The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1894-06-10
THE HUMOROUS SIDE
A Chicago Mans Account Of the
Queer Sights in Portland.
VENICE ON THE COLUMBIA
A Floating Church and Other Scenes
of Destruction in the River
Towns and Villages.
ON THE COLUMBIA

A Chicago real estate man, who has
been spending few weeks in Astoria,
returning from visit up the river says
the humorous side of the flood IN the
inundated business portion Of the city
of Portland is observed In some of the
signs and notices displayed on the first
and second stories of some of the build
lngs. Passing along Oak street one sees
on the windows of a frame building
standing in about six feet Of water a
sign, Neptune Baths" on which some
wag has facetiously tackled another in
scription, "Free!" Passing along one or
two streets farther on one sees another
sign, Laughing Burlesque, "A Pirates
Last Chance" adjoining the wide,
cave-like entrance to the well known
Trocadero. Another sign says, "Room
10, Upstairs" in front Of which building
is moored a boat in water almost high
enough to step into the aforesaid Room
10, through the second story windows.
One or two signs For Rent are con-
spicuously displayed on some almost
wholly submerged old frame buildings,
but for what purpose they could be rent
ed in their present condition the writer
fails to understand.
Some of the wholesale houses have
moved large portions of their stock onto
scows moored in front of their business
houses, on one Of which is displayed
the sign "Lang's Landing. No Wharf
age Charges" Truly the city resembles
ancient Venice, the queen Of the Adri-
attic in many ways. Every street or
avenue in the business district being a
waterway or canal, and boats, gondolas,
whitehalls, punts, plungers, scows, cleo
trlc, steam and nsphtha launches pass
ing to and fro laden with passengers;
fire engines, with steam up, being sta
toned in front OF the submerged en-
gine houses. Temporary sidewalks high
above the level of the water are erected
in nearly all the streets, resembling the
historical Bridge of Sighs in Ancient
Venice. with its legend "Who enters
here leaves Hope behind"
Portland has also its Bridge of Size,"
eight feet above street level, with the
modern business suggestion, Don't
Stop" at the intersection of Third and
Washington streets.
Newsboys, in little "hurry-up" boats
Of all descriptions, may be heard cry
ing "Oregonian" and "Astorian" tele-
graph messengers use boats for deliver
ing their messages, and policemen, now
unable to lounge about their favorite
corners or drop into hospitable bar
rooms, may be seen rowing about in
hastily constructed rowboats.
The temporary bar in the world re-
nowned -- house, on First street,
Is constructed directly over the old
counter, which Is three inches under
water, and frequenters of the place say
the alteration is not any Improvement
over the old one.
The most noticeable footwear in Port
land just now is long rubber boots worn
both In and outdoors In lengths reach
ing according to fancy Of the wearer
variously to the knees or higher. The
utmost good humor seems to prevail on
all sides, many ludicrous incidents Of
sudden immersion occurring through
awkwardness or tardy movements Of
pedestrians on the temporary sidewalks
or of passengers getting in or out Of
boats
To best comprehend the extensivenoss
Of the flood, one should take an early
morning ride before business hours in a
light boat through the inundated dis
trict, when progress may be unintcr-
rupted. From the river steamer one can
see the whole situation at glance up
any Of the leading streets and along
the entire river front. Passing down
towards Astoria one sees the various
river towns and villages from Portland
to Cathlamet In greater or lesser stages
Of destruction and desolatlon. Perhaps
the most striking appeal Of all Is an
island church just toppling into the
stream, whose stained glass window
over the door reads: IN. E. Church,
1869, Sauves," seeming TO exclaim in its