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ANXIETY AS TO THE RESERVOIR

On the Sunday before the flood fears as to the safety of the reservoir were expressed, and attempts were made to work the valves for ejecting the too fast accumulating water, but these were found to be out of order, and would not work, although, during the previous three years, about £1,500 had been spent to remedy the defect. 

At six o’clock on Wednesday evening, the 4^th of February, the water had risen to within eight feet of the top of the embankment; at nine o’clock it was only two feet, and at midnight it had washed over; at first gently, but at the same time it was noticed that a current had made its way under the embankment, in the very bed of the river, the place which had been considered unsafe, and which had received the repairs before spoken of. 

At this time, it was estimated that the quantity of water in the reservoir would not be less than eighty-six millions two hundred and forty thousand gallons, or the enormous and fearful amount of three hundred thousand tons in weight.

The insecurity of the reservoir was thoroughly understood in the valley, and there were those who did not hesitate to say that during some heavy pressure on its embankment the latter would give way.

Still, the cry of “Wolf! Wolf!” had been so often heard that on the night of February 4^th most of the residents had gone to sleep without any dread, whilst others had removed their families, furniture and effects to a place of safety. 

Some who lived all but under the embankment were hardly convinced of the nearness of the catastrophe when it was close at hand, and narrowly escaped the death which befell those who lived a mile or two down the valley. 

Two men from Holmfirth, paid a visit to it in the evening, but on their return they gave no alarm, and retired to rest in their accustomed security. 

Those, however, who had the reservoir in charge, and a few others also, were more alive to their peril and that of their friends and neighbours. 

On the hills at midnight a few scattered figures stood watching in the brilliant moonlight the wind-beaten waters rush over the top of the reservoir, their terror and their concern for the slumbering thousands away down in the valley rapidly increasing.