The Weston leader. [volume] (Weston, Umatilla County, Or.) 189?-1946, 1916-03-24
RUSHING WATERS
FLOOD THE STREETS
w.s.ss VISITED ~ tAs nassss Rain and nail
STERN m Lssal nistsu.

March "a running trus 70 torm ~
A versatile weather month. About
four O'Clock sunday afternoon !, STAGED
an electrical storm tina, would very
nke,y have wiped Weston OFT the Gre
Iater,s footstool had Il been OF longer
duration. Almost simultaneously sim.
liar storms occurred at Milton ana
Ffrewnter and throughout the waila
Walla valley and also az Portland
where two fatalities resulted, one
man. prominent farmer named
rhomas shemwell. was drowned near
WallA walla. and heavy property
damage was done along the toothilH
Of the nluea. A clondburst ON Stase
xnlch west of pendleton was followed
by a wall of water four feet deep
sweeping down the canyon. pendleton
was hit lightly. and Athena escaped
with flooded Easements.
sunday at Weston was clear and
beautiful until the storm burst almost
without warning IL lasted about an
hour, and for half an hour a perfect
torrent OF hail and rain descended, 80
much precipitation In 80 short a time
was never witnessed before Ia this io-
cality. Muddy water came tearing
down from the hills IN convenient
Kulches and ran from curb 20 curb
and az a depth of one foot or more on
some Of the tharoushfarva. Cellars
were flooded, chickens drowned. and
nearly every lawn and garden alenE
the west side OF Water street. the
towns principal residential district.
was sli,hered over with thick plaster
OF mud. straw. hail and silt.
Robert Michaers residence ON South
Water street sustained the principal
damaGe, being moved several feet from
its foundation. Nearly all % his
chickens were drowned, although they
could easily have escaped by flying 20
their roosts. The Pinkerton residence
juEs south OF Mr. Micheais and oeeu-
pied hy Robert Proudfit and family
was surrounded by water. but II on
higher ground and .ss aped much
damage. Mr.. Proudfits little daugh'
ter was absent from the house. and IN
rushing out TO locate her he found
himself struggling In several feet 81
water and was nearly swept from his
feet. A muddy torrent descending
from the Raniater field through the
gulch near the Brethren church be
came ciogged by mixture of hall and
debris. and when u hurn this harriet
swept flercely down upon the Proud
nt and Michael homes. which had te
stand the brunt OF its attack.
McBrl,la's livery harms we're hoctied
From east Of town the water came
driving down the Dnp1is guich and
overran the implement and lumhe'
yard OF Watts a Rogers. which sua'
tanned considerable damage II swept
by like a mIlirace both In the front
and rear OF their store. finding al
outlet on Franklin street. More Of
less damage was caused In other parts
of town. and general snconvenlence re-
suited from the overflow.
Gaping holes were washed In 4
number Of plowed fields and Weston
] farmers were accustomed loss and
trouble. The residence OF Mrs. a. q
winn In the Little Dry creek neighbor-
hood east OF town u reported To have
been filled with a foot or more Of
mud, and the county road camp In the
same vicinity WAS wrecked. Rssidrnta
OF the foothills say that heavy boui-
ders were carried down the canyons.
The attractive surroundings Of A. J.
MeIntyre's commodious farm home
north OF town were completely buried
under a blanket OF mud
The carcnRsea OF dead animals bur-
led in a canyon az the Bade place on
Dry creek were swept out OF their
graves and carried for a half mile 20
the creek bottom. Fearful Of poll
iufed wells. the residents OF that
neIghborhoo were forced 20 haul wa
ter for farm use.
A band OF sheep belonging to
Charles Demaris. residing on the Wall
In walIa river above Milton. is said TO
have drowned In his barn.
Water rushed down the main street
OF Milton and Into the store fronts,
and w. r.. Piersoi navigated the street
on a raft. The flume OF Millions
light plant was damaged and the town
left In darkness.
The waiia waIia river In said 70
have reached the highest stage record
ed for ten years Pine creek at Wes-
ton was turgid with mud. but behaved
itself admirably otherwise In fact.
Weston appears to have been in the
southernmost edge OF the storm. Its
residents are saying that dreadful
things might have happened had the
storm center broken along the upper
reaches OF Pine creek.
Two days OF rain and wind followed
Sundays outburst-