The Parker post., 1915-05-08
THE FLOOD
SURVIVORS
MEANS SHOULD BE DEVISED
LOOKING TO THE RELIEF OF
THE STRICKEN PEOPLE OF
APACHE SOUNTY.

bers of the second state legislature
are interesting themselves in plans
| to afford some measure of relief to
the stricken people of Apache county,
| who recently lost their all by the
recent breaking of the Lyman reser-
vOir, near st. Johns.
When it is realized that eight lives
were. lost and property valued at uear
ly one-half million dollars was de-
stroyed, the magnitude of the disaster
may be partially comprehended.
With this property loss falling al
most entirely Oh men without means,
settlers who had pinned their faith
to this project for the redemption of
Of the desert waste in order that
they might build homes for them
selves and their families, the awful
ness of the disaster and the necessity
for relief may be fully understood
But little concerning the inception
and destruction of the Lyman reser-
vCir has been told, owing to the dis
tance from railway and telegraphic
communication. Senator Fred T
Golfer, of Apache county, tells a very
interesting and vivid story of the hap
pening. He said
MANY people to whom l have talk
ed concerning the breaking of the
Lyman reservoir were under the i'm
preston that the disaster could have
been averted had proper care been
taken. Such, however, 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 intima-
ton of danger
"On the night that the reservoir
broke, two well known citizens of
our county were in charge. Two in
spections of the dam were made.
Shortly after the watchers had Wis
tied the dam at 10 o'clock the roar
Of the bursting dam was heard. Mr..
A. M. Patton, who was one Of the
guards, rushed to telephone in an
effort to reach and warn the people
of st. Johns. Communication could
not be secured, however, and it was
not until some time later that connec.
ton was had with Springerville and
the frantic appeal of Mr.. Patton will
ever be remembered in the history
Of our COUNT He said, The Lyman
reservoir haa broken. l am unable
fC do a more as the house is NOV
ing 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 l o'clock in the
morning and many of the citizens
living near the river were forced to
hustle out of their warm beds and
plunge into the cold, muddy
waters that were more than knee
deep. The water swept in it's re-
!entless course, taking out all of the
bridges of the state highway, includ-
ing those at st. Johns and Hunt and
two bridges above and below HoF
brook
81 cannot tell you just what hard
ship the the destruction of this res
ervoir will work on the people of our
county. They have exhausted their
resources, their money and credit;
their growing crops and young or
chards have all been destroyed and
they are left without any means of
livelihood.
AuOCHcI LldCIC1 VI SlCQI AAiPOA
tance to these unfortunate settlers is
the fact that it is likely the patents
for their land may be held up by the
government, unless the reservoir is
reconstructed in the near future
The day that the reservoir went out
the government agent inspected the
dam with the idea of passing upon
the patents for these lands.
q have not as yet evolved any
plans for the relief of the dire ne
cessity of the people of my county,
but | hope that in the near future
some logical plan will be presented
as it will mean much, not only to the
people of Apache county but to the