Walt Sehnert

Opinion

1935 Republican River Flood, Trenton

Monday, June 14, 2010

This year we are observing the 75th Anniversary of the Republican River Flood of 1935. The '35 flood was reported to be a "100 year event." It was said that a flood of similar magnitude occurred in 1826. Prior to 1935 there are written reports of severe Republican River floods in 1885, 1903, 1905 and 1915. (In 1885 nine people were killed from the towns of Cambridge, Richmond Canyon, and Arapahoe -- victims are buried in Cambridge and the graves are marked with a monument).

In 1935 Nebraska was in the depths of a prolonged drought, called "The Great Depression." Intense dust storms across the landscape of Southwest Nebraska were frequent and severe. At times the dust was so thick that it completely blocked out the sunlight, and street lights were turned on in mid-afternoon.

In May of that year it finally began to rain. Farmers were excited that they might be able to raise a crop -- for the first time in years. However, as is so often the case with Mother Nature, one extreme (too much rain) followed another (too little rain).

A violent storm on Friday, May 31/Saturday and June 1 in Colorado (where the Arickaree and Republican Rivers meet) dumped 20 inches of rain. The same storm recorded 24 inches of rain in 24 hours along the South Fork of the Republican. The entire Republican watershed witnessed an average rainfall of nine inches. The result was that the Frenchman River and Red Willow, Medicine, Deer, Muddy, and Turkey Creeks all reached their flood peaks at the same time, as the crest passed into the Republican.

Witnesses reported that the roar of the wall of water coming down the Republican Valley could be heard five miles away. The crest of the water was said to be 15' above the previous record crest. Parks, Benkelman, Max, Stratton, Trenton, Culbertson and McCook were severely impacted, if not outright destroyed by the flood. Deaths also took place in Perry, Cambridge, Arapahoe, Orleans, Oxford, Franklin and Alma. More than 100 deaths were reported in the Northeast portion of the Republican Valley, along with the loss of 11,400 head of cattle, and 41,500 head of hogs. 74,500 acres of farmland were inundated. Miles of highway and railroad tracks, and more than 300 bridges were destroyed.

Flood stories of tragedy and heroism were repeated over and over in communities fronting the Republican River. The names changed from town to town, but the incidents were remarkably similar. Trenton was one of the towns greatly affected by the flood. Mary Ellen Goodenberger (nee Marshall) remembers that time with great clarity. She was 12-years-old at the time. Her family farm was located west of Trenton, ½ mile north of the river. Their closest neighbors, the Stoneciphers, lived just a mile south, but on the other side of the river.

There had been heavy rain all day Friday. It was estimated that at least 8" had fallen in their area. The Marshall farm was on high ground, not damaged by the heavy rain or the flood, but the family gathered on the bluff overlooking the river, viewing the debris and the animals being swept downstream by the swirling waters -- and especially, to see if their neighbors on the other side of the river, the Stoneciphers were safe. They were not.

The Stonecipher place was in a direct path of the wall of water, estimated at some 20' coming down the valley. At home that Friday were Mr. and Mrs. Stonecipher, a teen-aged son, Cleo, twin daughters, Hildred and Mildred, and a niece, Ethel Black.

As the water rose, Cleo attempted to get away on horseback. Almost immediately he was forced to abandon his horse, but managed to make his way to the roof of the barn, where he waited out the brunt of the flood and was saved.

The rest of the family made their way to the roof of the house, where they awaited rescue. As the water rose and the current became stronger, the house came loose from its moorings and began to float with the current. As it floated it began to tip, and slanted so much that it was hard for the people on the roof to hang on. One mile downstream the house came to a stop against trees in its path, near the place where Camp Creek enters the Republican. Miraculously, all were still safely clinging to the roof on Saturday morning.

In 1935 there were few boats in SW Nebraska, none motorized. When the Stoneciphers began their journey atop their house all of the available rowboats were busy saving other folks, and it was not until Saturday morning that a boat was dispatched to their rescue.

The two men manning the rescue boat had difficulty reaching the Stoneciphers clinging to the roof of the house. Four times they were swept past the house, unable to bring their boat close enough to take people from the roof. Each time they were able to land down stream, where a neighbor's truck brought them back upstream for another try.

Finally the men attached a rope to their boat and secured it to a truck on shore. This time they were able to make contact with the people on the roof. Afraid that they might not be able to make contact a second time, they loaded all five of the stranded Stoneciphers into the boat and set out to attempt a landing downstream.

With seven people aboard the small boat was not as easily maneuvered as it had been with only the two men aboard, and with the added weight of the rescued people the strain on the rope was too much. When the rope broke they were unable to make their landing as planned and were swept downstream by the current. The boat came to a spot in the river where trees and debris had lodged at a railroad bridge, forming a sort of dam and a waterfall in the river. The men on the oars were unable to steer around the obstacle and went over the waterfall. The boat capsized and everyone was thrown into the water.

The two rowers of the boat clung to what remained of the boat. They were swept downstream and were able to make their way to the shore and were saved.

Mrs. Stoncipher, one of the twins, and the niece were swept away and drowned. Mr. Stonecipher and the other twin managed to cling to debris, but were still several yards from the shore. Both were too exhausted to try to make landfall, and were in constant peril of being dislodged from their precarious perch by floating objects.

On the shore, a neighbor, Bill Campbell, his sons and a few of the neighbor boys worked valiantly to take another rope to Alvin Stonecipher and his daughter and bring them to shore. After a number of attempts they succeeded in reaching the pair. Then, with the help of 8 or 10 boys pulling on the rope Mr. Stonecipher and his daughter were at last pulled to safety. Cleo, on the barn back at the farmstead was also saved.

After the tragedy there was a good bit of speculation about what might have been done to save the Stonecipher family -- If only there had been more boats -- If only the family had left sooner -- If only the rope had not broken, and on and on. The whole vicinity was devastated by the tragedy. No one present that day, as evidenced by Mary Ellen's vivid memories after more than 75 years, could ever forget that weekend, the tragedy and the heroism displayed. Bill Campbell, the neighbor and friend of the Stoneciphers, brooded about the flood and its awful consequences to the end of his life.