The record-union., 1894-06-07
snec,al to the REcoRD-US1ox.

of the River Inundated.
Special to the RECoRD-UNIoN.
PORTLAND Orr, June 6.-News has
been received from the Upper Columbia
region which indicates that the worst OF
the flood is over. Snake River is falling
and the Columbia is stationary.
In this city the waters are now up to
Washington street on Fifth. Perkins
Hotel is surrounded. On First street the
limit is Taylor, and on Second, Yamhill.
Down on Glisan street boats can be
landed on Tenth, and on Twelfth street
St. Vincents Hospital stands in great
lake. On Front street the water is deep
enough for the navigation OF large-sized
river craft. AT Ash street is tt seven and
half feet deep. At the Union Depot
locomotive stands on track half covered
with water. Down in the freight yard
small boats can be rowed into submerged
box cars and clear over flat cars.
Viewed from tue middle of the river
the outlook on tho river-tront Is most
oiscouraging. Many docks have disap-
peared to the caves and are only KEPT
from floating by heavy machinery, ETC.,
stored there On the east side one can
count dozen buildings Ia the HOODED
district ready to go down.
AT The Dalles the river Is 5S feet .
inches above low water. In the east end
OF town the water extends to the bluff.
The only houses doing business are the
groceries and markets. The water Is
nearly three feet deep on the hoor OF the
Postofiice. A swift current is running
nd 10 n
buildings viii be washed from their
foundations. The hotels are in water to
the second story. Thirty blocks are
under water, and rise OF few more
feet will inundate the entire portion OF
the town under the bluff.
Memaloosa Island. the burial-place OF
Indians for many years, is almost entirely
under water, and hundreds OF skeletons
are being washed away
The latest reports from the Cascade
locks are that the Government works
are still in great danger. The bulkhead
which keeps the Colum bia out of the up
per end OF the lock is almost submerged.
Should it go out, all the riprap work, and
possibly the entire works, would be de-
stroyed. eutailing loss OF over 81 100000.
The Union Pacific IS In very bad shape
& near the locks. Where the current strikes
the bank alongside the railroad the
mountain is moving, resembling large
glacier, while masses OF the bluff are
continually falling into the river. The
big fir trees az they tumble over the
bank hang for a little while top down
ward, and then plunge into the torrent
below.
The river has cut into the mountain for
a Quarter of mile The bluff where the
railroad formerly ran presents face 300
feet In hight.
The Weather Bureau predicts the river
in this city Will reach its maximum hight
at midnight and remain stationary till
Thursday, with tendency to fall. When
1t commences to fall it will be very slow
not over four inches a day for at least
ten days.
At Riparia, the Snake River has fallen
ten inches in the last twenty-four hours.
The Column bia is also reported falling at
about the same rate at Umatilla.
A telephone message received late this
afternoon from the locks says the con-
tractors have succeeded in strengthening
the bulkhead so that it Will not go out.
They have had large gangs Of men work
ing for six days and nights, and immense
quantities Of gravel, brush and stone have
been used. 1t is now believed that all
danger is past.
News from down the Columbia River
shows a most deplorable condition OF
affairs. Fishing has been suspended, and
=
country on both sides. Houses have been
carried away and farms inundated and
crops DESTROYED. There has been great
loss OF stock. Anything approXinating
an estimate of the damages is utterly inn
possible. SauVieS Island is entirely SUBJ
merged ard crops destroyed. The loss is
very heavy and will leave a great many
destitute. Suffering and want prevail
among the families OF many ranchers.
Up the Columbia the floods have de-
stroyed the prospects of this seasons sal
mon fishing. All the fish wheels have
either been carried away or destroyed.
At police headquarters this morning
Chief OF Police Hunt detailed several
officers to visit the northern part of the
CITY in boats TO seek out families in need
or in distress. The poor, however, are
mostly being cared for III various parts OF
the city by friends and charitably dis
posed people.
The suspension of operations on all the
street-car lines, except The Second-streei
road, is becoming serious inconveni-
ence to thousands of people, and particu-
larly those living in the East Side sub
urhs. The companies viii directly and
indirectly suffer q loss of many thousands
OF dollars.
Ch1ef Engineer Buchtel this morning
caused: an engine to be placed on a barge.
This makes three engines now so situated
that they can reach nearly every point OF
the flooded city.
Last nights overland brought heavy
load of passengers and mail. The Union
Pacific mail was sent in over the South
ern Pacific's line, and there was fully ten
tons of letters and papers from the East
which have been delayed several days.
The condition of both the Madison and
Morrison-street bridges is serious. The
terrific pressure of the water from under
meath has broken up the approaches on
either side. The draw of the Morrison
street bridge is now being swung around
by hand. while the lower part of the
draw IS several inches under water.
IraIlc IS still going over the Madison
street bridge, and since every other thor
oughfare to the east side of the river has
been closed the travel ou this one bridge
is enormous.
AT 10 O'Clock tonight the river is sta
tionary, and will undoubtedly begin to
fall by morning. DUrlng ten hours to-
day the rise was only one-tenth of a foot.
and reports from Eastern Oregon state
that the Columbia and Snake Rivers are
rapidly falling. The damage will be an
parent when the water begins to fan.
Nearly every dock In the city has been
fioated out of place, and when the water
recedes they viii settle down and mary
of them collapse. Sawmills are heavy
losers. by reason of immense Quantities
of lumber and logs floating out.
AS far as learned, not a life has been
lost in this vicinity. Tonight loads Of
pleasure-seelSers are out on First, Second.
: Third and Fourth streets in boats.
Many business men i'll the flooded dis
trict viii be ruined. They neglected to
raise their stock or move out before the
water reached them, and when the de-
mand for boats and wagons exceeded the