The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1894-07-03
ION THE UPPER RIVER
Along the Columbia Rapids in
the Track of the Flood.
ENORMOUS RAILROAD LOSSES.
DesOlatiOn Now Reigns Where Once
Stood Smiling Farms, Vineyards
and Thriving Settlements
Devoted to Fruit Culture.

anu thriving OcGJleineuIS
Devoted to Fruit Culture.
Special correspondence Of the Astoiian.
The Dalles, Or. July 1, 1S94.-To reach
this little city nesting in the heart OF
the Columbia river canyons is the SYM
holization of the triumph Of man over
mud. In fact, to quote Addison, with
variations
Through what variety of untold slush,
Through what new scenes and changes
must we pass
Re fore we reach The Dalles."
Leaving Portland on the steamer
Dalles City at 6 a. M, we go down the
Willamette to Vancouver, and, after a
short stay at that waterlogged burg,
begin the ascent of the rapid and
swollen Columbia, having plenty of op-
portunity to note on the way the des-
truction wrought along both banks by
the mighty flood that few weeks ago
passed down this splendid stream in a
series of swift leaping cataracts. At a
point about ten miles above Vancouver,
where little farms and vineyards cling
to the hillsides and where every mass Of
boulder is topped by modest residences
Of Alpine aspect, we begin to see the
effects of the late catastrophe, typified
not as in Portland by gently tapping
rise of lakelike quietude, but by a howl
ing, seething current. carrying before
it everything movable, and leaving de-
vastation everywhere in its wake. The
George Barber farm, named after that
sturdy old pioneer who years and years
ago killed many an Indian warrior in
the vicinity of this romantic settlement,
has been visited by the current and
shorn Of everything that up to month
ago gave 1t reputation as the prettiest
and best kept clearing in Oregon. On
it's beautiful meadow lands and all over
their slopes and valleys, there lies a
solid bank of sand three feet thick, and
formed at the top in q series of ridges
that give the place an appearance of a
standstill and turned into dry land. The
place where few weeks ago flourish
ing vineyard lay is now marked by a
long line of dead stumps Some days
ago the steamers landed passengers and
freight in the middle of this grove.
though it is ordinarily five hundred
yards from the river. The remains of all
the outhouses are scattered like a de-
molished pack of cards all over the
farm, few of the barns being hung
up in the branches of big willow tree
in company with what was once fish
wheel. Passing McGowan's cannery,
which building is still holding its own,
though at one time dangerously near
total demolition, we came abreast Of
Hamilton's Island, long, low stretch
of land running lengthwise with the
channel. 1t has been highly cultivated,
and has been for many years the home
of a large number of fruitraisers whose
farmhouses, barns, and orchards have
all been completely destroyed. Here are
more hummocks of sand covering the
lower limbs of all the trees that have
not been uprooted and swept away.
Long stretches Of fencing, torn out
from their foundation posts, are twined
in knots like rope round everything
above ground saw couple of men
tramping heavily in the deep sand try
ing to locate some of their property,
task almost hopeless in the general
wreck. Nearly every settled spot along
here within three furlongs of the river
bed presents the same dismal appear
ance, and how such an amount of dam
age could have been done without con-
siderable loss of life will always re-
main a mystery. Instances Of narrow
escapes in the middle OF dark night
are many, and every sufferer has some
tale to tell-most Of them OF a quick
rush to a boat and periIous landing
out OF the reach Of the angry waters.
Warren's cannery has held through all
the danger, though two or three times
Mr.. Frank Warren gave it up for lost,
and expected to see it start on a jour
ney to the ocean. However, good and
conscientious workmanship in the build
ing Of the foundations saved all the
structures. though thousands Of tons Of
water were racing through every floor
for days and eddying around corner
posts and piles In manner that gave
very little prospect Of their being able
to stand the strain Fish wheels are
thrown round in profusion everywhere.
but, as intend to deal with the whole
up-river fishing question. including the
losses Of the cannerymen. tomorrow, I
viii go no further in this direction in
today's letter.
The next stop our steamer makes Is
at Bonneville. the last station TO which
the Union Pacific can still run It's trains
from Portland. Beyond this point. the
hallway trestl.s, bridges, embanlkmentA,
rails. bailasting. and every yestIge