St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-06-08

VANCOUVER, B. G., June 7.-All Can
adianPacific passengers who left for the
East Sunday, and since tilen returned
to this city, last night found it impossi-
BILE to get through the mountains. There
are half dozen breaks OF serious ma
ture along the liue. and the track can
not probably be opened for week. A
more serious interruption than pre-
viously reported is due to cloudburst
in the vicinity of Lytton.
The burst swept the railroad for nine
miles from the sawmill flats at Lytton,
where the approaches to the govern
ment suspension bridge Oh the old Carl
bon road were carried away. The waters
also swept away the iron bridge at Ash
croft and the Canadian Pacific railroad
bridge near Spencer. The water tore
down the mountain gorges with incred-
ible velocity and sent the river leaping
over its banks in boiling and seeihing
current. This great volume of water is
yet to be felt in the lower Fraser val
ley, which it will not reach for another
day. As further details of
THE CLoUDBURST
are received the earlier reports of reced-
ing waters at Lytton and other points
up the river are discredited. However,
it Is not believed the lower river will
rise much higher.
Men who returned last night from
upper river points bring sad stories of
death, devastation and desolation. Set
tiers nay be seen at every station float
ing OH huge RATS made out of wrecks of
farm buildings Oh which they have their
families and their cattle. The govern
ment steamers are reScuing these as
rapidly as possible. One of these RATS
was relieved of its burden by the steamer
Gladys today. On the raft we're man and
wife and two children, one of them an
infant. the other two and half years
old. The horses and cattle constantly
threatened to eyerturn the craft. for
they were moving from side to side in
their efforts to secure food. But there
was none for the animals. and what lit
tie there was for the human beings was
nearly exhausted when the rescue was
made. The younger children may die
of exposure.
Some idea of the horrors may be
Judged when it is stated that there are
thousands of families similarly stu
ated. - z,zs-z-Fi =
A newspaper correspondent, who re-
turned this morning from trip above
Port Haney On rescue steamer, re-
ports
A TERRIBLE STATE
OF affairs in the upper river. Herds of
half-starved cattle, tied On RATS. with
no one to guide the journey of the inse-
cure raft, were seen. Dust above Haney
some desperate rancher had been play
ing cards with fate, and had set his all
to win or lose on the last card by send
ing his little stock adrift at the mercy of
the torrent. Two houses tied to sway.
ing RATS glided by. Families were at
the doors with excited faces, but ap-
parently safe.
A red handkerchief was furiously
waved short distance off. and the
steamer hands were soon lifting out Of
tie boat all exhausted, starving farmer
and his wife. The woman had tainted
for want of food. A moment later the
steamer was again hailed. A man from
shore called out that he had seen raft
with two bodies OH it. News had not
reached the city yet, and details of
many tragedies will never reach here.
After many other exciting scenes the
steamer sailed over theCanadian Pacific
fdl1road, ana tled I'D at w harn0ck rail-
| road station, which was half under
water. The people of Wharnock told
| numerous tales of wholesale
HAVOC AND RUIN.
At Hattie, two houses and store
tiOated out toward the steamer but the
people OF the town never spoke. never
moved. and they were too desperate to
ask for assistance.
At Mission City. the steamer bumped
into barn covered with chickens in all
stages of starvation.
At Sumas the greatest suffering was
reported. Many requests for assis lance
| were made. As the steamer swung out
OF Sunas band of Indians were seen
! holding a barbecue. An OK had been
dragged from the river. and the halt
| starved red men were devouring it. At
present no stop can be put 10 such re-
voting spectacles. which are said to be
common all along the river. The In
dian ranches have been swept away for
hundreds OF miles. and, with nothing to
cover them but blankets. they are, BIZ
vouacing upon the mountain sides and
Selling carcasses as they pass by.
At Chilliwac City nothing can be seen
but the tops of the houses. The entire
| population met the steamer at the foot
| of the DrinpiOaI Strqat