The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-04-09

their wives and children on the great
day OF spring-time joy. r. j. Massey
an auto man OF Mandan and an en-
ploy OF the Western Motor Sales com
.pany, was to assist Lang. The row
boat, which the night before had
made perilOus trip across the wat
ers, was secured. One stOry-and it's
only q rumOr--says that the travelling
men got together Saturday night and
drew lots to see which would make
the trip across that evening. Barwind
and Prentice were among the two
who would have to wait until morn
ing because Of darkness. They were
joined yesterday morning by John A.
Vale, and A. Won Hagen, both Bis
lnarck men with families here.
Men Take Fright; Boat Capsizes.
About $50 feet from the banks the
current was swift. A powerful wind
swept across the expanse. The men,
it is said, became frightened and the
Juggling in the boat caused 1t to turn
turtle.
Each man carried grip as lie
stepped into the frail craft which was
to battle the raging Missouri The to-
tai weight in the boat is believed to
have been close to 1900 pounds.
+. NJ. Nelson OF the Plant Rubber
company Of Minneapolis, and an eye
witness, stated yesterday afternoon
that frantic efforts were made to save
the lives, but that there was not a
boat or any other thing in sight to go
to the rescue and that the victims
went down in few minutes.
Cities Plunged Into Mourning.
The annual parade Of fashion and
spring-jOy everywhere SO abundant in
both cities was suddenly plunged into
mourning. Scores of the residents of
the capital city were either going or
returning from the Easter exercises.
First reports were to the effect that
seven had drowned. Within half
hour scores of automobiles left the
city and throngs taxed the Northern
Pacific tracks leading to the river.
Armed militamen stationed on the
Bismarck side Of the Northern Paci-
tic kept the crowd back and would
permit only men in uniforms and
railroad officials to cross the bridge.
Two men on speeders approaching
the main line Of the Northern Pacific
from the Mott tracks were informed
of the tragedy. Speeding their We
hicles, they sounded the alarm in
Mandan. A relief special carrying a
boat was dispatched to the scene. 1t
arrived too late to be Of any assist
ance. Boats we're placed on the bot
tom waters and the search for the
missing bodies continued until dark
ness. The hats of the men were
found in bushes late last evening
about so rods from where the boat
capsiZed.
Break News to Widows.
A delegation of Bismarck travelling
men late yesterday afternoon broke
the news to the widows. Into the
little homes where cOlored eggs had
been made and the dinners held for
the arrival of papa" crowd of
neighbOrs gathered to console the
mothers and their little ones. Wives of
members Of the Elks and the U. c.
rs gathered After the noon hour
passed and the mothers and the little
ones became impatient to waiting,
several telephone calls were sent to
the husbands supposedly at Mandan.
The long distance operators under
stood. The calls were never answer
ed.
"Wire me when you will get home.
This message was sent by Mrs. A.
Won Hagen to her husband at Man
dan. He never got it. He was one
OF the five that went to his death.
Residents OF Bismarck.
Prentice, Vale and Won Hagen have
made Bismarck their headquarters
from five to 10 years and all have
families. Barwind was single man
about so years of age. and was one of
the best known travelling statesmen in
the west, representing Gowan-Len-
hing-BrOwn company of Duluth. He
was of a very heavy build. A widow
and one child survive Jack Vale; a
widow and three children survive A.
Won Hagen; widow and boy four
years old, Nat Prentice. Massey was
also married and left widow and a
large family at Mandan.
: Story From an Eye Witness.
Miss Winnifred Knudtson of Bis
marck. Miss Violet Schroeder of Man.
dan, Ralph Herring of Mandan and
Leo Klein of Mandan. all employed in
the Morton county courthouse, were
in the vicinity of the Little Heart
bridge at the time of the tragedy
Miss Schroeder last night told her
version of the story.
1.-THE four of us were down at the
bottom lands between the Bismarck
and the Mott tracks, said Miss
Shredder. six Of the men. each car
rying a grip, got into the boat. Mr.
Lang and Mr.. Massey were also along
and they seemed to be the ones who
did the padding.
River Was Free Of Ice.
THE overflow territory was free
from ice and when about $50 feet
from land or think about a distance
of 500 feet from the Heart river
bridge, the boat capsized. There was
no one near.
"The men frantically fought with
their hands. The water didn't seem
very deep for they seemed to be
standing. There was not boat or
anything else in sight to rescue them
and they went down within a few
minutes time At one time thought
saw something that looked like hui