During the great flood of the Willamette River in November and December 1861 , which among other things destroyed Champoeg and Linn City , the steamer was able to run through the streets of Salem to rescue people . For '' Onward '' this started out as a routine upriver journey from Canemah . The river was cluttered with debris from riverside houses and landings that had been washed downstream by the flood . By the time '' Onward '' reached Salem , her ordinary commercial operation turned into one of rescuing people from the flooded city
great flood of the Willamette River
Great Flood of 1862
Onward (sternwheeler 1858)