The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1895-01-13
ISLANDS ARE UNDER WATER,
In Several Localities Traffic Is Car.
ried On in Boats.
PORTLAND STREETS ARE INUNDATED
Melting Snow Has Caused Serious Slides
and Railroad Trains lire Blocked
at DunSmuir.

%. VANCOUVER, b. G., Jan. 1.-THE
province is threatened with serious floods
and great damage is being done in that
portion of the Fraser River Valley which
Suffered so severely last spring. The
foods are caused by the unusually high
tides experienced here yesterday aud to-
day. This morning the Delta district was
one large lake and in place of vehcuIar
traffic on roads, boats were called into
reQuisition. The tide, assisted by a heavy
gale from the west, drove the water over
the dikes and at 10 o'clock this morning
the water inside of the mbankment was
SIX inches higher than at any time during
the spring floods.
Westham Island is entirely under water
Fortunately, the farmers had time to re-
move their stock and effects. and as the
harvest. of course. is over the loss will not
be so serious, though great damage has
been done to roads and dikes.
At the north arm of the Fraser, a settle
ment on the opposite side of the river, a
similar state OF affairs exists. Roads are
all flooded and several bridges are washed
away. The water is over the floors of
several canneries, and goods and effects
had 10 be hastily removed. Sea Island and
Lulu Island are in places entirely sub
merged The Coquilam River, which joins
the Fraser above New Westminster. has
risen with marvellous rapidly during the
last few days, and at noon to-day was Is
inches higher than ever before.
Recent heavy rains and warm weather
have melted immense quantities of snow
in the mountains, and a usually small
brook is now a raging mountain torrent
carrying all before it. The traffic bridge
at Westminster junction was swept away
this afternoon, aud fears are entertained
for the safety of the railway bridge at the
same point. Several small bridges across
this stream are also gone.
kilograms from the upper country all
state that the Fraser River is rising rap D
+ly, faster than ever seen before. At
ale. the head of navigation. five feet of
snow was lying on the ground Monday.
but to-day scarcely six inches remain.
Constable Marquette at Mission City
states that the river rose six feet at that
point Yesterday.
Al New Westminster no serious damage
vas done, though the water is nearly up to
ihe wharves. The fats at South West
Minister were flooded aud the water is
it4arly up to the Great Northern track.
tjsueh p is not thought that it will be
flooded.
In this city several lighthouses are
flooded. The water nearly overfowed
several wbaryes, but no serious damage
las been done so far. Advices just re-
ceiYed from Eburne, a settlement at the
month Of the Fraser, says there is three
feet Of water over Sea Island to-day.
a dispatch from Seveston, another
town at the mouth of the Fraser, says the
dyke Is washed out IN dozen places and
the island is flooded. The water is still
rising and a higher tide is expected.
PORTLAND, Jan. ia flood of muddy
water poured down through number Of
the streets in the north ana west parts Of
the city this afternoon. making those Sec
tons of the town look like a vast lake
The very heavy rains of last night and
this forenoon caused a general surface
flooding all over the country. Every
branch and rivuet became a small roaring
torrent and the sewers of the city proved
inadequate TO convey the water away.
Along the sides Of the hills west of the
city great quantities OF water poured
down.
CuNILl1 dt6eE uUOB d &O-iuCu ledu piUo
leading to Washington street from the
oily park broke and liberated deluge of
water on the streets. Meant time johnson
Creek became raging torrent. These
TWO sources combined TO make stream
that resembled a small river. After reach
ing Twenty-third street the water spread
out, running over sidewa lks and into GEL
lars. The Portland Consolidated Street
Railway will sustain severe loss by hav-
ing a large part of its electrical apparatus
submerged By the food.
DUNsMUIR, Jan. Fit has rained very
hard for twenty-four hours and still pours
down. It is melting the snow and raising
the river. Trains are blocked by slides all
along in The canyon. a heavy force is
working to clear the track. 1t will not be
possible to get train through tonight.
YREKA. Jan. 1.-THE rain has been
coming down in torrents Tor the past
twelve hours, and with no prospects Of
cessation. There are immense depths of
snow ia the hills ana mountains. Streams
and creeks are fast swelling to rivers. and
present prospects indicate a repetition of
the great storms and floods Of 1890, and
people hereabout are already preparing
for the worst.