The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-11-15
SEATTLE CUT OFF
Floods Have Isolated the City
From Rest of State.
Miles of Railroad Track Have
Been Swept Away.
THREE LIVES LOST.
Northern Pacific viii BE Out Of
Business Two Weeks.
A Number Of Small Towns Are
Under Water.
THREE LIVES LOST.

L
the last dispatch received from Seattle
before all communication with the
north was lost was long special to the
Morning Oregonian. telling of the flood
condition prevailing in that section of
Washington. The dispatch was filed
early last night and relates conditions
existing since Tuesday night when the
first intimations of the real extent and
possibilities of the flood were realized.
The dispatch in part is as follows:
Floods in the White, Stuck and
Green rivers which began last night
have swept away miles of railroad, in
undated all the valley towns, rendered
hundreds of farmers homeless and cost
three lives up to date The men lost
in the floods were drowned while try
ing to break up log jams that threat
ened railway and county bridges. F.
w Kalmer of Auburn was drowned
in the White river, and two loggerS
employed by the Declare Lumber
company lost their lives while working
in the Green river above Auburn 1t
will be two weeks before the Northern
Pacific will be able to resume regular
train operations. The Great Northern
is tied up for a shorter period, Tor the
trouble on that road is due to an
avalanche of mud that swept out
portion of the track.
Auburn, Kent O'Brien, Benton
Orillia and half a dozen smaller towns
in the valleys of the three rivers are
under water. Residents Of O'Brien
were compelled at noon today to aban-
don their homes and flee to the hills.
At Kent a raging torrent Is running
through the town and Auburn VIII suf-
fer extensive damages unless the
waters recede.
The employees of the Denny Clay works
plant at RantOn were cut off ny She
flood this afternoon and had to re-
II h. oh on
they could be rescued by boats.
Scores of farmers We're saved by a mar
row margin, but there may be some loss
of life in the outlying districts that can
not now be reached because of prostra-
ton of all telegraph wires. The food
is most serious known. exceeding III ex-
tent the disastrous flood of 1903 that
destroyed a large amount of property.
Northern Pacific Heavy Loser.
The Northern Paeifie's loss will be
enormous. Two steel bridges between
Hot Springs and Eagle Gorge, which
cross the Grange river and another
crossing the Stuck river near DleringeT
have been swept away. A great deal
OF trackage in the valleys Is under WA
ter and may be washed away III
The complete Feie aup cot the NaElncrn
midnight last night. The North Coast
limited did not succeed in reaching Sc
attic last night. The Great Northern
is unable to send out any trains. Com
the Northern Pacific to send passsc-
gers south in that manner The floods
are caused by a series of rains lasting
two weeks and chinook wind that
has melted snow on the mountains
Rain is still falling and is expected to
continue.
At Kent, the southern end of the
town, two miles wide was under sew
erai feet of water. In the heart of the !
town the White river has spread out |
for almost three miles in width. leav |
Ing only a small portion in the eastern |
end of the place above water. About 1
O'Clock this morning the conditions |
Of the flood became apparent and |
since that hour the water has risen /
steadily at the rate of two inches an /
hour. The business section of Auburn /
is still intact. but under water. The |
residence district is entirely flooded /
and in many parts of the city has |
risen so high that people have fled to /
the hills for safety Several two story
ng torrent, have f1Oated down both |
The Green and White rivers. They
were empty. Though the rain is still
pouring in torrents huge bOnfires are
lighting up the hills in the farming
country and about them are huddled
scores of families driven from theiT
homes and fighting desperately to save
heir stock and some of their posses
sions. The damage to farming landa
and the destruction of crops which
had been stored for the winter will be
enormous.
Danger Increases.
Danger of loss of life viii be greater
tonight. when in the darkness it will be
practically impossible for rescuers to
ind the people huddled along the river
bank, or farmers who are still clinging
to their homes to know Of the waters
rapid rise Benton is under water and
the Cedar river is boiling through the
,ity taking with it in itz mad rush all
and some of the smaller
barns. Most of the bridges near North
Bend have gone out and the town is iso-
ated. The water went down there
slightly this morning, but at noon was