have thought of keeping a journal of everything that will be in the least interesting to you or assist you in making up a correct opinion about this country. It may be as the people say it is, the worst season that they have ever known, but if it is, if I live, I shall know it too. It rained a most of the time the first, second & third days of this month, and Id give a chew of the weed to know of a day for the last six weeks that it has not either rained or snowed more or less. To day is has rained a most all day, yet we have halled up two or three loads of Wood. Jan. 4 Morning pleasant, and warm, appeared very much like spring. Went with Shoudy[1] on the river to ketch saw-logs, got 6, river still rising, last night apart of Oregon and Lynn Citties went down the river,[2] water never known to be so high before, commenced raining about 4 O'clock P.M. and at 9 P.M. was still putting into it.
Jan. 5.Wind blew tolerable fresh as we would say in the states all night and through the day, accompanied with heavy showers of rain, wind from the south, water rose in the river since dark last night up to dark to night, about 18 inches, the Flouring Mill floor had about 2 inches of water on it this morning, and it is yet rising. Buildings torn apart, come floating down the river, Bridges washed from their places, with every other kind of property that happens to be in its way. Got soaking wet in trying to save our logs and geting a few more with some lumber. It is now about 9 P.M. and it is still raining. Jan. 6. Rained all the fore part of the day, the afterpart has been very pleasant. The river is some 3 feet higher than it was ever known before. Mr Dolands[3] Store is surrounded with
- ↑ Probably the William H. Shoudy who was in the party from Princeton, who settled in Seattle; Bagley, II, 711.
- ↑ "The upper Willamette and its tributaries have never been known to be as high as they have been for the last week, and the loss of property has undoubtedly been very great."
"At Oregon City several buildings have been washed away, and it is reported that two saw mills and one flouring mill have been destroyed. Linn City has also sustained considerable injury, by the destruction of several buildings;" Oregonian, January 8, 1853. - ↑ Probably William P. Doland, who came to Oregon from New Jersey in 1850 and settled in Milwaukie. In the flood of 1852 his flouring mills were partially destroyed. He died in Portland, June 16, 1882; Oregonian, June 19, 1882.
