The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-04-09
TRAVELLING MEN
START DRAGGING
RIVER BOTTOMS
Work Progresses Favorably With
Drop Of Five Feet of Waters
of the Missouri
statesmen NOT TO LEAVE
CITY UNTIL BODIES FOUND
Telephone Communications Estab
lished Early Today Between
Bismarck and River

w All Suc rSOSCl OAASS "
porting fall of five feet in the Mis-
souri, river since II o'clock last night
and s o'clock this morning, the work
of dragging the bottom lands for the
bodies of the five men who went to
their death yesterday morning when
the boat they were crossing the
stream capsized, progressed more
favorably.
mot a travelling salesman will
leave Bismarck until the bodies OF all
the men have been recovered stated
J. c. Oberg Of Bismarck, representa-
tive of the Winston-Harpcr L Fisher
Grocery Co. of Minneapolis, who
heads the committee of four, consist
ing of himself, Carl Paulson, Henry
Zimmerman and Peter H. ThrOdahl,
in charge of the rescuing work.
Mass Meeting Held. ="
Fully so travelling men mustered
themselves together in the dining
room OF the Grand Pacific hotel short
ly after 1890 o'clock last night and
laid plans for the recovery OF their
brothers. The. men said they would
forego their craftsmanship duties un-
til all bodies had been brought TO
shore.
Early this morning score or more
were taken to the river overflow
lands and work OF dragging began.
Six boats were placed at work and
this was increased during the day as
committees located more boats. Cap
tain Baker of Bismarck supplied the
boats which were used during the
early morning hours.
J. C. Oberg returned with several
others from the river shortly after 3
o'clock. He reported then that about
20 graphing hooks, many OF which
were made in Bismarck blacksmith
shop last night We're being used.
Call Made For Waders.
With the fall in the waters came a
call for waders. Every pair in the
city offered to the men were pressed
into service. Hooks were attached TO
fish-poles and men in waders went
over the brush which carpets the bot
tom Of the overflow lands. Railroad
men and militiamen also assisted in
the dragging. One of the boats used
was the boy scout craft which has
been unused for several seasons and
which will hold about y scouts and
about eight men. ........--. ..-,.,..:
Several telephone men were in the
party that left this morning and went
to work establishing lines OF COM
munication between Bismarck and
the district where the travelling men
are working. The lines were in work.
ing order early in the day and as
soon as body was recovered the
news was communicated Immediately
to the Tribune office.
River Crest % Feet.
Groups Of travelling men gathered
in the hotels of Bismarck all day yes
terday. Considerable concern was
felt that it may be some time before
the bodies are recovered because OF
the high current in the vicinity
where they went down. River men of
years experience are Of the opinion
that unless the bodies became en-
shared on bushes or fence posts or
other obstacles that they were car
ried far down the river. Last night
the river crest was % feet and the ice
still choked the channels Of the
stream. In the vicinity where the
men are working there is little ice.
A report was spread over the city
last night that the bodies of Barwind
and Prentice had been recovered, but
upon Investigation the travelling men
learned that it lacked foundation. An
other story to the effect that a man
by the name of Curtiss, said TO be a
Twin City newspaper man. had gone
under, also proved a wild rumor. as
we'll as the report that Commissioner
NJ. S. Lang of Mandan saved himself
by tearing his clothes from his body.
INTERESTING WAR DISPLAY.
DR.. NJ. Il. Gilmore, curator Of the
state historical museum, this morn
ing took advantage Of the war fever
to place on display an interesting
collection of recruiting posters, used
in all parts of the British empire,
which he procured in Winnipeg last
winter. The display is well worth at
tentiOn.