High Pfr . I - Floods enous In Interior esf 'ifM Does Widespread Damage; Towns Under Water; Homes Evacuated Usk, Terrace and Pacific Hard Hit Big Bridge Across bkecna uut 01 Commission Railway Tie-up Is Complete Causing widespread damage and completely disruntine transportation and communications, flood conditions such as have not previously been known prevail throughout the Skeena Valley. The water was yesterday reported two feet higher than the previous record thirty years ago. The flood region is all the way from Kitwanga to Kwinitsa, a distance oi a nunarea mnes or so along the line of the Canadian National Railways. The townslte at Usk Is reported under four feet of water with many of the residents having evacuated their homes to camp at higher levels. Some Usk houses were reported afloat. At Pacific similar conditions prevail. Homes have also been hurriedly abandoned on the Islands and along the shores of the Skeena near Terrace. While such piecemeal reports as are available over Interrupted communication services indicate there will be considerable property damage and much Inconvenience and discomfort, there Is nothing as yet to suggest loss of itle or Injury. The situation, nevertheless, is, apparently, quite serious with the possibility that some people may already be suffering privation. Yesterday one approach of the big highway bridge across the Skeena River at Terrace, an integral factor In the district road system, was reported to have gone out with the bride-4tself-Mrrdan ger. With numerous slides and washouts on the railway line and the track under water for long dls tances, the train due Saturday night from the east failed to get through. It was stated today that it would probably be weeks before railway traffic will be able to move. Lacking full details as to actual! extent of track damage owing to1 the track beine under water and. wires down, no definite estimate could be made as to exact extent of trouble or as to when trains might be expected to move again along the Skeena subdivision. A railway tie-up at this time of year Is of more than usual seriousness with the movement of fish now In full swing. Miles of telegraph line are down and Prince Rupert's only communication with the outside today is by wireless. The long distance telephone service was out of commis sion this morning. The floods followed the last few days of excessively hot weather in the interior. It was 00 above In the shade at Terrace Saturday. Elec trical storms were reported from the Interior Sunday. There was also thunder and lightning In Prince Rupert early yesterday morning and again about noon. Rescue and Relief Little further information in re-Sard to the flood situation In the Interior was available ud to this morning owing to interrupted communications. The railway company was this morning moving all Us work outfits to the scene of trouble to start fpair operations. The provincial police were considering sending the police boat P. M- L. 8, due back from the Queen Charlotte Islands today, as far up the river as possible to give assis tance, if practicable, in the way' of rescue and relief. Constable Mc-Kenney was being dispatched from Terrace to Usk. Tomorrow's Tides ,H8h 31755 a.m. 16.8 ft. 23:40 p.m. 19.9 ft. 5:49 a.m. 5.1 ft. 17:36 p.m. 8.5 ft. x in Thirty 4 4 WATER RISING RAPIDLY 4 AT PRINCE GEORGE NOW 4 According to word received 4 at divisional headquarters of 4 the provincial police here to- 4 day, the east end of the city at 4 Prince George was this morn- 4 lng under water. In the Cache 4 area the water Is rising about 4 an Inch an hour and, by to- 4 morrow, unless there Is a re- 4 cession, the level will be up to 4 the Canadian National Rail- 4 ways depot. There Is said, 4 however, to be no Immediate 4 cause for alarm. Two evacua- 4 Hons of homes have already 4 been made. 4 4 4 44444 4. 444 AID BY RADIO Provincial Police System To Assist In Emergency Owing to the telegraphic congestion, authority was given today for the provincial police radio service to handle urgent messages. It was impossible to get into Vancouver by long distance radiophone this morning. . ykl H A rpf I rlH ff-if K if JLixV 1 llJLilV FOR MAY Not as Good as Average with Rain fall Heavier and Sunshine Ilelow Usual With 120.4 hours of sunshine and 9.1 Inches of rain, the month of Mav. from a weather stand point, was not quite up to aver age in rrince uupen mis year. These figures compare with 134.3 hours of sunshine In May last year and but 1.78 inches of rain. So far this year sunshine in Prince Rupert has totalled 475.1 hours a3 compared with 500 hours even In the first five months of 1935 wmie this