East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1905-12-13

December 1S is date which all
old residents of PendIeton remember
we'll, for 1t is the anniversary of the
big flood of 'S2. Twenty-three years
ago last night the Umatilla broke
from its banks just above town, and
between IL o'clock and the middle of
the next forenoon the greater part of
the town was flooded.
The following is from the account
of the flood which was published in
the Semi Weekly East Oregonian of
December 15:
The river rose rapidly and suddenly
during the night and in the early
hours of the morning the main por-
tion of the town was in the midst of
a rushing torrent of water. People
were hurrying to and fro seeking safe
ty for themselves. or looking after the
safety of neighbors during all the lat
ter part of the night and the early
part of Thursday morning. The water
reached its highest point about 6
o'clock in the morning, and remained
nearly stationary for three or four
hours. When it began to go down
and the flood abated almost as rapidly
} as 1t had risen.
At this period some estimate may
, be formed from the fact that on Court
street above Main it was from two to
three feet in depth. In the Willard
} house it was about 10 inches in depth.
In all buildings below Court street IL
} was, of course, proportionately high
. er. 1t ran with great velocity, and
in many cases the attempt to cross the
street even at the highest point wa;
! extremely perilous.
} Late In the night the main portion
: of the bridge was carried away. Ar
) ticles of all description including fur
2 niture, hay farming utensils, live
: stock and wrecks of houses could b'
. seen sweeping past in the dim dawr
of the morning. 1t was reported tina
II one house was seen floating dowI
d with a light burning inside. Man!
If residences of the town were swep
n away or left in shapeless ruins. How
r many of such there are 1t is impos
Is sible to say at this time, but 1t
at thought about 90 housese were carried
n away or totally ruined while scores o
\ others were more or less wrecked o
is demolished. ,. fE..
m The whole lower portion of the tow
is wreck, only three dwellings re
Of naming on their foundations. Thos
A. of Mr.. Carroll, George Bentley an
&c Prof. Arnold, whose loss in furnitur
ne is estimated at $1,000. Nearly all tn
e. fences and great portion of the side
al walks throughout the town are com
ha htlil1
IN ings of all sizes which were not wash
ne ed away entirely are moved from thei
t foundations, sometimes turned aroun
and tilted up on edge. Streets wer
washed and filled in places so as t
be impossible Timbers, sidewalk
~ bales of hay, fences. trees and wreck
=, of wagons and articles of all sorts an
- descriptions are heaped up on Wate
street in indescriminate ruin.
What the aggregate loss will be q
~ yet is impossible to say but non
n place It at less than 100000 and som
= men of good judgment place 1t q
"a high as $1,000, 900. AS far as ls know
"A yet no lives were lost in this vicini'
m although there were some narrow e'
capes.
"The scene in town during the da
was one never to be forgotte
Through all the streets under and b.
tween and around and through a
. the buildings in the business part
! town the mud and muddy torrent WI
10 rushing with fearful velocity.
ryy Men with teams and on horsebao
= were hurrying through the flood
errands of dire necessity. Others {
foot waded up to their knees al
!, where the force of the current WI
checked up to their breasts were eros
re-. ing the flooded streets. Dozens era
no ed by the excitement and liquor we
to shouting along the inundated sid
SD walks. Animals mad with terror we
ge bowling and bawling. But among
the excitement and recklessness
hear Of no one being robbed or sci
ously injured.