The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-03-08

The dangers o. a 'iood long since proaphesled
was awakened early on the following morn
ing (the lltb) by the shouting and noise from
without. | arose and dressed, and went out upon
the verapdsh OF the Sutter House, (where had
taken a Toom,) and here had a clear view of the
dangers to be apprehended Before me, along the
entire length Of the evee, saw with certainty the
beginning of food.
A brlefiime only elapsed before the waters be-
gan to increase on all sides; the slouehs above and
the sloughs below bore INTO ihe city the rising
flood. Seon the earth became soft, and tents.
sheds, and buildings, not permanently and securely
faeit ned, We're undermined, and swept away, and
borne along with the rspid current
Long before noon, hundreds Of boats were cross
Ing every street. Tar and near, and bearing to the
several vessels that lay at The rivers bank, women
and children, the suck and the feeble and as they
arrived, the owners Of the vessels were ready to
offer them prompt aid, and every comfort in their
power; ard when they were safely landed upon
the decks, the sheut Of Joy went up to heaven in
loud Chit ers from those who landed them, tor their
safety, and these shouts were echoed back by the
hundreds Of voicts that were in the surrounding
boars, and within hearing of the response During
the entire day, and until night, this work of hu-
manly and mercy west on. The loss of property
must be very great-it must be over million of
dollars.
As night approached, and the waters continued
TO increase, great fears were entertained fer the
buildings that were considered safe until now, for
the body OF Water that continued TO rush in on
the levte IN front OF the city, was evidence that
but very few could expect to be above the reach
OF the water In the morning Measures were now
taken to prepare several places where food and
LOGGING could be- had, by RAISING new floors some
two and three feet above the former ones but thus
conld only be done in a few houses, so many beng
under water, and all cooking apparatus belonging
To the many eating houses being completely sub.
merged. Besides this, the several .sbakeres"
were 90 OelUged, that no bread could be had other
than hard bread. These places for refres shment
were quickly arranged, 20 that the many hundreds
that were driven from their homes and could not
be accommodated on board the Shipping, should
find food and shelter unti they could l-av. the city,
or find houses in some place until the waters should
subs,de.
This night friday was one of great anxiety
and waichfulnts IS 10 many; but when morning
dswned, hopes were entertained that the waters
had rec ched th.i ''uirlnatum," for they had adj
vance d but llte during lhe night; this was owing
more particularly 10 the vast back country which
gave the rising Hood outlet Previously the OBJ
euuctiop IN and around thr city In a mrasure pre-
vented its outlet; now the waters had rlsen above
these obstacles, and was spreading far and wide
over the vast plains hey ond the city.
Far as the eye could reach, The scene had now
become one If wild and fearful impor-ioatng
lumber, bales and Cases Of goods. boxes and bar
rels tents and small houses were floating every
direction. The poor aud suffering beasts were in
a ptiable cOndtion, and called forth the sympathy
of all, and what could be, done to save
them Hundreds OF horses, mules aud oxen were
wandering about, seeking places OF security and
food. Many, very many, must have p~rished =
5. me game places OF safety by swimmlns n mile
more TO the high bluff back o, the city. II was
indeed ssd 10 hear their low and plant, below
ing, ~ II told at their approaching death by cold
aud starvation; some were t,d by th- warm hearted
and humane They came near to their dwellings,,
asking BY tbeIr looks tor tuod.
DurIng oil tnis day, (Saiurday,) there came,
IRON TIME 10 time, new evidence OF impending
rum. The insh OF The river became more and
more rapd, although the rise OF It's waters seemed
TO stop for shil~. But the currrot OF rushing
water ran so strong through the various streets,
paitcclarly those opposite the levee, viZ X L.
and nj streets, these being the main business
siree,e;ahd AL % the cross streets, by the waters
from 'hs slough above. than trnt, Fust, Second,
1hifc aus foLlih Streets u. i,A~ rapid rivers
=" much so, that II was almost impossible for the
bostn IN Ia sirn h- tide ,aLc many were UPSET
IN Tying tonayigatr tnrse streets The waters
nov 90 high throughout the enur- city, that all
business was carfrd ON by The boats,
The result Ut these rapid currents within these
STREETS, was TO Undermine the buildings that
wtr, consider.d substantial and safe from dan
ger. A. nm evidence of the power Of the current,
the new and valuable brlck building, corner Of J
snd Thnd sire hut at great cost by the Messrs.
