HISTORICAL NEWS SEARCH - Government of British Columbia

On December 9, Prince Rupert reported 3.86 in. (98.0 mm) of rain and 1.35 in. (34.3 mm) on December 10.
The rail line sustained heavy damage, interrupting the rail traffic for over two weeks. The train passengers were held
up for a week and some interior points were running short on food supplies. Many mudslides occurred along the
railroad as far east as Moricetown. *1) The big slide at the hill cut at Mud Creek required pile driving over the full
distance. On the east side, 300 ft. (100 m) of the hill went out. A pile bridge was erected and two steam shovels had to
be brought in to widen the cuts several hundred feet. At the big cut at Duncanon, a few miles east of Hazelton,
mudslides and several small slides occurred at the lower part of the railroad.
On the Queen Charlotte Islands a slide blocked the Nadu road. It was cleared by the provincial government.
The storm on the night of December 8 caused some damage. The gasoline launch Johnnie, belonging to the Tingley
Bros., broke from its mooring. It sustained considerable damage after being blown across the lake to Ship Island.
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*1) To avoid the “gumbo” slides, the railway company considered abandoning the present grade in favour of the
surveyed Old Copper River route (The Daily News, December 8, 1913).
February 24-28, 1914
Event type: Flooding.
Precipitation: Ikeda Bay (273.2 mm/5 days), February 24-28, 1914; Prince Rupert (133.0 mm/3 days), February 25-27,
1914; Prince Rupert (65.0 mm/1 day), February 26, 1914.
Source: The Daily News, February 26, 1914; The Evening Empire, February 25, 26, and 27, 1914.
Prince Rupert reported 1.81 in. (46.0 mm) of rain on February 25, 1.57 in. (39.9 mm) on February 26, and
1.38 in. (35.1 mm) on February 27. The excavation job on the new Post Office site was flooded out.
November 20-25, 1914
Event type: Rain-on-snow flooding and landslides.
Precipitation: Ikeda Bay (237.3 mm/5 days), November 20-24, 1914; Prince Rupert (116.8 mm/4 days), November 21-
24, 1914; Terrace (147.0 mm/4 days), November 22-25, 1914.
Source: The Omineca Herald, November 27, 1914; The Interior News, November 28, 1914; Varley 1981 (pp. 134-136
and 223).
As a result of incessant rains on November 22 and 23, trains were blocked by slides east and west of
Smithers. The Bulkley River rose significantly, carrying large quantities of trees and driftwood. Old-timers claimed
this “the biggest rain on record here at this season.” For the week ending November 25, Hazelton reported 2.55 in.
(64.8 mm) of rain. The heavy snowfall turned into rain, causing slides a few miles east of New Hazelton. The train
traffic was interrupted, delaying the westbound train for 36 hours.
Very warm weather, combined with two days of heavy rain, a 25 ft.-(7.5 m) tide, and a full moon, caused
heavy flood damage near Kitamaat Village. Roads and the Anderson ranch were flooded. *1) The water came so high
that it flooded the valley for miles around. The Kitimat River cut a whole swath of timber from the Hallet and Mitchell
logging operation, 2 mi. (3.2 km) upstream from the Anderson ranch. A big logjam formed at the head of Kouwthpega
(Anderson’s) Creek. The water was running wild down the low land just upstream. The backed-up river directed its
flow westward through Little Klupa Creek (Varley 1981).
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*1) The southwestern corner of the Anderson ranch has changed drastically since. By 1952, Kouwthpega Creek cut
west as far as the corner of the front lawn and had taken the cabin, the barn, and the entire barnyard (Varley 1981).
March 16-19, 1915
Event type: Mudslide.
Precipitation: Prince Rupert (92.8 mm/4 days), March 16-19, 1915; Terrace (28.2 mm/1 day), March 17, 1915; Ikeda
Bay (92.2 mm/2 days), March 17-18, 1915.
Source: The Omineca Herald, March 19, 1915.
On March 17, just east of New Hazelton, the spring’s first major mudslide occurred. The passenger train was
held up for 24 hours. Two ditchers were involved in clearing the slide.
Winter 1915-1916
Event type: Fatal snow avalanche.
Precipitation: Not applicable.
Source: Anthony L’Orsa, pers. comm. June 12, 1995.
During the winter 1915-16, a snow avalanche on the southeastern shoulder of Mount Cronin killed a man
carrying mail for the Cronin mine. *1)
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*1) Old-timers named the avalanche track “Dead Man’s Gulch”.
March 6-10, 1916
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