Huntsville gazette., 1892-11-26
LOSSES BY FLOODS.

The State of Washington the Scene of
Disastrous Floods Caused by Recent
Heavy Storms-A Number of Lives Lost
Y at Various Points and Vast Amount OF
Damage to Railroad and Private Prop
erty.
SEATTLE. Wash, Nov. o. Reports
received from the districts visited by
the recent storm show a far greater
loss than was at first anticipated. At
Sedro several lives are reported lost,
and fatalities are reported in Skagit and
Stillaguamish valley from the floods.
Mount Vernon. Fir, La Conner, Hamil-
ton and other towns are under water
four or more feet deep, and people are
removing their effects to higher ground,
fearing still greater rise.
The Skagit river is SO full of logs and
drift that navigation is suspended.
Sunday, tearing out the pier of the
Wadon bridge at Mount Vernon. snap
ping piles off like frail weeds. The
banks of the river are lined with people
watching the mad torrent.
Several breaks have occurred in the
levec, and the valleys and towns
are the scenes of desolation.
are covered with several feet
of water, while the water in
the streets is SO high as to make pedes-
trianism almost impossible. In one place
the break in the levee is half mile
long and six feet wide, and the torrent
is rushing madly through the town of
Fir. Beaver Marsh and the town of
La Conner are also flooded. and the
farmers are driving their stock to high
ground. The damage to the farming
district alone will reach hundreds of
thousands of dollars.
The telegraph lines are prostrated in
many sections, and when communica-
ton has been restored a fearful tale
may be told. Railroad washouts are
reported from many parts of the coun-
try. In many places big landslldes have
washed out the road bed for miles. At
Samish lake and Riclzsham several hun
dred feet Of track have been washed
out, and at the former place bridge
was carried away. Sunday Seattle
& Northern train ran into a floating
bridge in the Skagit valley, and
the engine and baggage ear went
into the river, The fireman was buried
under the locomotive, and the engineer
and baggageman only saved tEem-
selves by jumping and swimming shore.
Word from the town Of Stanwood
says that that place is flooded, and
that it was found necessary to aban-
don the lower floors of buildings ow-
ing to the high waters. Communica-
ton with the ether districts is cut off,
except by steamer
The southwestern part of the state
did not fare so badly as the northwest
ern, judging from the reports received
from that section. Heavy rains have
prevailed and the creeks and rivers are
swollen beyond precedence, but no
great damage beyond losses Of logs and
shingle booms are reported. The rail
roads, however, suffered considerably
by landslides, and numerous bridges
and considera bic track have been
washed away.
The rain has ceased and the wind is
more moderate, and it is now believed
that the worst is over. Many here be-
lieve, or at least hope, that the reports
from the flooded districts are somewhat
exaggerated. as is usual in eases of
floods, but others think the worst is not
yet known.
The log jam at Snohomish railway
bridge has grown to half mile in
length, and the bridge begins to show
signs of weakness. Should it give way
the people in the bottom lands will
perish.