Hitchcock County Flood 1935 – Bonus Stories
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Hitchcock County History
The Republican Leader
June 7, 1935
Volume 46 Issue 17
Flood Waters
The daughters of Mrs. Anna Powers, with others, watched the Powers home drift away. The house drifted the distance of about six or seven blocks then lodged, standing exactly in the same position as it was built, straight with the world and all intact. The family are now living in the home until arrangements can be made to again place it on a foundation in a suitable location.
Mrs. E.C. Colver was rescued from an island two and a half to three miles down the river Saturday afternoon by Pete Johnson and a party of farmers from the south side. No boat was at hand and after attempting to reach her by navigating the stream in a stack tank, which sank, Mr. Johnson swam to her aid. He succeeded to get her safely to the south shore on a makeshift raft. She was hungry and weary from her nearly 36 hours of exposure, but was able to tell the story of her fateful trip from the time she, with her little boy and husband left their wagon house at the gravel pit and climbed to the gravel hoist when the house started off in the high water. A high wind came up and blew the hoist over, flinging them all into the water. She grabbed hold off a floating plank, holding her boy in one arm. Mr. Colver took hold of the plank also and all stayed together until something hit Mr. Colver and jerked him loose from the plank. She finally lost her boy, but she said she believed he had drowned before she let go of him. The body of they was recovered near the Holcomb farm east of Trenton, while the body of Mr. Colver was recovered two miles east of Culbertson. The Colver family and Mr. and Mrs. Howard Smith lived in wagon houses at the Hall sand pit. The men hauled gravel. Mr. And MRs. Smith are still missing. Mrs. Colver was taken to the Fred Grovert home after her rescue where she remained until Tuesday. She was then brought to the home of Mr. And Mrs. Frank Cross in Trenton and later went to the home of her parents in McCook.
Mr. And Mrs. James Thomas and their son, Spencer, undoubtedly went with their house. The Thomases lived just south of the river bridge on the old Henry Grovert place. Their sons, Webster and Spencer, went to their home when the one o’clock warning was given, to assist them in getting out of their home. The elder Mr. Thomas refused to become fearful, so Webster returned home and Spencer remained with is parents, hoping to persuade them to go with him. In the meantime every avenue of escape was shut off.
Mr. and Mrs. Owen Murtha, aged farmers, lived on their farm about five miles west of Trenton. Their home was isolated, though they had a phone. They were warned of the approaching high water, and it is quite probable they had started to leave the home with their horses and buggy , their usual mode of travel, when they were washed away. The body of Mrs. Murtha was found near the Barritt home south of town Sunday afternoon.
The O.D. Fleming family were unaccounted for until Sunday. Fred Grovert waded to their home and found Mrs. Fleming and her daughter-in-law in the attic. Mr. Fleming had made his way to the house as far as the wood shed and remained, climbing to the highest point. Joseph Fleming, the son, was marooned on an island during the entire time. He had rounded up all the cattle and had them with him.
The J.P. Wertz family remained in their home, going to the attic to keep dry.
Guy Mollison lost all stock and all buildings except his house. This was filled with water and contents ruined. The family escaped.
J.W. Rogers, 65, who was employed at the Guy Mollison farm two miles west of town, was caught in the Mollison barn by the high water. Hi only avenue of escape appeared to be a large elm tree which he reached after wading 12 feet in water up to his bust. He climbed the tree and stayed there 12 hours before being rescued. The Mollison dog and cat were his constant companions during that time. Mr. Rogers sat in the tree during the afternoon’s drenching rain. He says he saw the barn and practically every tree except the one he was in washed away in the flood. He was rescued about 10 o’clock Friday night when he got down from the tree, called the dog and they started out, the dog leading the way and Mr. Rogers crawling on his hand and knees 200 feet. He was unable to keep on his feet through the quicksand and mud the receding waters had left. Mr. Rogers is experiencing no ill effects from his experience.
The Earnest Blank family, who lived at the foot of Massacre Canyon hill on the south, lost everything they possessed, and sought refuge at the N.A. Davis home.
The Grover Seybold family who have lived for years on almost an island west of Trenton, lost their home, stock, and all belongings. One of the children had the measles and the night before the flood, the family, fearing a rise in the water went to the John. Belleau home for the night. They got up early Friday morning and went home, getting there just in time to see their house start floating away.
At the Northwest Bell Telephone office in Trenton water came up over the front porch and into the back room of the office. Chief Operator Mrs. Ella Spangler and her assistant, Mrs. Lillie Taylor, stated at the switchboard until two o’clock in the afternoon when the storm came up from the northwest and were taken from the building in a boat. Orders came from the McCook office for them to leave their posts. However, the switchboard was not left without an operator, as “Butch” Horvath, although an amateur at the work, operated the switchboard for two hours when the storm abated and the water receded so the regular girls returned to their work.
The Joe Berger farm home on the Driftwood washed away and collapsed, but the family remained on in it and were all rescued.
The Tom Moore family of near Culbertson drifted in their house until the water receded and all were saved.
Eleven of the Geo. McNeice family of near Culbertson stayed in a tree all night and were saved.
Just what has actually been done to the land and great transformation that has taken place all along the river bed is a story that cannot be told in words. Even to see it makes one almost believe he is dreaming.
The river has cut new channels, widening the river bed to almost unbelievable widths all along the valley. Just south of Trenton, the channel has been changed about a quarter of a mile south of the old river bed. There is still some water flowing in the old bed and a deep gorge has been cut right up to the backyards of the houses in the south part of town.
The barns of the T.A. Neill, C.L. Allen and J.M. Dickerson homes are projecting over this gorge. The sewer disposal plant is now located right out in the middle of the river, while a part of the disposal plant was undermined and tipped over. All the pasture land north of the old river and south of the town and railroad tracks has been transformed into a sand desert.
Meager reports from other placed have been received, telling of the destruction wrought there. None of these reports have been confirmed as to their authenticity, but we are certain none are exaggerated beyond reason.
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