The Dickinson press., 1917-04-14
five DROWN
IN FLOODS
III " RTN III
~
WELL KNOWN TRAVELLING MEN
LOSE LIVES IN FLOODED
MISSOURI RIVER.
Accident Occurred When Effort Was
Made to Cross Lowlands in Over
crowded Row Boat.


crowded Row Boat.
Harry Barwind, Nat Prentice, Arm
old A. Won Hagen and John A. Vale
of Bismarck and Ed. G. Massey of
Mandan lost their lives as result Of
the sinking Of an overloaded boat
while attempting to cross the flooded
low lands near Mandan Sunday fore
noon. The first four, all we'll known
travelling men making their homes
and headquarters at Bismarck, came
into Mandan Saturday evening and
tried to reach their homes that even
ing so as to spend Easter with fami-
lies and friends. The Missouri river
had flooded the Northern Pacific
tracks, however, and all railway trail
ic was at a stand still. AS it was
getting late, the four decided to wait
until morning in hopes that the flood
would go down. :,
Sunday morning they persuaded
City Commissioner M. 5. Lang ana
Ed. Massey, auto dealer, both Of Man
dan, to take them across the low
lands to the west pier of the North
ern Pacific bridge in a frail boat:
The six men piled their grips and
themselves into the boat and started
on the perilous trip across the swiftly
running water.
The occupants of the boat finally
decided that the crossing would prove
too risky job, so effort was made
to turn back. The bow of the boat
ran upon the top wire of a fence,
however, the curernt pushing it on.
This resulted in the back end sinking
beneath the water, and in an instant
it was overturned.
Roy Frost, discharged from the
Mandan hospital only a couple Of
and hurriedly rowed out to the scene
of the disaster. His weakened con-
dition resulted in slow progress
against the strong current, however,
and upon his arrival at the over
turned boat, was only able to lift
Lang into his boat. The two men
managed to reach the shore, but their
condition by that time demanded I'M
mediate hospital attention.
Lang's Story
sIt was HE'LL" said Mr.. Lang. "The
water was terribly cold and believe
that Massey must have been seized
with cramp Immediately, for I never
saw him again after he went down.
The other boys all hung onto the
boat. One of them let 60, don't
know which one, and I went down
under the boat after him, and helped
him get another hold on the keel Of
the boat.
1T was too much for them, and I
was forced to live through the hell Of
seeing them, one by one, loose their
grip and go down to their DEATH"
The search for the bodies Sunday
afternoon was unsuccessful. Monday
morning about 7 o'clock the bodies of
Barwind, Prentice and Won Hagen
were found. About 1880 the search
ers found the bodies of Vale and
Massey. An examination disclosed
the fact that none of the men
drowned, but that death resulted from
exposure. The water was terribly
cold and a stiff wind blowing: I'M
mersed in the icy water and with the
wind whipping more water into their
faces, and on their benumbed hands
as they clung to the keel or sides of
the boat, it is not strange that they
were forced, one by one, to submit to
the horrible death which it seemed
Fate had prescribed.
Barwind evidently tried to hold his
head out of water by clinging to the
barbed wire fence. When found his
hands clenched around an upper
body indicated that he had been seized
with a cramp for !, his knees were
doubled up. 7
Won Hagen, Barwind, Prentice and
Vale were all well known in Dickin-
son, having made regular visits to
this city in the interests Of the houses
they represented, for some years past.
Won Hagen was a former superin-
tendent of the Ocicdent line of elevat-
ors west of the Missouri river, but
since Last August had been travelling
for the Mccarthy Grain Co. of Min
neapols. His wife and three small
children survive. He was only 80
years Of age.
Barwind was 48 years of age and
single. He represented the Gowan
Lenning & Brown Wholesale Grocery
Co., and was one of the pioneer
travellers in North Dakota.
Prentice, aged 80 years, made this
section for many years in the inter
ests of the Minneapolis Drug Co. He
leaves wife and small son.
Vale also leaves wife and small
boy. He has been covering this terri.
tory Of North Dakota for. the past
two. years for the Grant Auto Aces.
sorry Co., Fargo, and also handling the
district agency for the Searchlight Gas
Tank Co. sl3i -. sa II. n. =s'
Vim. Hearl Of. the dry goods depart.
naent in the Reed Bros. store, was
voted in as member Of the Bachelor
Club on Thursday.