Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, D.T. [N.D.]) 1878-1884, 1880-04-02
.MISSOURI'S MOTIVES
THEY ARE CLEARLY DEFINED
BY TUESDAYS BREAKUP,
The Steamer Macleod Wrecked and
Transfer Denver Sunk by the
Rush of Ice-.River Notes
Of Importance.
THE BREAK. I

Of Importance.
~ THE BREAK. rgfssseHea @@y
To look at the seething, restless Mis-
souri, at the landing one could scarcely
believe that last Sunday trains were
crossing on Natures bridge, yet, such
was the case. Thursday night it became
evident that crossing was perilous; in
fact, portion Of the west end of the
bridge had sank down out of sight, and
the whole institution looked weak and
dilapidated. Ned Gilboy with a few flat
cars and dozen men went down about =
! O'Clock p. M. to take up the rails, which
task was completed about daybreak. The
next morning their tracks were covered
with the muddy waters of the Missouri.
The grand "bust" took place about 5
O'Clock a. III. This annual occurrence is q
grand sight. The river had already
broken above, and the Yellowstone and
Tongue rivers had been pouring their
torrents into the Big Muddy for nearly
week. 1t became too full for uttcrance,
and the only alternative was the breaking
OF the strings of its winter gown. This
was done with a yengence.
ACRES OF ICE
suddenly upheaved and fell in thousand
pieces. Now the struggle began. Every
piece became conceited.' and thought it
was more hightoned than Its smaller
neighbor. They pitched headlong toward
the gulf at the suggestlon"of an angry
current Now and then a large, dirty
faced chunk would lessen its speed and
show signs of resistance; this was a bad
break. Thousands Of smaller pieces
would leap upon it, like blackbirds upon.
u hawks back. Becoming OverpOwered
with the mountain Of ice, it would give a
sudden lunge and disappear in the foam
ing torrents, only to rise again and behold
itself in myriad pieces. A sigh, a moan,
and sudden crash and the Northern
Pacific bridge spiles were transformed
into toothpicks for the fastidious popu-
lace OF Brule City and st. LOUIS. Cotton
! wood trees two feet III diameter that had
been cut down by the ice occasionally
ioggled along, like ship.masts on an
angry sea. ''.'.
AT TIE LANDING
but little damage was done other than the
wrecking Of the Macleod, which was a.
foregonc conclusion. A large portion of
her cabin and all the lose ornaments
about the boat had been taken off the
ice finished the wreck. Opposite and
northwest of the landing OH the Mandan
side lay the government steamer, Gen.
Sherman, and the transfer, Northern
Pacific. Fears of their safety were
entertained at first, but after the first rush
the danger was over They hugged the
Aiandan bank, to which familiarity may
be attributed their rescue. At Fort
Lincoln, five miles below, the transfer
boat Denver was nesting in the lap OF
Point Pleasant. She struggled hard to
resist the cold-hearted enemy, but it was
no use; like "Frailty' she fell victim;
a 2OO-ton piece of ice struck her and she
vanished. Not /. stick remains to tell
the story, but it is thought probable that
when the rise disappears and the tlusky
western maiden shall have ceased her
filtration that the Denver will be found
a, the bottom of the river, slightly dis
figured but still worth raising. II was
the property OF the Northwestern Stage
Company and Mcssrs. Mclean IL 2.ac-
nider, who lose about $4,000.
RIVER RIFLES.
The steamers that will, compose the
Aiken line this year and transport the
government freight are the Gen. Terry,
Bachelor, Butte, Benton, Helena, Pen
ninah, Nellie PECK, Fontcnncllc. Meade,
and Carrier The Gen. Terry and Batch.
elor will comprise the Yellowstone line.
At Sioux City during the two weeks
past the river has been very low, and
steamboats, have had considerable trouble
with high wind. The Nellie Peck is half
out of water, and the Undine is TAX ing u
trip overland to reach the Missouri.
Capt. Grant Marsh is ON hand, getting
the Bachelor ready for business. lie says
lie has money that says the Bachelor has
made the fastest time ever recorded Oh
the Upper Missouri.
The Butte narrowly escaped being
wrecked. The wrecking OF the Macleod
gave the Ways company chance to haul
her out, otherwise she would have went
| with the ice.
The sinking of the Denver will neces-
state the advent Of another ferry. Her
loss is about $1,000; equally divided
between the Stage Company and Mclean
& Macnider a..|.,-
The river at Stevenson Monday was
sixteen feet above low water mark. A
portion of the post was flooded: Such