Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-03-08
From the N. 0. Picoyunc of February %.
LATE FROM CALIFORNIA.
ARRIVAL OF THE STEAMSHIP ALABAMA

TERRIBLE FLOOD AT SACRAMENTO cITY--IMMENsE DEs-
TRucr1oN OF NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF THE INHA-
BITANTs-PLAcER INTELLIGENCE, ETC.
The steamship Alabama Capt. Wright, from Cha
gres the 18th inst, arrived here yesterday afternoon
bringing dates from San Francisco to the 18th January
and from Panama to the 9th inst. We have received
the San Francisco Alta California of the former and
the Panama Echo and Star 10 the latter date.
"A deplorabe catastrophe has betallen the inhabitants
OF Sacramento City, by the overflow of the river Of that
name, which has caused an immense destruction OF pro-
perry appears that violent gale of wind from the
northeast occurred on the 9Th ult accompanied by tor
rents oil raln which increased the volume of the to
sucn an extent that an lnundaon took place. and the
wind and rain continuing. by the 18th almost the whole
OF the city OF SacraH ento submerged specta-
tor thus describes portion of the scene in letter TO
the Alta California:
A brief time only elapsed before the waters began to
increase upon all sides the sloughs above and the
sloughs below bore into the city the rising flood Soon
the earth became SOFT and tents sheds and buildings not
permanently and securely fastened were undermined
swept away and borne along with the rapid current
Long before hundreds Of boats were crossing every
street, tar and and bearing the several vessels
that lay at the rivers bank, women and children the
sick and the teebe and as they arrived the owners of
the vessels were ready to offer them prompt aid and
every comfort in their power and when they were safe
ly landed upon the decks, the shout of Joy went I'D to
heaven in loud cheers from those who landed them for
their safety and these shouts echoed by the hum
dreds of voices that in the surrounding boats and
within hearing OF the response. During the entire day
and until night this work Of humanity and mercy went
on. Inc loss OF property must be great-lt
be over a million of dollars.
Far the eye could reach the scene had now become
OF wild and fearful mporl-hoating lumber, bales
and cases OF goods, boxes and barrels tents and small
houses were floating in every direction. The poor and
suffering beast in pitiabe condition and called
forth the sympathy OF all and what could be was done
to them. Hundreds of horses, mules and oxen
were wandering about seeking places of security and
food Some gained places of safety by swimming a
mile TO the high bluff back OF the CITY, 1t was
indeed sad to hear their low and plantive believing as
it told OF their approaching death by cold and starvation
some were fed by the warm hearted and humane as
they came.
The steamer Senator, which was on the river receiv-
ed large number oil unfortunate people who were thus
washed out OF their houses and rendered destitute The
same letter writer says:
The Senator remained nearly two hours beyond her
time TO accommodate those who were DESTROYS to take
passage. She came down the river very rapidly yet
steadily and safely, and landed her passengers at
M, accomplishing her trip In eight hours As we came
down could all along the banks for twenty miles,
clustering groups of cattle and deer gathering upon the
highest points OF land hoping to escape the almost GER
tain death that awaited them, Here too, were seen
houses and tents, floating amid the trees and drift de-
serted by their occupants and where, but lew weeks
SINCE they stood upon high banks that babe look up
ward as sailed up this wonderful river. Altogether
the scenes witnessed are strange they wonderful
and sad they are strangeno such flood having oc-
cured for nearly thirty years.
feet within the city and the river has twenty-five to
thirty feet The loss Of property is very great taking
the all OF many Several merchants very heavy
suerersl ssing in merchandise and buildings and loss
of business from ten to thirty thousand dollars EACH
Added to this is the personal suffering to health and
the consequent sickness and death that ensue from
the dreadful exposure OF the sick and feeble during the
floods.
In reference to this disaster, the Alta California of
the 18th says that postscript private letter just re-
ceved and which was written at II P NJ, the 18th
January, gives less gloomy account OF the flood, fin
ishng with the following:
The lower floor of the Suffer Hotel is still above wa
ter-board So per day. Boatmen charging from $40 to
SIS an hour.
We happy to observe that there is record here
OF any loss OF lie
On the 9Th January, passed at the capital
of San Jose and receved the approval of the Governor
authorizing loan OF money, to pay immediate de-
mands upon the treasury, unit permanent fund can
be raised for the purpose The sum to be raised not
exceed two hundred thousand dollars, and for time
not less than six than twelve years the whole
sum payable at the pleasure of the State any time al
ter the expiration OF six years.
THE MINES.
The following the latest intelligence from the mines
that find in the papers Just to hand 1t is from
the Placer Times of the 9Th January
We make the following extracts from private letter
written three miles below Hawkins's Bar, Tuolumne
river, Dec. 26:
"A portion of our party left here some two weeks ago
for the Marposa diggns where hear they making
from eight to ten dollars per day. They intend to stay
there during the winter provisions are not too
and high Flour pork, meal, bread, and coffee are ons
dollar per pound, and have been scarce We have not
had any here for twenty days, but have seen
snow about three miles below Hawkins's bar on the
Tuolumne river. We are still living in our tents but
intend soon to build. There have been several danming
projects undertaken here but all have fallen through on
account of the srisng. Every thing is quiet and
peaceable here now few days agoa rencounter oc-
Cured between two Texans, in which one Of them was
killed. Yours, &C., ]. S. J."
The PLAcER-We have very little information from
the mines. From the Three Forks of American river
wehave news, communication being nearly cut off
from the bad condition of the roads. Occasionally
boat comes down from Yuba and Feather rivers and
we learn that miners on those streams do good bust
ness when the weather will allow them to dig. A gem
eman recently from the Mokelumne informs us that he
thinks operators on that stream averaging dol
lars per day. Asi seems to be the opinion OF those best
qualified to Judge, that the rainy is mostly over
and that shall have an early spring, miners domced
in cities will be enabled to get to the dggns much
earlier in the spring than generally anticipated and
they will probably find the water the streams re-
cedng they may reasonably expect protraced season
tor operations.
most shocking and deplorabe affair." as is termed
by the Stockton correspondent Of the Alta California
lately occurred at the about fifty miles from Stock
ton. 1t appe that the Chlians working near the
Calaverase river were notified to leave by the Ameri
cans the latter giving them fifteen days grace AT the
end of that time those who remained were arrested and
fined an ounce of gold each and further period given
them for removal. On the 9th of Decembera party
oteghty armed Chians made descent on colony Of
Americans stationed at the Iowa log cabins killed two
mareated great number, and finished by pinoning
them with ropes, and dragging them off with great bru
tally toward Stockton. After marching and counter
marching their prisoners considerable distance the
Chilians became alarmed at the prospect ola rescue
by the other Americans in the vicinity, who had be-
gun to bestir themselves behafo of their contrymen
In short the Gillian party dispersed and the prisoners
were released but eleven of the former tell into the
hands ofthe indignant Americans, and according to
NOR were ultimately hung. The two Americans who
had been murdered aged men, of them leaving
wife and ten children in the States the other wife
and five children. One of them was called Starr, origi
nally from New York, but lately from Texas.
Four hundred and thirty-our water lots were sold at
San Francisco, under the direction OF the town author-
toneer, for $685. 100 The terms of the sale one
fourth cash, one fourth ia three months onefourth in
six months and the balance in nine months.
The steamer California Capt It. A. Budd, left San
Francisco on Tuesday morning January 18th for Pa
mama where she arrived on the evening of the 4th of
February Her passenger list very large being
hundred and sixty and she took down to the lshnlus
about $500 900 in gold dust Her passage just 20