The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1881-01-28
THE FLOOD OF 'sI,
Ref.'a. 'fHcuses Related Ia Graphic style.
Ibc pd Of 'Oi As seen at williams,
efic FaIIa.

The following from tho 7'slegr4m,
written 10y Mrs. Cohurn, is very en-
tertaning sketch:
AS is generally tho case when dis.
coursing on present calamity, the
f,eshet now prevailing in The william
ette is spoken Of by many as the great
est ever known to have taken place in
the civilized history OF that usually
wellbehaved stream. Thoao whose
memories run back to tho food Of '6l,
however, smile with incrsdulity when
momory of the "oldest inhAbitsnt"
challenged TO recall anything like the
tesent volume OF turbid and angry
aters that Is now being poured into
tho lordly Columbia by its chief tribu-
tary. Many who dwelt at Oregon City
during the prevalence Of the former
flood remember with shivsr the fear
full devastation caused by tho angry
waters at that time, and how for days
the inhabitants took up their position
on the high bluffs above the town and
watched while Linn City gave way be-
fore the encroaching waves saw tho
angry surges rise higher and higher un-
tai the Island. Mills were swept from
their foundation, and crcaking ard
groening in every timber set sail {
tho sea, taking with thom the mil
DIR. Mclaughlin, built In the asr.y
days saw the crib work which formed
the old basin. where the locks now are,
burst with the mighty weight Of waters,
leaving an awful iissure through which
the flood leaped with uproarious gusto,
carrying tho Linn City mills with them
and making clean sweep Of the homes
of the laborers that woro nestled upon
tho rockE below. And when tho great
est volume was reached all remember
how in fever OF excitement tho deni-
IONS of the city, village and country
congrcgated at nightfAll upon the hill
and watched little river boat, manned
by two reckless and intrepid mon, a.
she turned her venturesono prov 10
wards the falls and with all steam en-
went careering over tho cataract, cloSs
TO tho Oregon City shore, whistling at
brief intervals 10 let the watchers know
that abe Was maxim. tho porileus run
SUCCESSFULLY. Cord wood in immAass
quantities covered Tho bosom Of the
river for days; huge saw logs, lOosened
from tksir boons, made tho frighlful
plunge ef the falls in great numbers
bsystacis, surnounted by chickens and
pigs, hoAted down tho stream, tho voy
aging cbsntiolserH in moro than one in
stance Growing Justify as the passage o.
the falls was made with safety TO hi
novel raft and i.s living freight. W,
} remember sesiag . largo two-story
house como floating dswn in the early
morning Of ono Of those days. the oper
windows showing ths means OF egreal
Or its startled owners, tho bodssoadl
standing in tho chambers with clothing
upon them, dishsysled from tho sudder
light of its occupants. AS the hous'
ngod over the falls, about tho mid
die - 'he river, creaking Of TIMBER
and c..th Of glass rose FOR AN inslan
above the - . Of the waters, and som,
minutes later eces OF the demolished
tenement rose t. lie surface below th'
swirls and eddies at he foot OF the fall
and kept on their interrupted journey
down stream, telling no tale 10 thos'
who saw them yard, of the hous
of which they had formed part.
When the waters, after tedious delay
subAided, the old basin Was not, and tn
front of Oregon City presented clear
stretch Of rocks 20 tho river. The anx
! isty of the days when tho river wa
'.eadily dsfying all representations o
- "oldess inhabitants" was intense
isny a sturdy pioneer, who had base,
nd built his fortune in tho city Of tn
alls in primitive territorial days an,
! lad settlcd himself down TO content
9 meRt and prospective plenty, say tn
, lAbors OF years and the hopes cf futur
competency borne away by the unprecc
dented rush OF the waters. The age,
Indian soothsayer, who had before beel
I regarded as merely the worthless vags
. bond that he was, was eagerly consult
cd by the timid regarding tho probabil
ities, and with lugubrious accent an
distorted visago elongated 10 suit th
r sudden importance with which he fsun,
. himself invested, told with duo solem
6 nifty OF a time when the river had hile
, the chssm to the very top Of the towc'
ing walls Of colored basalt that no,
grimly frowned upon the discolors
. waters below. But the food Of C
, made it's record and subsided, and les
than n decade thereafter many Of il
dsvastations are forgotten even by thes
who witnessed them, and to the gensrr
tion that have sprung up since, and th
, immigrants who have since become ol
t OregonianS, tho present swirl of angr
! waters seems in excess of any that hs
before been known.