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Saltville plans memorial to Muck Dam disaster victims

Linda Burchette | Smyth County News & Messenger Dec 23, 2021 Updated Dec 23, 2021

Linda Burchette | Smyth County News & Messenger
Saltville citizens are planning to create a memorial to those who died in the Muck Dam disaster nearly a century ago.

On Christmas Eve 1924, after days of heavy rain, the dam on the North Fork of the Holston River broke, sending tons of water and muck through the community and killing 19 people, including 12 children. The tragedy happened around 10 p.m. after many people had already gone to bed.

Without even a moment’s notice, houses were torn apart and cars swept away by the flood of sticky muck. Those caught in the deluge were carried downstream in their houses, and many were lucky to make a narrow escape from the raging torrent.

Those who died that night included Charles Emory Clear, 5; Opal Jane Pauley, 10; James C. Scott, 72; Christena Walk, 8 months; Lora B. Walk, 7; Lonnie M. Walk, 10; Ida Lee Stout, 24; Mary Louella Stout, 4; Roy Lee Stout, 1; Hazel Jackson, 2; Maxie Jackson, 18; Nannie Jackson, 45; Bessie G. Prater, 10 months; Hiawatha Prater, 25; J.D. Prater, 49; Junior Prater, 1; Leota Prater, 19; Leslie Prater, 3; and Mamie Prater, 36.

There are many stories from that terrible night in Saltville’s history. Those who lived carried it with them, and not a Christmas Eve could go by without them recalling the horrors they endured that night.

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Some information from this article was taken from Pieces of the Past in the Jan. 11, 2019, Bristol Herald Courier written by Robert Sorrell and Dalena Adams.