The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1921-06-21
DESCRIBES |: TOUR
IN BAD. LANDS
FLOODED AREAS
J. B. Sayler, of Bismarck, Makes
Trip in His Automobile y
TELLS OF GREAT DAMAGE
One Cannot Realize Extent
Without Seeing it, He Says

ger of Thompson Yards Inc, who has
returned to Bismarck from a motor
trip into Montana.
tMr. Sayler was on the edge OF the
terrific storms which swept western
North Dakota and eastern Montana,
and he passed through the devastated
territory on his return. 1t Is believed
Mr.. Sayler was the first autoist to
reach Bismarck after passing through
the district. H..
Mr. Sayler reached Beach Saturday
noon, after having been in hail and
rain storm at Carlyle, Montana.
Could Swim a Horse
Beach was q town filled with rub
bish and drift WOOD said Mr.. Sayler.
Wooden sidewalks had been float
ing around in the water and they
were found most any place after the
water reeeded. At one point west OF
the Golden Valley hotel there had
been enough water in the streets for
q horse to swim in The Golden Val
ley Lumber company had just put
carload of cement in a stOrehouse.
The water rose five feet in the place,
destroying most OF the cement"
The cloud from which water burst
over a large area centered near Beach.
extended nearly west to Wibaux and
moved north and circled over Medora
and the Bad Lands, Mr.. Sayler said.
West OF Beach there was a strip OF
one-half mile of Northern Pacific
track which was carried beyond the
wagon road, 100 feet away, by the
current, he said.
Between Sentinel Butte and Mcdora
there were seven gaps in the railroad
Between Sentinel Butte and Beach the
country is fairly level and the damage.
which was caused chiefly by the rush
of waters from ravines, was not great.
Ton Rocks Moved
"A Northern Pacific superintendent
told me that there were many places
along the road where rocks weighing
from 100 to 1000 pounds, and even
some weighing 1900 pounds, We're
moved 100 ito 400 feet by the wall OF
water" MI. Sayler said. 1T seems
almost unbelievable, but one can be-
lieve these things after seeing results
Of the cloudburst.
NO. Z had gone over the track near
Rider, where three section men lost
their lives, about 30 minutes before
the men were drowned, and they be-
lieyed the track safe, Mr.. Sayher said.
This was after the clOudburst. How
ever, the great damage was not done
until an hour or two afterwards When :
the water rushed down from the hills.
The men on the speeder turned curve
where the track had been broken and
were swept into 80 to 40 feet OF water,
Mr.. Sayler said. The speeder turned
over. The section foreman held on
to a slender support for two or three
hours before he was rescued, holding
one of the drowned men by the hand,
but finally became exhausted and the
man slipped from him to his death.
The body of one man which was not
found is believed to be in a coulee,
which was filled with 2 to . feet OF
mud and stin has 20 feet OF water in
it, Mr.. Sayler said. |,
Bridges Gone !
"There are no bridges In the BAD
Lands" Mr.. Sayler added. I'VE found
three that were out, and made detours
At the fourth place man with
teams pulled auto tourists across the
now shallow but muddy stream he
was very reasonable with tourists
charging them 81 for the work.
AT ,Belfield l found 20 tourist par
ties waiting to get through to con.
tinue their motor journey. When ]
told them I had come through they
shouted with Joy and started out /
The Northern Pacific is making
Great efforts to repair the track quick
ly. Mr.. Sayler said.
Hardly had the cloudburst damage
ended before there were work trains
on the job" he said There were
40 men working when came through.
In addition to the trains there are
autos; trucks and horse equipment
carrying materials to washed out
places" -
The body of Soldier Kirkpatrick,
which was being brought nome from
France to Beach for burial, was on
train held up by the washout. On
the road to Bismarck Mr. Sayler met
an auto truck carrying the body, with
two soldiers accompanying it.. They
were making the remainder OF the
journey 10 BEACH ny tHlS IhcLnOu OSe1
bad roads and through flooded bot.
toms. f,
No More Lives Lost
Mr.. Sayler believes no lives We're
lost excepting those of the section
men, although many ranchers and
had narrow escapes from on
rushing waters, he said. Barns were
blown down, and lightning struck
many. The hail damage, he said, was
not great. ~.
During the storm, which lasted
from 3 to o'clock Friday afternoon,
it became very dark, he said.
WILL NOT ,. ~
HIT FLOOD STAGE
o. w. Roberts, weather observer.
today said he did not believe the Mis-
souri, river stage would go over II
feet, as a result of the recent heavy
rains. The river rose three-tenths OF
a foot yesterday and Is still slowly
rising. The ferry could not operate
this morning because Of the heavy cur
rent and wind. No damage from over
%k4 thor nhcorvor