The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1937-07-02
Billings Flood of SO Years Ago
Is Recalled by Pioneer Printer

time, he wildly remembers the turbu-
lent streams of murky water that flood
ed the entire village, then celebrating
its fourth birthday.
Much snow had fallen in February
and early March and on the benches
west of the city the snow blanket was
several feet deep.
Then on Friday night, March II,
1887, a chinook wind suddenly swept in
over the Yellowstone valley and the
snow began to melt rapidly. Next day,
the SUI came out unusually bright for
that time of year and sent the tenn
perature well up above 100 degrees.
This brought the flood water off the
benches and from Canyon creek, one
of the sources of the present flood,
rolling into the rising town of Billings,
which then boosted Montana avenue
as its only main street.
Many humorous incidents occurred
during the three days that Billings was
inundated and the Gazette of those
days had the following to relate in
regard to what ranks now as probably
the second worst flood in the city's
history.
Avenue Becomes Greek
1T has always been considered, with
excellent reasons, that this city, stand
ing high above the elevation of the
river, and being provided with excellent
drainage, never be visited by
such inunda as inflict some towns
! not @Y Sc tn I'll abiS 9 Tdtaataa' of the great
lquantity Of snow On the benches west
flow of water to Submerge some of the
fAgs. and moisten the floors of
several cellars.
Early this morning a large creek
of muddy water was observed making
its way down Montana avenue in the
west end: It turned over to the rail-
road track beyond the roundhouse, and
Der yard of H. M. Allen g. Co., giving
them a decidedly humid outlook.
The flood was damned by the cros-
sings in that neighborhood, and rose
until it began to pour into the basement
lngs Grain and Fuel company had
several sacks Of potatoes stored in the
rear cellar but got them out by dint
Saloon Gets Wetting
The front basement of Scott Bros
saloon was inundatd to the depth o.
ID inches, and is now in good condition
for a swimming bath.
The park west Of the Headquarters
hotel was converted into a small lake
and the cellars of the hotel were flood.
ed. The street commissioners and
HuInDer OF business men went to work
making way for the water down thu
street.
"A gang Of laborers was set at thu
same work, so that the overflow oj
the bitches was kept under control, ane
flowing down the middle of Montana
avenue all day, doing good work Il
washing out all the rubbish that &C.
cumulated during the winter.
Several cellars in block ITO hay,
been flooded to some extent by til,
melting snow in the back yards. bui
while the overflow gives healthfui rec.
reation to q number Of citizens, it vii
do very little damage. -
bitches Overflow
"The cause of the flood, as was sait
before, was the rapid melting of snov
on the benches west Of town. Thery
is no river water in the big irrigatini
canal. but the ditch is overflowed witt
water from the slopes above, and Ia
banks are washed out in several places
Parties arriving from up the valleI
say most Of the country is covered witt
water, and there is enough snow lefl
to keep up the supply for several dayI
If the hot weather continues.
! 1.-THE flood is a great blessing to tha