Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1904-03-10
PRIZE WINNING MONTH
February Went to tho Extreme
For Dsmpness.

Monday in Grants Pass was a prize
taker for wetness. After a few days
OF beautiful sunshiny weather follow
ing a rainy time unoxampled in dura-
tion, the elements started in on Sun.
day evening to demonstrate the fact
that there was yet plenty Of moisture
In stock Tho rain poured necessarily
all Sunday night aud Monday. The
air was warm and tho storm was
without wind, the rain plunging
straight down in big drops. Pedosrit.
ans under umbrellas were not entirely
protected as the force Of the falling
drops actually drove the water
through the cloth, sprinkling the in
diyidual beneath with fine spray
On Monday every depression was
lake and overy creek river, with
ground sluice head" running In
every gutter In the afternoon, the
volume Of water in the creek which
runs through the east side of town
became too great for the capacity of
the brick tunnel ut the head Of Sixth
street and tho water poured down
that street In rolling flood 1t fol.
lowed the gutter on tho west side M
far as A street when IL divided and
sent portion Of tho wetnoss through
the court house yard. The greater
portion of this water used the
front walk of the court house as a
route to rejoin the main flood in the
street and destroyed the symmetry of
tho granite sidewalk by boring out
several unsightly holes just in front
Of the court house gate. From the
court house to the railroad track the
water followed both sides of the street
impartially overlooking the crossings
to depth OF several inches. In
front Of Bannard's furniture store,
Hotel Josephine, Coos store and the
opera house block, the water rippled
morrily over the sidewalks. Thore
was no way Of dodging it, The ped.
estrians we're compelled to brave the
yellow flood and to ford the stormy
waters Some went ON tiptoo, others
crossed in long leaps and strides while
others splashed stoically in ordinary
gait. Along somo Of the more dooply
submerged sidewalks, the city force
OF stroot workers laid thick planks,
anohoring thom to the walk bya rope.
On these a straight walker was able
to pass dry shol from one high spot 10
another. Toward evening the rain
slackenod and tho waters quickly
subsidized and resumed thoir natural
course
The railroad track at the Sixth
street crossing was covered to depth
OF several inches aud each passage OF
train was accompanied by an orup.
tion of light brown wator An oblig.
ing man stood for somo time with a
plank, laying it across the track to
accommodate pedestrians and rcmoy
ing it to allow trains to pass.
A small boy going homo from
school started to wade tho crossing at
the lower corner Of tho court house
block The walk was hidden by the
water and.the boy stepped too iar up
stream and went into tie gut,or He
was submerged to his neck aud the
water swept him undor tho o.ossiur
lie cluug to the planks and kent his
head out until ho was pulled out by
an onlooker, 10 those who saw the
occurrence IL looked as though tho
boy might have been drowned If helr
had not boon at hand as hc seemed
unable TO eXtrloato himself
A cyclisL plungIng through the
flood IA front OF the Josephine tried
TO make the turn to l. street The
wheel slipped and the cyclist was de. !
posted in about two feet OF water be-. |
yond the edge Of tho walk This oc.
ourrence caused considerable unknd
glee among the spectators.
The storm has occasioncd more
trouble along the limo OF the Southern |
Pacific and trains have bcyn irroeu. !
lar, especially from the south. Mon |
days No. IL was held up several |
hours by slide at Wall creek aud |
ON Monday night, a freight train was |
wrecked by a slide ut that point. !
causlnsa "a 10 hours delay for Tuesday, |
No. r.
The Louise creek bridge ON the Old |
stage road, five miles north Of Grants |
Pass, went out in the food Of Mon.
day afternoon. This ls very serious
Inconvenience TO all travel from be. |
yond that point The creek at that
place has perpendioular banks aud |
crossing Is a virtual .impossitility.