The San Francisco call., 1896-11-21
FAMINE COMES
AT TER FLOODS
People of Northern Towns
Find Their Larders
Empty.
Washouts Prevent the Bringing
In OF Needed Supplies of
Provisions.
Driving Snowstorm Adds to the Dis.
tress of Those Who Lost
Their Homes.

SEATTLE, WASH, Nov. 20.-Ten New
York Chinese passengers on the Great
Northern train No 8, tied up by washouts
between Wellington and Madison, arrived
in Seattle to-day. Through an Interpreter
they said that while on the train they
were given two meals day until at the
end of four days food supplies gave out
The Chinese then walked seven miles
through the snow TO a railroad section
house, where they were supplied three
meals day. Making their way to the
connection road where il was in operation,
the Mongolians were taken over the Great
Northern back to Spokane and thence to
Tacoma on the Northern Pacific and to
this city via the steamer Kingston. From
here they 20 to China via the steamship
Kinshui Maru.
Owing to the crippled condition of the
Great Northern and the Everett and
Monte Cristo railroads, there is liable to
be serious famine in towns in the Cas-
cades flooded district. In fact. Sultan
City merchant, here to purchase supplies,
said that It has already begun. On this
subject the Times Snohomish special says
''The first party of 200 miners who left
Monte Crlsto early in the week TO walk
out to the lower town reached here yester-
day. The reason for this wholesale exodus
of miners is lack of provisions in the
mountain stores From reports of the
condition. of the Everett and Monte Cristo
Railroad it is evident that it will be three
weeks at least before they can get train
to Monte Cristo. Superin tendent Foster
has several hundred men working night
and dav. All the big mines at Silverton
of Ly,Aa nd 70 or hau foil
the example of the Monte Cristo Mining
Com pany and sent out their men until the
railroad could bring in N ore provisions. !"
The article continues: "Ranchers in
Snohomish Valley have suffered greatly.
There are from 800 TO 400 farmers who are
losers from the flood. Their losses range
from few head of stock 10 the loss of their
entire personal property.
"Reports OF narrow escapes and re mark
able experiences continue to come in.
Morgan Morgans, a well-known marsh
land ranc er. had novel and rather hun
CRY experience. He left his house on
high land to go to a barn short distance
out on the marsh to feed his stock. While
away the water got over the dykes and he
was unable to get back to the house. The
current around the barn was so strong
that the building could not be reached
with raft, and he was compelled TO re-
~ ain about forty hours without food.
Lynn Relfe, formerly assistant secretary
OF the Chamber of Commerce OF this city,
is another irst-class passenger who aban-
doned the Great Northern passenger tram
on Saturday, after it got stranded the
Friday previous between Madison ana
Wellington. He made this statement to-
night concerning the affair:
after stranding the train Conductor
Scoville went to Wellington to look after
food supply. Soon after his arrival there
he sent back telegram by messenger TO
the train staring that he had, while at
Wellington, received dispatch announc-
ing that it would be one week before the
train could be got out; hat it was his
desire that the passengers come to We'll
llngton and stop there at the railroad COM
pany's expense. As Wellington is small
town and provided with but few accom-
modations a number OF passengers, n.y.
self among them, concluded to take
chances on walking out and did so. There
were a number of ladies aboard the train
when We left"
For the first time since the disastrous
washouts the Northern Pacific sent out
from Seattle at $3.50 o'clock tonight an
eastbonnd overland train, this event being
preceded an hour or SO by q poster swing
ing from the doorway of tue general
offices announcing that "All Northern Pa
chic trains will arrive and depar from Sc
attle on time" Tickets were sold subject
TO transfer at Trout Lake Montana