This week in December 1887, the Chehalis River had flooded. The waters of the Chehalis River and tributaries reached the highest point that they have since the sixtys, The Chronicle wrote. Several farms were overflowed and much damage done in the way of rail fences floating away and such other damage as would naturally be done by the water covering a farm to the depth of two to six feet. In the vicinity of this place very little damage was done by loss of stock. The water extended about half way from the river to towns, covering about one-third of the race track, which notwithstanding was used the second day after for a race. From reports of the several points near here, we find comparative small losses. From the Skookumchuck River, Gilchrist & Co. lost about 200,000 feet of logs, the bridges are all O.K. From Lincoln Creek, part of the approach to the bridge was swung around, otherwise all right. Between Centralia and Chehalis, nearly the whole country was under water. The N.P. railroad trestles rose from their foundations and delayed the trains about twenty hours. In Centralia, the water did not have the appearance of more than an ordinary shower, the soil being of a sandy nature, was absorbed as fast as the rain fell.