year's precipitation to date atnr.iint. in 33.4 inches in com-1 parison with but 16.06 Inches In the corresponding period of last year. The weather summary for the month of May this year, as announced this morning by R. G. Emmerson, Digby Island, Domin ion meteorologist, Is as follows: Highest barometer reading at sea level, 30.36 on May 16. Lowest barometer reading, 29.52 on May 4. Maximum temperature, 71 on May 29. Minimum temperature, 32 on May 9. Mean temperature, 47.8. Precipitation, 9.1 inches. Sunshine, 120.4 hours. Townsend Club In Ketchikan Active The Townsend movement has extended to Ketchikan and has attracted quite a number of members. The Ketchikan Townsend Club was scheduled to hold a picnic along the highway from the "First City" Sunday afternoon. Years A: F ood Notes i Causing widespread damage j the extent of which there is so far no way of measuring, driving dwellers along the banks of the river from their homes to higher ground and in some cases carrying residences bodily away, the lower Skeena River, between Kitwanga and Kwinitsa, a distance of over one hundred miles, was today a raging torrent far above the previously known record high water. This morning it was still rising and there was no definite sign of recession. The situation is of an extent and seriousness which is difficult to realize without visualizing. The suggestion of navigating the swirling river, overflowing its banks for a width of miles beyond normal, is out of the question. It would be folly to even think of doing so, officials declared this morning. Huge trees, buildings and everything moveable is being swept down stream by the torrent. For miles the railway track is under water. Farm lands are also inundated. At Usk the track ..was, today, re-, ported under five feet of water. The main street of that village is two or three feet under the level of the track on the river side. Some of the residences are eight or ten feet below the level of the railway track. Remo, below Terrace, is another point where homes are reported to have been carried away. There will be no railway service between Prince Rupert and the east for at least a week and more than likely it will be a good deal longer than that. It is the most serious situation that has existed on the line in Its history. The railway is endeavoring to maintain service from Jasper as far west as Smithers with a local train running out to Kitwanga. The Fraser River cast of Prince George is higher than since 1928. The Bulkley River was reported this morning to be not abnormally high. All eastern mail, express and passengers for Prince Rupert will be re-routed via Jasper Park and Vancouver. Mail from Prince Ru pert for interior points as far west as Kitwanga will be dispatched via Vancouver, it was announced this morning. Latest word today In regard to the big highway bridge at Terrace was to the effect that a portion of the timber trestle approach on the southerly (Lak-else) side had been taken out. The main steel structure, normally about fifty feet above the river level, was still Intact. W. II. Tobey, C. N. K. divisional superintendent, coming in from Pacific Saturday evening on the way freight, the last train arriving from the Interior, stated that the river was rising an inch an hour as he passed down the .lower Skeena. Since then it has been steadily rising. According to word received tllis afternoon the water at Sal-vus on the lower Skeena had risen to' the floor levels of cars spotted on the railway line there. mm if Vol. XXV- No. 128 "PLANE ON WAY NORTH!: Pilot Charles Elliott Here With Pacific Airways Machine On his way to Stewart with Thomas Mackay, assistant manager of 4 the Premier Gold Mining Co., and other passengers on board. Pilot Charles Elliott, wtyh his Pacific Airways monoplane',; landed at 8:15 Saturday night from Vancouver. After doing some; freighting for the Premier Co: Into the Unuk River country and mother transpor tation work, Pilot Elliott will return to Prince Rupert to make his base here for the 'summer. The plane left its moorings last venlne with a view to hODDlne off for Stewart but developed engine trouble before gettjng Into the air and was towed back from the mid- tie of the harbor by George Ecker- man with his gasboat Geordle. Winnipeg for parts, and the plane !ln win, wieieiuie, ticiu uuwn ueic or a week or so. This is the same low-wlngel i Tunkers plane formerly operated 'l!,.1116,,1 rPaddi" BUfke in thC!onto. Montreal. Vancouver, or Hal- Atlln district. ? Mr. Mackay continued to Stew-j art on the Catala last evening. Halibut Arrivals American 94,000 pounds, 7c and Jc to 7c and. 6.5c. Canadian 