary
land railroad was washed out, and traf-
fic on the road was tied up.
Waters Join Potomac
Below Scheu the rushing water joined
the Potomac river. and for 10 miles ,he
gradually diminishing wall of water rolled
on, increasing the height of the river
by from three feet to eight feet in Its
7o-mile course between Schell and Cum
berland.
The Potomac was filled with Ice. and
this, with wrecl.age and log booms torn
from their moorings, added force to the
flood.
Fearful lest the mass of wreckage rile
up and pen the rushing waters, the au-
thorities and railroad officials tonight
dynamitod several small bridges in the
valley which threatened to jam the rush.
Tonight bridges along both sides Of tho
rushing torrent for 20 miles from the
deluged town CT Schel to this city Were
dotted with campfircs and lanterns of
h refugees and miners and lumber men from
the hills. Late in the night the re-estab- :
lish telegraph line from Schell brought
the reassuring news that the water was
subsiding, but refugees still cuag to
temporary shaclSs and shelters above the
flood.
Take Utmost Precaution
All along the valley the officials took
the utmost precautions to prevent the
rising water with its burden of ice ind
wreckage from being jammed. Some fear
was felt because of wooden dam at
Beryl, w. Va, where the Savage river
flows into the Potomac. The West Nir-
einia Paper and Pulp company, which
has plant covering 40 acres at this point
put its men at work to strengthen the
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