The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1914-01-22
BROKEN DAM Of v. VAL PULP
COMPANY INSPECTED.
Party Found A Gap 70 Feet Wide
And Many Cracks.

NpSAAAAe5 - 80 - O''--S~-N-
in the Allegany Mountains, the citizens
committe of Kitzmiller sent to examine
the break in the great dam at Maysvllle
reached Blaine utterly exhausted Sat
urday.
Three members of the party did col
lapse in the night and the other mem
bers attempted to carry them through
the snow, which had drifted to height
of five feet. Unable to make any head
way, they built a fire and announced
that they would remain until daylight
and then try to reach some habitation.
James M. Mahaffey. the guide, under
took to go to his house and get food,
but lost his way in the storm. Two
other members who started after him,
found the house to be only little over
mile away.
Coming across a stream, which led
toward the house. the two men hurried
back and after a council it was decided
that three men should push on to the
Mahaffey home and return to the camp
with stimulants, food and lights.
Clarence Robinson collapsed when
within three-quarters of a mile of the
house and was dragged in by Mahaffey,
while John Bray sprained a leg, but
managed to reach safety. The three
were too exhausted, however, to carry
succor to their friends.
After waiting for three hours those
at the fire sent Grant Pew and Joseph
WEIGHT to the house. Pew and WEIGHT
stopped long enough to eat, then start
ed back for their comrades in the mount
aims, taking with them part of the way
a mule to be used in case of emergency.
In the meantime the temperature
had dropped to 5 above zero, the wind
had increased in fury, but the snow had
ceased. Leaving the house at midnight.
Pew and WEIGHT reached the fire at
l.35 A. NJ. AS the fire was in hollow,
they were unable to locate it for some
time and feared that their comrades
had succumbed to the fury of the storm.
Their shouts finally evoked an answer
from former Legislator John Long and
James T. Poland. who had remained to
look after another member of the party
and to keep the fire going.
Daf-ocIoJ H., fooJ NJ J.;rI, oo
tire party fought its way through the
drifted snow up the mOuntainside across
an icy stream to an open field, where
the mule had been stabbed IN a shanty.
The mule was used to carry the most
exhausted members of the party to the
Mahaffey house, which was reached at
8 o'clock.
The party left Blaine Friday morn
ing in two sleds drawn by mules to ex-
anime the dam and report back to
citizens massmeeting. It's report viii
be the basis of the fight to be made
against the reconstruction or repairing
of the dam. The party drove 80 miles
by way of Mount Storm to the home Of
Mahaffey, which is five and one-half
miles from the dam. The rest of the
trip had to be made on foot
The snow had drifted three feet in
places, but the eight men pushed on to
Stoney river, following the stream five
miles to the dam. Rocks and ground
we're covered with Ice, making walking
difficult and dangerous. The snow had
stopped falling early in the day, but
began again when the party was half
way to the dam.
Two members of the party slipped
through the ice into water waist deep
and every other man fell at one time or
another, the clothing of all being torn,
The party reached the dam at 4 P. NJ.
and photographs of the strucurte were
made A gap 70 feet wide has been
torn in the dam and an examination
through the passageway under the dam
showed big cracks and leaks in almost
every compartment.
After thorough inspection the party
started home. The wind had increased
in violence The snow drIfted deeper
every moment. Walking became so bad
that those who lost their footing had to
be helped out of the drifts. 1t soon
grew dark. The party. keenly alive to
the danger of being separated, followed
close behind Mahaffev. who set a stiff
pace. till he attempted to lead up the
mountain side.
There man after man began to fail
and fall behind. The greatest exertion
was required to help along the rear
guard and keep anyone from being lost
m the darkness.
Afer few hours rest at the Mahaffey
house the party started for Blaine.
AT places the snow had drifted even
with the seven and eight rail fence AMI
the mules floundered through it with
difficulty. One CT the sleds, with two
men in it, upset. Poland was caught
under it, but escaped uninjured.
Oakland Boys Trounced.