Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, D.T. [N.D.]) 1878-1884, 1881-04-01
MlSS0uRl'S GRAND BUST
Il BREAKUP THAT WIPES OUT
PREVIOUS RECORDS.

FkEV1OUS AECOA6 10.
Loss Of Life and Stock---Mandan un-
der Water-.-Au the Stocks of
Goods Lost---Navigation
Resumed.
THE GRAND BUST.
Never. in the history of this country,
has there been such peculiar spring
breakup of the Missouri river. AS early
as the fore part of February the rive: be-
gan to break in val lious locations owing to
the warm weather in the valleys Of Mon
tana and the consequent torrents which
flowed into the Missouri. It has threat
.ened to break at Bismarck for nearly
month, but not until Wednesday did the
final smash come. The ice has already
run out between Lincoln and Siblcy
Island, and had broken down as far as
eight miles above where the ice gorged.
Sunday there were evidences Of weak Ice,
but not until Tuesday did it break IN any
considerable quantity. Tuesday night it
broke opposite the warehouse and run
down about half mile, The river had
fallen considerable, but at 9 o'clock Wed
nesday the gorge above the dyke CON-
mcnced to move, and at 10 O'Clock the
river was bank high and the ice was
coming down from above in huge chunks.
The river rose rapidly and at II o'clock
the outer t1atform OF the railroad ware
house was carried away. From the bluffs
overlooking the river
THE SIGHT WAS GRAND.
AS the river rose the ice became more
uneasy and came tumbling down, crowd
ing and crushing everything in its path.
The North Pacific transfer pulled at
her lines and it seemed rs if she must go.
Huge pieces of dirty-faced ice, thirty-si1
lnchcs thick, would rise up and fall down
against the side Of the boat with crash,
but further than a hole IN the captains
room, no damage has been done. The
railroad track to the warehouses disap-
pcared and soon the switch slatfs also
were out of sight. A freight Car on the
track in front of the transfer fell over, and
piece after piece became lodged against 1t
until finally gorge was formed width
of about 200 feet and extending up to the
warehouses. A sand bar in the middle
of the river also formed a partial gorge 50
that there was but little room left for the
ice floe At 10 O'Clock the ice
GORGED IN THE BEND ABOVE LINCOLN,
and now there was no outlet tor the river
except over its banks towards Mandan on
the west side and below Bismarck on the
east side. Faster and thicker came the
ice from above and rapidly the river rose
until it had reached point over 30 feet
above low water mark and 1914 feet in SIX
hours. The inside platform Of the ware
houses broke loose and t1oated against
the bank. AT o'clock large piece of
ice with good backing and Il bad eye
caught the corner Of the railroad ware
house, and as if it was tooth pick, broke
the corner off and carried it away. Other
pieces were crowded up against the build
ing, but the gorge having formed below
up to that point, the total destruction of
the building was averted. The first build
ING to move was the government ware
house, which rose quietly, and tloated
as gracefully as Noah's Ark, about 200
feet down stream and against the bank
on the east side OF the track. This is
lust where the building is wanted and the
river has saved the expense of its removal.
The railroad ice house, being full and
heavy remained stationery, but the Benton
line warehouse tipped and finally tloaled
ashore also. The upper railroad ware
house, although nine feet under water,
was laden with such heavy articles as the
Fort Benton Jail and therefore remained
in It's place.
HELL'S HALF ACRE,
as it is generally called, was almost en-
,ircly out of sight. Patsey McGraw was
standing on the platform Of Mike Nc
Lear's saloon when the water came up to
his boot tops. lie was asked what he
thought of the river and replied that
there had been a damned heavy dew.'
W. A. 1Iollcmbaek had IS cords of wood
on the levce above the brewery, which
tloatcd away and IS now down at the
mouth of Apple creek. The water came
up in the brewery and beer vats and tubs
t1oated around like feathers. Railroad
timbers, ties, ETC., doated away and the
views taken by Haynes of these various
situations will be of intense interest. At
four O'Clock the ice had almost entirely
stopped running, lndicatinga u gorge above
which will probably break loose in day
or two.
MANDAN TAKING A BATH.
While the bluffs on the east bank were
1hrongsd with merry sight seers, gazing
with stcadlast awe at the great sea of Ice
IN every direction, the poor people of
Mandan were struggling for life, which
is dear. 3he gorge below forced the ice