OCR Text |
Show lUwanis Club Hears Story of Teton Dam Failure Mr. Lynn Walker, formerly of Teton, Idaho, but now living in Pleasant Grove, who was one of 34 eye witnesses to the Teton Dam failure was guest speaker at the Pleasant Grove Kiwanis Club Ladies Night Dinner last Saturday at the Kopper Kettle Restaurant in American Fork. Mr. Walker was project supervisor for canal construction construc-tion when the dam collapsed, and he was able to record the disaster with photographs taken at about 15 minute intervals in-tervals from the time a small black hole "about as big around as a basket-ball" appeared ap-peared near the top of the white dam untill three hours later when it had been cut out downward as a narrow slit to cause the dam to collapse. This loosened a flood of water that for a short time was about equal to the flow of the great Mississippi River. Water has been seeping from the base of the dam for several days, before the first hole appeared at about 8:45 a.m. Mr. Walker's photographs show the efforts that were made to plug the hole by 'bull dozing" rock material into it. At about 10:00 A.M. warnings went out. Mrs. Walker also dramatically described her frantic actions in escaping the flood after her husband telephoned her a warning. Mr. Walker appeared as a witness with his pictures at hearings of the panel of engineering experts who investigated in-vestigated the failure. They have since blamed the disaster on faulty design of the dam. Mr. Walker is the son of Jess and Elaine Walker of the Manila area. George Grass, president elect of the Kiwanis Club, conducted the meeting, Harold Jacklin led the singing and Robert Hicks led the pledge to the flag. The opening prayer was given by Merrill Warnick and Vern Little gave the benediction. Guests included Robert and Kayin Secretan who were introduced by Bill Told. |