HISTORICAL NEWS SEARCH - Government of British Columbia

Around Smithers, several days of mild weather and heavy rain melted snow from the streets and
mountainside.
October 21-26, 1935
Event type: Rain-on snow flooding and landslides.
Precipitation: Kitimat Mission (263.8 mm/5 days), October 21-25, 1935; Aiyansh (166.6 mm/4 days), October 22-25,
1935; Swanson Bay (646.2 mm/4 days), October 22-25, 1935; Ocean Falls (474.9 mm/4 days), October 22-25, 1935;
Queen Charlotte City (202.2 mm/3 days), October 23-25, 1935; Masset (102.9 mm/3 days), October 23-25, 1935; Falls
River (459.3 mm/4 days), October 23-26, 1935; Terrace (200.4 mm/3 days), October 24-26, 1935; Prince Rupert
(112.8 mm/1 day), October 25, 1935.
Source: The Daily News, October 23, 25 and 28, November 5, 6 and 12, 1935; Evening Empire, October 25, 1935; The
Interior News, October 30, November 6 and 13, 1935; The Alaska Daily Empire, October 26, 1935; The Omineca
Herald, October 30 and November 6, 1935; The Terrace News, October 30, November 6, 1935; The Interior News,
November 6 and 13, 1935; Fred Sharpe, pers. comm.; Lloyd Johnstone, pers. comm. September 1993; Environment
Canada 1991; Annual Report 1935-36, Engineering District No. 7, April 23, 1936. B.C. Ministry of Transportation
and Highways, Terrace; File 35-20-0, Letter, October 29, 1935, J. C. Brady (Dist. Eng. Prince Rupert) to Chief Eng.,
Victoria. B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Highways, Terrace; File 35-41-10, Letter, October 31, 1935, W. H.
Cotton (Ass. Dist. Eng., Smithers) to J. C. Brady (Dist. Eng., Prince Rupert). B.C. Ministry of Transportation and
Highways, Terrace; File 35-40-6,1 Letter, December 6, 1935, W. H. Cotton to J. C. Brady. B.C. Ministry of
Transportation and Highways, Terrace; File 35-40-61 Letter, June 28, 1940 S. A. Cunliffe (Ass. Dist. Eng.,) to J. C.
Brady. B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Highways, Terrace; Letter May 26, 1936, G. M. Beirnes to Public Works
Eng., Victoria; McMullen et al. 1979.
The Prince Rupert area experienced an average wind of between 50-60 mph (80-96 km/h) for 24 hours, with
lengthy gusts of 70 mph (112 km/h). This “most severe gale in years” caused heavy damage to the Prince Rupert
waterfront. A slide occurred at Woodworth Lake at 8 p.m. on October 23. Three lengths of the water main between
Woodworth-Shawatlan lakes were wiped out. Prince Rupert was without power for four hours. Near Inverness a large
slide occurred. The school building at the Inverness Cannery, while in session, was narrowly missed by two debris
slides (F. Sharpe, pers. comm.).
Between October 23-26, Terrace recorded 9 in. (228.6 mm) and Hazelton over 5 in. (127 mm) of rain. On
October 25, Terrace received 4.44 in. (112.8 mm) of rain. The highway across the Copper River went out. A big slide
and washout just east of Usk cut the link with Terrace. The Kalum Lake road was badly washed out for 2 mi. (3.2 km).
The Skeena River at Hazelton came up 15 to 20 ft. (4.5 to 6 m) within 12 hours. The lower part of Hazelton was
believed to be endangered.
The Bulkley River hit an all-time high for fall runoff. On October 26, the Bulkley River at Quick recorded a
maximum daily discharge of 838 m 3 /s (Environment Canada 1991). The Smithers bridge was endangered. Dynamite
had to be used to prevent logjams. The Telkwa River went on the rampage for several days. It cut an entirely new
course near the confluence with the Bulkley River. The business section of Telkwa and the Coal Mine camp were
flooded. The private bridge to the property of Asa Hanson and partners was washed away with two or three other
bridges. The bridge crossing the Telkwa River just upstream from the confluence with Pine Creek washed out.
The rail line between Prince Rupert-Terrace sustained heavy damage. It was described as the “greatest and
most costly interruption of its line in at least 17 years.” All available equipment and approximately 200 men were
working on repairing the line. Nine bridges went out of commission and the line was wrecked in two dozen places.
Bridges across the Khyex and Shames Rivers were carried away. The Khyex railroad bridge went out as eight bents
were washed away. Numerous slides and washouts occurred between Inverness-Bulkley Canyon. The line between
Kwinitsa-Salvus was almost totally submerged. “Extensive slides” occurred near Ritchie. The rail traffic was halted
on October 22 and was not expected to be back in service until November 11. On October 26, 6 in. (15.2 cm) of snow
fell. After the water started receding on October 28, the damage to the railroad turned out to be heavier than expected.
Long sections of track were lifted right off the grade and piled in the side ditches. Stockpiles of ties and emergency
bridge timbers were carried away. During the height of the flood, the tracks were covered with water up to 6 ft. (1.8
m) for miles. At some points, particularly around Salvus, the track washed out. Elsewhere numerous slides covered the
grade. On November 5, a mail and passenger train reached Terrace.
Lakelse Lake hit a new high water mark, causing heavy damage to cottage and boat owners. According to
long-time resident and weather watcher Lloyd Johnstone, Lakelse Lake reached the highest water level this century --
74.37 m, which is an all-time record, even higher than the 1978 mark (McMullen et al. 1979). *1) High water and
debris seriously damaged the Dominion Hatchery located in a canyon at Lakelse Lake. The road to the hatchery
washed out. As a result after having operated for about 20 years, the hatchery was closed down and the staff were
moved elsewhere. Summerhouses at Lakelse Lake sustained extensive damage. Some houses floated away as far as 4
mi. (6.4 km). Granite Creek flooded its banks, inundating Lakelse Lodge, which was situated near the present location
of Oli’s Restaurant. The legs of the piano in the front room were sitting in 20 in. (50 cm) of water (L. Johnstone, pers.
comm.). Bridges at Glacier Creek, Lean-to Creek, and on the east side of Kalum Lake washed out. The bridges over
Cedar Creek, Trout Creek, Edgar Creek, Hall Creek, Rainbow Creek and Copper River Slough all went out. Near
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