The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1894-06-23
KASL0'S HEAVY LOSS
Eighty Buildings Totally Destroy
ed by the Recent Storm.
RELIEF PROMPTLY FURNISHED
The Rain Poured Down In Torrents Ac.
conpanied With Vivid Flashes Of
Lightning and Thunder.

Lightning and Thunder.
The people of Kaslo have met their
misfortunes with brave and generous
hearts. The municipal council appoint
ed relief committee, and the govern.
ment agent promptly placed $500 at its
disposal, and other donations in goods
and money were rendered. The govern
ment agent also authorized the COM
mittee to provide work by employing
men to clear and repair the wagon road,
and fifty men were given employment
in this way. Applications for relief
were not numerous, and most of those
who applied preferred to take relief as
a loan rather than gift. To shelter
the homeless the Presbyterian church
and the old school house were thrown
open, tents were erected and tenders
made of shelter by these who were for
tunate enough to escape the path of the
destroyer. The Times says:
The storm lasted little more than half
an hour, yet it woull be difficult to ex-
aggerate the account of the destruction
and damage it wrought. Wreckage
strewed the shore along the water front
and many valuables were buried be.
meath it. Immediately after the storm
had subsidized scores of men were out
willingly lending their aid to secure
everything that was worth saving.
Axes were brought into requisition to
cut through the roofs and floor to get
at the goods beneath them. 1t was dis.
heartening to see costly curtains
and richly upholstered furniture dragged
from the debris ruined beyond redemp-
tion. The rain poured down in tor.
rents, accompanied with vivid flashes
of lightning and loud peals of thunder
that were almost appalling, but the
ardor of the untiring workers was not
dampened. They worked on until dark
ness prevented further effort.
One hundred and FORTY buildings have
been more or less injured, and of these
fully eighty have been totally de.
stroyed. The loss in land by erosion
and depreciation in land values have
also been very great. Much of the
lower level on which were very many
structures of a various kinds has been
rendered or proved almost wholly IN
fitted for building purposes. Taking
these into consideration, together with
the loss of buildings, stock, furniture
and other direct and immediate losses,
and it is quite within the mark to place
the total loss at $3.50, 900 or more. This
loss will be widely distributed, but
very much of it will be local, and will
fall upon those who can i'll afford to
bear it. Many of them had struggled
to erect comfortable homes and build.
ings upon the lots which they had
bought and now find themselves not
only deprived of these. but the land
upon which they built is valueless.
The tornado of Sunday was also very
destructive along the wagon road.
Trees innumerable were blown down
and piled across it in every direction,
rendering it entirely impossible for
horses and foot passengers. On the
first mile and half from Kaslo, BY
actual count, there were 100 trees Of
various sizes across the road. An eye
witness asserts that the tops of trees
20 and 30 feet in length were whirled
through the air like feathers. There
were too many narrow escapes. The
occupants of one cabin had scar :cly got
outside the door before two trees came
crashing down simultaneously and COM
pletely demolished it. A party of horse
men coming from New Denver were
caught in the thick woods and with
difficulty avoided the trees which were
constantly falling before and behind
them.
At Ainsworth the water is up to the
floor of Jevou's building. The wharf
is still in position, but in a damaged
condition. 1t is covered several feet
with water, so that it is impossible to
ascertain the extent of the damage.
The ore house CT the No. mine is des-
troycd and three or four hundred tons
of ore have been submerged. The res
idcrces are surrounded by water and
were in danger, but protecting break.
waters of logs and rocSs were con-
structed In front of them and were
saved. Many shacks and small build.
ings have been destroyed. At Pilot
bay the water is up to the roof of the
shed on the north end of the wharf
A portion of the wharf has risen 10
feet from the foundation, even though
laden with rails, machinery aud rocks.
The water is up several feet on the
new brick buildings behind he wharf.
The Galena Trading Company's store
is badly shaken, but remains in pos
sition. The smoke stack of the saw
mill is carried away, and the building
partly submerged and canted over.
The steamer Galena is partly sub.
and the Surprise broke from
her moorings, was stove in and sank