Every bridge was washed out by Monday morning, except that below the High School, and only frantic efforts saved it and also the Black Bear bridge below Chapman Camp. The lack of bridges necessitated the hauling of rock from the mine a distance of five miles to reach breaks in the Wallinger Avenue section, where most of it was needed.

The big disaster on Monday occurred when the ever widening stream split into two sections over 1000 feet west of Wallinger Avenue, and torrents of water were poured into that Avenue. More houses, were swept away. All were surrounded by water and the main stream was flowing within less than a hundred feet of the railway track behind the Mark Creek store. Water poured through the Sullivan Motors Garage, Muraca's Grocery, and all buildings north of the creek to Wallinger Avenue. Here it poured into the newly dug sewer ditch where it widened until the whole avenue was cut away.

Tuesday also was grim

On Tuesday morning the water had dropped two feet from Monday's record, but it was still a wild raging, muddy, torrent that could whisk heavy slabs of concrete downstream as easily as a paper bag. A major break occurred on the south side at the Wallinger bridge at 2:30 a.m., when the big concrete wall extending 100 feet gave way leaving the gravel bank at the mercy of the water. Brush and sand bags were hastily thrown into the worst spot. Gangs of men and trucks were rushed in and the break was filled during the day. This quick work saved every building from destruction from the bridge on the south side of the creek. Other breaks in vital spots all up and down the creek on both sides were stopped and obstructions dynamited or pulled out with cats as soon as possible. The big problem. however, was to divert the water from the north bank back into the main channel. It was a big undertaking and up to the evening it had not been accomplished. Meanwhile this water had cut various channels among the buildings and many structures were in dire danger.

Conditions improved on Wednesday

Throughout Wednesday the water in the creek was a little lower than the previous day, but a large and dangerous volume of water was pouring down, due to the warm weather which was above the seventies.

The biggest project was the turning of the north fork back in the main channel and this was accomplished by evening. A drag line, supplemented by thousands of tons of rock, was poured into the breach and the area north of the creek was free of water. The diversion looked an impossibility to the layman, but it was done.

During the day gangs of men were sweating in the hot sun strengthening the weak spots along the creek with brush, logs and sand bags which were anchored to cables. Obstructions were also removed with bulldozers, and towards evening the tension that had gripped everyone since Sunday morning became a trifle easier. Everybody realized, however, that the danger had not passed and will not while warm weather continues.

Thousands of sacks used

Thousands of sacks of sand were used to strengthen the breaks along the creek, and they came from all quarters. District people supplied 5,000, Cranbrook city 2,5000, C.M.&S. Co. 4,500, Canadian Red Cross, 15,000. Total 27,000. Those of the C.M.&S. Company and the Red Cross were flown in from Vancouver on Tuesday.

Tents arrive for homeless

Thirty tents also came in by plane on Tuesday from Vancouver and were shipped by the Canadian Red Cross.

They are big army tents, measuring 24 by 30 feet with high walls. They will be supplied with board floors. Electric light and water and flush toilets and washrooms will be built for men and women. They are being erected on the Catholic Church hill.

Many houses lost and damaged

The City hall officials revealed on Wednesday that a check on the houses that actually went down stream showed that the number was 20. In addition to this number around 50 are lying damaged in the devastated areas, many of them beyond repair. Well over 100 homes were vacated up to Wednesday night.

City cut in two sections

By late Sunday the city was divided into two sections by the destruction of all bridges except Wallinger Avenue and this was rendered useless by the washout on the avenue. During the week all those south of the creek were forced to cross the bridge below the High School to get to the business section.

Under control on Thursday

By Thursday evening everything was practically under control, And unless something unforeseen happens, the water can be held in its present channel. Water is however, still high, due to the warm weather.

The banks of the creek west of Muraca's store have been streligthened and sand bags are piled along the bank ready for an emergency.

Work on the lower sections of the creek were being carried on all day Thursday. At one point water had cut into the high hill at Upper Blarchmont causing a small landslide and endangering a house.

The business houses that suffered most during the flood were the Kimberley Trading Company, Muraca's Grocery, Sullivan Motors, Kootenay Transfer. All lost much valuable merchandise and the latter also suffered loss of buildings. Those suffering to a lesser extent were Berts Sport Shop and Walkley's Cash Meats.

Too much praise cannot be given to those who worked long hard hours to hold the water in check. During Monday there was a possibility of almost every house on the south side of the creek being washed away, and it was only through the hard work and perseverance of those fighting the flood that a greater catastrophe did not occur.

Next.

Salute to Kimberley - Index Page

Front Cover  -   Inside Front Cover

Page One 1896 - 1910, -  Page Two 1900 - 1911, -  Page Three 1912 - 1920, -  Page Four 1921 - 1924, -  Page Five 1925
Page Six 1926, -  Page Seven 1927, -  Page Eight 1928, -  Page Nine 1929, -  Page Ten 1930, - 
Page Eleven 1930, -  Page Twelve 1931/32, -  Page Thirteen 1933 - 1936, -  Page Fourteen 1937 - 1939, -  Page Fifteen 1940, - 
Page Sixteen 1941/42, -  Page Seventeen 1943, -  Page Eighteen 1944/45, -  Page Nineteen 1945/46, -  Page Twenty 1946/47, - 
Page Twentyone 1948, -  Page Twentytwo 1948, -  Page Twentythree 1949, -  Page Twentyfour 1950/51, -  Page Twentyfive 1951, - 
Page Twentysix 1952, -  Page Twentyseven 1953, -  Page Twentyeight 1954/55, -  Page Twentynine 1955, -  Page Thirty 1956/57, - 
Page Thirtyone 1957/58, -  Page Thirtytwo 1958/59, -  Page Thirtythree 1959 - 1961, -  Page Thirtyfour 1961/62, -  Page Thirtyfive 1962/63, - 
Page Thirtysix 1963/64, -  Page Thirtyseven 1964 - 1966, -  Page Thirtyeight 1967, -  Page Thirtynine 1968 - 1970, -  Page Forty 1970, - 
Page Fortyone 1971, -  Page Fortytwo 1972, -  Page Fortythree 1973, -  Page Fortyfour 1974/75, -  Page Fortyfive 1975, - 
Page Fortysix 1976, -  Page Fortyseven 1976, -  Page Fortyeight 1977/78, -  Page Fortynine 1978, -  Page Fifty 1979/80, - 
Page Fiftyone 1981/82, -  Page Fiftytwo 1982/83, -  Page Fiftythree 1983/84, -  Page Fiftyfour 1985, -  Page Fiftyfive 1986/87, - 
Page Fiftysix 1987/88, -  Page Fiftyseven 1988/89, -  Page Fiftyeight 1989 - 1991, -  Page Fiftynine 1991/92, -  Page Sixty 1993/94, - 
Page Sixtyone 1995, -  Page Sixtytwo 1996/97, -  Page Sixtythree 1997/98, -  Page Sixtyfour 1998/99, -  Back Cover

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