103,000 pounds, 6( md 5c to 6.1c and 5c. American Nordby, 34,000, 7c and 6.5c, Cole jtorags. Betty J., 15,000, 7c and 6c, Cold jtorage. Hi Gill, 12,000, 7c and 6c, Cold .Storage. Cora, 8,500, 7c and 6c, Cold Stor-; lge. Garland,- 11,500, 7c and 6c, Cold Storage. Bravo, 13,000, 7c and 6c, Cold Storage. Canadian Dovre B., 20,000, 6c and 5c, Cold Storage. Signal, 17,000, 6.1c and 5c, Atlln. Cape Spear, 11,500, 6.2C and 5.2c, Atlln. Minnie V., 8,000, 6c and 5c, Cold Storage. Toodle, 10,500, 6.1c and 5.1c, Cold Storage. Carol, 9,500, 6.1c and 5c, Booth. Viking, 9,000, 6c and 5c, Cold Storage. Cape Spencer, 4,500, 6c and 5c, Booth. Cape Race, 6,000, 6c and 5c, Booth. Essential, 4,800, 6c and 5c, Cold Storage. Lake Biwa, 3,000, 6c and 5c, Cold Storage. Prosperity A. and Johan W. I. were In but did not go on the ex change, sailing for Vancouver. RESORT TO ARSON NOW Disorders Continue In Palestine Fires Reported in a Dozen Communities JERUSALEM, June 1: (CP) One Arab was killed arly Satur day and three other persons were wounded as rioters turned to arson in latest racial disturbances, the Palcor Agency reported. Fires were reported In a dozen commute Hies. Ouerllla warfare continued over the week-end between Arabs and British soldiers. mmln NORTHERN AND CENTRAL BRITISH COLUMBIA'S NEWSPAPER PRINCE RUPERT, B.C., FATE OF FIFTY-THREE MISSIONARIES UNKNOWN ADDIS ABABA, June 1: (CP J The fate of fifty-three missionaries in the Ethiopian interior is still unknown, Dr. T. A. Lambi? of Toronto, field director of the Ethiopian Mls-4 sion Service, said Saturday, PASSING OF OLD ARTIST Homer Watson Dies at Doon Near Kitchener, Ontario, At Age of Eighty-one . . ,. (rp.Hnm Wati nn nt -an. !iHa,. nKion,na, rtj.t. huh . hls eighty-first year. When the time comes for Can adians to look back with pride up- . nn f. hIstnrv ftf ,h nrt amnno thp ,:.. thp rtpalp nf Tnr. lfax will offer avid collectors, none perhaps will command greater respect or will be more (sought after than the pastoral landscapes by Homer Watson. But, Homer Watson, In spite o his beautiful contribution to art, to Canadian art, was hardly morr than a name to the Canadian rviblic. He lived away from the cities in his studio-house at Doon There was no meeting ground for irt dealers and art cliques. Onlv hose who loved the kindly little gentleman called once in a while; md they were always warmly received by the artist and his self' forgetting sister who replaced af the hearth the good departed wife In that countryside his traditional oaks have lost their rich fullnesi their deep green foliage and their shadow no longer offers to graz- '.ng cattle the tender shelter of yore, for it has become industrialized and lumbermen have been at vork, without romantic consideration. Only In the heart of the artist docs all the beauty of a day one past remain. Homer Watson was born In 1855 in the rural community of Doon Ont., son of Ransford Watson and Susannah Moore. His father was a Scottish woollen mill owner, but the painter never knew him, hav Jhg been left an orphan when he was still a baby. From a comfortable mode of living his faml'v suddenly found Itself In great fin ancial difficulties. It was agalns these difficulties, In spite of them, or perhaps of them, that young Homer Watson, without tuition of any sort, started to draw, then began to color his drawings, eventually daring enough to squeez: some precious paint on a palett and started to paint. Gets Recognition He was only 25 when recognition came to him In 1880 from thr Canadian Academy. Three year? after this initial success, Homer Watson was made the first elected member of the Royal Canadian Academy. Not long after he was an exhibitor In England togethr with the notable men of the day. Watson's panoramic "Valcartlei Camp," done under assignment of the Canadian government In 1914, is his outstanding contrl button to the history of the Oreat War, FRIENDSHIP REWARDED LONDON, June 1: (CP) H. A. Covington, Streatham, who died recently, left $100,000 to William Eastoe, Putney, a fellow k worker for 50 years. i MONDAY, JUNE 1, 1936 BANDIT HAS SUCCUMBED Edward McMullen Dies of Bullet Wound Sustained in Episode At Blaine Customs House SEATTLE, June 1: Edward McMullen, confederate of "Red" of Ryan, who was killed in the Sar-nia, Ont., liquor store hold-up a week previous, died in hospital here Saturday afternoon. He had been shot through the head at Blaine customs house Thursday by his own gun in a struggle which followed his slaying of Customs Officer Charles Flachs. Had McMullen lived he would have been charged with the mur-ler of Flachs. REFUGE IN VANCOUVER VANCOUVER, June 1: (CP) While