Kaycee WY 1923 Flood

Article from Powder River Examiner:

The October 5th, 1923 Powder River County Examiner pulled no punches when it came to descriptive wording when detailing the flood which had inundated the Powder River Valley the week before, as the front page header read "Powder River Did Buck, Asserting Its Mightiest Power With Vehement Onrush Of Record-Breaking Water". Indeed the floodwaters of late September 1923 were and still are record breaking; the highest recorded in the history of Powder River, with 100,000 cubic feet per second of water flowing at the Moorhead station. By comparison, the flood of 1973 had 33,000 cubic feet per second, and the average for late September is just over 100 cubic feet per second. In order to get an idea of just how much water came down the river, we are reaching back to the original source, reprinting the lead article from 100 years ago. That article is shown here, edited for space.

October 5, 1923

So far as known no resident of Powder River was drowned in the flood that started at its source in Wyoming Thursday evening of last week and ended near Terry on Tuesday. Four and five-inch rainfalls swelled the river to a height of 12 feet, doing damage to property and crops along its 500 mile course, estimated at around one million dollars.

Unprecedented rains at this season of the year extending far into Wyoming were responsible for two distinct raises in Powder River last Sunday that sent the water to an unheard of record, fully three feet higher than was occasioned with the flood and ice gorges of the spring of 1920. From the level of Powder River at Broadus Thursday night of last week that was stirrup deep, a conservative estimate of a raise of twelve feet is made. Saturday night and early Sunday morning the water in Powder River at Broadus raised five feet and remained stationary at that point for four hours when another deluge raised the water an additional seven feet with the crest passing here at about 6 o'clock Sunday evening. At that time the river was making about ten miles an hour.

Not in the memory of the oldest inhabitant or from high water marks of previous floods by either rain or ice gorges has there been so much water carried in Powder River, and the feat is more than remarkable, coming at this season of the year. Broadus, county seat of Powder River County, located on a bench about a mile on the west side of Powder River, had half of its area inundated with water, and for precautionary purposes residents of the submerged district temporarily left their homes, finding refuge Sunday night at the school house or at the homes of friends on higher ground.

The extent of the damage caused by the flood is unknown but will mount well into the thousands of dollars. Meadows have been covered with the river's silt, laying in depth from a few inches to three feet, barbed wire fences have been destroyed wherever they happened to lay in the path of the flood waters; some cattle and horses perished by drowning; in several places the river has changed its channel; hay stacks were inundated, many of them completely immersed with water and some of them washed away almost intact; some houses were wrecked and carried down the river; the bees on Powder River were practically exterminated; an awful toll has been taken in the wildlife that had for its habitat Powder River; a vast amount of timber was destroyed by the falling of cottonwood trees; approaches to all three steel bridges in this county were washed away; a good share of the alfalfa seed crop has been lost alone accounting for many thousands of dollars.

The residents of Powder River are thankful that the flood was no worse, for at its apex they were prepared to meet any greater emergency.

The high water passed through almost the width of the county during the daylight hours instead of night that saved many from drowning; there was no sleet or fall of snow for the temperature was solid though the sun's rays were obscured with cloudiness; personal discomfort was felt only temporarily by those with wet feet and clothes.

Advance warning of the flood had been received over the long distance telephone toll line; the first warning coming from the Daily Star of Miles City; the second from E.G. Shireman from Arvada and the third from Frank T. Kelsey from Sheridan. People were somewhat skeptical, for while they accepted the reports as true they did not believe the river could raise to any such height after coming this far over such a wide expanse of country its force, they argued, would be spent long before.

In most instances they commenced moving out early when the water was at the threshold of their homes. Nearly everyone living along the river were warned by telephone or messengers of the flood water rushing down upon them.

The river's channel swelled in places on low land to five miles wide and at Broadus alone was about a mile and a half wide. Its minimum width was a mile.

