The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1905-07-14
FOUR WE'RE DROWNED.
On Ranch Near Newlin Three Are
pead-Qther caaualtias.

FleTTe, >. u, july l1.--NeWB was
brought in this evening of thgee more
deaths occurred at the Rifenberg ranch.
near Newlin. The victims are Perry
Rtfenberg, Ed Cook and Fred Trum-
bo They, with Albert Rifenberg, were
in their house, which was at the juno
ton of Bad river and Squaw creek, and
the rush Of water carried the house
away before they were aware OF the
danger. Albert Rifenberg, the other
occupant of the building, saved his life
by breaking his way through the roof.
News from Pedro, at the forks of the
Cheyenne river, 12O miles west OF here.
tells OF the drowning OF Verne Tor
rance In the flood in that stream. The
This is the fourth victim of the floods
in the western part Of the state.
The waters of Bad river have receded
enough so that the people of Fort
Pierre are beginning to take stock.
They find that seventeen houses went
down the Missouri. and that forty-three
are more or less wrecked, while oil
which withstood the flood are damaged
from water, the contents soaked and
covered with a black slime which can
never be removed.
Up the valley reports are filtering in,
all showing wrecked homes and there
is scarcely a ranch building standing
and Midland. The messenger who
brought in the news of the death OF
Branake at Bovine says that the water
was yet from bluff to bluff at that
place when he left and the only way Of
travel was. in making wide detours to
get across the streams running into
Bad river. S
The party of women from Fort
Pierre which was reported missing are
yet out and the only thing new learned
about them is that they did not reach
the ranch they started for. While those
missing may report later, death is
feared for some of them. So far the
only deaths known to certainty are
those of joe Braneke at Bovine, Arthur
Austin at Midland, the little Wheeler
boy short distance from Fort Pierre,
and Perry Rifenberg, Fred Trumbo and
Ed Cook near Newlin. 4
A report comes down Bad river that
John Livingston, a rancher on that
stream, lost 100 head of horses by
drowning in pasture from which they
could not escape.
The people Of Fort Pierre have been
granted authority by Major Chittenden,
of the government river service, to use
the government pontoon boats for a
temporary bridge across Bad river un-
TIL they can make permanent arrange
ments.
Pierre, S. D., July 11.--A report was
brought in from up Bad river of the
death by drowning In the food of Joe
Braneke, who was carried away while.
trying to save some horses. He came
from southern Hand county and his
relatives have been notified. At the
time the messenger left the body had
not BEEN recovered.
Allatold about. dozen persons have
not yet been located, and the actual loss
of life cannot be determined for several
days. VS.
A party consisting OF Mrs. Douglass
Lowe and Misses Georgia Hague and
Edna Lowe, who started to drive up the
Bad river valley on Sunday, have not.
been located and fears are felt that
they We're caught IN the flood and
lost
Reports from the Cheyenne river
country show dangerously high water
about Leslie and some property losses.
Refugees from all along the Bad
river, whose property was lost in the
flood, are getting into Fort Pierre and
all relate stories of narrow escapes and
hardships While camping in the hills,
with little food or protection.
To help shelter the homeless the tents
and blankets belonging to Troop B of
this city were placed at the disposal OF
the relief committee at Fort Pierre. A
benefit entertainment was given In this
city last night for a relief fund.