The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1894-06-05
THE GREAT FLOOD.
All Former Floods Discounted
by Over Two Feet.
PoRTLAND's GLOOMY PROSPECT
Docks BEING Broken Up and Washed
Away and Valuable Goods Float
ing Seward.

The mighty Columbia is, still backing
the water up to Portland, and gradu-
ally but surely encroaching upon the
territory of that Inflated city. In addi-
tion to this, the Willamette is slowly
rising above Portland, which means fur
ther trouble for that city. Yesterday
morning, when the Telephone left the
metropolis, the water was 31.6 above the
low water mark, which is a rise of
three feet over the flood Of 1876, with
the waters still coming up. All boats
are now compelled to land at Jefferson
street, and if the rise continues, of
which there is every prospect a new
landing further south will have to be
made.
Yesterday the false floor Of Allen &
Lewis large establishment gave way,
dumping the goods into the water, and
entailing heavy loss upon the owners.
Mr.. S. S. Gordon, who returned yester-
day from Portland, says the water in
the st. Charles hotel was running over
the counters in the Office, and the latter
had been moved up stairs. The only
way Of reaching this hostelry Is by
boats. Many Of the docks are being
broken up and destroyed, and a large
amount of goods is probably ere this
in the river. The gas company 1t was
stated by passengers on the Telephone,
would be compelled to shut down Its
plant yesterday, as the works are covr
cred to such an extent as to make the
further manufacture of gas an impossl-
bility. Coal oil lamps and candles,
therefore, were probably In demand last
night in that city.
The merchants of the metropolis, be7
ing aware Of the fact that Astoria is
free from floods, and having no place of
safety in which to store their goods
within the limits of their own city, have
arranged to ship the same here. Bal
four, Guthrie & Co. have completed de-
tails for shipping several hundred tons
to the bonded warehouse in this city,
and the Telephone brought down yes
terday 200 tons of goods, consisting of
-four, tin plate and other merchandise.
A steamer load Of hay and salmon, the
latter of which had been shipped to
Portland from here, arrived on the
Union Pacific boat yesterday morning,
and the agent Of this line Is making ar
10, q
also is expecting to receive instructions
to hold the San Francisco steamer,
which arrives today in this port, and
have her cargo discharged here. Also
to load her return cargo at this point.
Capt Crang, of the Telephone, says
the situation in Portland is of a very
alarming character, and that the people
who have heretofore looked upon the
state of affairs In a rather Indifferent
manner have suddenly awakened to the
gravity of the situation, and are denatine
serious and solemn countenancea The
water yesterday morning was running
over the sidewalks on Fourth street
clear up to Madison, and further rise
of one foot was predicted, which woult
insure heavy damages to property below
the locality mentioned. The captain
stated that he passed four houses float
ing down the river, and also wreckagt
of all descriptions too numerous tc
mention. The steamer Maria capsized al
Portland, and when the Telephone left
was lying on her side, and has probably
filled and sank by this time.
At the Cascades the loss Of fish wheels
has been heavy, MCGOWAN having los
five, and other individuals are minus
that many more, swept away by tht
ruthless waters The Warren cannery
at that place is also in great danger
there being six feet Of water on thu
floors yesterday, and the river still ris
Ing.
Late advlces from The Dalles an(
Cascades are to the effect that further
rise Of four or five feet is expected. Th'
greater portion Of The Dalles is unde
water, and the Umatilla house, that wai
raised to be out Of the Hood Of 1890, hal
seven feet OF water on its floor.
No trains from the east are arriving