The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1881-04-06
GENERAL TELEGRAMS.
FLOODED.
A Tale of Two Cities which Are Dciuged
With Water.

A Tale OF Two Cities which Are Deluged
With Water.
PIERRE, OAK, March 20.-Unusua winter
weather has resulted in terrible floods In this re-
gion as the snow melts- Winter beginning 50
early and suddesly, caught several steamers on
mid-stream between Yankton and Benton which
has been frozen in all winter their loads being
taken of by team. The Indians and old settlers
predicted terrible floods in the spring, but the
Yellowstone rise came and went with no damage,
and then 'the Tongue River breaking, which
drowned a few Indians and ponies, but made no
impression upon the Missouri However, on
March 20 the Missouri beganfto rise, and,people in
Fort Pierre looked to the time when they must
move from the bottom lands quickly. but on this
came higher and higher, bearing ice three feet
thick. The weather for q few DAYS
%P 5eSei61ns she snow was .Di Esry warm
seeming to have no effect upon the ice. During
the 10Th the fresh. warm wind from the southwest
the gale freshened at night. About midnight the
Ice broke up and began 70 run out. On the morn
Ing OF the 18th the river presented grand specta
Gle OF power and terror as IL rolled along bringing
enormous blocks of ice There came suddenly
perceptible check to the m tion. and simulta-
as much as four feet in ten minutes. This caused
sudden stampede from the lower portion of
Fort Pierre, for. with a sudden jerk the level ef
Then there was rushing to and from, with loud
calls for help. Teams were in great demand,
household goods were hastily thrown into pass
ing vehicles. and all the town in motion.
Toward the bluff the water was soon three feet
deep. Boats took the place of teams,
and by o'clock the water was
ice which had remained stationary in the channel
gOrged against an island just below. One could
see icy walls steadily gaining the height at the
upper point of the island, and steadily the
surface OF the river rising, inch Dy inch, and then
II gained continually. From second-stOry OF
windows could even see houses in Fort Pierre
being hustled about, crushed or turned over and
kinds of camps upon the Clay Hills while their
property and comfortable homes were being de-
stroyed. Before shutdown all had come to some
order, anc the water reached a depth of two and
half feet on the floors. AS darkness came on
the fear on all sides was augmented. At about
= p. m. a sudden gust sent great thick ice chunks
over the banks above, and they came tearing
down among the buildings like great sledge ham
house there would be crash and
roar which led many TO believe the town was be-
ing torn in pieces Many who had the temerity
to remain in the second stories over night began
to ring bells, fire guns and with loud calls attract
attention and seek help TO gain the friendly bluffs
Soon after this the water began TO fall and at the
song of gladness for the gorge had broken. The
waters rapidly receded and at this time the river
stands just below the lower front door stills.
IN Pierre some houses had been moved from
their foundations, and lumber piles fOated off
Loss about s5OO0e. Fort Pierre's loss is undoubt-
eddy much greater IL being the lower and the ice
having pushed up over the banks and into the
visible. From here out all communication is cut