OCR Text |
Show HEAVY FLOODS IN NORTHWEST PORTLAND, Ore., April 1 U.P The worst flood or.dilions in eight years prevailed today over the Pacific northwest. At least three lives were lost, property damage was estimated at several million dollars, rivers surged surg-ed in angry torrents, streams overflowed over-flowed lowlands, many persons were homeless and rail and automobile auto-mobile traffic was disrupted by steady rains that fell over a wide area during, the past two days. The focal point of the flood in Washington was at Walla Walla where the most acute condition in the city's history was experienced. Hundreds of homes were flooded by water that stood about three feet deep in the business and residence resi-dence districts. Pavements were washed out making auto traffic impossible. Phillip Fox was drowned when he fell into flood waters of Garrison Garri-son creek at Walla Walla. Oscar Olson, Seal Rocks, Ore., and Rex Brown, Ferry, Ore., were believed to have been drowned at Westfir, Ore. About 60 homes were endangered in Portland by swirling . waters from Johnson creek, that broke over its banks. Residents in the vicinity were forced to use row-boats row-boats to reach safety and save household effects. In the Williamette Valley in Oregon Ore-gon the Santiam river presented a serious menace. It had flooded acres of lowlands and blocked several sev-eral roads. Auto traffic was cut off from Portland south by slides and washouts wash-outs along the east and west side highways. Farmers were reported deserting their homes in parts of north central Idaho as torrential rains swelled streams over their banks. A pa.csenger train en route from Lowiston to Spokane became marooned and a train from Spokane Spo-kane was forced to turn back at Moscow. Farmers In flat lands evacuated their holdings when Pohlutch creek broke its banks. Clearwater river, I outside of Lewis ton, rose at an aiarming rate. A log boom, released by flood Vaters, destroyed a dam at Orofino, Idaho, crushed a railroad bridge and threatened another, according to reports. Seventeen other bridges lay ahead of the menacing log jam ' in Orofino creek. |