The independent-reporter., 1910-02-17
EXPERIENCES DURING
WESTERN FLOOD
One Pig Sat on Stump Waiting for
River to Recede.


The following narration is from
letter written by Mrs. d. H. Thompson
who with her family went to Washine-
ton little more than year ago. 1t
describes their experience in the flood
OF Nov. 20, 1909: 8
We live on the bank of the Skagit
river which rises In the Cascade
mountains In British Columbia and
comes down through those mountains
covered with eternal SHOWS. When
this river nearly reaches this place
1t swings through the valley to Puget
Sound. Where we live the river
makes a big bend like q horseshoe
We live on the inside of the bend. On
the other side IL dyke built all the
way around. On this side there is no
dyke, Just large river, larger than
the Penobscot or Kennebec and 500
feet wide at lower water. Steamboats,
$50 feet long go up and down. 1t 10
now what we call the rainy season
and has rained nearly all the time
since October 10. This affects the
river somewhat but what causes the
trouble 10 the Chinook" wind, warm
wind from the southeast which cuts
the snow of the mountains very rap
idly, causing a sudden and sometimes
tremendous rise of water. That is
what happened this time. One OF
these winds came up and blew stead
lily for 64 hours causing the old Skagit
to get busy. People knew what was
coming and prepared for it the best
way they could.
. We had go head Of cattle, I horses
and 25 hogs. On November 20. we
drove the horses and cattle Except
ing 20 which were in pasture four
miles below down to the city. The
hogs were on hill and the little pigs
were put In large box and placed on
the top OF the milk wagon where they
were supposed to be safe. Booms
were built around everything that was
likely to float. When everything was
done at six o'clock at night the water
began to come through the banks, over
the road and through the door yard.
A boat was tied to the piazza post
and after eating supper the men took
everything they could up stairs. The
piano was blocked to the ceiling and
we fed for the attic. At II o'clock
the water came under the door and at
1.30 a. m. 1t was 30 inches deep In the
house and steadily rising. The entire
ranch and whole county was under
water which became one great boiling
sea, taking everything In It's path.
DriftwoOd and wreckase Of every de-
scription rushed paSt. All we could
do was TO wait. We made coffee and
had lunch while we watched the wa
ters creep up the stairs. About, 4
o'clock there was 40 inches OF water
above the floor. Then we heard from
across the river the sound Of distant
thunder. The dyke on the other side
had broken away a thousand feet and
a great mountain of water poured
down upon those defenseless people
who had made no preparation what
ever, as they had depended upon the
dyke to hold the. river In its banks.
From that moment the water stopped
rising on our side as a new outlet had
been made and soon 1t began to fall.
It was still pitch dark and we could
see and do nothing but just wait We
could hear from across the river the
lowing OF cattle, the neighing OF
horses and cries Of people In distress.
daylight came and such a
sight az met cur gaze no pen can de-
scribe. nothing but great waste of
water and not an inch Of land in
sight. A. great barn crushed and
on end could be seen In
which 22 COWS drowned and six hors-
60 were pinned under the wreckage
and had to be shot. Houses were taken
among trees and wrecked. A man
living in one-story house having no
upstairs to 80 to, cut hole In the roof
and crawled through. remaining there
al night. Thousands Of cattle and
horses were drowned and millions Of
property destroyed and fsw human
lives lost. About noon tho next day
our men took . boat and rOwed TO the
barn where is pigs were drpwnsd and
1 hogs missing. One. found swimming
Tor dear life. was taken into the boat
and saved Two days aftsFward one
vas found In . back field sitting on
! stump ali right. We slbo last 76
hens. Altar stay Of two days up
stairs, Elvs (the daughter) andh I were
taken to the. city In boat The next
day after arriving there ws ut word
that our cattle at Cedardals w>rs In
water ovsr their backs Thag were
reached my saddle h6rla part
way: then . raft was built and they
were gotten out all right There u
not fence left on our rancA Aftsr
the water fell away thu A1uDe vas
covered with fron ona b. ~ inchee
Of mud. ! hav6 seen whAt - calied