The river press., 1881-02-09
THE BREAKUP ON THE MISSOURI
Scenes and Incidents at Benton-A Night
Of Watchfulness and Fear.
LFrom the River Press Extra OF the 4th.]

ft. ShaW and Rock creek indicated that al
the tributaries of the Missouri were over
their banks, and logs, ice and water was pour
ing down, tearing out bridges, and overflow
ing the adjacent lands.
Ine great amount of snow which was
known to have fallen all over Montana, anC
the continuance and exceptional warmth OF
the ''chinook' wind, gave the "old timers
an intimation that we Of Benton would soor
get an accumulation Of water, ice and debris
which might prove disastrous. And stories
were told Of former floods, and ice gorges
that were likely to form Only few of the
knowing ones kept awake, and the town
went to sleep in blissful ignorance of danger
At half past seven the water began to rise,
and at 3 there was a foot running on top OF
the ice. This did not increase yerv much
more for couple of hours, when it was no.
tlced that the whole body of ice was raising,
indicating that the water had got under it.
1t kept on raising till II o'clock, when it had
risen five feet. Suddenly it began to fall
again, indicating there was gorge above,
and then began feeling Of alarm, which
grew more and more intense as the water
kept falling. The alarm spread, and parties
Soon the alarm became panic. For it was
known that just above town, at q point
across the Island to both bluffs where the
stream is narrow, was just the point for the
20 to x},ok
would accumulate as to flood the town when
it broke, were by no means groundless.
BY half past twelve the town was thor
oughlY aroused Women and children were
hurriedly removed to places of safety on the
hill; wagons were removing families, trunks,
valuables and household goods to places Of
safety. Men lined the river bank, and
woman were nervously picking up the odds
and ends about their houses for removal.
Wagons were rumbling about the streets,
and occasionally the sounds Of ice crunching
and cracking, often with noise equal to
piece of artillery men were yelling and
shouting, and all making a din like a new
pandemonium McDevitt hastily rode up to
the Island to examine the condition Of the
river at the point where the ice gorge was ex-
pected to form, and also to see what assis-
tance could be rendered to the sole inhabi-
tants of the island, Mr.. Roosevelt and wife
But Mr.. r. seemed to feel no particular
cause for alarm, and McDevitt came back to
report that gorge was forming at the lower
point Of the island.
this time the town was thoroughly
alive, and congregation Of anxious specta-
tors lined the banks Of the river, while in the
channel was heaving groaning mass of ice,
as yet unbroken, but giving every indication
Of momentary disruption the water now
rapidly rose till the banks were full to the
very brim, and the river had reached that
point where more rise would certainly over
flow, and cause damage difficult to be ap-
preciated. Suddenly there was heaving
and cracking and groaning, and with
mighty rise of ice, which threw masses over
on the top Of the levee, it broke into frag~
ments, and slowly began to move.
By half past two o'clock the ice had par
TALLY ceased coming, and the water was fall
ing rapidly again, indicating another gorge
had formed somewhere up stream. But the
danger that had been apprehended had evil
dently passed, and those with good nerves
stated for their beds.
All this time the women and children, who
had been deposited in various houses on the
hills, were agitated with all the fears which
such an occasion was certain to arouse.
Mr. Brinkman's residence was filled to its ca
aacity, and not even standing room could be
obtained. Considering The nervous nature of
he occasion, and the fact that the occupants
lad been routed out Of bed at midnight and
carried, many Of them half dressed, to point
,f safety for their lives, there was not much
loise of the hysteric order, but generally a
anxiety to know the worst. The
mass of babies, children, Wo-
nen, trunks, bundles and trinkets, seems RI
liculous enough on the day after the battle,
)ut seemed full of portent at the hour of dan
,er.
At 5 o'clock the water was again up to the
op of the bank, and the quantity of ice COM
ng was positively enormous, and it was q
rand sight TO witness the irresistible power
displayed by the mighty current, and the
rushing and groaning Of its icy burden,
which was tearing down at eight miles per
our. This installment of ice was evidently
rom above the falls, for though it had been
cry thick and heavy, it showed evidence
f terrible pounding and grinding. Drift
7ood accompanied the mass, though not in
he great quantity that might have been ex-