Edward McMullen lay dy ing in a Seattle hospital at the week-end with a bullet wound in his head following the affray in the customs house at Blaine on Thursday night when the bandit shot and killed Charles Flachs, an immigration officer, Vancouver police had uncovered here an elaborate hide-out in Burnaby which McMullen had apparently intended as a permanent refuge. The place was a five-room bungalow on Victory Street which had been rented to a man and woman who gave the name of Masson. McMullen is known to have used the name Masson. The- landlord said the tenants left hurriedly. Meantime Vancouver police interviewed Mrs. McMullen and released her, stating that they were convinced that, up to the time McMullen shot Immigration Inspector Flachs, the wife was unaware of her husband's real identity. Near collapse, Mrs. McMullen of announced her intention of going to Seattle to see her husband. Card of Thanks Louis Leroux wishes to thank his many friends for flowers and kind expressions of sympathy during the 'lme of his recent bereavement. Flowers were received from Mr. ind Mrs. Turgeon and family, Mr. md Mrs. C. P. Balagno, Bulkley Market, Mr. and Mrs. Barbe and Jamlly, Mr. and Mrs. Garon and I'amily, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Martin md family, Mr. and Mrs. Caven- aile and family. Mr. and Mrs. Whlf- fin and family, Mr. and Mrs. Gomez ind family, Mr. and Mrs. A. Do minate and family, Mr. and Mrs. S. O. Ayres and family, Mr. and Mrs. Tred Rlffou and Yvonne, Mr. and Mrs. J. A. McDougall. Mr. and Mrs. T. Elliot, Mr. and Mrs. Worsfold, Mr. and Mrs. W. G. Vlger, Mr. and Mrs. G. Declno, Mr. and Mrs. Da vidson, Harry Smith, Jack Candow, Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Smith, Ethel and Harry Day, Mr. and Mrs. David Scott and Betty, New Royal Hotel, Office Staff of Canadian Fish & Cold Storage Co. Ltd., Mechanical Department of Canadian Fish & Cold Storage Co. Ltd., Canadian Fish & Cold Storage Co. Ltd., Fish Packers' Union, Anton Isakson, Sunrise Grocery, Miss B. Harte, Mrs. Minnie Sullivan, Charlie the Barber, Frank Roma. Today's Weather Prince Rupert Overcast, calm; barometer, 29.95; temperature, 45; sea smooth. Langara Island Foggy, light northeast wind; sea obscured. Triple Island Cloudy, calm; barometer, 29.82; sea smooth. PRICE: S CENTS FAILS TO SETMARK Twelve Hours of Fog Prevents Queen Mary From Topping Normandie's Rpcord NEW YORK, June lj Chances' the giant new White Star-Cun-ard liner Queen Mary to beat the four days, 11 hours and 42 minutes record of the French steamer Normandle for the Atlantic crossing were lost Saturday night and Sunday morning when the vessel encountered head winds and later heavy fog for twelve hours and had to reduce her speed. Sir Ed- . jar Britten, commander, and six lavlgatlng offlcesr were standing constant watch as the swirling nlst obscured the sea. The ship's sirens sounded almost continuous lasts to warn other vessels of the marine giant's approach. The Queen Mary was due to arrive at luarantine at 10 o'clock this morning, four hours behind the Normandie's time. A great reception lwaits .her in New York. For the day ending noon yester day, the Queen Mary covered 673 miles, reaching a maximum of 3? allies per hour and averaging 27.12 ulles per hour. ACTRESS - -CHARGED Harry Bannister Swears Out Warrant for Arrest of Ann Hard-On Abduction Charges QUEBEC, June 1: (CP) Harry bannister, former husband of Ann Harding, swore out a warrant Saturday for the arrest of the tage and screen star on a charge abducting their eight-year old laughter, Jane. Bannister came here from New York Friday by plane after Miss Harding had made known her plans to sail Saturday on the Empress of Australia. However, she changed her plans and, with Jane, sailed on the Duchess of Atholl, being three hundred miles down the St. Lawrence enroute to Europe when Bannister arrived. Ban ister returned late Saturday to New York by plane. Hindenburg On Way Back After Flight to Rio RIO DE JANEIRO, June 1: The riant German dirigible Hindenburg was well across the Atlan-ic Ocean last night on her way back to her base at Frankfort-onMaln after another reguVir flight to South America. Soon after her return to Frankfort, the Hindenburg will set out on an other flight to Lakehurst, New Jersey. Three Members Of Alaska Steamer's Crew Put in Jail WRANGELL, Alaska, June It- Three members of the crew of tha Alaska Steamship Co.'s steam?: Northwestern are serving Jail sentences here. The sentences were Imposed In court here Saturday following disorders earlier In the week at Juneau In which the men participated while tho vessel was in port there.