The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-11-12
THE FLOOD RECEDING
Swollen Streams Returning
Within Their Bounds.
DuwAMlsH BRIDGE IN PLACE.
Damage I'm white River Valley Not So
serious-County's Loss. $4,000
Eagle Gorge Repairs.


colder and the waters are subsiding, although
many OF the lowlands are yet submerged. The
bridges that remain viii probably not be washed
away unless another Chinook wind accom-
panied by rain comes before the streams have
chance TO disgorge their unusual Tow. The
high tides backed up the streams and for several
hours yesterday kept the rivers where they
empty into the Sound at standstill, but late
last night the DuYamish was pouring into the
bay like mill-race and with sufficient volume
10 insure perceptiole lowering OF the hood
throughout the valleys drained by it and its
tributaries. Lake Washington is also taking
care OF an immense volume OF the overflow,
Black river backing into it sufficient TO cover
bar which few days ago was entirely exposed
TO depth of several feet The small canal con-
Meeting Lake Union with Lake Washington Is
running nearly full and the smaller lake has
risen nearly foot
AS the waters subsidized in the White river
valley yesterday 1t was found that the damage
was not so serious as it was thought 1t would be
on Tuesday when the streets OF Kent and
Slaughter were under water and many farms
were submerged. Still the loss TO the county
from the washing away Of bridges and grades
will be considerable. the damage to farms will
be large and the railroads will be heavy suf-
ferera.
The storm, according TO reports from various
sources, has badly crippled the Northern Paci-
6c At Eagle Gorge, about eighty-four miles
from seattle on the main line, and at point
just after reaching the western slope OF the Cas-
cades from one-haif 20 one mile OF track and
trestle has been either covered with landslfdes,
washed out by mountain torrents, and In DINER
ways blockading travel and impeding the pro-
gross OF trains. An immense force OF men has
been sent to the scene. and everything possible
is being done to repair the damage and again
make the track serviceable.
Off oil Ia
are doing through business by way OF Portland
The Northern Pacific runs trains through to
Portland. From that city the Union Pacific
transports the passengers to Wallnla junction.
AT Pasco the Northern Pacific Is again reached,
taking the traveller through without further
trouble 10 Sc. Paul.
All express has been ordered on by way of
Portland and win be so carried until the track
is repaired through the mountains
Yesterday morning local train came IN from
Tacoma only twenty minutes late. and close
connection was made with the Seattle. Lake
Shore & Eastern.
The heaviest damage done between Seattle
and Tacoma befei the road at Kent where for a
considerable distance the track was washed out
and submerged. All last night the large force
OF wreckers was busy, and as the water which
had bulged out Of the White river and
overlooked the banks, receded. it was found IN
many places that the track which had been I'M
der water was uninjured. No further trouble is
anticipated at present, and last night trains
were running on regular schedule time.
A. ID. Charlton, assistant general passenger
agent of the Northern Pacific, who had come to
the Sound 10 look over the flood and storm situ-
alton OF the road stated that the local line was
in good condition, and that by tonight the dam
age at Eagle Gorge would probably be entirely
repaired and through trains running on
schedule time.
Two men returned yesterday from a ride
through the White river valley. They report
that water was struck at Ness place. about ten
miles south of Seattle, and that from that place
on TO Sharkey's they went through water up to
the launches of their beasts. The break in the
river was discovered just beyond Sharkey's
place. Mr.. shsrkey feared that his house and
barn were doomed but up TO last night they
were sale and AZ the water is receding no danger
is apprehended. The county draw bridge across
the river was safe.
The men reported that the drift at the county
bridge over the Duwamish river was from six
TO twelve feet deep and that ii extended fully
$50 yards They thought the bridge in no dan
ger as posts in front of the bridge held the drift
and a large force is employed in cutting it out
and sending it down the stream in safety.
People in the locality claim that the water
was higher and rougher than known of for
the past fifteen years Many of the farmers
complain bitterly of losses sustained in the way
OF potatoes and general garden truck, all of
which in many places is still under water.
Hop poles are to be seen floating down the river
by the thousand. The men who have just re-
turned do not think the damage will be either
heavy or extensive in nature.
The county commissioners had received no
new information from the inundated district
south of town up 10 q late hour last night.
Commissioner Gasch is positive, from informa-
ton received from many sources, that the dam
age to county roads and bridges will not reach
$4,000, although he is of the opinion that the
farmers in the valleys viii be very heavy losers.
Commissioner Gasch, Auditor Twichell aud
Superintendent Won Brocklin were again at the
pumanish bridge yesterday experimenting the
clearing away OF the immense jam of driftwood
and saw logs which covers over ten acres and
threatens to carry away the big structure. 1t is
not known whether the bridge can be saved or
not superintendent Won Brockln will oe out
with a larger crew of men this morning, and q
determined effort win be made to dislodge the
Jam. Al the bridge the river is at least $50 feet
wide. The tides from the Sound affect the river
several feet, and when the tide runs out the
velocity of the current is increased TO the speed
of mill-race. At such times a great deal OF
the drift if dislodged and run out
Slaughter and Kent are both out of water once
more, and the latter place is satisfied 10 get Cd
with comparatively small damage, will be
seen by the following special dispatch:
KENr, Nov. lL--So far Kent is concerned
all fears of further damage from the food have
vanished The loss has been much less than
feared, The race track can be readily re
paired az small expense. The damage TO streets
cuiverts, sidewalks. etc, will amount 10 few
hundred dollars. Passenger trains and light
freights are running on the regular schedule
In the valley the loss to ranchers will be con
siderable in the aggregate, and the inconveui
enoe is great. The river hiss fallen four or 1--WE
feet
Tug Violet was up the Duwamish Tuesday
with two members OF the board of county com
missoners, who were experimenting tbs wors
o. breaking the Jam of driitwood al the Soutt
Seattle bridge. She got caught in the curren
ANA was swept aground, and had 20 wait for tbs
tide 10 rise before she could get of. Captain
Corners says there are about forty men at worl
endeayoriug to break the jam. snd that the worl
is extremely dangerous There is another jan
M near Brauu's brewery. and he thinks that II
the event OF that one breaking first the bridg
will be likely TO be carried away.
Tug Bi. came In from Utsalsdy yesterday viii
boom of logs for Salmon bay. Captain Buck
lin stated that there was q fearful Wind storm n
Utsalsdy Monday, and several booms OF log
broke loose, the piles to which they were tie,
being knocked over, and large number of log
went adrife the boom sticks in some instance
were blown right up on top OF the booms Tn
damage. he said. would be considerable.
The Pacific Postal wire were down for shor
distance between acona ana fuyaliup o.
Tuesday. but with characteristic energy the re
psircrs were put TO work. and in two and one
half hours messages went back and forth witt
she usual regularity.
l. J. Colman is ~ Cedar mountain, 70 which
place he was called Monday by serious dsmsg,
done to the bridge of the Cedar River Coal Com
many. On Monday the water in the rive
swslled into the proportions oi s. raging flood
and rs /, bore down the channel IL bore upol
of friffWp<DI lSl a
every description This mighty rush of drii
struck the middle rest of the oompany's bTidg
with tremendous force, and the middle part c
thn hri.lsn fali with terrible crash. The briag