The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-02-07
0REGON'S GREAT FLOODS.
DANGER THAT MORE BRIDGES
WILL BE CARRIED AWAY.

Above the High Water Mark-The
Situation in Other Places as Bad
More About the Avalanches.
PORTLAND, ORE, Feb. 6.-This morning
the river at this point is at standstill, and
1t is hoped that no further rise will occur
At Corvallis and Oregon City the river Is
reported falling at the rate of one inch per
hour.
The water in the city of Portland is the
highest known since 1876, but so far il has
been confined TO comparatively small dis
trict, aud although causing much incon-
Venlence, has occasioned no serious damage
TwENTY-EIGHT FEET ABOVE HIGH WATER.
The water last night was twenty-eight
feet above high water mark, and extended
four squares back from the river front to
Third street. The flood has been caused by
the simultaneous rising of the Willamette
and Columbia rivers, which ara usually at
the high stage several months apart. The
main Hood has been in the Willamette, but
the unusual stage of the water in the
Columbia prevented the former river from
running off as it usually does.
IN THE WILLAMETTE VALLEY.
More serious damage has been occasioned
throughout the Willamette valley than
here Bridges were carried away at Salem
and Oregon City, and many small houses
oullt near the river were washed away
Communication with those points is very
uncertain, and the full extent of the dam
age ~ a matter OF conjecture. A large part
of the territory flooded in Portland is low
ground not occupied by buildings, but a
few business streets are submerged, where
the lower stories Of a number of blocks are
flooded. Tue subsidence of the water may
.t..I 4
ures, as strong current is running.
THE Greatest DANGER.
The greatest danger apprehended is that
one or both of the bridges crossing the
Willamette river, wooden structures, NAV
be carried away by the high water and
drift-wood. Should this happen it is feared
that the steel railroad bridge below would
go out, as the stage of the water is too high
to permit Of any drift passing under it.
Aside from these contingencies tho real
damage to the city will be trfing.
PoRTLAND's ISOLATION.
The isolation of Portland from the east
for the past three days was not caused by
the floods, but by land-slides along the Co
lumbia river obstructing the tracks and
destroying the poles and wires on the Ore
gon Railway and Navigation Company's
lines. No trains have run out Of here
except to Tacoma. The only other travel
has been by the Columbia river boats
AT A STANDsTILL AT PORTLAND p. NJ.
PORTLAND. ORE, VIA VANCOUVER, B.
G., AND MONTREAL, Feb. 6-The water is
now believed to be at "a standstill, and no
further damage to merchants in the city is
anticipated. Railway bridges are still in
danger, however, as the water in some of
the streets is waist deep, and there is ten
mile current. The loss to the valley is
enormous. Telegraphic communication
with the east is completely cut OFF, except
by way of Vancouver, upon the Canadi an
Pacific system. There is no delay TO traffic
on the Canadian Pacific railway over their
entire system.
The water apparently was at stand-still
this afternoon, but was still up to the waist
in front of the Pacific postal telegraph office.
FEARS OF SERIOUS LOCAL DAMAGE PAST
PORTLAND, ORE, Feb. 6, 10 p. M.-The
river is falling slowly to-day and fear of
serious local damage from the flood is past
The water reached the hi hest point-2S
feet 4 inches-at o'clock this morning.
Goods in stores on the lower streets
were all removed beyond reach
of damage. Reports from points
on Willamette river indicate that
tnesriver is falling rapidly. The most Sc
rious loss will be from the destruction of
bridges. The largest towns in the valley
to travel continues, but the Oregon Rail-
way and Navigation Company has estab--
lished q steamer service to Cascade Locks,
above which trains are running.
Between Cascade Locks and here
there is succession Of land
slides entirely obliterating the track in some
places. The Southern Pacific road sent out
a train on its branch line west, but it got no
further than Nc Minnville, fifty miles from
here. N trains have been sent out on the
main line. The Northern Pacific is running
to Tacoma and is carrying the
mails. The eastern mails which
have accumulated at Cascode Locks
are expected to reach here by steamer to-
night. 1t is expected that the railroad
blockade to Cascade Locks will continue
some days yet, and between here and San
Francisco for weeks, as the track and road
way has been entirely destroyed for con-
siderable distance.
The Union Pacific road is blockaded bv
heavy slides between this city aud Dalles,
and no trains are expected to be running for
several days. The Northern Pacific is still
running.
SIXTY HOUSES SWEPT AWAY.
At Salem, sixty houses have been swept
away, and many persons were driven from
their homes, though as far as known no
lives have been lost. Along the river bot
toms live stock has been drowned, and
quantities Of grain and hay destroyed.
The Columbia river, at Vancouver,
Wash, is falling.
At Eugene, Ore, a large wagon bridge
was washed away, causing loss of So, 600
A few buildings and a large amount Of
cord wood, fencing and other material were
washed away, and the aggregate losses will
DOT up many thousands of dollars.
At Roseburg, Ore, no trains have arrived
since Friday, and a shortage Of provisions
is feared unless communication is restored.
The bridge across Deer creek has gone, aud
the woolen mills have been totally destroyed.
WORK OF THE LAND-sLIDEs.
SPOKANE FALLS, WASH, Feb. e.-Later
reports from Burke indicate that no lives
have been lost. Mr.. I'd Mrs. Wise, Jack
Wade and wife, we're buried in a snow
slide, but were all rescued.
At the Custer mine, however, the disaster
was worse than at first reported. Six
were killed outright. Forty men
are employed at the mine In two
shifts Oae shift was below and the
other was eating dinner at the time the
avalanches rushed upon their boarding
house. Many other avalanches have oc-
Cured In the Coeur d. Alene district The
canons are full of snow, rocks. and great
trees. The people of that whole section ars
terror-stricken, and did not sleep last night.
=
Government of Wales.
LONDON, Feb. 6.--Mr. Thomas. home
t,ar. - fto