The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-11-19
RAILROADS BADLY HAMrERED.
Large Force Of Men Required to
Keep the n. r. Track Open.

Special Dispatch to the Post-Intelligencer.
TACOMA. Nov. lS.-The heavy rains OF
the past four days has caused much trou-
BILE along the main line OF the Northern
Pacific in the vicinity of Winlock and the
South Bend country and have also caused
several washouts along the Orting branch.
The warm wind of this morning caused the
water to burst forth like mad near Win
lock, washing away bridge about . mile
and a half east of the town. and causing
a landslide about mile west of the town.
These two combined to delay both over
land trains several hours. Supt, McCabe
sent a large force of men 10 the damaged
section and had strong hopes OF getting
the tracks cleared in a few hours This
was at o'clock tonight. Should the rain
cease. Mr.. McCabe believes that the
troubles along the line will cease. but
should 1t continue there Is no telling
where the damage will stop.
Observer Grover. Of the weather bu-
reau. states that the rainfall in Tacoma
since the storm commenced on Monday is
4,3i inches, a large fall for that period.
On Monday and Tuesday the temperature
ranged from as TO 4s degrees. which made
IL quite cold and caused snow to fall n
the hills and on the mountains. On
Wednesday 1t jumped to So degrees, and
at one time today IL was about S. Had
much snow fallen IN the hills during the
melted yesterday and today with the rise
In temperature, and II II did, the streams
running from the mountains must be
greatly swollen. although no reports have
as yet reached this city.
A number of people commented on the
extreme high tide of today. more than
one asking if the heavy rainfall had any
thing to do with II. This question was
put TO Observer Grover. drawing a smile
from that gentleman. To the Post-Intel-
ligencer correspondent Mr. Grover said
the high tide was common this time of
the year, and If II was higher than usual
II was probably due TO the high wind that
blew down the straits last night and this
morning, which sometimes has tendency
to bank the tide.
The barometer showed a decided up-
ward tendency this afternoon, which is
thought 10 indicate that the storm Is
about over.
All telegraph wires reaching from Ia
coma to Eastern Washington along the
line OF tho Northern Pacific went down
near Lester yesterday afternoon. but have
been raised again. The wires on the Gray's
Harbor and the South Bend branches went
down yesterday.
The heavy rains for the past few DAYS
have so loosened the earth along the bluffs
on lower Pacific avenue. near the water
froEt that the street car tracks are COW
cred with the incipIent land slides. The
read 30 Elevator A, along the water front.
is also blocked
No serious damage has az yet been done.
but II the rains continue as hard as they
have been for the pas; few DAYS there Is
a chance of serious land slides along thu.
face OF the biun
TIE residents of Tacoma have a lively
and unoieasant recollection of the great
lana slide 30 a few years since under pre-
ctsesy similar conditions. which carried the
Northern Pacific dock ard warehouses.
with all Of their contents. into the bottom
Of the bay.