The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-06-08
METHODIST PASTOR
AND WIFE TRAPPED
BY RACING TORRENT
Livery Stable Resident Drowned
in Bed; Houses Are Swept
Away by Sudden De|uge
ESTIMATE MILLION DAMAGE

~ S000Ouv OVJNAV
ESTIMATE MILLION DAMAGE
Three.Fourths Residence. and
All Business Property De-
stroyed During Storm 4
Western friendliness was reaching
Its full flower at Beach today.
Although their own homes were
stornswept by the cloudburst which
inundated that part of the country
Thursday night, residents of tile little
North Dakota town were preparing to
so to the assistance of their neigh
bors at Wibaux, Montana. where
three are known to be dead as the
result OF terrific flood which swept
away or damaged three fourths of the
residences and ruined every business
property in the town.
Walter Gushing of Beach, veteran
newspaperman, said he had checked
the death list at Wibaux, during q.
visit to the stricken town, and that
the number of known dead is three.
The body of Mrs. j. F.. Sifert, wife
OF the Methodist minister, was found
IN the parsonage. which was washed
from its foundation and swept against
railroad embankment. Mr.. Sifert's
body had not been recovered this
morning. It is believed to be in a
room OF the house which still is un-
der water. The fact that the Siferts
mad drowned was not known to other
flood survivors until Friday noon.
A. N. Thompson who lived in a
his bed. The water had swept down
hs bed. The water had swept down
with such suddenness that he could
not escape.
One Other Reported Dead
Cushing said he was unable to veri-
fy a report that Sever Knutson, q
farmer, also had been drowned. al
though he heard rumorS to that ef-
feet.
Beach residents found difficulty in
crossing the stream which flooded
Wibaux. They were planning. how
ever, to organize q crew OF 100 men
to go to Wibalx and help clean up the
town and aid the Montanans in their
effort to restore the village.
Cushing reported a score of wash
outs on the Northern Pacific railroad
between Wibaux and Medora.
At Beach 4.93 inches of rain fell in
nine hours Thursday night. The
ground had been thoroughly soaked
by heavy rains the week previous. Ad-
ditional rain, which fell Friday, added
to the difficulty of rescue work and
the misery of survivors, although an
other expected flood failed to de-
velop.
Beach Escapes Damage
None Of the buildings or residences
at Beach, the only North Dakota
town in the path of the cloudburst,
were damaged. Damage sustained by
the Northern Pacific railroad in this
area, will total hundreds Of thousands
Of dollars, however.
Three bridges were washed out be.
tween Medora and Sentinel Butte.
In score of places between these
towns the track was washed away.
East of Sentinel Butte, $50 feet OF
embankment. 20 feet high. was
washed away. East of Beach 1000
feet Of track was washed out and
other waShoutS Of the railroad line
occurred in the town proper.
The traak washed away beneath
cars on sidings and they were hurled
into the torrent. A string of cars had
been placed on an incline to = coal
bunker. The incline washed away
and the cars were in heap today.
Information Is Meager
Repair crews for railroad and tele-
phone companies were atten pting to
restore the means Of communication
and information from the stricken
area was coming in slowly as tele.
phone and telegraph communication
was restored
All Of the known deaths and most
Of the property damage. other than
the damage to railroad and wire
lines. occurred in the vicinity Of WI.
baux, Mont. near the North Dakota
Montana line.
Mrs. Eileen Woodward. talking
from the Wibaux telephone office this
morning, placed the property damage
in and near the town ct $500 900.
A bridge over the creek was swept
out and part Of the railroad viaduct
was washed out, she said. Five hllu-
dred Of the 800 residents OF the town
were homeless and were being cared
Tor BY the Red Cross, which sent aid
from Glendive. west Of Wibaux. a
schoolhouse was being used as head
quarters for the relief operations.
Although TIE water was subeiding
today it still was difficult for resi-
dents on one side Of the town to com-
munjcate with those on the other.
The creek. which at some seasons
dries up entirely, runs through the
center Of the town.
l.10o Men Are Woekine
Working from the eastern odee of
the area. the Northern Pacific rail-
road has 100 men at work renair.
Ing It's roadbed and bfidgee. Nnte-
rails Tor use BY repair crews We9o
being assembled 1rom Ill ayailab]o
points and the Noethern Pacific hod
borrowed machinery nom tlae oroat
Northern and 1tlWaukee railroads ~
facilitate the work.
one ct the principal difficulfies
win Be the Temporary renoir -
bridges which Weee oVent avsS va,an
dry eullies became Ioe1ng &crTanfA
Telephone REPAIR ctoWD Wero nnlse
tered fr0m ~ availah,e pcluta.
- eneEloQ spply g Nlre k1ce
~ Moee1Neeeen DeQ Toor0o0o