FLOODS FROM UNDER GROUND.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1517, 25 November 1886, Page 3

FLOODS FROM UNDER GROUND.

Bella Plaint), lowa. Aug. 21.—An artesian well four inches in diameter burst yesterday, when the depth of 180 feet had been reached in boring, tod instantly a volume of water was forced into the air to the dia- ~ tahce of several hundred feet. • This gradually increased in siza and toiame nntil a stream of fully 16 inches lb diameter was formed with m tpward 'force equal to the power of powder or dynamite. The water, in huge volumes ' is Bpooting high in the air, and the ] supply seems inexhaustible. Iwo rivers . have been formed by this water-burst, t which are running through the town at ;'; the rate of 12 miles an hour, and carry-. ' icg everything before them. Houses and lives are threatened by this peculiar freak of nature, and the citizens of the town are appalled at the .i»nger which they are powerless to overcome. Finding it impossible to divert this "damaging flood, an attempt was made ' to-day to insert Bixteen-inch boiler iron tubes into the well, but these were instantly blown out and forced high into the air. The terrihed people then attempted to fill up the aperture. Fifteen carloads oi stone were empted into the : well, bat these were instantly blown out and forced upwards as though propelled ' by the force of a bursting magazine of giant powder. Bags of sand were then hastily prepared and cast into the • well, but these, too, were burled into the stir. *"■'■■ The Northwestern railroad was tben called upon for assistance, and sent a large gaug of men to the rescue. The bridge gang of the county was also called upon, but up to tbis evening no " abatement in the flow of water was per- '" wptible, and the rushing rivers formed ■ by it were washing the channels deeper ' and wider, while the basin formed by *" the immense volume of water was * spreading over the low lands in the ficinitj.

The Mayor of Belle PlaiDe in his last extremity telegraphed to Chicago f«r the beat engineers that could be procured to come immediately to the spot and use their skill and energy -in attempting to stop this perilous com! iiiu n of affairs.

City Engineer Arlingstall, to whom the matter was referred, at once started to find an engineer who would supply the demand, and succeeded in inducing Engineer Morgan to undertake the mission.

Messrs Arlingfitall and Morgan were, however, both of the. opinion that but little, if anything, ran he done to stop the flow of water, hut that it might be possible to direct the rivers into less dangerous directions, and confine them to their present channels. Mr Morgan left for the city to-night, and if more assio-nce is necessary Mr Arlingstall will send all that is needed. This is regarded as one of the most phenomenal freaks of nature known.