The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-11-20
NORTHERN PACIFIC BLOCKADE.
No Effort to Cross the Cascades-Ta-
coma Cut or From Seattle.

coma Cut or From Seattle.
TACOMA, Nov. 10 Especial AT lilo
tonight the first train for Seattle today
was started. and ut 80 a. IN. it was report
ed that transfer of baggage and passcn-
gers was being made at Black River
Junction for Seattle. The tie-up was on
account of washouts near Palmer which
were reported in the Posr-INrELLIaEScEs
today There is now little danger OF
further trouble or damage Already
enough of both have been exper-
enced. Until daylight today all the
indications were promising for general
and very disastrous flood A warm
chinook wind blew furously toward
morning and telegraph and telephone
wires were disabled by various obstruc-
tions.
By noon Postal wires had been re-
paired in all directions, but the
Western Union wires between Ta-
coma and Seattle were not up at
a. m. this morning The Northern Pa
citic wires in the Cascade mountains are
also in bad shape. A force of linemen are
at work making repairs. Today commune
cation with the mountain division was had
from this point via Pasco and Portland.
Superintendent Mason, of the Northern
Pacific telegraph lines, says there was a
larger volume Of water in the mountains
onIhursday night than year ago when the
disastrous Canton washout and landslide
resulted. Had the road not been in much
better shape this fall to resist the torrents
OF water, greater damage would no doubt
have resulted. All summer gangs of men
have been kept at work repairing the
mountain division of the road and it was
considered in condition to withstand the
severest storms. This has proven mis-
take. Assistant General Superintendent
Dickinson Is at the scene of the Palmer
bridge washout, and will remain in charge
of repairs until trains again move. at
Crocker another Northern Pacific bridge
has been damaged, and this. in addition to
the thirty-foot washout of the approaches
to the Stuck river bridge, constitute the
principal damage to the road reported
Of course, there are minor washouts and
slight damage has been done to various
places along the Gray's Harbor, Seattle,
Carbonate and other branches. There
have been several small landslides,
but in no case have trains been
delayed from this cause. All the
bridges along the lines now operated are
being carefully watched. But as the Chi
nook wind has lulled and cooler weather
W,
prospects are promising for no further
damage. Mails continue TO arrive
promptly via the Union Pacific and
Portland. No mail was received here to-
day from Seattle. This afternoon the
Flyer was engaged to carry the Seattle Il
Northern mail to Seattle. Arrangements
have been made with this steamer to carry
the mail should the Northern Pacific be
unable to do so.
No orders had been received at o'clock
this Sunday morning to move trains
over the Northern Pacific east over the
Cascades That branch of the road is in
definitely tied up. A train may be made
up Monday.
The steamer State of Washington broke
shaft Oft Whidby island today and is re-
ported as being towed to Seattle. Had she
not broken the shaft she would
probably have been caught in
the storm and damaged or wrecked
Today no boat left here for Seattle except
the Flyer. An attempt was made this
evening to send the Monroe to Seattle
with delayed passengers and express mat
ter. A large number of people gathered
at the wharf and waited until nearly mid
night but the Monroe did not come i'm.
| and as it was reported that it would take
three hours to unload her freight " hen she
did get in, the beiated travellers sought rest
at the hotels. Inside of eightecn hours
yesterday and last nigh nearly four
inches of rain fell, making the heaviest
fall ever reported here
The county commissioners have had all
the bridges that were in danger of being
carried away guarded. Thas far no gr NJ
| damage to county property is repc
and no bridges have been carried
| The rivers in this county have owe.
| in some instances and the banks ha
washed away.