The record-union., 1896-11-18
Everything in the Pathway Of the
Water Swept Before It.
Several Houses Washed Away at
Cottage Grove, Oregon, and the
Occupants Compelled to Flee for
Their Safety-The Town of Wood
land, Washington, Ten Feet Under
Water, as the Result of FreShet
in the Lewis River.

PORTLAND. Nov. ia fierce snow
storm ragged over the Willamette Valley
last night, and snow fell heavily for
hours. Such a blizzard has not been
seen for three years, and at this season
1t is remarkable.
The Willamette River is still rising
and the water is spreading over the low
hands below the city and sweeping
everything before it. No trains came in
on the Northern or Southern Pacific to-
day, owing to the flood. The wires are
down on the Northern Pacific line, and
how serious the WaShoutS on that line
are cannot be told. 1t is expected the
Southern Pacific's delayed overland Will
reach here to-day. The overland was
sent out tonight ON the west side by
way of Corvallis and then across to
Albany The o. r. & N. and Union Pa
cific trains got in all right, but the
tracks on the Columbia River are
threatened by high water. The flood has
torn out wires in all directions and COM
municaition With the interior of the State
is very difficult
The town of Woodland, Wash, is ten
feet under water as a result of the
freshet in the Lewis River, and unless
the storm aibateS soon the entire Lewis
River Valley viii be the scene of much
destruction. In other valleys on the
Columbia, CowlitZ River on the Wash
ington side has overfiowed and driven
the inhabitants Of Castle Rock to ad
jacent hills.
Several trestles have been washed out
Nv loa ha
pany, which was to have opened in
Portland tonight, is storm bound some
where between Kalama and Tacoma.
AT Cottage Grove, Or, several houses
have been washed away by the river
and many families have been compelled
to seek safety. The railroad track is
impossible, and there is no telling when
trains can pass. The few incoming
travellers state that a heavy snow
storm is raging UP the valley and regu-
lar blizzard weather prevails.
The Northern Pacific railway is the
greatest sufferer of any of the North
west railroads, owing to flood and storm.
Between Portland and Spokane the road
is disrupted in half a dozen places, and
II viii be ten days before anything like
One train which has been hemmed up
between Ainslie and Olequa since yes
terday, is expected to reach here late
this afternoon, the passengers to be
brought to this city from Castle Rock
by boat. Ali the wires are down on the
line. The Southern Pacific delayed
overland reached here at 2:3O a. M The
overland from San Francisco will not
get in till midnight. Trains on the o. r.
&s n. came in all right The storm is
over in the Willamette Valley, and it
is colder to-day.
HEAVY RAINS
SALEM (Or), Nov. Il The heavy
rains that have prevailed in this State
the past few days have done q good
deal of damage all over the State. 1t
is many years since such downpour
has been witnessed in Oregon. The rise
Of the Willamette River has been SO
rapid that it was with difficulty farm
ers could save their stock. From all
parts of the State comes news Of the
destruction Of bridges and other prop
erty.
In some places the river broke over
its banks and did great injury to prop
erty The river is filed with floating
debris and fears are entertained that
some of the larger bridges may be car
ried away.
The damage to vegetables. especially