Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-08-14
FLOOD RELEASED
WHEN DAM BREAKS
Waters of Lake Toxaway Now
Rushing Down Upon South
Carolina Towns.
DANGER WARNINGS GIVEN
Crumbling Of Dam Believed Due
to Natural Spring at
Base.

great dam at Lake Toxaway, fifty feet
high. 400 feet in width and holding
back waters that covered $50 acres ot
land in the ToXaway region. thirty
eight miles from this city, crumblc ed
and went out with roar at I:l0 to-
night. and at II o'clock tonight tho
waters thus released were racing to-
ward South Carolina cities in their
path. including walhalla. Anderson
Pickens and Seneca. Warning Of flood
danger were sent to all South Carolina
points by the Associated Press at this
city at 7:30 o'clock
According to long distance MESA cs
from Toxaway. the entire dam. built
OF earth and stone, seemed to melt be-
10" the rush of waters within few
m!tutes. The, initial opening In the
dam. caused 1t is believed. by the secp-
ing OF natural spring at the base, was
not larger than a railway coach.
DAM Is BUILT IN 100.
AT COST OF s3s.OOO
Tho dam. which was built in 1902.
at cost OF $4,000. was built at :,
point where the hills are not more
than 400 feet apart. Over this dam
the waters of Lake Toxaway River
flow down narrow and densely wood
cd gorge for distance OF sixteen miles
OF comparatively uninhabited country
before 1t empties into the Chuga River
and strikes the first town i'm it's path
in South Carolina, $50 feet below the
Toxaway section. There have been no
unusual rains in the lake section for
several days. but il is believed that the
dam was weakened by the heavy rains
which flooded Western North Carolina
during the week of July IS. This is
the third and largest OF the lakes in
the mountains of Western North Caro-
lima which have gone out since the
July storms.
The ToSaway country is kno-wn as
the beautiful sapphire section i'm
tourist circles. The lake and the hotel
named after the section, were buIit
In 1902 by party of Pittsburgh capi-
taiists. The company originally own
cd $1,000 acres OF land I'm the roxawav
country. the purchase being made
with view to mining operations. A
lew years ago, cotton mill owners.
whose plants were in the path of the
waters, should they escape, employed
several expert engineers to investigate
the safety of the dam. with the ideo
OF securing legislative relief, should IL
he determined that their properties
were endangered. Following the en-
Eiheers report the dam was strength
ehed materially. large piles Of rock be-
ing unloadcd at it's base
FEARS FOR DAMS SAFETY
DURING RECENT FLOOD
ronr weeks aEo, during the flood
period. fears for the safety of tho
IoNawny dam were repeatedly exnross
co. ana there were several reports that
the dam had gone out,
at IL o'clock tonight "A tclephonc
message from Lake Toxawav stated
'hat the lake was being RAPIDLY drain
ed' II was believed that tho flood
W"'ers would reach Walhalla and An
oersoh. y C.. about midnight
IL is believed that the waters Will,
ovII wide expansc of uninhabitcd
orS before reaching the South
S"foiina towns. thus minimizing tba
possibility OF extensive damarn
"ooh DAMAGE THREATENED
ALONG NEOWEE RIVER
HHEENV1LLE.. S. c.. August 13.-At
''iohiGht the Seneca River. tbrou,b
wien the waters of Lake Toxaw.v
VIII now into tho Savannah Riycr
were normal near the town of Senaca
I'M weight miles west of Greenyil,e
ana about forty miles southwest or
'oNa"ay. The waters threaten to do
scr'ous damage to crops along tho
Neowce River, in Pickcns and Ocouec
oo"n''es' which are separated by this
Ner' Nhove Clemson College tho
\eoWce and the Twelve Mile Creek
nave confluence. forming the Seneca.
anu 'hence pass by Clemson. where il
is reared much damage will be done
as the country is relatively fiat and
'h'ckly populated Portman Shoals.
"herc the light and power for the city
vi anderson Is generated, is on the
seneca River, and tonight large forces
are at work preparing for the nood
"aters. Sand bags are being placed
on the dam and power-housc, and other
preparations are under way to combat
the force Of the food.
Walhalla, Seneca and Anderson ,rc
several miles from the river. There is
no town OF Importance on the course
of the stream.
ions-distance telephone message
from point within six miles of the
North Carolina line. on the Keowee
hiNer' stated that at midnight there
had been no rise in the water In
hapitantS OF the river valley have all
oeeh warned and are awake the mes
sage stated The peorIa in tha, section
DO not anticipate much damage.
WALL OF WAITER
is MOVING DOWN VALLEY
ANDERSON. S. G., August IA wal,
or water seven feet high is moving
down the Seneca River Valley tonight
as result OF the breaking of the roy
away dam. according to reports reach
ing here. Much damage to low lying
sections OF the valley is feared, and
olhciais OF the Southern Public Utili-
tics company have sent large foucc OF
men TO i'ortman Shoals. on the Seneca
River. to try to save their big power
dam there.
Warnings have been telegraphed to-
night to all sections Of tho Seneca and
upper Savannah River Valleys
q. y o. MOUNTAIN EXCURSION
tIaf 2 IN