The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1922-08-04
VOLUME XT.
A DELUGE
459 Inches of Rainfall in This Vicin-
ity Wednesday Morning Within
Four Hours. Much Damage Done.

Wednesday morning about six
o'clok ii began raining and continued
for about four hours This was with
out doubt the heaviest rainfall we
have ever had in this section since
the county was opened up to settle
memt The government gauge regis
tered 4.59 inches Of waterfall. All
creeks and draws were Immediately
turned into rushing torrents of water.
and it was not long until all traffic
was tied up. Grades were washed
away, bridges were washed out or
made unsafe, and all traffic ceased.
Wood Tor a time was completely ma
rOcned. The rise of water IN both
Butte creek east Of town, and White
Thunder creek west of town was very
rapid, and both these creeks were
higher than they were ever known to
be before. All bridges on. both creeks
were completely inundated to depth
OF from three TO -four feet. While the
waters rose rapidly, they receded al
most as fast ard by nine p. IN. traf
fic was partially opened to the east
and about fifty ears that had been
marOoncd east Of town on the high
way, came through.
The heavy rainfall seemed quite 10.
cal. From reports thus far received
the really heavy rain did not extend
over six or seven miles east of Wood
and possibly as far west. We have
had no reports as to how far north
and south of town the heavy rain ex-
tended. Of course ther was rain fell
pretty generally that day, but not
near so heavy a fall as was recorded
here.
The heavy downpour here caused
flood conditions to prevail along theI
creeks and considerable damage was
done to all crops in the creek bot
toms, bridges, roads, small buildings,
and some stock perished in the flood
NdltlS. JlClt ID I'dlbldl lloI VI Gll'
flood sufferers in this vicinity:
Moses Bear Doctor, who lives on
the Butte Creek bottom east Of town
had his house and barn and wagon
carried away by the flood At the
time he and his family were attending
the Frontier Days celebration at
White River,
The p. V. Tuell family, who live at
the Day school just south Of town, had
to be rescued on horses. The flood
waters rose so that the lower floor
of their home was covered to depth
of about three inches with water
Fearing danger, the entire family set
to work to take all the furnishings
that were subject to damage by|
water to the second story of their
home, and before they realized it they
were completely marooned. They
lost their garden, which was one of
the best in this locality, and their po-
tatoes were all washed out. Their ice
house was washed away and lodged
IN front of their home.
George Moore, who lives about a
mile south of town, had a good share
of his alfalfa field swept away by the
flood and he lost all of his second
crop of alfalfa, which was still in
the shock in the field. His garden
and potato patch were also destroyed.
One steer and hog are also missing
since the flood and his fences were
demolished
Lloyd Weaver sustained heavy loss
in hogs. We have not learned just
the exact number that he lost, but
from reports he lost the greater por-
ion of his herd, which numbered about
100 head.
Isaac Kaufman, who lives south Of
town about six miles, also lost about
four head of hogs, and sustained
other minor damages.
The bridge across White Thunder
creek on the new Cody road is gone,
according to report.