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

cured. Messler was standing on the
railroad grade and had just gone to
get the boat, which was tied below
the grade. Messler stood watching
the men crossing the water who
drowned and just as l had the boat
loose Messler told me the fellows were
in trouble and were drowning. did
Mt wait for anything but jumped i'll
the boat and rowcd as fast as could
to the scene of the accident.
Saw Lang First.
II first saw Mr. Lang and went to
his assistance. rowed against the
current and was nearly exhausted
when getting to where Lang was and
saw two Of the other men short dis
lance from Lang. l don't know who
they were With hands clasped as if
they were going to die together they
were stretched across the bottom OF
the boat. which had capsized. They
were perfectly stiff | was then about
four rods from Lang and he hollered
Hurry up, l can't stick out much
longer realizing | was going to him
first. l found him with his back
caught to the right-of-way barbwire
fence facing north with his arms
sticking upward perfectly stiff.
Hard Time to Get Bodies.
"He could not move, being perfect
ly numb l then rowed my boat in
front of him and got his shoulders on
the edge Of the boat an then sat on
the opposite side balancing the boat
and pulling his body toward ME.
worked for about 20 or rs minutes
getting him in the boat. looked
around for the other two fellows, but
they had gone down and ! could see
no sign of any one else. then work
ed OH Mr.. Lang few minutes and hit
for shore. rowed as fast as | could
and Lang. regaining the use OF his
arms helped me. When we got to
shore l was all in. But when Lang
went to get out of the boat he could
not move his limbs. l helped him out
of the boat and then fell over. did
not know anything until ! woke up
in the cabOose and was on the way to
town. l will never forget that ter
rible sight Of the two men facing
each other with hands clasped in
each others hands. stretched across
the boat seeming to know that they
must die together. I did my very
best to get them, but l could not
make it. The men were rowing east
ward between the Northern Pacific
track and right-of-way fence and
were a few feet of the road crossing
when they went down.
Lang is at home. practically recOv-
cred from his terrible experience and
Frost was released from the hospital
last evening. He said the terrible
shock was too much for him and he
worked with all his strength to make
time to save all he could. He requir
ed the attention of physicians and his
condition was critical for some time
yesterday afternoon.
Two Widows Under One Roof.
Two eff the women bercaved by
yesterdays tragedy-Mrs. Prentice
and Mrs. Vale-reside under one roof.
in the McCord apartments on Sixth
street Goth received telephone mes
sages from their husbands Saturday
evening advising that flood condi-
tons probably would make it impos-
sible for them to get home that night.
but that they would be home bright
and carly Sunday to spend Easter
with loved ones. Their wives urged
them not to make an attempt to come
at all if there was any danger. bu,
no one until the accident occurred
Sunday morning believed that actual
danger was associated with the short
voyage across the flood waters which
separated so many travelling men
from home and loved ones.
Others Made Trip Safely.
Local travelling men who crossed
the food water in the skiff with NJ
S. Lang OH Saturday evening told Of
their experiences today. No. was
the last train to cross the river Satur
day. knights of the grip arriving on