The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1910-03-02
HIGHEST FLOOD
IN A LIFETIME
Cowiche Creek Rises in an Hour
to Point Beyond the Memory
of the Oldest Inhabitant.
NACHES TRAIN STALLED
BY WASHOUT OF ROADBED
Arson S. White, P. L. Zirkle and
Other Old Residents Forced to
Seek Places of Safety-No
Reports of Loss of Stock.

Water is rising in the Yakima river
ana the Cowiche has been on a ram
page. The mountains are filed with
Water-saturated snow and the con-
uluons are ripe for a flood as the
ground beneath Is frozen Hot sun.
CHINOOK or warm rain will do
the damage. But it was the little old
Cowiche which startled the people
VINO live along its banks. At o'clock
tuesday afternoon the creek was
jumping along with spring vigor
within its banks. An hour later IL
was over their sides and an hour
after that 1t was across the canyon.
from wall to wan At O'clock at
night 1t had fallen considerably in
the upper Cowiche valley and at
"'clock last night it was down four
inches from its extreme height at the
home of p. L. Zirkle in the Lower
Naches.
Raise Is Record Breaker.
Inc water is the highest | have
known 1t, said Arson S. White, when
called by telephone by the Herald.
and he added, my knowledge goea
back thirty-five years. 1t rose over
the entry to my house and | had to
carry the folks out to higher ground.
nave been wading in watcr Ut TO
my neck right on my own premises
The whole country is under water but
do not anticipate that much damage
viii be done. | have not heard of the
people farther up the valley above us
but | rather think they are all right.
1t rained a little here and | sun
bose rained harder in the hills, rhe
snow was filled with water and was
ready " run. The water drains read
lly nere and will soon run off | never
saw anything like the way it rose
MIR. Zirlde Is Surprised.
~ beats anything | have known
IN 10 wears said Mr.. Z,rkle from his
nome IN the canyon ut started up
SO fast that we lost no time in < citing
'"t' removing bedding, carpets ana
such things. However It proved to
be unnecessary. The water rose within
three inches of the door sill. then
stopped and began to fall. Our house
~ TX inches or more above the
creek banks and the raise pf water
was considerable. The water now
stands level right acros the canyon
from edge to edge
Naches Train Stalled.
Stalled by the Cowiche creek was
the fate OF the Naches valley train
last night. The rush of water from
the canyon washed out the ballasting
and when the train, on its down run.
reached Cowiche station there was an
undermined track and several inches
OF water above the rails. hand
car which was handy was pressed into
service and the passengers were fer
ried over on it, all save r. d. Glenn
mer and two others for whom the
car did not return and who were
forced tn wade across.
Paul Kruger had narrow escape
when coming down from the Naches.
Despite the fact that the water was
hank deep on his horse he plunged
ahead. Fortunately the roadway
bridge had held and he crossed over
In safety Turning to look back when
he had got across he saw planks from
the bridge rise and float away. Mr..
Kruger had crossed the bridge but
an hour earlier going up the valley
and says the water then was not with
in three feet of the panking.
1.-The Yakima river is humping" was
n telephone message received bv the
Herald at 8 o'clock last night from
l.. V. McWhorter.