The Dickinson press., 1913-08-23
Met Death In
Swollen Stream
Mr.. and Mrs. Hart Drowned in Davis
Greek Near Medora. Mr.. and
Mrs. Pehrrson Have
Marrow Escape.

3 Narrow Escape.
II The historic little town of Medora
this week witnessed the saddest event
Units history in TACT tie entire Mis-
ssouri slope has no sadde. affair in its
annals than the tragic drowning of Mr..
and Mrs. Leo A. Hart Sunday evening
IN Davis creek about four miles south
Of Medora. Few young people of Bill
itngs county were more generally be-
loved than Mr.. and Mrs. Hart. and the
sad ending of their lives cost cloud
Of deepest sorrow over the community.
Mr.. and Mrs. Hart, in company with
Deputy Sheriff and Mrs. Victor E.
Pherrson, started out from their home
at Medora late Sunday evening to eat
supper with Mrs. Hart's parents. Mr..
and Mrs. J. A. McGregor. They were
driving in a two seated buggy, the
gentlemen ahead and the ladies in the
rear seat. Mr.. Hart was driving.
Davis creek, like all Bad Lands
creeks, is generally dry but in the
event of rain storm it becomes a
rushing torrent, IS to 20 feet deep and
probably no wider. The party had
been warned of the danger of the creek
at the Willis King ranch but thought
they could make it all right. The
crossing heads up stream and they did
not have to urge the horses into the
creek, They were Immediately swept
under the rushing water. The buggy
made sharp curve from the bank
and the occupants were thrown into
the swirling stream. 1t is supposed
that Mrs. Hart tainted or became para
lyzed with the situation, for although
Mrs. Pehrrson grabbed for her yet she
made no sound nor attempt to save her.
self. MIR. and Mrs. Peterson had des-
pexate struggle for their lives. the hus-
band going under several times before
be clutched on something and managed
to get ashore about 120 yards below
the crossing. Mrs. Pehrrson caught
branches and clung to the bank until
with difficulty she was rescued by her
husband. MIR. Pehrrson was quite sure
he saw Mr.. Hart struggle for the shore
while they were all in the water but
saw nothing of him afterwards.
Davis creek is within calling dis
tance of the McGreeor home and Mr..
and Mrs. McGregor were summoned to
the place by the screams, but were on
the opposite bank. Mr.. Peterson hur-
ried to the King ranch for help, follow
ed by his wife. who was almost ex-
hausted from the dreadful experience.
The people of Medora were horror
stricken when the message reached
them by phone and all who could went
to recover the bodies. They worked all
night in the creek from RATS which
they had arranged and at about 2
o'clock Mr.. Hart's body was found 'over
a half mile from the crossing. By
daylight the water had receded and by
wading abreast the width of the
stream. the body of Mrs. Hart was res
cued about 80 rods above that OF her
husband.
One horse was drowned while the
other. still hitched to the buggy,
was swung into calmer water and held
there by trees and brush.
W. A. Hart of Sentinel Butte, who
had been attending the funeral of his
mother in Michigan, was notified by
telegraph of his sons death. He was
out south on the Milwaukee line and
came over to. Medora via Dickinson.
Undertakers Bouleer g. Hughes were
called from Dickinson. The bodies of
the drowned couple rested in their
little home in Medora, where the six
months of their married life hadbeen
spent until Thurs. morning when the
remains were brought to this city for
interment. Funeral services were held
at Medora Wednesday afternoon. Rev.
John Orchard of Dickinson officiating.
MIR. Orchard had christened Mrs. Hart
when child and united her in mar
riaee last spring to Mr.. Hart.
A delegation from the local Elk lodge
attended the services in Medora We'd
nesday and the Little Missouri river
town was filled with people from far
and near who had come to pay their
last respects to the departed ones.
On Thursday morning train No. 8
brought the remains to Dickinson and
special coach was necessary to ac-
commodate the people from Medora and
Sentinel Butte.
The remains were met at the depot
by members of the Eastern Star and
Elk lodges Of Which Mrs. and Mr.. Hart
were members respectively. Lines
were formed on both sides Of the cas-