The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-06-02
The COLUMBIA FLOOD.
Crops Are Ruined and the
Stock Drowned.
Yet 1t Is Feared the Worst Is
to Come.
Damages in Colorado, Too, Are I'm
mense.
Boulder Crook and Many Other Towns
Are Heavy suferers-A Gap in
the Missouri River Near
st. Joseph.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press
PORTLAND, Or, Jane 1.-The food ON
the Columbia continues to increase and
the indications are that the worst is vet
to come. Yesterday the upper Column
bia at several points WAS at a stsndstill,
but reports today show that the river is
again rising about one foot in "a hours.
The river is more than foot higher
than ever before known and the damage
will be immense. The fertile bottom
lands along the river from the Rocky
mountains to the sea, q distance of 800
miles, are all inundated. Crops are
ruined, houses washed away and stock
drowned. The food has come gradually,
which has given residents an opportun-
ity to move household goods to places OF
safety, and in most instances stock has
been driven to higher ground. The sal
mon canning business has been almost
annihilated. Fish wheels and canning
establishments along the river for a dis
tance OF 200 miles are under water. 1t
ls estimated by cannery men that the
loss so far will exceed 500, 900. Tele-
graph communication to the north and
east is cut off except by a roundabout
way.
For miles and miles along the river
the water has risen over the tops of the
telegraph poles. Along the Union Pa
citic from this city to Umatilla, about 20
miles OF track are under water. They
have established steamboat service,
which enables them to carry the mails
and passengers. The Northern Pacif C
does not attempt to operate lines be.
tween this city and Goble. distance OF
40 miles, but makes connection by the
large transfer boat. In this city the
water has risen into Easements as far
back as Ninth street, and more than
half the elevators in the city are stopped
for want of power.
Today's mail from the Dalles brings
the information that the government
locks at the Cascades are IN danger.
About 400 sacks filed with sand were
sent from The Dalles to the locks, where
may occur in the dam being constructed
around the head OF the locks. The water
is within four feet of the top OF the
breakwater. Should break occur the
entire works would be destroyed. unles
the immense granite heads for the gates
should hold.
Sauvies island, few mics below PORT
land, is almost entirely under water.
Many buildings have been lifted from
their foundations and are hfoat. Crops
are ruined and other property is seri-
ously damaged. The inhabitants have
nearly all fed to the higher ground.
Those that remain are living in the sec-
ond stories OF their houses. Damage on
the island will probably amount to
$3.50, 900.
UNDER WATER.
TACOMA. June 1.-Ninety-fve miles of
Northern Pacific track. between Horse
Plains, Mont, and Hope. Idaho, are un-
der water. Definite flood news was re-
ceived late this evening on arrival of
three delayed Northern Pacific trains.
Col. +. ID. Huestes, the railroad builder.
was passenger. He says the water
was still rising when the train LETT Hope
yesterday. Hundreds of farms along
Clark's Fork, never overflowed before.
are devastated under four to six feet of
water. Settlers rushed to the highlands.
hut hundreds of cattle and horses
were drowned. Some bridges have been
washed out, but these are repaired
and trains will run as usual when the
waters subside. The overland due Sat-
urday has been abandoned at Horse
Plains, Mont. Seven work trains, with
full crews, are repairing the track in that
Overland traffic on the Great
Northern is suspended on account of a
great washout west Of Great Falls, Mont.
The Canadian Pacific today began trans
tering passengers by steamer on the
Fraser river from Ruby to Mission, a
distance of 80 miles. Between these
points there are washouts and portions
Of the track are under water.