The rumbling noise of the river at its flood tide could be heard for many miles distant, although late Sunday night after the river's loud creaking and groaning seemed to be more audible than during the day time.

The spectacle of the river's water actually flowing through the streets of Broadus itself was awe-inspiring.

Here the water was two feet deep in front of Shorty's Hall and the residence of Dr. C.H. James, and water was up to the concrete sidewalk in front of the Powder River Hotel. A small stream of water flowed down the street in front of the residence of Sheriff L.R. Warren, and rounded the corner by the fire alarm post. Another foot raise would have sent the water into the business houses. The water, however, was not high enough to cover the concrete walk at the Powder River Hotel which was the lowest point in the business district.

While the land south of the draw that runs through town was entirely inundated, the water did not enter the courthouse.

Six houses out of the business district remained above the flood area, Einsel's, Turley's, Waite's, Kelsey's, Washington's and Paetssch's.

The first flood warning was delivered in Broadus at 3:30 o'clock Sunday morning by W.C. McVey, who ploughed through the mud the 12 miles from the YT ranch with his car.

The Daily Star of Miles City several times Saturday night tried to get Broadus over the long-distance toll line but the bell in the Reliable Drug store was not heard by Mr. Holt or any of his family asleep, in their rear apartments. Finally Mr. McVey was aroused at the YT and very kind of him he delivered the warning to George Taylor at the Broadus Mercantile company store. Mr. Taylor went on duty at that time and for thirty successive hours remained at the post, sending telephone warnings up and down the river of the impending onrush of high water.

Telephonic communication was had with the Pinto country up the river and as far down the river as Chas. Johnstone's and people thus advised, passed the word along to their neighbors.

Mr. Taylor received reports as to the progress of the flood above Broadus and disseminated his information to local channels.

Sunday forenoon Shireman phoned from Arvada stating the 350-foot span railroad bridge across Powder River there had gone out and to warn river residents to be prepared for the high water. Kelsey phoned from Sheridan, giving the same warning.

The first five-foot raise in Powder River at Broadus was during the early hours of Sunday morning. At 8 o'clock the water had covered the grade leading to the bridge and by 10 o'clock was backing up, into the draw, running in an opposite direction through the culvert near Mrs. Craw's. For about three hours the water remained stationery when it began coming down the draw, having flowed over a four-foot dike just below Johnny Doyle's. From about 3 o'clock until 6 o'clock the river water in the draw rose approximately seven feet. The foot bridge was washed away and it was not long until the water was going level over the grade at Mrs. Craw's. The four-foot culvert there functioned but to carry the volume of water a culvert perhaps twenty times as large would have been necessary. With the recession of the water it was found that the grade was barely wide enough for wagons or automobiles, about six feet of fill having been washed away on the east side.

It was about 8 o'clock Sunday morning that the migration started from the flooded district here. Everybody took their bedding and personal belongings with them, finding conveyance in autos, wagons and trucks.

While Sheriff Warren stood vigil over his prisoner, W.N. Isaacs, at Mike's blacksmith shop Sunday night, his wife and son were among the guests at the school house.

The water remained at its crest in Broadus for about two hours and after its recession of about a foot some of the natives returned to their bailiwicks, among them the Osgoods, Straitons and Andersons. Dr. James and wife went home and that night had as house guests Mr. and Mrs. West. Mr. and Mrs. G.E. Franklin remained in their apartment in the rear of the garage in the Peterson building. He had wired all the gasoline barrels together to prevent them from floating away.

E. Culbertson was the most skeptical of Broadus residents, believing an eight-foot raise of water on Powder River would be reduced to but a few feet at this distance. He remained with his family at his home, formerly the Martin place and for several hours were the only residents on the "island". He rescued several chickens from a wired pen at Mrs. Craw's and said he observed two hogs of Harry Lunn's wandering about the flat with their heads just visible above water. They did not drown and were accounted for later. Many chickens were observed floating downstream. Mrs. Neil lost all her chickens, Mrs. Craw, 12, and a further heavier poultry loss will be met by farmers up and down the river.

