The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1910-03-11
AFTERMATH OF The FLOOD IN COLFAX
Flotsam and Jetsam Following Wake of
Raging Torrent Is Disappearing
patriotic Civic Spirit.

This has been busy week in Colfax
The work OF clearing away rubbish, re-
moving ohstructions, disposing of the
slickens, making repairs, constructing
temporary bridges, taking care OF the
fotsam and ietsam that seemed to lodge
in any old place, hanging out clothes
and damaged goods to dry, in fact,
sundry and divers occupations too nu
merous to mention, have occupied the
attention OF all our people. 1t has been
"washday" all along the line. From the
vim and energy displayed the ironing
process will soon begin, when Cofax will
come out looking spink-spank new, as
sweet and as beautiful as a bride led to
the altar. 1t may be possible that we
shall have to christen her "New Colfax."
Sunday was beautiful day. The sun
never smiled sweeter. 1t looked down,
however, upon a scene OF wreck and desc
latiOn. Hundreds OF men were at work.
large force was engaged in pulling out
the big Jam which had collected at the
entrance OF the causeway on Main street,
fronting the court house, and in putting
in temporary wagon bridge at the
same point, which was accomplished be-
fore Old Sol hid his face behind the
western hills 1t was found that the
stone walls which cOnfine the river at
this point during ordinary stages OF the
CT well a. the DnrtiOn
OF it built last season, we're in perfect
condition. 1t is apparent, however, th t
it will have to be made wider, if not trans
ferred altogether to another channel.
Another large force, with teams, was
disposing OF big timbers and parts of
houses that had collected near the 0. Il.
L n. depot The Inland depot building,
or the major part OF it, had lodged
there. 1t seemed to be the resting place
OF great pile of stuff, but work to re-
duce it did not stop for a moment. A
temporary path for pedestrians was
made from the depot to the north end of
Mill street at the -four mill by laying
down boards to walk on at soft places,
passing through the Potlatch lumber
yard, which, by the way, was little dam
aged, although deep in the depths OF the
flood.
This passageway afforded people an
opportunity to reach the north eI
of town, and many for the first time had
the opportunity to view the ravages OF
a
the north end but were under water.
People we're driven to upper stories,
many being taken out by boats, there
happening to be two, by the grace OF
God, in that part of town on the event.
ful afternoon Of Tuesday, March /, 1910
But for the heroic men who manned these
boats we should probably be compelled
to chronicle loss OF life, whereas the loss
is confined solely to property, which can
be replaced. While the homes in the
north end look sorry and forlorn people
are hard at work and it will soon look
different. The North Ward school build
ing, a two-story brick structure, with
deep and high basement. was filled with
refugees, it being a safe resort, although
surrounded by water.
People from nearby towns embraced
this, the first opportunity, to come down
on the 0. r. & n. and look at the un-
usual sights The home workers paid
no attention to them, they managed to
keep out OF the way, but gave high
praise to the spirit manifest to brush up
and begin anew.
It should be mentioned that all city
officials, from the mayor down, have
given most Of their time to the work OF
rehabilitation. In this they have been
assisted on all occasions by business
men and citizens generally-a display OF
civic patriotism seldom witnessed and
never excelled.
Columns, aye pages. could be written
of narrow escapes, acts OF heroism, Incl
dents and other features connected with
the great food, but all of it cannot be
told here.