The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1905-07-13
FOUR WERE DROWNED.
On q Ranch Near NswIin Three Ar
pead--Other Casualties.

Pierre. 8. u. July ii.--News was
brought In this evening or three more
fatalities from the Bad river flood. The
deaths occurred at the Rifenberg ranch.
near Ncwiin. The victims are Perry
Rifenberg. Ed Cook and Fred Trum-
DO. They. with Albert Rifeneerg. We're
In their house. which was ut the june
ton OF Bad river and sauaw creek. and
the rush OF water carried the house
away before they were aware OF the
danger. Albert 1,ifcnberg. 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. 40 miles west OF here.
tells OF the drowning Of Verne Tor
rance I'm the food I'm that stream. The
young mans home was In Chicago.
This In the fourth victim Of the floods
In the western part OF the state.
The waters or Bad river have receded
enough no that the people OF Fort
Pierre are beginning tn take stock.
They find that seventeen houses went
down the Missouri. and that forty-three
are more or less wrecked. while all
which withstood the flood are damaged
from water. the contents soaked and
covered with n black slime which can
never be removed.
Up the valley reports are altering I'm.
all showing wrecked homes ana there
IL scarcely a ranch building standing
on the river valley between Fort Pierre
and Midland. The messenger who
brought I'm the news OF the death OF
Branake at Bovine says that the water
was yet from blum TO blum at that
place when he left and the only way OF
travel was I'm making wide detours TO
get across the streams running Into
Bad river.
The party OF women from Fort
Pierre which was reported missing are
yet out and the only thing new learned
about them In that they did not reach
the ranch they started for. While those
missing may report later. death II
feared for some OF them. So far the
only deaths known TO n certainty are
those OF Joe Branekc At Bovine. Arthur
Austin at Midland. the little Wheeler
boy a short distance from Fort Pierre.
and Perry Rifenbcrg. Fred Trumbo and
Ed Cook near Newlin.
A report comes down Bad river that
John Livingston, n rancher on that
stream. lost 100 head OF horses by
drowning In pasture from which they
could not escape.
TIE people OF Fort Pierre have been
granted authority by Major Chittenden.
OF the government rive- service, To use
the government pontoon boats for a
temporarT bridge across Bad river un-
W wv NSh hsnN bN'"""N"s "''e'sN
mcnts.
Pierre. s. D.. July ia report was
brought In from up Bad river OF the
death BY drowning IN the Hood 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.
All told about a dozen persons have
not yet been located. and the actual loss
OF life cannot be determined for several
days.
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 were caught IN the food 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
hardshlps while camping In the hills.
with little food or protection.
To help shelter the homeless the tents
and blankets belonging To Troop Il of
this city were placed at the disposal OF
the relief committee Mt Fort Pierre. A
benefit enterisAirief.t was given In this
city last night for n relief fund.