Frank T. West remained at home to look after things there during the early stages of the flood and occupied his time Sunday afternoon with work at the courthouse, getting every county record possible in the concrete vault for preservation in the event the building was caught and damaged by the flood. Mr. West waded through water knee deep in walking to his home.

Late in the afternoon an appeal was received here to have a boat constructed with which to rescue "Uncle Billy" Wilson at Pinto who was marooned. J.F. Blenkner and W.T. Waite in the yards of Yellowstone Lumber Company started construction of a boat at 5 o'clock and within a few minutes had about a dozen helpers using only one hammer between them. Within 31 minutes the boat was a completed product, three feet deep and fourteen feet long, and made water tight with a coat of tar, applied by hand. The "ark" was carried to the corner of the Powder River Hotel and launched there without any such elaborate ceremony as christening with champagne. There was local work to be done with the boat first of all in the rescue of the Culbertsons and Mr. West and manned by Orville Cunningham as pilot and crew, the boat was rowed over the expanse of water to the Culbertson home where aid was refused and then back to the West home where Mr. West was glad to become a passenger. Arriving at the Anderson wharf, Cunningham found his hands blistered from wielding the bulky pair of oars that had been whittled down at the ends for hand holds.

Ernest Harrsch, Biddle mail carrier, was marooned in Broadus from Saturday night until Tuesday morning. He had made the trip here Saturday horseback.

Monday forenoon, H.R. Cook scaled the bluffs two miles north of Broadus and from there had a good view of the Powder River bridge at Broadus, the first person to discover the bridge still intact. Right after noon Monday, Orville Cunningham and Curley Rawlins rowed the boat down the draw from Mrs. Craw's to the bridge, carrying the boat over the bumps. Later in the day J.F. Blenkner and Rudy Amundson duplicated their performance. During the flood early Sunday afternoon L.L. Brown reported what to him seemed to be the figures of two men on wreckage far out in the river's main channel. People at Osgood's said they saw some object on the roof of a house floating down the river but were not positive that it was not the chimney. Lunn's toilet was washed down the draw and left standing in the Lewis pasture. The Cooks, Blenkners and others were making preparations for a change of residence had the river's raise continued. Saturday afternoon Bill Waite saw a beaver on a fill west of the bridge and later expressed an opinion that all of the river's beaver were washed out and would have to find new homes before cold weather ensues.

The people at the school house did not want for victuals Sunday evening. Bread and butter were provided by Mrs. Edwards; cake, chicken and bread by Mrs. Osgood, a boiler full of hot coffee by Mrs. Frankforter and other donations. About the only thing lacking was milk for the youngsters and this emergency was met by Miss Francis Beck in milking one of the Harrington cows that was grazing near the building. The next morning bright and early Bill Waite was welcomed on the scene with a pot of steaming coffee. The curfew did not ring in Broadus Sunday evening for the flood excitement made everyone forget it. Mrs. Harry Lunn Monday morning personally delivered milk to every home in Broadus that was in need of it.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, G.E. Burdg and Leo Gaskill were employed in pumping water from flooded basements here.

After reading the above flood narrative one might imagine the flood was local to Broadus, but elsewhere along the river people fled before the water as well.

Osborne Pemberton from the hills east of Broadus Sunday afternoon got a bird's eye view of the flood, Broadus at a distance appearing to be completely under water. The panorama of the country appeared to him as a vast lake.

Bud Devasher said he had two haystacks under water with only about a foot of their top visible. George Preston rode to town Sunday evening, reporting the water raise 30 feet at his home on account of narrowness in the channel there. The 36 haystacks at the Daut place were under water within a foot from their top.

R.M. Neiman's place was flooded and while he remained at this home his wife and children were carried out horseback by Matt Damm who was compelled to make his mount swim through high water.

