The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-12-30
Great Havoc Is Wrought
Throughout Western
Washington.
Tracks and Bridges Are Swept
Away by the Raging
Torrents.
Railroad Traffic Suspended in Many
Sections-A Monster Log Raft
Adrift at Sea.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

TACOMA. Dec. 29.-An immense
amount of damage has been caused by
floods throughout Western Washington
during the last few days Between
four and five inches of rain has fallen
and warm chinook wind has melted
great quantities of snow in the noun
tains. Every stream between the Cas-
cades and the Pacific is raging tor
rent. Several streams are reported to
be higher than for ten years past, in
Guiding the Chehalis, Newaukum and
Skagit rivers. The Chehalis and Ne
waukum are a foot higher than at any
time for ten years. South of Chehalis
the water stands twenty inches over
the Northern Pacific tracks and the
railroad bridge over the Newaulzum is
floating. Between Chehalis and Cen
tralia two feet of water covers tho
track. There are many washouts on
South Bend. and the Grays Harbor
branch is closed by washouts and
slides.
There have been no trains between
Tacoma and Portland for two days,
but the main line eastward from Ia
coma is open. Washouts and slides
have again stopped traffic on the
Great Northern. The Skykomish River
is higher than in November. 1t has
washed out the tracks east of Sutton,
and many bridges are entirely gone or
so badly damaged that they cannot be
repaired until the water recedes.
Between Sylvania and Stanwood the
track is under water from the over
flowing of the Stillaguamish River,
which is still rising. In the mountains
beyond Sultan more track and bridges
are reported gone. Eleven bents OF the
Seattle and International Railroad
trestle over the Stillaguamish River
have been washed away at Arlington.
The Skagit River has risen ten feet
1t is pouring through the dykes at
Mount Vernon and flooding thousands
Of acres of farm lands between there
and Puget Sound. The towns of Che
halls, Newaukum, Toledo, Kelso ana
Wynooche, in Southwestern Washing
ton, are partly submerged by the over
flowing rivers. The Skagit is pouring
through Hamilton and Mount Vernon.
and many business houses Of sultan,
on the Great Northern, have several
feet Of water in them.
Three miles of track and five bridges
are washed out on the Shelton and
Southwestern Railroad. This is a log
cling road. and is in a receivers hands.
are higher than ever known before. The
wind blew so miles an hour there last
night and the water was two feet
deep on the wharves at Montesano.
People have moved out Of Wynooche.
The steamer Montesano was reported
lost last night on Grays Harbor having
been out seven days trying to tow
big log raft from the Humptulips
River This morning she came into
Ocosta, having abandoned the raft
containing 100000 feet of logs. The
Chehalis River boom has given way,
letting many logs out TO sea.
Sherman Staples had terrible ex-
perience during the storm, his boat
overturning on Ocosta flats. where he
spent SO hours before a tug rescued
him this morning. During two high
tides he was up to his armpits in the
icy water, and heavy seas dashed over
him.
Two men are reported drowned in the
upper Cowlitz Valley, but their names
are not yet obtainable. A great amount
of stock and farm property has been
carried away in Skagit, Cowlitz, Che
halls and other valleys. The damage
by this flood is estimated at 100000.