Jupiter Pluvius (The Giver of Rain)
"Well, if this is to be a record season, nobody can say that I'm not doing my bit."
[ Annus Mirabilis (Wonderful Year) ]
Feb 18, 2017 — GREENWOOD, BC (BG)
Given the seemingly endless news reports on major weather events, and the dramatic flood scene taking place at the Oroville, California dam this week, we were interested to discover what Greenwood's own history of flooding has been. Beginning a search of local historic newspapers, we were surprised to immediately find a Boundary Creek Times report from January, 1909 [1] that reported "The damage caused by floods in the Sacramento Valley is estimated at $1,500,000."
In fact, the Times and other local papers regularly reported on flood events in other parts of the world. In 1908[2] the Times reported on a flood in Hyderabad, India that killed more people than the Johnstown, Pennsylvania disaster, in which over 2,200 died.
Most significant among the Times reports were the 1909 news stories about 3,000 who died in flooding of the Catarina River in Mexico, and 1,200 who died in Calcutta floodwaters. In 1910, there were numerous reports of the severe flooding that took place in Paris, Holland and other parts of Europe. Canada donated $50,000 to aid the Paris sufferers in a flood that was feared would take down the Eiffel Tower[3]:
"The most gay and joyous city in the old world is in tears and tribulation. Her homes destroyed, personal property ruined, and many lives being washed out daily by the most terrific floods that gay Paree has ever witnessed. Only last week the authorities had to resort to dynamite to blow up the historic Pont de L'Alma, one of the most famous bridges spanning the Seine, to prevent the formation of a disastrous dam. Many lives have been lost by the collapse of buildings and all Paris is in great distress. Famine threatens the poor, for several railway lines have been abandoned, the stations and miles of track being under water, so no outside provisions can be brought into the city. Think of it, and be thankful we are safe and sound, sure and secure, and extend your pity and sympathy to the poor of Paris."
The charitable spirit extended above in the writings of the Boundary Creek Times editor was later emphasized in another editorial, in the July 29th edition[4]. Here, we get a real sense of the mood of charity and brotherhood that was no doubt prevalent in Greenwood at that time:
"OUR LATE CALAMITIES. What are we going to do in the matter of immediate aid to the sufferers from fires and flood so fearfully prevalent during the past few days and weeks and of almost daily occurrence. Our press of late is filled with the most heartrending accounts of cities and towns totally destroyed, and ranches, through forest fires, being instantly wiped out of existence and tens of thousands are homeless and in dire need of the common necessities of life. Take, for an illustration, that thriving large city of W. Cambellton, New Brunswick, with a population of 4,000, which in twenty-four hours was so thoroughly consumed that out of thousands of buildings but seven remained after the holocaust, and the people need help and assistance with food and clothing.
To come nearer home, how many hundreds of our own B. C. inhabitants are today deprived of all they possess, and valuable lives lost in those lately fire-visited sections. What are we going to do about it? We have read about it in our press reports and commented upon the hard luck of those who experienced those dreadful occurrences, but sentiment don't cut much ice when thousands are clamorous for bread. Let us substitute dollars for sentiment, and the change will prove most palatable. When we think over the ever recurring calls for our aid to the suffering and the God-blessed, whole-hearted responses so generously made by people everywhere, that this has got to be placed among our unforseen liabilities and plans made that a certain amount of our income must be considered available for this purpose only, and that for relief to those who so terribly need it."
This sentiment of serving as 'our brother's keeper' was quite recently demonstrated by the folks of Greenwood, who gave significant financial and other support to the fire victims in Rock Creek.
Here at home in Greenwood, since the time of its founding, flooding has caused everything from minor inconvenience to major disturbance. Grand Forks was known as 'the City (or Village) of Floods', but Greenwood has also had its share of flooding dramas.
In some cases the flooding was a helpmate to local industry. For example, we read that [5] "Logging camps are in full swing and … about 17 million feet of lumber will leave this district in the spring flood", as timbers were floated to collection points via conveniently flooded gullies and creeks.
In general, of course, floodwaters were not at all helpful. They were, however, predictable, and the dynamics of nature were no different than they are today.
"The recent fine weather almost summer like in it warmth is taking the snow off the mountains at a rate that threatens disastrous consequences. The Kettle river has reached almost flood proportions. The waters of the West Fork rose over three feet in one day and is still rising, while Boundary Creek is now a stream of respectable dimensions." [6]
Because of the limited transportation network in place in the early 1900s, Greenwood was affected by flooding not only at home, but in places far distant, such as Montana. A June 1908 item in the Times[7] reported that "The Eastern mails have been delayed this week, several days' mail having been held up by the floods on the N.P. [Northern Pacific] and G.N. [Great Northern] in Montana. Part of the mail came in last night."
A 1898 Times report gave early warning of this concern[8]:
"The majority of wagon roads in Boundary Creek district have been built by private enterprise. Those constructed by the government are a striking commentary upon the many defects of the present system and the need for a radical change. It is hoped that the proper authorities will lose no time in making necessary repairs where the roads have been washed away by recent floods. In the absence of railway communication, it is of the greatest importance that the trunk roads be kept open for traffic."
Not only roadways, but railway lines were regularly impacted by flooding. In a November 1906[9] edition of the Times we read:
"Great floods are reported prevalent on the Pacific coast. The loss of property has been very heavy and railway travel is practically suspended. … The Great Northern is too busy looking after the breaks in its line caused by the recent floods…to build the Midway-Greenwood branch."
And in 1902[10]:
"The Canadian Pacific railway is having considerable trouble with floods and washouts on the main line and the Crow's Nest Pass railway."
