The man in the famous photo

A man in a famou photo from the 1935 Republican River flood has been identified as Robert French, civil engineer for the power plant at left. French later survived a terrifying fall into the river. (File photo)

The epic picture from the 1935 flood is etched in memory. It still sends shivers down my spine. How could any man, no matter how strong, cross the raging river hand-over-hand on a power line? It was an amazing feat then; it remains an amazing feat to this day.

What's the real story behind the picture? Who was the guy on the line? What was he trying to accomplish? Did he survive?

Questions like this arose after the publication of "McCook Memories," the quasquicentennial picture book published by the McCook Daily Gazette. The photo was featured on page 114 of the picture book under the heading, "Raging floodwaters marooned power crews."

In doing research for the book, Connie Jo Discoe and I found out part of the story. We learned that the man's name was French and we learned he plunged into the raging river, but survived.

Now, thanks to Mr. French's granddaughter, Nancy (Baumfalk) McKenzie, we are getting additional details about the man and his river-crossing ordeal.

Here's Nancy's report, gleaned from discussions over the years with her mother, Nanette (French) Baumfalk.

"At the time of the Republican River Flood of 1935, my grandfather, Robert French, was the civil engineer for the light plant. He was a very strong swimmer so he took on the responsibility of stringing the cable from the flooded power plant to higher ground on the north side of the river. This allowed the men marooned on top of the power plant to be rescued.

"After all were safe, my grandfather made one more trip across the cable and that is when disaster struck. The rapidly rising floodwaters knocked over the water tower, breaking the pole to which the cable was attached. My grandfather was thrown into the river and he was catapulted down the river (to the east) at a furious pace.

"Luckily, one of the people on shore had a horse and buggy which was pointed in that direction. The man in the buggy made a mad dash along the river bank, racing to get ahead of my granddad. Finally, at about where Bud & Nick's sporting goods store used to be located, there was a car body standing on end. Using the car body as an anchor for his buggy and team, the driver tossed a rope into the water, which my grandfather grabbed. This allowed him to be pulled to safety."

Mr. French paid a price for his bravery.

Unknown to Mr. French at the time, he had diabetes and the river crossing episode stressed his system. He suffered for the rest of his life because of the filthy water he swallowed while being swept along by the flood. The raging torrent was filled with dead animals, snakes, tree limbs and other debris.

Robert French was 27 when he led the flood rescue attempt. His life ended 11 years later when he was 38. He left a widow, Mabel Bradley French, and three children: Bill Bradley French; Robert French; and Nanette French. The older Robert adopted Bill, who was born to Mabel and her first husband, who was killed in a car accident. The younger Robert and Nanette, Nancy's mother, were twins.

Nancy grew up in Goodland but came back to McCook following marriage to Jack McKenzie. Nancy never met her grandfather, but she is inspired by his story of bravery. To this day, when she drives along South Street, she wonders about the heroic actions taken by her grandfather and others whose lives were turned upside down by the terrible Republican River Flood of 1935.