The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-06-05
COMPLETELY DEMO oRALIzE n "
TRAFFIC ON ALL MONTANA
RAILROAD SYSTEMS.
RECORD RAINFALL
fIl Trains On Northern Pacific, ore.
son Short Line and Great Northern
Railroads in Western Montan. Ars II
staIled-Rivers Highest liz History
Of state Great Damage to Rcad.. 81
Especial TO The Gazette.)

Especial 10 The cazette.)
Helena, June With the greatest
rainfall in % years Montana tonight
is experiencing the most complete de.
moralization Of railroad trafic since
the first train crossed over the Rocky
mountains in this state.
Thousands Of passengers are ma
rooned, railroad tracks are washed
out in every direction. landslides are
reported on the Great Northern near
Kalispell and the rivers are rapidly
rising. This Is the story briefly
summed up. The property damage to
railroads will run into the thousands
and many Of the big mountain tres
ties are endangered. There Is, as
yet, no prospect Of a letup In the
Tonight's precipitation IS
estimated at more than two inches.
It is believed that at least six or
seven persons have lost their lives
as result d the high waters.
TIE known dead:
GENTRY BAKER, aged 25, Of Cas-.
cade county.
MRS. GENTRY BAKER, his wife.
------- MORRIssEY, q Silver Bow
county rancher. N A I'M.
Unknown Beaverhead county rancher.
Helena Streets Flooded.
Tonight the streets Of Helena are
a stream Of water and on every side
Of the city railroad tracks are washed
out. It Is doubtful when trains win
be running again. Reports received
last night at the Western Union tele-
grapa ONCE state that the Great
Northern tracks are out at Wolf
Creek, about 80 miles from here, and
three inches OF water are over the
tracks. No trains will be able to pass
tonight and the railroad oficials stat
ed that they did not know when It
would be possible to get trains
through again.
Tonight landslide was reported
at Whitefsh, in the northern part Of
the state, which ts holding back two
North Pacific trains which left
here early today over tho Great North
ern. Nine Northern Pacific trains
which were held up IN the eastern
part Of the state since last Sunday ar
rived today and left over the Great
Northern tracks. These trains are
now stalled at Great Falls, Havre and
other points IN the northern part q
the state. On the east the Great
Northern tracks are washed ont near
Basin and both the morning and
evening trains from Butte are held
up there. S8s sssS;
May Hold Trains II Eastern Montana.
No reports have been received to-
night on the situation Of the Northern
Pacific east Of here. Il II probable.
however. that trains will be stopped
there. as the repairs made yesterday
were only temporary. Those who
came In from the east stated that the
repairs would not hold II any great
amount Of water should come down.
West Of Garrison the tracks were
washed out several days ago and no
trains have been able to get through
for q week. This cuts of all means
Of transportation to the coast. since
the Great Northern trains cannot get
through IN the north. One Of the y
leading theatrical companies II held
up IN Helena now and the probabili-
ties are It will have TO remain here
week. The company has cancelled its
dates for several days ahead. The
Missoula baseball team came here for
games on Decoration day and q fn
the city yet. II s8 5