The record-union., 1894-06-14
"BESBLENA" IN A BOAT,
Riding Around the Flooded Streets Of
Portland.
Scenes in the Beautiful Metropolis
of the Northwest, Now
Under Water.

Especial Correspondence of RECORD UNIoN.l
PORTLAND orr, June 1l.--Portland
has just experienced a second deluge.
The angry waters came up and over
flowed the land until the entire business
portion of the city was submerged and
business was practically at a standstill.
The very oldest inhabitant shakes her
silvered head (the oldest inhabitant hap
pens 10 be woman this tine) and says
she never saw anything like it before. but
the Indians come forward with thrilling
tale of how all the land was we'll COW
cred with water eyeu as lar back as the
high green hills which surround the city.
but that was long before the reign OF the
white man. Coming direct from the
glorious sunshine of the Golden State,
the sight OF the rampant waters was
certainly novel one. OF course every
body went boating. and some OF tae eX-
temporiZed crafts were very funny to be-
hold. The Chinese were particularly In
geniOuS in their crafts, and paddl
peacefully about in anything from
modern row-boat TO u washtuS. L took
boat ride-of course; 10 be right in the
swim, one had 10 do that "a G rode for
two hours aud "a half, and then didn't see
the whole scene o! watery devastation.
TO q stranger the sight was one OF awe
inspiring wonder, but to one familiar
with the sights and scenes it WAS nothing
less than a good, genuine shock To see
how far the water had lncroached. The
boatnlan rowed US through the City
Park, under the green branches of the
tall trees which line either side of the
walk. We got out at the band stand aud
looked about, ami, as far as eye could see,
was a waste OF water. fhen we again
embarked i'll our little craft, and haG the
unusual experience OF rowing through
the lower doorway OF the new Union
depot, whicn is under several feet OF
water.
just here there is bridge, and leaving
our boat we alighted. and from the
higher elevation the real extent OF the
damage could tor the first time be fully
realized. AS far as the eye could see
was water, water everywhere" not
turbulent and angry; rushing with an
angry roar to the ocean, but still and
peaceful and beautifully clear. looking as
innocently unconcerned as though IL
didn't care one bit that it had caused
hundreds of thousands of dollars worth
of damage, but still water always does
run the deepest. The railroad COM
panies will oe among the heaviest losers,
as many OF their engines and Pullman
cars are under water, and at present 1t is
Impossible to eXtricate them.
Looking from the scene of desOiation
far away upon the green hills q very
different sight greeted the eye. Upon
the higher elevation the declining sun
was shining in mass OF golden glory.
tinging the grass with brighter hue
until the whole hill top seemed carpeted
in emerald velvet. The sky, too, was
i Il L.
light, and seemed 10 fortell a bright
prophecy of rapidly receding water TO the
many desolate here, made homeless by
the march OF old Neptune, who seemed to
wish to show his superiority over the
weak minion-man.
From the bridge we again took our
boat and made our way down to the
more populous portion OF the city. y
sidewalk is nowadays an unheard. o
luxury, and are substituted by narrow,
raised walks or platforms. upon which it
is pretty difficult matter for two to
walk with any degree of comfort, often
times one or the other of two pedestrians
get an involuntary ducking. but the
bath is taken with grace and good
nature. One remarkable thing is the
absence of all grunbling; the citizens
have taken the flood good naturedly and
with degree of philosophic resignation
which is positively touching under the
circumstances. Many strange sights are
encountered on such ride. In China
town the ton-tOms and pans are beating,
while the shrill squeaks Of the fiddle tes-
tify that the heathen are waiting their
prayers heavenward for a speedy abate
ment of the waters. The places where
men quench their fiery thirst are unhap-
PLY not allowed to sell spiritnous liquors
outside Of their permanent quarters.
Many of them have Shut up shop en-
tlrely; the furniture and other fixtures
piled up on the counters, where they are
guarded by the shivering, frightened
rats, who swarm to the higher ground
from cellars and attics. They have
sought shelter on shelves and counters,
where they are dying by scores.
In the halls of Bacchus, which are still
open to the public, it is no uncommon
thing to see boats riding through the
doorway, the thirsty occupants quench-
ing their thirst without leaving the boat
Other more enterprising proprietors have
built their places Of business on floating
rats. Going down the wholesale portion
OF town, where tall buildings line either
side of the street, there is all intersection,
in the center of which stands the public
fountain, the top only OF which is visible
above the surrounding flood. 1t is just
here that We became Impressed for the
first time with the Nenetian-like aspect
of the scene. 1t IS easy enough to trans
pose the tall wholesale houses into noted
castles and palaces, the inundated streets
into Venetian waters, the ordinary row.
boat into gaily festooned gondola and
the ordinary boatmen into dark-eyed, be-
witching gondoliers--all this takes but
little stretch of the Imagination, and
WAS leaning back luxuriously, giving
my fancy full sway, when l was reused
from my pleasant reverie by masculine
voice beside me saying: 'Bess, do you
know that you are now an antedeluvian?"
"What's that?" said l. sitting bolt up
right in an instant, causing the boat TO
wobble suspiciously, while all my Vene-
tian dreams were dispelled in an instant.
why, you are an antediluvlan now,
Bess," continued my tormentor, "be-
cause you have lived and fiourished be-
fore the flood. In years to come, when
speaking of you, people will say, oh,
long before the fiood.' F." And then that
horrid man laughed so hard that he
nearly upset the boat, and caused me to
give vent to a few shrill feminine
screams. As soon as l regained my
breath, warned that man that if he over
dared to breathe to living soul that he
ever knew or heard Of me before the flood
that pd cut his acquaintance upon the
spot And after he had promised most
solemnly the boat was landed, and after
taking few steps | found myself at
home again. BESELENA.
Young Ladies' Institute.
Young Ladies' Institute, No. II, has
elected officers for the ensuing term as