The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1894-06-09
TALES OF DISASTER.
The Losses Along the Upper and
Lower River.
THE DAMAGE CONTINUES
The River 20 Miles WIDE Reports
From SteambOatme Tell Some
Of the Particulars.

The Columbia's greatest flood has not
only inflicted serious damage upon the
merchants and property owners OF Port
land, but has also damaged the farmers
and inhabitants of small cities in the
low lands along the mighty river to an
incalcuable extent Several towns are
completely, and others partly, submerg-
ed. Houses and wharves have been
wrenched from their foundations and
swept away by the raging waters, and
all that remain Of them are pieces OF
driftwood tossing about upon the swol-
len stream. Fro0sthe banks of the high
lands in Oregon to those in Washington
the river extends, being at places 20
miles wide. Remnants of buildings mark
parts Of the devastated section and can
be plainly seen from the decks of pass
ing steamers. They attracted great
deal of attention yesterday from the
passengers on the gigantic Northern
Pacific transfer boat, Tacoma, many of
whom braved the stormy morning in or
der to view the scene.
Little has been known of the damage
in the Columbia lowlands, as telegraph
ic Communication is practically impos-
sible. Plenty of news Of distressing
character was brought up by the cap
tains of the river steamers which ar
rived yesterday.
Down along our route the people In
the lowlands have deserted their homes
and fled to the hills for safety" said
Capt. Gray. of the Lewis River Trans
portation Company's steamer Mascot,
which plies between Portland and towns
on the Lewis river woodland, town
of four or five hundred inhabitants, in
Cowlitz county, Washington, is COM
pIetely submerged, and has been de-
serted by all but few, who remained
to save their effects and are now living
in the second stories of their houses. OF
those who fled, some are camping in the
highlands and others are staying with
friends. So far as L could learn, no one
was in distress, but that will be an
after effect of the flood, as most Of these
people have lost all, or nearly all, of
their worldly possessions. Masters OF
boats plying in the Columbia are doing
all in their power to help these people,
such as removing their furniture and
stores and sometimes live stock to safer
localities. We have also rescued a great
many people, who remained in their
houses until the last minute, when a
uuaking of the building indicated that
the foundation was losening, and 1t
would soon be swept away. In every
case escape by any other way than by
boat was entirely cut off, and few of
the people had boats. Their signals to
passing steamers were always needed,
and they were removed to dry land.
Their signalling before the houses had
been thoroughly shaken from their
foundations, and the frequency with
which boats pass the inundated district,
alone have prevented a possible loss Of
life. have been informed that in one
case a house was swept away shortly
after the family had been taken aboard
steamer.
"All the warehouses and docks along
the river, and houses and barns in the
lowlands have either been carried away,
toppled over or wrecked by the flood. 1t
is a common sight to see a wharf or
house me floating down the Columbia,
and it is one that / do not think will be
Lewis river, booms of logs have been
carried away, and only rafts securely
tied have been saved. The loss in that
section alone will reach the hundred
personal property or live stock. most Of
which has been saved by steamers. The
Mascot alone removed 900 head Of cat
tie and horses to the hills. There are a
number Of heavy losers by the flood at
ST. Helen's. Muckle's mill was dam
aged to an incalculable amount. Mr..
Muckle told me this morning that the
whole plant was under water and would
be nearly total loss. Some of the
buildings, he said, y been moved from
their foundations md he thought it
would require b at outlay to repair
the damage TIVE sf his RATS of logs
were swept away the other night, and
one was lost. captured the other and
towed 1t to Columbia City, and left 1t
there securely mocred. Rice's dock at
ST. Helen's was swept away yesterday
morning, shortly after the passage Of
the steamer Columbia, and will be to-
tai loss. The warehouse at Ridgefeld,
Wash. disappeared during the night,
and has not been seen since. The Meth
odist church on Sauyie's island has list
ed heavily to the port, and now stands.
or rather floats, at an angle Of Is de-
grees. The school house in the Reeder
district and Musgrove's barn have been