The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-02-06
AVALANCHE AND FLOOD.
AN IDAEO TOWN NEARLY WIPED
OUT OF EXISTENCE.

Three Men Killed by the Rushing
Mass of Snow and Rock k-The In
habitants Flee to Other Towns-A
Phenomenal Rain-storm Brings
Floods and Avalanches in Oregon.
SPOKANE FALLS, WASH, Feb. 5.-rhe
town of Burke, Idaho, in the Coeur d'Alene
mining district, has been nearly destroyed
by avalanches.. Half of the business houses
are in ruins. Three men were killed, and
the terror-strioken inhabitants have
fed to the towns of ' Gem and Wal
lace, fearing a repetition of the dis
aster. Particulars are meagsr, as
the wires to all points IN the mines have
gone down, leaving no means of communi-
cation. The disaster occurred yesterday
afternoon. With scarcely a moments warn
ing tremendous mass of snow and rocks
swept down on the town from the west side
of the narrow gulch in which 1t is situated.
Five men were buried beneath the snow.
Two were rescued, but the others are dead
and their bodies have not yet been recov-
cred. The ill-fated town lies in q narrow
gulch through which Canon cresk pours
its water into the South fork of the Coeer
d'Alene IL had about 200 inhabitants, VINO
have deserted their wrecked or menaced
homes and places of business. The nearest
town is Gem, also upon Canon creek, ana
three miles down the stream.
SIX MINERS KILLED.
Later in the day another disastrous
avalanche swept upon the boarding houses
connected with the Custer mine, which is
situated upon Nine Mile creek, about five
miles from Burke The boarding house
was full of miners, six Of whom we're killed
Others had a narrow escape, and a number
were more or less injured. The disasters
are not a surprise to those familiar with
the topography OF that section. The towns
are situated in very narrow gulches on
either side Of which abrupt mountains arise.
The snowfall there this winter has
been unprecedented in the history
Of the country. Within the last few days
it has been raining hard, which mad the ef-
feet Of loosening the deep snow banks ana
precipitating them on the town and houses
below. The CBer d'Alene mining district
is one OF the richest In the world, both for
gold and silver. 1t includes the famous
Bunker Hill and Sullivan mines, perhaps
the greatest fissure veins In America. The
principal town is Wallace. Other towns are
Wardner, Osborne, Burke, and Gem
PHENOMENAL RAINsroRM IN OREGON.
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 5.-A dispatch
from Jacksonville, Ore, says a phenominal
rainstorm has prevailed In Southern Oregon
since last Friday, which, In connection with
the melting SHOWS In the mountains, has
caused the greatest food known since
that country was settled. The damage
to Southern Oregon cannot be estimated as
yet, for postal communication is so uncer-
tain and limited that only surmises can be
made Of the ravages Of the water. On the
line OF the numerous tributaries of Rogue
river many ranches have been damaged, il
not ruined, and miles of fencing have been
swept away.
SOIL WASHED TO THE GRAVEL
Much Of the finest soil in the lower valley
has been washed down to the gravel and
bed rock, and the spectacle of fields q 6ybded.
roads washed out and bridges and culverts
demolished is common. The fertile Bear
creek region has not escaped the visitation.
Part OF the valley has presented the
appearance OF turbid sea for
days. and communication between
its many towns has been almost
suspended by the swollen foot hill streams.
Bear creek itself has borne along a great
deal of wreckage, fences, outbuildings, and
even barns and houses, and has wrought
much destruction in undermining and
sluicing off the deep alluvia deposits that
compose its banks.
IN THE APPLICABLE REGION.
the Apologize region there are but few
bridges left. Many people were obliged TO
leave their homes for safety. Great dam
age has been done to mining interests by the
bursting q dams and rivers the breaking
and filling Of bitches, and the loss of fiume
boxes and machinery. The Oregon and
California railroad track in South Oregon
has been washed away for miles, and the
roadbed is seriously damaged along the line.
There has not been a mail from the north or
south for several weeks. Hundreds of
thousands of dollars will not cover the
loss.
THE SITUATION AT PORTLAND.
Advices from Portland, Ore, say the
situation there is undoubtedly due to the
rapid rise Of the Willamette river. It
flows into the Columbia just above Port
land For nearly a month past the hills
and mountains OF Oregon through which
the river flows have been piled with con-
tinually falling snow. The drifts in some
places were fifteen to twenty feet high.
During the past few days warm winds have
melted the snow. and the Willamette river
has become a torrent
SEVERAL AvALANcHEs.
On the Northern Pacific between Noxon
and Trout Creek, there have been several
avalanches since last Saturday, and the tel
egraph lines there are also interrupted.
From another source information has been
received by the Associated Press to the
effect that the Southern Pacific California
line is still blockaded and suffering severely
from washouts along the streams, which are
rising rapidly from the recent rains
and melting SHOWS. The latest information
from Portland develops the fact that the
Union Pacific line is again closed, this time
owing to heavy rains, melting snow, and
snow-slides along the Columbia river, be-
tween Dalles and Portland, where the road
suffered so severely two wears ago from the