The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-11-11

pose of affordiag channel through the Com
meneement Land Company's land TO deep
water. This was done by changing the channel
by the dam.
1t was decided at midnight that the Puyallup
river dam would not break, and that the 81
Paul and Tacoma lumber mill would not De
washed away An entire block OF land near the
naphtba launch works was washed away. Inc
lots were valued at $1,000 each. Shortly after
dark sensation was created by terrific explo-
sion that shook every building in the city az
high up as the brow of the hill. 1t was at first
believed that the Puyallup river dam had been
blown up, in order TO save the mill
property by releasing the water. The fact
was that one OF the smaller channels OF the
Puyaliup, the dam, becoming jammed
with logs and trees, IN attempt was made 70
open the channel by blasting. An immense
quantity of giant powder was put in the Jam,
but while the explosion shook the city 1t DID
not break the log jam. Several window lights
in the mill and surrounding houses were shat
tered. One dwelling the flats was entirely
undermined and sunk In twenty feet OF water
tonight. The inhabitants moved out and are
safe. Other dwelling are surrounded with
water.
At5p. m. the Seattle-Tacoma Northern Pacific
branch was open, and the regular trains were
ordered ont A train also arrived tonight from
Montesano, and that branch will be operated
tomorrow.
The washout east of Eagle Gorge was the most
serious of all damage done. a thousand feet OF
track and two miles Of telegraph line are gone.
1t is impossible at that point to build a tenn
porary track around the washout, as there Is no
available space. The roadbed must be filed in
and new track laid. Probably overland trains
on the Northern Pacific will not be started until
Friday. At 10 O'Clock special train on the
Northern Pacific ief. for the East via Portland
and the Union Pacific to Walla Walla
A special train left at midnight with q repair
gang of 100 men, who will be rushed throug h to
the Eagle Gorge washout on the Northern Pa
cifie via Portland, Pasco and Ellensburg 4
special repairing gang was sent forward on re-
eeipt of information that at various points ex-
tending over distance of eight miles between
Eagle Gorge and haywood, the Northern Pa
cihc roadbed was wrecked by the great volume
of water, resulting from rains and the action of
the Chinook wind upon the heavy fall OF snow,
which has been finding an outlet from the
forty-eight hours.
There is no foundation for the wild rumors
about the bodies of six siwashes seen floating
out to sea in a canoe, or that several hundred
men are necessary to prevent the Puyallup river
dam giving away A small force is employed to
watch the dam and repair the breaches. An
other attempt will be made in the morning to
blast an opening in the log jam.
Captain Hull, of the launch works, said to-
night that work will be suspended for months
and the thirty men employed thrown out of
work. A! clock the water was recediug, and,
aside from twenty or thirty more feet of the
launch works being washed away, no further
damage is anticipated. Tomorrow the work of
blasting out entire new branch channel for
the river, allowing the current to carry away the
debris, will be begun.