Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1878-07-24
THE CLOUD BURST At RAPID.
4 Destructive Deiuse sweeps Down the
Valley-ScriOus Destruction OF Property
by Hail, Water and Wind.
Rapid City Journal, 1911

Rapid City Journal, 18Th.
This region was visited by a"o'ler cloud
burst or water-srout Oh Tuesday nlght,-tor
such only can we call the tlooa-pienomcnon
that in the shorl space of one hour spread n
vast sheet Of water over Rapid valley, swell
ing the river clear beyond its BANKS, and
coursing into it's thousands OF tributary
dreams from adjoining hills and plateaus.
The day had been warm, and toward eve.
ming the clouds gathered in the west por-
tending rain. A, s o'clock the wind was
rising. and people sought shelter, but not
until half past nine did the storm break in
its fury. Then it came all at once. The
wind blew a gale from the west northwest,
and the lightning flashed in intermittent
flames, that left the scene alternately light
and dark. We were in the very midst of
the clouds, and the electricity was playing
all about us. The rain came through every
crack and %crevice, and blew in under doors
and windows, but those inside did not real
ize how the water poured down, for the
clouds hung SO low that they emptied ont
their flood with but a mufiled sound,
unheard amid the roar Of the wind
and the louder roar of the thunder. 1t was a
wild time. The air grew cooler and hail
fell-great icy stones, some places large as
marbles, or as one narrator said, large as pull
let's eggs. And all the while the gale blew,
rocking trail tcnemenls on their base, and
the lightning played through The darkness,
showing the floods that were gathering
from the hill sides and pouring down the
streets. Houses in Rapid were flooded, aud
in many water stood u foot deep on the
floor. Owners Of chickens and pigs hur.
ried out, wading knee-deep in water TO visit
ooo.> ooS II, y, o,,J EnI fbnir wn,)tI, oP ttc
morning a thing of the past. Pieces OF
loose timber, boards, wood piles tloatcd
past and struck them on their return. a.id
luckily were they to get back without stumb
ling hcadlopg into the merciless flood. Al
10 rs O'Clock the storm was at its height
and wind and rain. lightning and thunder
and hail combined in one grand elemental,
war. A little heavier storm and would the
timbers stand against the gale? An hours
longer burst of rain and would the valley
Furnishing village be left? But the enc
came-suddenly, quietly, serenely. At 10
80 the wind fell. is voice flushed like tn
cries Of a fierce beast that has tired itsel
with its own rage; the clouds, emptied o
their moisture, lifted and dristed apart tn,
great pyrotcchnic display came to an end al
. at once like fireworks on the night Of tn
fourth; Il star came out, another an
another, till the whole western sky was ligh
again, and the heavens wore a complacen
smile Of quiet summer nigh. The al
was cool as we looked fourth upon the scene
A wild rush of water greeted us on ever
! hand. Down Main street swept a torren
and:from all directions poured great stream
in envious rivalry hurrying to the rive
whose roaring reached our ears like the liz
gering echo Of the storm that had just die
away. But the worst had past: these stream
will run themselves dry let us wait till I'll
y morn, and then count the cost.
Morning came. The water in the stree
had run down to a little s,reamle
and ere noon ceased to flow; the river tn,
had risen nearly ten feet IN an hour vi
back again in its banks but still wild ar
muddy. News Of the damage began
come in. Cabins from no the gulch hs
been noated away-Cart LeGro amo
others losing his; Leedy at his saw M
lost his saw carriage and carriage bed al
a quantity Of lumber, suffering damage
the amount Of 5000; water rose to a dep
Of twelve feet in the mouth o: South ca
yor, carrying vast quantities Of logs. ,rc
and wood to the valley ne,t Iii. mill;
course the bridge oyer the Ripid WAS 'nse
. this being the fourth loss this spring; s.
dens had beep flooded, Mad,son's poss
patch was washed away; 'rrigh, on,i