Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1894-09-14

distant storm, but quick, short, deafen-
ing crashes which we're indicative of an
excessive electrical disturbance.
And then the deluge. The heavens
opened in very truth, and for an hour
the rain descended in sheets and tor
rents, as though the very reservoirs of
nature had been inverted upon us, in
quick succession. The sewers and drain
age bitches were full to overlooking,
almost ere the storms beginning, and
the waters rushed out of their narrow
confines, through the streets, over the
sidewalks, creating havoc in it's unre-
strained flowing. Chief of Police Nc
Gillis and the TRIBUNE man made. a
tour of as much of the flooded dis
trict as was accessible, at just about
midnight. At Fourth street, the
Main street crossing was covered to
a depth of several inches, but the
heaviest Of the flow was yet to come.
Fifth street was in better shape, and
comparatively dry. but at Sixth street,
there was a bleak prospect. A solid
two feet of water poured over the cross
ing, looking all the more desolate as re.
vealed by occasional flashes of lightning,
which had become less brilliant. Up the
street, another flash revealed floating
sidewalks, torn asunder by the river
which rushed down the incline from
Thayer and Broadway. Wading knee
deep across the street, another desolate
sight was to be seen, and the water
rushed in torrents over the sidewalks
and into the basement of the Lamborn,
with d "swish' and a o The walk
at the Atheneum was covered, and cord
wood was floating about in such pro-
fusion as to c~onjure up visions of John
stown, and make pre- gress exceeding
difficult.
But it was not until about an hour
later that the greater rush Of water
come, and it followed it's old and favor
path down Fourth street. It increased
in volume as it made it's way down the
street, until it reached up over the walks,
and began to creep under the doorways
into buildings and stores, and those Of
the occupants who we're able to be noti-
fled began to look for higher ground.
Chief McGillis hunted up as many of the
property owners as he was able, and the
fire bell was tolled, to bring out the rest.
The damage was done too quickly to be
avoided, and the majority of the build
ings which were on lower ground boasted
from six inches to a foot of water.
Dolan's barber shop, under the First
National bank, began to give promise of
flooding, andt the owner made an attempt
to get in and move out as many of the
fixtures as possible. just as he opened
the door, however, the area walls of the
block. both or the street side and in the
alley, gave way, and the water rushed in
in torrents. Barber chairs we're smashed
into splinters, chairs broken, mirrors
cracked, and the shop was full to the
roof in a moment. Nothing was saved
but two mirrors, and this morning the
shop was full to the roof, and pieces Of
furniture, broken chairs and other debris
were floating about IN twelve feet of
water.
The same rush of water filled up the
cellar beneath Lucas & Beardsley's drug
store, and buried what goods we're stored
there in the sam depth of mud and
water. A good share of the goods were
gotten out this morning, not much dam
aged, but a stock of dry paints, alabas-
tine and other perishable articles will be
a total loss.
H. L. Nicholson reports a good sized
damage on goods which were stored
on the floor. Half a dozen chests of tea
were soaked pretty badly, and the value
of goods damaged will be about 300.
S. A. Peterson is another to lose tea,
dried fruit, coffee, -four, and about $500
worth of stock was more or less dam
| aged.
Thos. O'Shaughenessy's place caught
about six inches of water, and about
500 worth of damage was done. The
basement of the Merchants block is full,
but luckily nc goods we're stored there.
John Dolan's barber shop is a total
wreck, about everything being so far
destroyed to be almost useless. His loss
will be about $500.
The area walls of the First National
bank block were in part destroyed, and
! Mr.. Fisher calculates that it will take
about $500 to~replace them.
Louis Larson had part of a stock Of
boots and shoes on the hoor-about $500
worth.
H.. P. Bogue lost some tobacco, cigars,
ETC., but only about S25 worth.
Ed. Sloan got in a new stock of wrap
ping paper yesterday-about $50 worth
which was ruined, along with some
goods, which will stand him in altogether,
500 to $3.50.