Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, D.T. [N.D.]) 1878-1884, 1881-04-01

bluffs with their lives. All communica-
tions, either by boat or wire being cut
off, the field glass was resorted to. Men
could be seen carrying the women and
children to the hills, and others were
carrying goods to places of safety
Pieces of ice three feet thick roamed
about among the buildings, demolishlng
smaller ones and giving larger ones to
understand that it the water rose much
more they would take them also. At the
east end of town, where d. r. Taylor's
residence stands, the water reached the
second pane in the first story window, and
Helmsw orth's house was almost entirely
out of sight. Men could be seen taking
glass fixtures, boxes ETC., out OF Gill's sa-
loon, and dry goods men and groceries
seemed to be busy in putting their goods
on the upper shelves as they had little
time to carry them to the bluffs. A few
houses on the side of the bluffs were out
of wat er ald it is possible that the
women and children found sufficient
shelter Wednesday night was gloomy
one for the people of that enterprlsing
and hopeful town. TO be turned out up
the hills
WITHOUT HELTER,
a strong wind blowing from the north
and the thermometer five degrees below
zero, is not pleasant to think of, yet such
was the inevitable fate of Mandan. Not
knowing but that the river would rise
still more during the night the people
would not dare to seek the second story
of their buildings for shelter. 1t is not a
safe position to be in among such pieces
of ice in an angry river in the day time,
and at nj ght the danger is more than two
fold. The hills north of town are covered
with household effects, and tie time when
it shall be safe to cross til: river is
anxiously looked for by the many friends
of the unfortunate people on this side OF
the Missouri. Several attemps were made
yesterday to get across, but the huge
mountains of ice on the other bank were
too obstinate and treacherous. All day
yesterday people were seen passing from
one house to another with boats, proba-
bly, in search of blankets, provisions, etc.,
for the comfogts of the women and chill
dren ON the bluffs. There is probably no
loss of life unless by accident.
GREENS BOTTOM FLOODED.
The river bottom south Of Bismarck
and extending to the bluff upon which
the city is located, known as Green's bot
tom, overhows every spring, but never IN
the memory Of the Oldest ;nhabitant did
it overflow to such a depth as now. The
ice having gorged in the bend above Lin
coin, the channel and main body of the
river was diverted towards Bismarck,
where the larger portion Of the ice
wended its way to the mouth OF Apple
Creek and on down through the bottom
lands among the heavy timber to the riv.
er below. From the foot of Third street
and all other streets running north and
south, nothing but a sea Of ice could be
seen The few houses which had been
built on the bottom, below the city, were
torn to pieces and some of them tloated
away intact. Robdou's buildings were
frozen to the ground and the stove pipes
was all that could be seen Of them. Hack
ett's house had a hard battle but is still
on It's foundation. The front and half Of
each side is gone bu. the roof Is still in
good shape, projecting out over the water.
VIM Gleason and family were living III a
small house at the foot Of First street.
They were caught suddenly, not knowing
anything about the rise until the water
came III upon the floor. They hastened
to the bluff, one hundred feet distant,
which point they gained none to soon
Efforts were made to get some of the
household oods out, but
EVERYTHING WAS LOST.
The water rose rapidly au;t in two
hours had reached the roof, height of
nine feet. A man named Kleinschmidt
working for Maj. Kirk, lived III anew
house near by. He, also, lost everything
and the house foateG away, but is now
lodged about four miles southeast Of the
city. In the house was u trunk {. ntain-
ing $40O in money and check for $500.
Ills loss will be considerable ulless the
trunk can be found. The Pennell shacks
are no more, and the old Green shanty has
gone where the woodbine twineth. There
were several hay stacks on the bottom and
some of them still remain. There is NO
danger of dust in that hay now.
MAYOR PEOPLES PLUCK.
Mayor George Peoples, with crew of
four men, took yawl yesterday morning
and started in search OF those known to
have been caught by the flood in the tim
Der on the river bottom. The party ar
rived as far as the outskirts of the timber
in boat, but in he woods the ice was
packed solid and it was impossible to get