HISTORICAL NEWS SEARCH - Government of British Columbia

Event type: Flooding and landslides.
Precipitation: Stewart (169.4 mm/2 days) August 12-13, 1920.
Source: Portland Canal News, August 14 and 21, 1920; Muralt 1985.
A fierce four-day rainstorm struck the northwest coast area, causing widespread damage. Slides and
washouts closed down traffic on the Dolly Varden Mines Railway for several days. The Portland Canal Short Line, 65
mi. (117 km) north of Alice Arm, sustained heavy damage. Four new bridges on the recently rebuilt and restored line
were completely destroyed and portions of the grade washed out. This rail line did not see operation again until 1929
(Muralt 1985).
The rainstorms that occurred during the previous two weeks were described as the “worst in the memory of
the oldest inhabitants of the district.” Four days of steady rain were reported during the previous week. The downpour
lasted for many hours and at times approached a cloudburst. Rivers overflowed their banks, destroying bridges and
making roads impassable. The worst damage occurred up Bear River where three railroad bridges were out of
commission, as well as the wagon bridges over Glacier Creek and American Creek. The main wagon bridge a mile
(1.6 km) above Stewart sustained more damage.
As a result of the storm, mining development was seriously interrupted. It would be weeks before all
bridges could be repaired. As a temporary measure cables were strung, enabling prospectors and operators to get
supplies to the mining properties.
October 7-8, 1921
Event type: Rain-on-snow flooding.
Precipitation: Stewart (161.1 mm/2 days) October 7-8, 1921.
Source: Portland Canal News, October 14, 1921.
Heavy rains washed all the recent snow off the mountains. On October 8, the Bear River, American Creek,
and Marmot River bridges washed out by sudden flooding. Considerable damage was done to roads and trails, some of
which entirely washed out in places. At the 7 Mile bar, the Salmon River Road completely washed out. About 1 mi.
(1.6 km) below this point the river ran down the road, tearing up the corduroy for 0.5 mi. (800 m) and depositing it
through the woods.
Just above Hyder, Alaska, at 1 Mile bar, the Salmon River overflowed its banks and swept down through the
north end of the town, doing extensive damage to the road and private property. The river cut away considerable
property behind the O’Connor building on the Forest Reserve, necessitating the moving of several buildings. A large
portion of the Salmon River Glacier evidently broke away during the high water. Large icebergs were washed down
the river as far as Eleven Mile.
November 28-29, 1921
Event type: Icejam flooding.
Source: Prince George Citizen, November 29; December 2, 1921; The Daily News, December 3 and 4, 1921; The Vancouver
Sun, January 16, 1970.
A heavy icejam on the Nechako River near Prince George in the shallow water at the junction of the Fraser River
flooded the main tracks and yard of the Canadian National Railway (CNR). By noon on November 27, the main line was
under water for some of the distance between George Street and the western end of the yards. The low-lying properties in the
vicinity of the station were flooded. Parts of Chinatown were flooded “halfway up the doors of the premises.” By blowing a
channel through the grades just west of the roundhouse, a lot of water was drained off the important sections of the yards
where the tracks lead to the coal bunkers and water tank. At the station of the Imperial Oil Company, on the team tracks, the
residence of the local agent was flooded over the windowsills.
At the Cache, an island at the confluence of the Nechako and Fraser rivers, many houses flooded. *1) The
city powerhouse was endangered. Some of the machinery had to be moved to higher ground. The Nechako River
bridge was threatened when the water and ice became level with its floor. The bridge moved slightly out of alignment.
Trenches were blasted to blow out a channel for the water. After the outlet was made in the icejam, the water receded
steadily. Though getting through the inundated sections had to be done with care, train traffic was not delayed.
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*1) The Cache or Island Cache is a small community (approximately 400 people in 1970) to the north of Prince George
city limits. It is properly known as Cottonwood Island. (The Vancouver Sun, January 16, 1970).
December 3-5, 1921
Event type: Severe storm.
Precipitation: Stewart (188.0 mm/3 days), December 3-5, 1921.
Source: The Daily News, December 3 and 4, 1921; Portland Canal News, December 9, 1921; Muralt 1985.
A storm on December 3-4, with winds of 60 mph (96 km/h), delayed shipping along the north coast. The
Princess Mary had to return to Ketchikan, Alaska. The U.S. Revenue cutter Snohomish had to take shelter at Prince
Rupert.
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