Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1899-04-21
ACROSS The WATERS
Northern Pacific Passengers Yesterday
Transferred Across a Mile OF Two
Of Water.
A Total of Over a Hundred Passengers
Make the Trip During the Course
of the Day.
Skifs, Rowboats and Yawls Brought
Into Service to Garry Passen-
gers Across.
From SATURDAYS Daily.l

passengers east and west over the
Northern Pacific were transferred yes
terday afternoon over a stretch of two
miles Of water, to dry land on both
sides of. the overlooked lowlands west
of the bridge, and were then sent on
their way rejoicing or not as they saw
fit. Trains carrying the through pas
sengers were run down to the edge of
the water on each side, and from the
trains taken in yawls, skiffs and row.
boats over the intervening stretch Of
water. 1t was a little over a half
hour pull across the water and many
of the passengers were decidedly nerv-
GUS before the trip was accomplished.
The water was muddy, angry looking,
n IN places there was a decided cur
rent. Its depth varied, but Mt nearly
any place 1t was several feet to the
bottom. Huge yawls were brought
into service, carrying twenty to twen-
ty-five passengers and these made reg
ular trips back and forth over the
waste of water in the lowlands. The
monOtony Of the muddy stream was
varied occasionally with floating trees
and cakes Of ice. While the transfer
was not attended with any particular
danger, the passage across was enough
to disturb the tranquility Of the more
timid, and all of the passengers were
relieved when the last Of them had
been safely landed and boarded the
waiting trains to continue their trips
east and west.
The transfer by boat was the only
means of a continuance of the journey
by the b~lOckaded passengers. The
track west Of the bridge Is impossible.
The high wind of a day or two ago
has cut out the roadbed, twisted the
rails, and was flowing over the track
yesterday afternoon in q swift current.
The trains from this side ran within
a few feet of the submerged track.
where a temporary wharf was impro-
vised, and to this the row boats came
from the other side and discharged
their passengers taking on new cargoes
for transference to the other side.
1t was Il tedious undertaking but in
the course Of the afternoon over Il
hundred passengers were safely trans
ferred. Light baggage, grips and
similar impedimenta were brought
and taken along by the passengers.
Trunks and similar luggage will have
to await the resumption Of traffic. Be-
tween the bridge and Mandan every
thing is a waste Of muddy water as far
as the eye can reach, and it was dotted
yesterday afternoons with rowboats
going to and returning from the other
side. The location of the railroad
track could only be distinguished by
the partially submerged telegraph
poles. The temporary lake was dotted
here and there with clumps of brush,
rising to a little height from the water.
A couple of miles across the water and
hidden from view by intervening TIM
Der, was a train from the west side,
which waited the arrival Of passen-
gers from this. Its location could he
determined only by the smoke which
rose from the engine and foated off
into the air. The day was a variable
one. There We're half a dozen dis.
tinct snow storms, with a little rain
and hail for seasoning.
The transfer was not without its
ludicrOus features. Middle aged and
nervous women sprang from the light
skiffs after the trip across as though
escaping from untold dangers. Grips
and shawl straps were tossed out on
the bank and followed post haste by
their owners, eager to bid farewell tt
the transport fleet. The air was
rended with a hundred questions al
once. as the transferred passengers
sought information as to various
things In connection with their Jour
neys. 1t was a seamy side of rail
reading, but the officials did their bes,
to expedite the transfer, in order thai
there might he as little interr,ntion n,
passenger traffic as possible. The
hrst transfer was completed at about
5 o'clock and the train returned to thu
city after having discharged its cargo
of west bound passengers. Another
train was Immediately sent down and
the passengers sent west.