The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-06-16
RESTLESS WALLS OF WATER
Rush Down Valley and Canyon Creeks Carving
Everything Before Then1-Bridqes and
Houses are Swept Away.

selves losers after the storm had sub
sided.
Without doing much more damage
the wild rush of waters continued
until it reached the large fiume of the
Big Ditch company, which crosses Val
ley creek where it enters the lowlands.
This structure was $50 feet long, 25
5 feet in width and six feet deep.
So strong was it built that it with
stood the first attack, but when the
second came it yielded and was swept
out of existence, every stick of tim
Der and piece of board it contained
being washed away. The loss to the
ditch company will be close to- $4,000.
Down in what may be termed as
the Yellowstone valley proper the
havoc wrought was but little less
complete. While no houses or other
buildings are known to have been
demolished, the recedlng waters left
a number Of ranches covered with
debris of all kinds. Logs, dead ami
mails, sand and soil covered many to
depth of several feet, destroying
all hopes of a crop this season.
Along Other Creeks.
East of Valley creek is Red and
Kings gulch. A considerable amount
of water came down this and did
some damage. The flood struck the
fill OF the Big Ditch company at
this point, but beyond wasnlng out
portions of the upper banks OF the
ditch injured the company none.
Steers ranch is situated at this point
But little damage was aone to it, the
principal loss entailed being apparent
ly the destruction OF lot OF chickens
that were drowned
The flow of water in Canyon creek,
while great, did not equal that in Val
ley creek. Examination yesterday
morning revealed the flume of the
Big Ditch company to be intact and
apparently none the worse for the
siege of water it withstood
In this section an immense quantity !
OF hail fell, covering the ground in
places to a depth OF a foot Persons |
passing along there yesterday MORN
ing saw ample proof OF the tales OF
the storm told by the ranchers there
about, as some of the hail still was |
who witnessed the storm the name
''hail'' was misnomer. Chunks OF
ice larger than mans fist fell and
pounded the alfalfa and growing grain
into the ground. Fortunately the
worst of the storm was confined to
a comparatively small zone, as not all
suffered to the same extent. Several
farmers were seen yesterday who said
that the benefit accruing from the
rain about compensated them for the
damage done by the hail and they
.ook cheerful view of the situation.
Reports received indicate that the
eastern edge of the storm, was within
about seven or eight miles of the city.
At that distance great quantities of
,ain, but very little hail fell and little,
t any damage was done there.
Bridges Carried Away.
Two of the county's bridges across
Canyon creek were washed out. One,
Known as the upper" bridge, was re-
paired yesterday SO as to be capable
If use. The other is said to have
oeen totally demolished and will have
% be replaced with new one
The Northern Pacific bridge across
xeyser creek was carried out. The
me across Valley creek was partially
destroyed, the flood and accumulated
lebris having swept away the piling
hat supported the structure near the
center. On either side the approaches
we're badly washed and Sunday night
:ars loaded with cinders were dis
PATCHED from town to fill in. A pile
lriver arrived from the east yester-