Mohave County miner., 1915-05-08
Appeal For Flood Sufferers

Phoenix, Arizona, April 29.- Many members of the Second State Legis- lature are interesting themselves in plans to afford some relief to the stricken people of Al ache county, who lost their all by the recent breaking of the Lyman Reserv ,ir, aesr St. Johns.
 When it is realized that eight lives were lost and property SaI.ed at near ly one-half million dollars was destroy ed, the magnitude of the disaster may be partially comprehended.
 With this property loss falling almost entirely on men without means, settle CTS who had pinned their faith to this project for redemption of the desert waste in order that they might build homes for themselves and their fami- lies, the awfulness of the disaster and the necessity for relief may be fully understood.
 But little concerning the inception and destruction of the Lyman Reservoir has been told, owing to the distance from railway and telegraphic communi- cation. Senator Fred T. Colter of Apache County tells very interesting and vivid story of the happening. He said:
 "Many people to whom I have talked concerning the breaking of the Lyman Reservoir were under the impression that the disaster could have been avert ed had proper care taken. Such, how ever, is not the case. From the time the Reservoir started to fill, it has never been without guards or inspectors. Men of experience have always been there to give warning at the first in timation of danger.
 ''On the night that the Reservoir broke, two well known citizens of our county were in charge. The inspections of the dam were made. Shortly after the watchers had visited the dam at 1000 o'clock the roar of the bursting dam was heard. MT. A. M. Patton, who was one of the guards, rushed to telephone in an effort to reach and warn the people of St. Johns. Con- munication could not be secured how ever and it was not until sometime later that connection was had with Springer vile and the frantic appeal of MT. Pat ton will ever be remembered in the his tory of our county. He said The Lyman Reservoir has broken. I am unable to do any more as the house is moving. For Heavens sake get St. Johns.
 "Mr. Patton accompanied by several other citizens then started on a wild run down the Canyon, telling the people of the impending danger. When within two miles of St. Johns, the water could be seen all over the lowlands and they knew it was of no use to go farther. The water reached St. Johns at LOO o'clock in the morning and many of the citizens living near the river were for ced to hustle out of their warm beds and plunge into the cold muddy waters that were more than knee deep. The water swept on in its relentless course, taking out all of the bridges on the State Highway, including those at St. Johns and Hunt and two bridges above and below Holbrook.
 l cannot tell you just what a hard ship the destruction of this Reservoir will work on the people of our county. They have exhausted their resources, their money end credit; their growing crops and young orchards have all been destroyed and they are left without any means of livelihood.
 Another matter of great importance to these unfortunate settlers is the fact that it is likely the patents for their