Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1914-01-15

PEOPLES LIVES SAVED
Wall of Water Now Sweeping Down
River Will Doubtless Carry Many
Houses With 1t.

Piedmont, w. Va, Jan. l5.-With u
wave crest twenty feet nigh sweep
ing down the valley of the west
branch of the Potomac river, and in
habitants throughout the valley flee
ing to the hills for safety, enor-
nous damage and possible loss of life
was feared from a break in the Stosy
River dam, just above Dobbins, ".
Va.
The dam broke at 9 o'clock this
morning Only the fact that warn
ing had been sent down the valley
at 8 o'clock last night saved trench
dous loss of life. Everything in the
valley was swept before the flood
and the property damage cannot be
computed.
Thousands driven into the bitter
cold at night will probably be left
homeless. Reports from the FLOOD
territory are extremely meagre.
Communication can only be had with
points below the flood crest by long
distance telephone.
Elkins, w. Va, Jan. 15.-Telephone
messages received here today say
that the 500 inhabitants of Dobbin,
w. Va. or the headwaters Of the Po-
tomac river, are fleeing Tor their
lives before wall Of water which is
rsshing down upon that town and 9TH
e-* ~ re Potomac valleXs- as th,ass
result Of the breaking of the dam
Of the West Virginia Pulp and Paper
Company, just above Dobbin. Warn
ines have been sent to all inhabit-
ants of the valley to flee to the hills,
it is said. 1t is believed authorities
hope to check the waters rush by
safety sluice boxes installed below the
dam a few months ago to be used in
emergency cases.
Wheeling, W. Va, Jan. 15.-Re-
ports received here today say that
biz paper mill dam above Dobbin, ".
Va, has broken and that the inhab-
itants of the valley of branch OF
the Potomac river are in fight to the
hills. According to the information
received here, which is fragmentary
and unconfirmed, the rush Of water is
being held back materially by safety
Sluices.
keyser, w. Va, Jan. l5.-lt is re-
porte,. here that the West Virginia
Paper and Pulp Company's dam at
Schell, W. Va. has broken and that
from six TO twenty feet of water is
sweeping down the Potomac valley.
Flood water has not yet reached
here. The plant is owned BY the
Morrison & Cass Paper Company, OF
Tyrone, Pa.
Cumberland, Md, Jan. l5.-The
West Virginia Pulp and Paper Com
panys dam at Dobbins, W. Va, is
leaking badly at both ends and may
go out At any moment. If the wall
Of water runs down the Potomac val
lev great loss is feared
Warnings may prevent loss OF life.
The lam is seventeen miles froal
Dobbin and sixty-six miles west Of
Cumberland. Members Of the west
Virginia Public Service Commission
have gone there. The only wire to
there is owned by the company.
Piedmont, W. Va, Jan lo.-Ac-
cording to d message received here
at 1915 today the crest Of the flood
has just passed Schell, Md. The
property damage at Schell and other
points was enormous. No loss of life
is known. Warning was sent down
the valley of the west branch Of the
Potomac as far as Cumberland at 8
o'clocl; last night that the dam
would not last till morning. Mes
sages from up the river state that
two-thirds of the 1am mas gone. A
Schell the crest of the flood reached
twenty feet
The flood will reach Piedmont i,
is believed. before noon. The dam
that burst is Known as the Stony
river dam just below Davis and
hbove Dobhin, ". Va.
Norfolk Fried 'oystera at Rsmmsi's