The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1903-01-31
THE FLOOD OF 6I-62.
ENFORMATION FROM VARIOUS
PARTICIPANTS IN THE EVENTS
OF THE TIME.
Last of Orleans-Birth in the Flood
Deaths in the Torrent
Rescue of Kendall and the
Smith Stewart Fam
ily-Other Incl

dents.
The absorbing topic of convel
sation on the street and in publ
places during the past week is th
late high water and former floods
The number of subjects for an ar
gument and dispute which come
out of discussion of these event
seems ianumerabls. "Did the las
previous high water occur in 189'
or 1so1p' flow much higher wa
the water at that time than it wa
this week." "How did that fooe
: compare with the flood Of 61-62?'
"Was the big food in 81 or '62?
"Was one rise in the latter par
of December 81 and another th'
first part of January .62?" AL
these questions have been discussed
with considerable warmth, by ole
residents whose memories may
have been treacherous and by new
comers who have gathered up a
few threads of the high water. his
tory Of the Willamette Valley.
The TIMES will not attempt to
decide for any Of the contestants,
further than TO say that the food
of 6I-62 was the most memorable
In the history of the state. It was
particularly disastrous in this To-
cali:y. On last Sunday night
might have been seen an OCCASION
al lantern flicker on the opposite
side of the river, and now and then
half submerged COW would in
dicate her discomfort by a call for
assistance. On a Sunday night in
the winter of 81 81 it was other
wise. At that time on the east
side Of the river there was a village
of some pretention to which had
been given the name OF Orleans by
its founder. Isaac Moore, Among
its beet known inhabitants were,
Isaac Moor, Mr.. and Mrs. Philip
'Phile, Mr.. and Mrs. Joseph Ger.
hard, Mr.. and Mrs. Morgan Lillard.
and little beyond, there resided
the latter's father-in-law,- Charley
-Mulkey. David MillhoIlen and
family resided in the house now
owned and occupied by Mr.. Butler,
situated near the government ietty.
All that Sunday night there was
shouting of men, cries of distress
from women and firing cf guns for
help as the mad waters created hav-
oc in the town of Orleans and else
where. That was more than forty
years ago, but these now living
who participated in the scenes of
that night'in the little village speak
OF them with awe and deep con.
ceru. They say that it was an aw.
full time. Stock of every descrip-
t1on was. all about struggling for |
life in the angry flood, but there
was no time to waste on them.
There were too many human lives
1t stake. The rush of water came /
suddenly and unexpected, and none
nad taken any precaution to guard
against the danger. The first alarm
vas given-by parties who were
weakened by drift logs striking |
lgainst their houses. Those in the
'reatest danger were moved to saf.
7 places iiu the village. Joseph !:
ierhard and John Summer con Il
eyed their wives, each with two
mall eca,.ss.ren, to the formers haylt
If where they remained until the t
ext day. En- the mean time these Il
wo gentlemen, Philip Phile and
theirs, were kept busy with boats ID
others. q
William Lewis and wife were a
oung persons who occupied Il
nall dwelling in the village, and o
ley were determined to remain c
their little home as long as pos t.
bic. hoping and believing that the t,
ater would recede. Before they |fs
'ok leave of the house however, the Fl
ife was taken violently ill, and as e,
le rising waters dsmpened the e,
raw mattress upon W hich she b,
y, a baby girl was born to the II
mily. The necessity of her re- al
oval was imperative, and the d,
other and child and the bedding D,
ere placed III a skiff. They were "
en- rowed TO the residence of Mr.. ftI
oore, and placed on the second eff
'or through the upper story win al
w, When day finally dawned h,
9 neither and child were brought Ct
Corvallis, where they were able 10
secure proper attention. As w
on as possible after daylight all m
e women and children of Orleans be
re conveyed to the west side of ii
E river. "
During the night aud following c
orning several houses were wash al
away on the east side, among tt
itch was the one owned by Mr.. 81
Immer, whose family took refuge 81
the hay loft with Mrs. Gerhard Of
e belonging to Philip Phile, 1T
1ich was afterward hauled back las
d now forms a portion of the T