The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1850-03-22
OVERFLOW OF THE SACRA.
MENTO

1t is with the utmost pain that we
are compelled to announce the dis.
trcssing intelligence that the City Of
Sacramento is completely overGowed,
and that in the streets of the city,
where the most active business oper-N
atoms were conducted but brief
time since, the spashing waters arc
now sweeping with rcsislless fury.
The distress and devastation which
this untoward event will cause is truly
dcpl orable to contemplate. We had
hoped that the waters, which were
moi materially rising when our last
accounts were dated. would abatc,
but their course was forward" Inch
by inch they insidiously rose, until
the streets ran rivers, and the whole
banks of the liver were covered with
the rushing fool. Those who were
camping in tents gathered up what
they could lay their hands upon arc
fled to higher ground. Alarm and
panic spread upon every side, and no
means to cheek the dire and dread
calamity could be devised. On swept
the lidc-mcrchandise of all descrip.
tons was borne away in the mighty
rush. and still it poured on. The
terror of an unavcrtnblc flood was
apparent to all, and every cxcrtion
was made to reach a place of safety
with what neccssarics of life were
ohlanablc. The excitement and cor
fusion is represented to US rs almost
indcscribablc and heart rcnding in the
extreme.
We convcrscd with passenger
who came down in the Senator last
evening. 20 whom VIC are indebted
70, the particulars of this calami,ous
aud unexpected event. When the
Senator LETT the entire city r'ts nntlcr
watcr. boats were navigating the
streets. and carrying passengers from
the sccond SiorieS of houses. the only
means of getting about was by boats,
and every imaginable craft was en-.
gagged in navigating the streets. The
ridge of high land about two miles in
the rear of the city was literally stud.
dcd with tents, and human beings
were mingled with atlrightcd animals
who had also taken refuge upon terra
firma.
Sutterville was ovcrnowcd, but the
fort was still dry. Numbers of small
tencmcn.s had hccn washed away,
and the front Of large brick building,
near the new steamboat landing. had
fallen in. Dewy's Hotel and the City
Hotel were pcopcd like bechivcs, and
passengers were taken from the Sc.
cond stories in boats. Many of the
inhabitants had taken refuge on board
the shipping, and some were still
living in the upper stories of buildings;
but these Indications were insecure.
The fees demanded by those having
boats were very cxorbi,ant, ilIustral.
ing the provcrb that "What is one
mans meat is another mans poison"
But the extent of the calamity does
not end here, according to our inform
ant; for the branches back of the river
are also under water. The cattle.
horses and mules were lining the
rivers banks, deep in water, browsing
upoa the spare heritage yet visible
above. presenting most woful pic.
ture OF misery. We dread TO hear of
the loss OF many lives and much dis.
tress and suffering.
Already, we are informed, lives
have been lost, two men having been
drowned in the streets Of Sacramento
by falling from boats. We also un.
dcrsland that Vernon and most of the
little towns above are flooded. We
shuIdcr a: the contemplation OF the
utter disaster which must he caused
hy this unlimc!y catastrophe. There
is no knowing when the flood will
stop, and what further ravagcs may
succeed those which the relentless
rush OF waters has already accustomed.
Hundreds of persons who were pros.
porous, comfortable aud happy, are
now deprived of near Y their all and
thrus, forth at momcn,'s warning
from their homes.
We learn that the Placer Times
newspaper was not published, and
that the building was partially under
water. We have pcnncd this account
hastily and from the best information
VIC could gather in the absence of our
correspondence, but it is confirmed
by several sources We trust By our
next issue to place a more minute &C.
count Of the flood before our readers.
--Aha California Jan. ID.
Sr. LOUIS, March o.
A very large meeting was held
here last night. A series of rcsolu.
lions were passed. approving of the