Monday morning before recession of the water from the draw in Broadus, Vay Edwards and Jimmy Craw improvised a raft out of heavy planks and for the time being were amateur sailors.

At Moorhead the water cut in by the hitching post almost to the Lawrence [unreadable]. F.T. Kelsey's place was under water all but the roof.

Kelsey's entire drove of bees, said to number three hundred stands, perished in the river's flood, entailing a loss to Kelsey of $6,000 alone, for each stand complete has a value of $20. The honey for the most part had been canned.

The A.O. Uelrick's above Moorhead had to swim their horses to safety.

The water reached its peak at Moorhead about 10 o'clock Sunday morning. Chas Huckins on Tuesday lost a granary and a large barn, both filled with oats when they toppled over, having been undermined by the river. Another granary containing corn was still standing yesterday afternoon though its foundation was badly undermined and it was on the verge of collapsing into the hole. Several teams and men were employed there in taking out the corn. John Broaddus and family moved to Mallie Daily's. Henry Daily lost a Ford car and wagon in the flood. At the W Bar ranch the J.L. Wilson's went to Ray Wilson's when the water came up 18 inches in the house. Oscar Broaddus lost a milk cow in the flood.

Gene Garr was away shipping his cattle but his place was under water and it is said he has lost a big acreage of meadow pasture that was covered with sediment.

Paul Harrison woke up at 1 a.m. Sunday morning from the noise of water creeping into his log cabin. The water was three inches deep when he hurriedly dressed. Taking his team he went to a high place until crowded off by water encroaching. Going to another eminence he tarried only a few hours when the peak of the crest came along. Leaving his team standing in water up to their backs he climbed a cottonwood tree and for three hours clung onto the branches before the water's recession made it possible for him to descend. He said he could see almost any kind of object floating down the river with the exception of human beings.

There were dead horses, cattle, hogs, chickens, haystacks intact, houses and an innumerable numbers of logs and trees. Harrison said his house would have washed away but for a barbed wire fence to which it was connected. The water went over his house fifteen feet, he says, making the river's raise in his vicinity at least 25 feet.

The water was halfway over Pete Bertleson's house, making him move to his barn. In Riebe's unoccupied two-story house the water was halfway to the roof.

There has been little or any losses among the pheasants for several of them have been seen since the flood both up and down the river. Deer were driven from the river's bottom to the foothills.

Several of Doyle's horses were caught in the flood Sunday afternoon but swam to safety and were observed leaving the river at Broadus early Monday morning. Similar feats are reported from along the river of all dumb beasts for they swam to safety unless hindered by barbed wire fences or brush. Leslie Earley had three cows that were in the water above Dick Richardson's and came out at W.B. Richardson's, a straight course of two miles or three and one-half miles by river. Earley had a sow that swam half a mile straight across. Another hog is said to have made a swim of a mile and half to safety.

At Powderville the river was a mile and a half wide, flooding the ranch of G.F. McKenzie and others on the bottom land. Below Powderville Mrs. Cox was forced to the roof of her house and at latest reports men of the TN ranch were building a raft for her rescue.

John Osgood, his brother is in Bozeman taking vocational training, and his twenty stands of bees were lost in the flood at the ranch. E.E. Chatfield, another ex-soldier taking vocational training at Bozeman, before his departure had taken his bees to Billy Richardson's where they were above the flood waters.

At Byrd Edwards the water was over the window sash. He was not at home and his son John was tending a band of 500 sheep. The day before the high water the young man placed the band of sheep in pasture and with a gun started in a pursuit of a flock of geese or ducks that took him across the river to the west side. The high water came, preventing the return to the flock. He remained with Henry Kuhle until he could get across the river. When the sheep were counted after the flood their number had diminished to 67, leaving 433 unaccounted for but it was believed a large number had escaped to the hills.

Tom Gilmore, government trapper, was in town yesterday afternoon and laconically summarized the flood story: "Powder River is a wide open range country now for certain; the first time in my many year's residence here that I have known this condition to exist."

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