Payette enterprise. (Payette, Canyon Co., Idaho) 1909-1935, 1910-03-03
ICE GORGES
PLAY HAVOC
Considerable Low Lands Flooded as
Result of High Water Caused by
Ice Gorges-No Loss of Life or
Much Stock Yet Reported-RiVer
now Running Free.

Since Monday evening Of this
week ice gorges in the Payette riy-
er have resulted in considerable
flooded land and some damage, al
though there has been no loss of
stock reported up to this time.
The first gorge to form was just
above the headgate to the Prestel
GAsgh on Monday afternoon and MoL'
day night at eleven O'Clock the re-
port was telephoned to Payette that
matters along the river at that point
were assuming a serious phaze, A
large area of land was inundated
being covered by from three to four
feet of water. The river for a few
hours swung out round the huge
barrier of ice that blocked its way
and for a time it looked as though
the Payette would change its course
and come down the Prestel slough
as large amount of water came
down this ditch covering the Pres
tel lumber yard with from six to
twelve inches of water. The big
gorge however did not remain sta
tionary hut began breaking up and
slowly moved down the river which
had a tendency to lower the back
water before new channel had
been cut
At o point in the river near the
foot of Pennsylvania avenue it again
gorged about three O'Clock Tuesday
afternoon and for a time again
threatened TO change the course OF
the river but before any serious
damage was done other than flood
ing large area OF bottom land the
gorge broke and by eleven O'Clock
Tuesday evening the river was run
ming heavy with ice and by Wed
nesday morning was almost clear
lane lie greatest danger resulting
from ice gorges is now supposed to
be passed.
The mighty Snake river has been
higher for the past few days nan
ia seventeen years and almost the
whole of Washoe bottom is flooded
to the extent that all the ranchers
living along the river have been
forced to move their stock to places
of safety.
The Banks island is covered with
the exception of about five acres and
the damage to Mr.. Banks has been
quite extensive.
c. f. Draper was forced on We'd
nesday to move his family from his
home by boat and has suffered Sc
we're damage.
George Hollnes was also forced to
leave his home and seek safety in
flight as the water threatened to
make it unsafe to remain.
1t is almost impossible to estimate
the entire damage until the flood
subsidies. Those who have lived
here for years claim that for seven
teen years the Snake river has not
been SO high as this year.
The Payette river is not so high
but on Tuesday night when the big
ice gorge went out the west approach :
tc the wagon bridge was damaged to !
the extent that teams were not al :
lowed 10 cross until "Wednesday ey- !
sning at which time the bridge had
been repaired and was considered
- shape for traffic Of all kinds.
A + tge force OF men were over on ,
- asS8e bottom all day Wednesday :
assisting to rescue stock and getting
the women and children Of the differ /
.sat faHilies, forced to move, to plae-
Ss of safety
One hundred and eighty five head
Of horses and cattle that were in dan
ger Of being drowned were moved
TO PAGES OF safety sometimes be
ing forced to swim a considerable
distance. r. Y. Currin lost one
horse and DR.. o. E. Lowell another
the two animals getting mired in the
mud and the water rising so rapidly
that the -rescuers were forced to
leave them to THEN fa1s
The Snake river is higher than IL
has been for twenty years and up
to today noon was still rising steadily
Almost everyone in WashOe bottom
got their stock out Of danger early
wednesday morning with the excep- I
tion OF c. H. Moore and c. F. Draper
and should the river raise much high
er it will be a question as to wheth-
er they viii be able to save them
now or not. Today Thursday noon)
they are still safe enough but the in
dications are that the river viii go
much higher and that being the
case the two gentlemen may lose
some Of their cattle and horses.