In the Spring of 1904[11], Greenwood, much of the Boundary, and into Spokane were fighting floodwaters:
"CAUSED BY FLOODS. Slides and washouts all the way through the mountains still continue, and as a consequence traffic is greatly interrupted. The roads leading from B. C. to Spokane are closed to traffic and mails and freight are shipped via Bonners Ferry to Kuskonook and thence by boat to Nelson. On the Columbia & Western trains are delayed almost daily in spite of the great efforts made to keep the road clear.
A considerable washout occured above Greenwood at Hall's meadows, necessitating a transfer across the damaged sections for a couple of days. The waters from Granite creek, the outlet of Long Lake, in some way became directed from their old channel and in addition to the damage to the railroad, played havoc with the big ranch. As considerable rain has fallen the last few days, it is more than likely that still further trouble will be experienced."
One of the earliest narratives on serious flooding in Greenwood is found in the June 4, 1898 edition of the Boundary Creek Times[12], which describes widespread flooding in the Boundary:
"Old Jupiter Pluvius was particularly active last week. He worked a double shift at his rain factory and showered down upon mountain and valley, sinner and saint, a continuous down pour of Adam's ale. Beginning about Wednesday week, he kept up his aggressive campaign until all the rivers and streams revolted and turned the surplus water over the valleys. Kettle river fed by the numerous tributaries succeeded in frightening the Rock Creek Chinaman and damaging their provisions. The river behaved itself fairly well until Grand Forks was reached where it forced the Rubber Neck Association to use boats in order to reach their places of meeting. It treated with contempt the new bridge at Hall's Ferry, carrying it away. As the bridge was built underneath the cable for the ferry, the ferry could not be used and consequently no stage came in from Marcus on Monday. On Tuesday the mail was transferred by boat and on Wednesday the ferry was fixed so that it could be operated.
Boundary Creek too behaved rather badly. It threatened to carry away the corduroy bridge below Anaconda but was apparently satisfied when the approach was washed out. The boom of logs at Power's sawmill started down stream and was not captured until a considerable distance was placed between it and the mill. Midway was flooded near the Lancanshire house. In Greenwood Boundary Creek overflowed its banks in the valley, flooded Mr. Machell out of his cabin and once threatened to water the beer in the brewery but it didn't.
Twin Creek also took a hand in the flood and made matters rather interesting in the vicinity of the Hamill building. The creek passes underneath the building. When the flood came it was not satisfied until it carried off several of the posts upon which the building stood. Men were put to work and the damage was quickly repaired.
The Penticton stage did not arrive on Sunday and on Monday it came in without any through mail. The trouble arose at Penticton creek where the bridge was washed out. The stage succeeded in coming through on time on Wednesday.
The oldest inhabitant is non-plussed. His conscience will not allow him to say that the floods of '66 or any other year were higher. He has decided to make the best of it and make the floods of '98 a standard by which to gauge all future floods."
In the Spring of 1900 there was another flooding situation, and this one had significant fallout for the City of Greenwood. Local flooding resulted in a contentious lawsuit, reports of which[13] include some very interesting information about the lay of the land and how floodwaters moved through Greenwood. Oddly enough, the plaintiff in the case (who was seeking damages from the City for poor floodwater control) went by the name of Mr. Waterland. Following are excerpts of the Times report on the trial:
WATERLAND CASE.
The Evidence Given by the Principal Witnesses.
"…C. W. H. Sanson was called for the plaintiff. He deposed that he had been city engineer from April to June, 1899, Mr. Hardy then being Mayor. The plan produced was made by him, and showed the locality of the overflow, particularity the Deadwood street crossing, the Alhambra theatre and the Miners' hotel. He had seen the work of filling in Boundary creek at the Deadwood street crossing going on, under the supervision of J. A. McMillan, city foreman, and in his opinion the direct cause of the overflow was the filling in of the bed of the creek without making proper provision for carrying off such water as would naturally find its way into this bed, by building a flume or culvert to enable the water to pass through. He estimated the quantity of water running through Boundary creek at its normal state as about 1,000 miner's inches, while upwards of 600 wagons of earth and rock had been used in the filling.
One of the most important features of his evidence was that while he was city engineer he advised Mayor Hardy that unless a flume or culvert was put in at the Deadwood street crossing, there would certainly be a flood or overflow when, the usual spring freshet came. This year, after the damage was done, the city had put in a flume such as should have been put in in the first place."
In their defense, the city engineer claimed that even a culvert would not have prevented the flooding disaster, which Walter Waterland testified had resulted in a loss to him of some $5,000.
Town founder Robert Wood also stood as a witness in the case.
"An important feature in his evidence was that he had in 1899, when Deadwood street was being filled in, interviewed the city engineer and protested against filling in the old creek without putting in a proper flume, and had offered to pay for putting in the flume himself, if the city would put it in, as he was sure if no flume were put in a flood would result when the next spring freshet came. He had warned Mr. Alston, the city engineer, of the consequences of doing the work in the way it was done, and had also warned Thomas Hardy, the mayor, but had been snubbed for his pains. He had been down at the scene of the flood the morning after the overflow, and having examined the scene thoroughly, gave as his deliberate opinion that the flood had been directly due to the filling in of the bed of the creek by the city at the Deadwood street crossing."
Although the Mayor claimed that Robert Wood had never given such advice, and he along with other engineering witnesses said the blame should be placed on the owner of the Alhambra theatre for grading his lots and using the fill as a dam over the old stream bed, the court found in favour of the aggrieved Mr. Waterland. As report in October of that year[14], he won the case and was awarded $3,000, at the City's expense.
The Waterland lawsuit was not the last of its kind. For example, two years later, in October 1902[15] a local potato farmer sued because a flume at Boundary Falls was flooding his crops. He was not as fortunate as Mr. Waterland, however, and the court awarded him nothing for his claim (except, perhaps, the defendant's costs).
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