The Delta Independent

A scientist attached to one of the government bureaus, while gathering, with an assistant, certain data on the Missouri river in South Dakota, reported a curious phenomenon that sometimes occurs in that region. It was in December. About noon one day there came to the scientist's ears a heavy report, audible for miles, that led him to remark that a blowout must have occurred on the river. On returning to the place where he had crossed in the morning he found an irregular hole, covering a space 100 feet square, in the solid ice, which averaged 26 inches in thickness. The theory is that such blowouts result from imprisoned air gradually accumulating in a favorable spot, where it is subjected to tremendous pressure by the force of the river current.