The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1881-01-21
SYRACUSE PRECINCT.

/ lcet. 50 lar 10 loss OF lite.
Suo.
SYRACUSE PRECINCT
In Tho lower lands of tho Syracuse Pre-
cinet near tho mouth of tho Santiam river
tho loss has been considerable. Almost ov-
cry farmer has lost something fencing is
swept away and grain washed ont, stock
drowned and buildings and hay and grain in
store badly damaged. Mr. Harvey Cole, We
learn, lost about so head of sheep. Mr..
Perry Adams is ono of tho heaviest losorg.
The water undermined and iloated of his
grainery building, which foil to pieces. II
contained about 1900 bushels Of whoat aud
oats, and theao ero arc all lost IIo also
had between 75 aud 100 head of sheep
drowned. Mr. 3. +. Crooks, who liyos near
the river was surrounded by water, and
himself and family worc moved out In boats.
lie losea oil Of his cattle, but wo could not
learn tho number. Mr.. Percival il also n
loser and was surrounded by water 40 that
he had 10 move out in boats His stock was
drowned and other property damaged.
nrMrnHEYa RAPIDS.
Opposite these rapids, between lndepcnd.
once and Buena Vista, there is n largo tract
of low land. and nearly all The residents aro
heavy losete and many OF them came near
losing their lives. The water roAo 10 rapidly
that it cut on communication from tho main
land before they could escape and being
henmed in they woro obliged ts let every
thing 20 aud seek tho hiahoEt places for per-
goual safety They wero finally, on Wednes.
day and Thursday. driven into tho upper
rooms Of II large two.story house, whore they
remained without fire or food. aud in con j..
staat fear OF the continually rising waters.
On Friday morning, Jan. lltb. tho o. H. &
n. Cos steamer. Willamette Chief. Capt.
| G.. \. Gore. Master. knowing thero must bc
much soldering IL the settlements along the
river, concluded To attempt 20 90 mp stream
aud SOC II somelhing coald not bo done. Tho
eurreu. was Eorec. the water full OF heavy
J drit and the river banks Oyernowod max.
ing the tiip an extremely dangerous one, aud
OH river men At Salem, whero tho steamer
was laying. tried hard TO persuade Capt.
Gore not To undertake IT, la tho face Of all
theso obstacles, however. NJ about : 30 n
"a. tho Chief steamed up the river. A.
Independence she landed eloso up to tho
warehousea. running directly .syor tho bauk
Of the river aud a!Hoat into the town. The
water then Was rising fast, but had not yet
reached the main streets. We undsrrtaud n
large amount oi lumber piled on tho river
baul, wSa swept away. About noon the
steamer reached Humphreys Rapids. Tho
/ Captain bad blown thc whistle frequently all
| along Is a siguEl 20 any who might be in need
OF help. bu. had heard Of or seen nothing
until reaching the Rapids. when the shouts
/ .: the people who had bscs Tor two days aud
I more pglaoner Of the flood, reached his ears.
and the steamer 40 once LETT tho river. and.
/ plowaE her wsy through the patsr. which
vas seyersl feet deep. over grain fields. or.
ahard3 and meadows. came up within few
rods oI tho house, wAen her boats wero let
down aai some 30 or 20 persozs rescued
/ irora what would soon have been their tomb.
( 1hs sceuo Is srokon of by ,hoae who wit
acsssd i. "a heartroi.d,ng in tic extreme.
/ Two days an8 more OF tho cold. without :irg
F og fool. had mads many oi them almost stupid
aud eat.rsly careless ~ 70 whsther they weEo
rsseucd or nos There were aitega women.
I eight os taa neu and several sn'ail children.
7 AL ~sre taken on board, the Captaia had
+ prepared !ag them T. wAgm meal, and did cv.
eFyiiing m his power to make them CON.
! Portable. Near by large aock eI ahecp
were btyugglins r.. h,c aits the tising water
and tte Laa.a ot tbe ",i.i-i" picked up III
Il these. hss.lc - or SO head O! cattle. The
steamer then made back 70 tho river and
! sooa reached Euena Vista. where passengers
anil cargo were landed fyee Of charge The
( Captain ahd passengers speak in the Ligsssi
;era7 Of praise Il the manner IN which both
olaeg- aud crew dii their duty. Every.
=. s. tlors's noLlc action will long live
among the annals oi the lood Of 81. The
Captain Is 80 afAb,e, pleasant gentleman.
aad hjs position "a Master oi one oi tho best
steamers Of the o. r. & y. Co, show in
'~ha. a.timation he is held by the company.
One OF the passengers. Capt. y. Z. Hamph.
f>y. oi thia city. dcs1f.bes an amusing Incl.
dent connected with the rescue and landing
Of the water bound passengers Floating
about on p pieeo Of dri(s near tue plae,
, where the aheop we're picked uP. the ner
found l.ttlo "razor back" pig, who sat or
: his improyised boat as independent as il h,
were used TO aoods lIe vas picked up an,
brought on board the steamer, when he a
, once began survey Of the entire deck Of th
steamer. walking about and grunting at thi
a and that object "a /, entirely satisfied wit
tho arrangements Of tho Willamette Chief
At Buena Vista the pig was on hand whc
. the plank was run out and before ii reache
tie LanA was on it, aud being wet his hin
. feet slipped, and he went sliding down. tab
. ing observations az no went
ID, Across THE RIVER
.s II company with Ed. Carter and Jas. Fo
:. ter, we crossed the river at this point la,
@ Tuesday to ses what damage had been dor
o in that locality. We knew the losa Rust
It very great, but wpso NOS prepared to vie
l. sgch de.olate picture as that locality no
,e present
ID Mr. Pierce's loss will reach several thou
and dollars. Ills fences are entirely swel
away, and he loses one dwelling, barn ar
outbuildings, and at another place barn
very badly damaged. a great many pot
toes, apples, peas and different varieties
seed grain stored in couple OF cellars and
be small store room. All were submerged, al
lg the rich, sandy loan washing in upon the
te has mado all solid mass which cann
hn disnlnc cnd NTH nnuthinn hut a nink /