The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1881-04-14
THE RISING RIVER.
A Grand Spectacle Of the Power and Terro,
of the Gorged Missouri, NJ Fort Pierre,
Dakota.

ST. PAUL, MINI. March 3O.-A graphic description
of the flood at Pierre is given in a special to the
Pioneer Press. On the morning of the eth, the riv
presented grand spectacle of power and terror,
il reclrd along bringing upon its troubled bosom
enosmous blocks Of ice, some living fiat, and others
on edge in the stream, and all groanns and crunch
ing and roaring as the ice-king ground TO pow
der, in the mighty teeth of iron About 7:3D that
morning, many were standing on the bank of the
river looking at the monster struggling along there
came suddenly a perccptible check to the motion,
and simultaneously to that, a sudden rise of the
ter, amounting To much four feet in ten min
utes. This caused a sudden stampede from the low
portion. from this side of the river. The luckess
inhabitants of that town to be hastily
climbing the hills which border the bottoms that
side. Many here laughed at their discontinue, and
only one man took heed of the warning and at
took down his stock, and removed it with his effects
to the adjacent bluff. How they did laugh at his
haste; hut panic seized upon Pierre, for, with
a Sudden jerk. the level Of the river up the
level of the streets. Then There wild rushing
and fro with loud calls for help Teams were in
demand; household goods were hastily thrown into
passing vehicles, and all the town in
ton toward the bluffs. Many q seen on foot,
with bundles their backs, aud at the heels of ali
rolled thin line of dirty which showed quite
great aptitude for finding low places, which il sud
denly filed, and on il toward the bluffs. Ii
came up to and passed many, making their hurried
retreat, but soon came "A surge, and il left water
three feet deep where before only few inches had
shown itself. Boats took the place of trains. Those
who at hTst were cool and were not going to leave
took fright and they rushed into water two three
feet deep, and with boats heavily laden oate, along
on the muddy flood for the bluff. BY 3, p. M, the
water was up to the floors of almost all the houses
in the town. From the first check of the motion Of
the icy torrent, at o'clock in the morning. up
this time the ice had remained stationary, in the
channel, slightly gOrged against the island just
below could the i''y walls steadily gaining
height at the upper point Of the island, and stead
lily could the surface of the river rising inch by
inch, and then il gained upon continually. From
the sccond-~tGry window could be viewed the houses
in Fort Pierre being hustled about crushed
turned over and also the people putting up tents,
while their property AMI comfortable homes
being destroyed in the great death struggle between
the two titanic powers which lay between us On
side il hurry and hustle, and shelters
being provided of every conceivable form. One de
mention. IL was perched upon the top Of the
highest hill, and consisted of a sheet-iron camp
stove, with the joints of pipe, camp s;oc a man
and pistol Before sundOwn, all had come To some
order, and the water had reached depth of two
and IA half feet floors. As the darkness came
the fear all sides was augmented. At about
nine. p IN, sudden gush sent the great thick ice
chunks the banks above us, and they came roll
ing down among the buildings like great sicdge-
hammers, and vhen one wouid strike "a house there
would be a crash and a roar. which led one To he
leve that the town was being torn TO pieces. Many
who had the emerity TO remain in the second stories
over night began to ring bells and fire guns. and
with loud calls attract attention and seek help TO
gain the friendly bluffs. Soon after this, the waters
began fall. and for time the river set up
which u song of gladness to us all, for We
knew the gorge had broken. From this time, the
waters rapidly recelc,l, aid at this time the river
stands just between the lower front door ss. When
daylight came, found but comparatively little
damage done Four five shocks, and three or
four one-story houses were removed from their foun
dations woOdpiles hoated off, and timber and lunI-
Der were gone, but far heard from, there was
serious loss, and hut few goods damaged but the
contrary is the with Fort Pierre. Over the ball
of ice which has pushed beyond the bank and into
that town like glacier can see the ruined hous
and signs of great havoc As to casualties there
with Us, but cannot say for the other
town. The danger is now past though the river is
still full of ice.