The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-06-12
The Damage by the Flood Was
Grossly Exaggerated.
RAILROADS STRENGTHENING OUT
All the Lines Will Be Ready for
Business in Few DAYS.
the Rivers-Canadian Pacific Track In
Better shape Than Was Expected
PortiAnd's Less Small.

VANCOUVER, h. C., June Il.-Reports
from the interior today and yesterday
were of very encouraging nature. all
stating that the water was falling fast.
Tne weather was much cooler. and IL was
raining at several points. though change
occurred tonight and il promises to be hot
again. AT Yale yesterday the water fell
twelve inches. and up to l o'clock this
afternoon the food had been lowered by
another ten inches. making total fall Of
twenty-five inches in thirty hours. At
Westminster the water has fallen six and
one-half inches since the food began 10
recede, though the fall was principally
causes by lower tides.
Ii was thought that all danger was
averted at Lulu island. hut on Sunday the
ditch became stopped, and the water
backed up, flooding several large farms.
The congregation OF the Methodist church
turned out, and. under the direction of
Pastor Green. did all ttey could to avert
further loss.
The steamers Gladys and Courser are
still actively engaged in delivering sup
plies to settlers. Funds are coming in
rapidly. The governor general has wired
TO Lieus-Gov. Dewdney request TO be
of Trade has wired q contribution Of 81, ,2o0
A meeting will he held tomorrow after
noon of representatives OF the provincial
government, boards of trade and municipal
councils TO arrange a system of relief and
diking the iowlands.
Many messages are stu being received
from England and Eastern Canada inqnir-
ing after the safety Of friends. This
anxiety is caused by cruel and exaggerated
reports of the number Of lives lost. The
Associated Press correspondent made
careful inquiries today, and so tar as can
be ascertained only two lives were lost
during the whole food, one little child at
the Langley hotel. who fell into the water
while her parents were absent, and
bridge carpenter on the Canadian Pacific
railroad. named McTavish. Great indig-
nation Is felt here at these untruthful re-
ports, as owing to the interruption in
telegraph service IL was some days before
messages could be answered.
Chief Engineer Peterson, of the Cana
dian Pacific railroad. has just reached
here after tour of inspection of the por-
ton of the line damaged by floods. He
had Just reached Montreal on completion
of his annual tour with President Van
Horne when summoned back. He has
been carefully over the road and says tho
damage is not so great as thought.
Though the track In washed away in many
places fhe bottom 10 still solid. OF course
a number of bridges are washed away, but
transfers can be made in most places. Bow
river also overfiowed its banks and several
bridges were washed away there. Repairs
on the Western division will be completed
sufficiently for traffic by the end of the
week Repairs on the Pacific division
will take longer. but Ii is hoped by means
of transfers 10 convey passengers through
by the end of the week. There has been
no mail now for nine days.
Passengers by the Australian steamer
Arawa are now staying at the Hotel Van-
couver at the Canadian Pacific rasIroads
expense. The Chinese liner Empress Of
Japan is due tomorrow, and then tho
hotel will be taxed TO its utmost resources.
The delayed passengers have taken their
detention very good naturedly. and while
away the time by baseball. cricket and
other games, having organized team
among themselves.
City Engineer Tracy has just returned
from the Cariboo country after an excit-
ing trip. lie went up on the last train
leaving here. which got as far as Ashcroft.
From there he proceeded by stage. On the
return trip he found the water had risen
very high, and what were small creeks
few days before were now raging
torrents lie encountered terrific
thunderstorm, such as had never been
seen here before. Ii was this
storsn that caused the cloudburst near
Ashcroft and did such damage On reach
ing Ashcroft last Tuesday he found the
bridge gone aud the river a boiling tor
rent, filed with huge trees and driflsood.
which we're tossed about like corks. Cross
ing vas effected by canoe. though il was
a dangerous venture. The rest Of the trip
along the Canadian Pacific railroad Was
made by handear. canoe, work trains and
wadlng through the water. IL took seven
DAYS 10 make the trip usually accom-
plished in two days.
The big bridge at Donald, some 40 feet
In length. IS reported gone. IL ID imposss-
bic 70 transfer here. and this may cause
lengthy delay ia resumption of traffic.