Merritt, hsvirg walls nearly or quite eighteen
inches IN thickness, was updr rmiued, aud irl with
heavy crash, earn Ing with u the next store,
M.ssrs Massey & Brrwstefs, with which IL fell
into the Hood, a mars at rum
Il he large store X street was hiied
from lie isi,ion. csrr.d INTO the street, and then
oser1fosD, enc various others SHARED the same
tate. come were lifted aId were seea moving
ON in the rapid currest, soon To orcome mass ot
runs. Few. vefy te~. hovsss, "a ~ to be feared,
Will be asic To stand these currents los<-noae caa
oe so, uulsss They ARE s,cur, by p-rmaaent foua-
dai'ons aud curly tastentd
Among ihosc thai | visited IN passing through
the citv, az the sun wrut down, that had far
prospect of F,cufity, were Mrssfs. smith, }rusley
& Co, ~ j. fJett--rbir hne building vas still
many iDcbrs above the flood, on the lower floor,
ana gave good eyid.ncr 81 having been built with
rpu.l, sss .fr~.ufh nd
Ct lston a Co., ALTO. ON the corner of and Tnird
street,. fios and large warehouse, was apparently
very firm, ihougn not 80 high above ground a. the
asi, The water b,IDg several inches upon the lower
floor A very tne aud handsom- building, built
anu OWNED BY M.ssrs Howard " Bruce, on the
corner VI J and FsuIIh strcest, had tso or three
inches OF water Dp'n the lower iioor, yet this
sYls rdid waf,h house was bult rx iret above the
ordinary level ~ the this will give some
liant idea o the grest of water la this vicnIy.
The Ciu Bo'rl, where 20 many II our friends
have enjoyed th. exec llent fare tsat was nways
provide by the propnrt tufs, was 50 completely sub
merged, ~ to compel the board-rs 10 enter by
tosis. AZ the second story, the hfst beiag con.
pleiely uncer water. The ouly hotel nov lett
where The many can be atirsdrd ts. ~ tne new
hotel called the suter Hous-, built by ;. Bran
nan, Eco owned BY Messrs Dewey & smith, aud
very recently opened by Mr.. Jacksoa fhis hotel
u now Only Iust shsyr be wifer, the Hood being
level with the foors Whrn this Is flooded, there
will be po ynbl,c hotel lett ia the city, although
struggling msniull, against the ihre reatenIng Hood
among 'hese. should he named the Slerrs Nevada,
kelt by Mr.. Mcksgh', most enierplising man,
aud who WIS driver from has former house to hts
present yosiuon by the sudden flood he ~ now
heated Beer the Suffer House.
would could descTibe the scenes that met my
Raze ss ascs bd~d to the ma'ntop OF the shipping,
Iust at the evening twilight, on my return "a the
boat ~ wes thr sunsrt hour, and remembered
home. went slott that might lDok again abroad,
snd drsw The contrast, from our home scenes OF
quiet comfort, Of social life and he epIoyments,
aud The ,eiis aud dangers thai are TO be encoua.
tered by lfe ~ California. The scene presented
TO view from the maIniop WAS wIld IN the extreme
"a vsst like uf waters Here and there only the
tops of tree, the olumps ot trees, were ssible
beyond the city for mules W extent, even 10 Sut-
ter's Fort nonpht hrt The rush ot waters. Two
high hlrfis were indeed seen above water, far 10
the right Of the fort and here was presented z
most tliilIng SIGHT The highest point ot the bluif
was crowned with tents, aud from th~nce, down
TO the waters edge, wss seen dense mass of men,
horses, aud cattle, pfoml-cuously mixed, all seek-
ing SAFETY by rapid hlpht from the Hood to these
mountains of hos'e. The pictures we sometimes
-. ~ a 49,