The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1896-11-19
EXCESSIVE DAMPNESS
No Need Of Irrigation During the We (
That Has Just Passed.
EVERY STREAM WAS A TORRENT
The Natcheez Railroad bridge ana
Other Bridges Badly Damaged
incidents OF the Freshet-The
Heroic Death of w. \. Davidson.

The past week has been one Of anxiety
loss and discontinue owing to ireshet
the like OF which has never been known
in this country at this season Of the year.
1t was not only local but general and for
several days seriously interrupted railroad
travel, and even now there are no
through trains to the east on account OF
washouts on the Rocky Mountain divis-
ion. The trouble started with rains on
Saturday, Nov. 7th, with heavy fall of
snow in the mountains. For several
days during the succeeding week strong
chinook wind was blowing which cut off
This was succeeded by continuous rains
and by Sunday the various streams in
this vicinity were surging over their
banks and flooding the low lands. Even
the spring freshet OF two years ago did
not equal this and on Monday the high
est water mark known in this country
was reached. Much anxiety was felt for
the county bridges but the loss has been
comparatively light. There was break
in the bridge at Union gap and il is re-
ported that the Simcoe bridge was par
TALLY carried away but no definite inlor-
nation regarding it has as yet been
received owing to the roads leading to
that district still being under water.
Some of the approaches to the other
couAty bridges were damaged but with
all this Yakima is thankful she escaped
so well.
The heaviest loss in the county will
fall upon the Northern Pacific in the
damage to the Natcheez railroad bridge.
The waters undermined the center pier
and the structure careened towards the
west, straining the girders and twisting
considerable of the iron work. Superin-
tendent Gilbert was promptly on hand
with wrecking crew and the work oil
repair was pushed with such vgor that
by Tuesday trains were again passing
over the structure.
INCIDENTS OF THE FBEsHET.
John Reed estimates his loss at about
$500.
A band OF about 80 hogs belonging to
W. II. kershaw, were drowned on Sun
day night.
The head-gates of the North Yakima
Milling Co.'s mill race were carried away
and other damage sustained. Mr.. Alex
Miller estimates the company's loss at
| $1,000.
+. II. Wilson, who is occupying the
Vaughn ranch, was compelled to vacate
his house on account of the inroads OF
the water but his eviction was only for a
short time.
The Water company's ditch and fume
| came out OF the freshet in good condition
but the water We were compelled to drink
for several days was OF the color and con-
sistency of bean soup.
Judge Erwin is in from Fort Simcoe
and reports that the new reservation
ditch stood the freshet remarkably well.
About all the damage reported was the
washing out of lateral.
Hon. Geo. Taylor was in the city on
Wednesday and says the fresbet caused
but little damage in the Selah unless it
was in the way of washing out the boxes
in the irrigation bitches of the the limo
thy fields. Mr.. Taylor, during his long
residence in this section has never seen
the Yakima as high, but recalls one year,
long ago, when the water of the Natcheez
was much higher.
| During the rise In the waters on Mon
| day ID. 4. Lesh heard a hollering at
intervals for several hours but could not
make out what was wanted or the direo-
ton from which the shouting came
Finally it flashed upon him that Fred
Mcbride had been engaged in chopping
wood on the low lands near the river
| which we're at that time was sea OF water
Manning boat Mr.. Lesh and his COM
panions proceeded in the direction Nc
Bride was supposed to be and guided by
the latter's cries soon found him and his
young son perched high and dry on q
pile OF brush. They were soon landed
on dry ground little the worse for their
experience.
Billy Miller, well-known character
| who resides with his wife on the east
| side OF the Yakima, above Pleas Bounds
ranch, was caught mapping during the
| freshet. When he came to realize that
the rise in the water was something out
OF the ordinary his house had become
an island and he was cut Off from the
high land. Making the best OF the cir
cumstances and believing it was only a
| temp orsry matter he and his wife
climbed on top OF their domicile. The
turbulent waters, however, continued to
creep higher and higher, and there they
] were compelled to remain for two days
when they we're seen by neighbors in the
Selah valley who carried them off in q
boat.
Among the sufferers from the overflow
were the owners of orchards and gardens