Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1894-06-07
RUIN BY THE FLOODS.
GREAT HAVOC WROUGHT IN rhE
FAR WEST.
Raging Torrent 8f Water Sweeps Every.
thing before 1t In the Vancouver Region
Thousands Are Homeless and Property
Loss WIN Reach Millions.


ussnus AES AAOmoSoos ana Fropoety
Loss WIN Reach Millions.
Fraser Valley Sea.
Terrible destruction he's been
wrought by the floods In tho Frazer
Valley and throughout the entire Van.
couver region. Thousands Of families
have been rendered homeless, many
lives were lost, while the loss OF prop
erty will reach into the millions. The
known, nor will it be for several days. as
full extent Of the calamity is MT yet
the waters are still rising, threatening
even greater havoc Two thousand
families homeless and property loss
of 81, 600, COO is the estimated result up
to the time this is written. The river
rose ten inches at Westminster Thurs
day, and from points farther up come
reports that the rive. Is nearly two
feet higher than has ever before been
known. The valley for 100 miles has
been inundated. So great has been
the destruction that oaan steamers
passing in through the straits OF San
Juan 0e Fuca are cncountering floating
roofs OF houses and barns and innum-
cradle car asses OF hogs, sheep and
cattle that have passed out through
tie Fraser's mouth with other debris
from the valley.
Steamers from the rivers and Puget
Sound arc still being pressed into the
work of rescue. Though no lives have
been lost there have been manv mar
row escapes and thrilling experiences,
Many families have been driven from
their houses. One steamer brought
S07 settlers from New Westminster
late Thursday night At many points
there is great de,titation among the
luckless settlers who have fed from
their homes. At the Salmon River
settlement, where the water is ten
feet deep on the fiat, m my families
are huddled together on the high
lands and living on one scanty meal a
day. The resc ling steamers have ne
elected them to care for others who
are in greater danger. Every effort is
being made to relieve the flood suffer-
ers. but facilities and means are ut
terly inadequate to meet the demand.
The Canadian Pacific has LOCO men at
work repairing its tracks, but the flood
is breaking it faster than they can pos
sibly mend it. Press dispatches given
below tell of the destruction by the
food throughout the Northwest.
Spokane, Wash. particu-
lars OF the flood whi, h DESTROYED the
towr>f Conconully have been received.
In addition to the food in the creek, q
clold burst occurred. Incl easing the
volu re of water into a raging torrent.
Everything was swept before the food.
Trees, houses, and rocks came down
upon the town, where they lodged.
forming jam fifteen feet high at
places. Nothing is left. When the
flood was within half mile of town
every one fed to higher land. Outside
aid is necessary. The lossA-ia=eoua-
plete, as there was TO chance to saye
propo ty.
Portland, Ore.-The Upper Column
bia continues to rise. Union Pacific
affairs are in a deplorable condition.
Colorado Towns swept Away.
Boulder, Colo.-The pipe factory,
five houses, the railrt al tracks and eli
the city and railroad bridges have
been washed away by the flood in Boul-
der Creek. Poverty Flats is sub
merged. The Sunset branch of the
Gul. Road and the Mountain Road are
entirely gone. The towns of Crisman
and Salina, mining camps in Boulder
Canyon, have been wiped out OF exist
ence. Each had q population of about
200, all OF whom are now homeless.
The total loss in and around Boulder
is estimated at $4,000. All the
crops in the St. Vrain Valley, one OF
the richest grain regions in the State,
have been destroyed by the flood.
Fifty bridges between here and the
mountains have been carried away.
The towns of Copper Rock and Sugar
Loaf are gone, the Prussian and Corn
ing mills are flooded, and six of their
outbuildings swept down the canyon.
Springdale and jamestown suffered
greatly. Several ether small towns
along the canyon have been partly de-
stroy ed.
Erie. Colo.-Coal Creek is on the
rampage, and the main street of this
city is two feet under water. A Sec
tion of track on the railway Is washed
out and the telegraph wires are down
for half q mile. Boulder Creek and
St Vrain's River are each badly swol-
len. The railroad bed is rapidly wash
ing away. Many families have been
compelled to leave their homes. Busi-
been drowned and growing crops car
ried away.
Manitou. Colo - Business is practic-
ally suspended and hundreds Of men
are working to save their property.
The stream from Williams Canyon is
rushing over Mineral Water Park.
leaving gravel in place OF grass. Tons
Of earth has been torn from the pavil-
ion grounds. Dynamite has been used
frequently to demolish gorges. The
water is still rising.
Palmer Lake, C0lO.-The water has
unde rminei the walls Of the large res
ervoir situated at the mouth Of Big
Canyon, just above the village, ana It is
monentarily expected to collapse.
The reservoir Is 100 feet wide, 5000
feet long, and 20 feet deep.
Denver, Colo. Plate River contin-
nes to rise, and the people living on
the low ground had to flee for their
lives. The railway embankment was
washed away In places, and bridges
were badly damaged.
Pueblo, Colo. Tho flood in Pueblois
receding, and no further damage has
been done. The total property loss,
aside from the damage to the railroads,
Is thought not to exceed $IOO, 600.
Golden, Colo.-The food in Clear
Cresk caused damage to the amount of
&c, 600 to COor's brewery and other
property in this city. Many people
had to leave their houses.
idaho Springs, Colo.-The damage
by the food In this county is estimated
at 800, ,OC0. On the mountain tons. in
stead Of rain, eighteen inches OF snow
fell.
Telegraphlc Chicks.
GEN. WEAVER was nominated for
Congress- by the Populists Of the Ninth
Iowa district
MEMBERS OF Williams Post, G. A.
g, Of Muncie, Ind, passed resolutions
condemniDg the playing Of baseball on
Decoration Day.