Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1905-07-06
ON RAMPAGE.
Missouri and Bad Rivers Are
on the Biggest Flood in
Many Years.
Fort Pierre Nearly All Awash
and the Damage to Prop
erty Immense.

Fort Pierre lies PROSTATE at natures
feet All the residence section south OF
Bad river slumbers in desolate ruins.
The thriving, prosperous little city is
torn and wrecked by mighty onslaughts
of the waring elements. The handi-
work of NAV is laid waste by the fury
of the waters. such, in brief, is the
scene at Fort Pierre today.
For more than two months rain has
fallen, mores or less almost daily, over
the vast region west of the Missouri
river, until mother earth has become
saturated with water The past week
has been exceptionally stormy, the pre-
cipitation breaking all records.
That part of the country lying west
of Fort Pierre, between the Missouri
river and the Black Hills, is drained for
the most part by the Teton, Seecha, or
Bad river and its twenty three tribu
taries.
Bad river flows in a northeast direc
ton through broken country and
empties into the Missouri at Fort Pierre,
dividing the business section from the
resident-the business section being on
the north aud higher bank, while the
homes dotted the beautiful valley on
the south In the immediate back
ground from the Missouri are thu high
gombo hills through which Bad river
wends it's course. 1t is at this point
during high water that the stream be-
comes congested and threatening at
times.
The heavy downpour of rain all of
last Sunday and Sunday night and the
cloud burst, to the west, of early Mon
day morning caused sudden rise of
Bad river and its tributaries. The on
coming waters, gathering quantity and
force inatheif mad rush for freedom,
came upon Fort Pierre about 6 o'clock
Monday. morning. The river was al
readystaxed in it's confined capacity to
carry the waters of previous rains. The
torrent came rolling, boiling through
the defiles of the hills so rapid and in
such volume that the entire valley was
inundated in the twinkle Of an eye.
Out of doors people scarcely had time
to,giyssAps alarm, secure their families
aud escape in safety. Some were caught
atths breakfast table and before they
could escape or be rescued the water
was pouring into and through their
homes. Others less fortunate were i'm
prisoned on house tops and in trees in
sesthing waters and had to be rescued
Dysboat and raft.
Ahe water rose higher and higher un,
/ tit.the entire home city was submerged
Small houses began to totter and sway
then leave their foundations and float
away on the heaving bosom of the
flood. Still higher and higher the water
rose until the larger and more substan
tial homes were released and carried
away with their contents. 1t was 6
scene that made tn strong heart ache
to witness the savings of life time
the only home, with all it's treasured
contents 60 floating out into the Mis-
souri, river-lost forever.
All day Monday the destruction con
tinued. Night came and darkness con
tributed to the terror of the horrifie'
people. The water rose until Mali
street was flooded and the cellars Q
the business blocks filled. Suddenly a
about 1890 o'clock the height Of tn
flood was reached. Down the vale
over the already ruined district&cam
Almighty wave, roaring, crashing on 1t
way. The big $4,000 steel bridge whic
spanned the river, and which had u
to this time withstood the test, whe
struck by a floating house, san
into the turbulent stream and sweI
into the Missouri, where at the daW
of day the broken timbers and twiste
irons came into view as the waters n
coded.
The flood subsidized rapidly Tuesda
and by late afternoon some OF the home
on the north side could be entered an
the work of clearing up the wreckae
began.
Representatives of the Free Pre-
viewed the awful destruction at warrior
times and from different points. Pc
haps the best view of the district la
waste was from the high hills on Il
southwest. From this elevation OIL
could look down on the valley and b
hold the almost marvellous work Of Il
seemingly maddened torrent. Have
lay on all side. Trees uprooted an
twisted into the vegetable mass. Hous
wrenched and broken lodged on son
elevated knoll, or collided with firm
structure, both in ruins.
HOMES LOST.
The following persons have lost the
homes, together with most of The fl
nishings and contents thereof: M.
Kennedy, county auditor; A. Gund'
81 son, Martin Weed, VIII Hayes, M
jackson, Archie Snyder, Wallace sr
der. r. b. Davis. Peter Werle, Jam