The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1877-06-27
TIE uHva.wArEa c1ouo.sussT.
Graphic Description Of the DeIuDe Of tune
18Th, at hunion's ~Ranch-Narrow
Escape Of Men and Beasts.

Stage passengers who witnessed the
fearful storm and deluge of rain and
hail in the valley of the Chugwater,
near Hunton's ranch, on the afternoon
of June 18th, have reached Deadwood
and given the Pioneer particulars of
their startling experience, from which
we CLEAN the following interesting de-
scription: 1.-THE morning had been
clear and pleasantly warm, but at about
noon a cold and cutting northeast wind
sprang up, accompanied in 4 few min
utes by scattering drops of rain. An
hour after, the wind had dashed itself
into a perfect cyclone anu carried with
it a deluge of hail, the size of which
compared favorably with large marbles
and small hens eggs. An hour after
this and the gale had worn itself out,
but only to be almost instantly followed
by the o of coming waters from the
small range of mountains to the west.
Mr.. Hunton's family and the stage
station keeper, about a quarter of a
mile from the creek crossing, as well as
a detachment of the Sd cavalry and
government freighters, encamped a
short distance from its banks, say that
the ominous sound had scarcely reached
them before a gigantic wave fully seven
feet high came rushing down the creek,
carrying with it Il flood of drift and
mud. So sudden did it come that the
soldiers camp was flooded to the wagon
beds before all the saddles and loose
harness could be gathered up, and the
boys in blue clambered into the heavy
wagons for personal safety, while a con-
siderable portion of the camp equipage
was borne away with the food. A
strip Of country for a half mile in width
was a sheet of rushing waters, while
the dry creek beds on which no water
had flowed for six years, suddenly be-
came seething rivers fifteen feet deep
in places. Both bridges across the
Chugwater were swept away, and the
banks were plowed with deep gullies at
numerous. points. The inland ''tidal
wave" had spent its fury at a little
after / O'Clock, and the waters began to
subside. After experiencing much diff
ticulty in fording the heretofore dry
gulches just beyond the Chugwater, the
up-stage reached the station at 1:3O a.
Tuesday, and was obliged to re-
main until 2 O'Clock the next afternoon,
waiting for the Chugwater to become
fordable. At daylight of Tuesday the
flood had receded within the natural
banks of the creek, leaving a field, acres
in extent, of Maidstone drifts, varying
in depth from two to five feet, and suf-
6ciently covered with debris to preserve
their natural shape and size. Our in
formant says that no m not an eye
witness would scarcely believe in the
extent and almost wonderful formation
of these hailstone deposits, as an accu-
rate description would richly ave of
the marvellous. The coach from Dead
wood in crossing the upper ford of the
Chugwater, at IL a. M, Tuesday, with
five passengers, floated like a raft, while
the horses were obliged to swim. OF
course, passengers and baggage were
thoroughly soaked. The mail carrier
to Laramie, in u sulky, forded at l p.
M, and narrowly escaped drowning,
being carried 100 yards down the stream
before landing. At 2 O'Clock the creek
had lowered sufficiently to allow the
Deadwood bound coach to cross in
safety although the ford was not ac-
complished without soaking the coach
floor. Altogether the cloudburst must
have been second to none in extent and
fury that has occurred in this region
since its settlement"