Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1910-03-04
Bridges Crushed and Buildings Car
ried Away by Angry Water

Tuesday, March 1st 1910 will stand out in Pullman cal
enda the of her great baptism by just
as July 1890 marks the time of her baptism by fire and
as then she from the smouderng ember of fortunes
loss today the ubdg waters find those who suffered loss
again at with spirit undauned the damage
inflicted by the elements.
The weather conditions The have caused all
servers to predict high foundations
the spring snowfall heavy instead melting
from time and gradually finding its way down the
courses has laid the ground continuously since
early December only awaiting the appearance of the long
overdue Chinook wind bring the flood Of Tuesday The
fall saturated ground with moisture that all
of the melting snow must run
the flooding rivers But in the face of these unnatural
conditions and expecting that the water Of the South Pouse
might to unprecedented height Pullman not
pecay uneasy herself the channel thought
ample the past protect the city from disastrous
food
Early Tuesday morning southwest wind augmented by
started rivulets and streams down every hillside
and by South Palouse Dry Fork and Missouri
Flat creeks which unite here raging torrents all out Of
channels flooding the city. Dry Fork which
the city from the south running the entire length OF
Grand street being underneath 12oot board walk
on The east side filled the from curb
Eaton building its waters divided nearly its entire
volume flowing down Main street meet the onrushng flood
from the Paouse
The rising the of five feet hour
caught business Of unpreparedness that
responsible for much of the loss that resulted
Sidewalks and debris of all descriptions came floating
down the lodge against the Kamiaen street bridge
the R. N tresle damming the stream and backing the
water up throughout the business district
Then the fight to protect the stocks Of
chandse from the and merchants called in all possible
help things from basement upper floor then
top and the highest Shelves in many instances
only later counters and shelving toppe into the
dry goods and groceries, and merchandise of all de-
sorpton go floating off in the murky waters e sodden
soaking with value greatly deprecated
The of wooden structures the bank Of the South
Palouse Main in the deepest of the food
many of them floating. The used by c. NJ
Waters furniture warehouse the first to yield the
irresistible force waters the lower floor being crushed
the upper part of the structure almost intact floating
Main Spring street. where it lodged against
the side Of Campbes implement house Then the buildings
each in turn helping to break loose
from its moorngs and for half hour the
ceabng grooming of rendg tmber heard above the
and rush of the waters.
A building came down and lodged against the Kamaken
street bridge and for minutes the bridge made fight for its
life winning in this instance for the building soon went to
pieces carried almost timber at time under the
bridge the building that down carried the
bridge from piers and the fell into the stream striking
the woory Parrish building occupied by Baums piano
house and the Palm cafe the lower floor and lodging house
the floor this building being carried down the stream
to the of the Star livery stable its lower floor being COM
peey demolished the upper floor wrecked beyond repair
The bridge then swung into the N reste carrying that
down. and into the steel bridge Grand street. which it
crushed down though had been paper Gulbergs building
on Kamaen street. occupied by Mr. Gulberg as tailor shop
and residence and Mrs. Christian residence East Main
street went out at about the time each building being
demolished and the household goods complete losses The
Kitchen house which stood State street back Of the Alton
MOTEL struck by the wrecage moved down the street
hundred yards, and practically demolished.
The carrying of these bridges and the tree and
the dam of debris piled behind them released the pressure of