Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1850-03-14

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From the New Orleans Pcayune of the 2sth ult.
| LATE FROM CALIFORNIA.
| Arrival Of the steamship Alabama.
| Terrible Flood at Sacramento Cify-Im-
mense Destruction Of Properiy-Desfifu-
ton of the Inhabitants Placer lnielii
gence, &c.
The steamship Alabama, Capt. Wright,
from Chsgres, the 10th 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 to the latter date.
A deplorable catastrophe has befallen
the inhabitants Of Sacramento City, by the
overflow Of the river Of that name, which
has caused an immense destruction Of
Of property. 1t appears that violent gale
of wind from the northwest occurred OH
the 9Th January, accompanied by torrents
Of rain, which increased the volume Of the
river to such an extent that an inundation
took place, and the wind and rain continue
ing, by the l lth almost the whole Of the
city of Sacramento was submerged. A
spectator 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 noon hundreds OF boats
were crossing every street, far and near,
and bearing to the several vessels, that lay
al the rivers bank women and children,
the sick and the feeble; and az they arriv-
| ed, the owners of the vessels were ready
to offer them prompt aid and every com
fort in their power; and when they were
safely landed upon the deck, shouts Of joy
went up to heaven in loud cheers from
those who landed them, for their safety,
and these shouts were echoed back by the
hundreds Of voices that were in the sur
rounding boats, and within hearing of the
response. During the entire day and un-
til night this work of humanity and mercy
went on. The loss Of property must be
over million of dollars.
Far as the eye could reach the scene
had now become one of wild and fearful
import-foating timber, bales and cases of
goods, boxes and barrels, tents and small
houses were floating in every direction.
The poor and suffering beasts were in
pitiable condition, and called forth the
sympathy of all, and what could be dore
was done to save 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 or more to the high bluff back of the
city. 1t was indeed sad to hear the low
and plaintive believing, as it told of their
approaching death by coh and starvation;
some were fed by the warm-heartea and
humane as they came.
The steamer Senator, which was on the
river, received large number of unfor-
tnnate 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 steedIIy |
and safely, and landed her passengers at |
five o'clock, p. NJ. accomplishing her trip
in eight hours. As we cdme down we
could see all along the banks for twenty
miles, clustering groups of cattle and deer,
gathering upon the highest points OF land,
hoping 10 escape the almost certain death
that awaited them. Here, too, were seen
houses and tents, floating amid the trees
and drift, deserted by their occupants; and
where but few weeks since they stood |
upon high banks, that babe us look upward
as we sailed up thi. wonderful river.
Altogether the scenes witnessed are
strange as they are wonderful, and sad as
they are strange-no such flood having
occurred 70, nearly thirty years.
AS near as can be estimated the rise Of .
waters is six feet within the city, and the
river has risen twenty five to thirty feet.
The loss of property is very great, taking
the all of many. Several merchants are
very heavy sufferers, losing in merchan-
disc 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 must ensue from the dreadful
exposure ofthe sick and feeble during the
floods.
In reference to this disaster, the Alta
California of the 18th says that postscript
to private letter just received, and which
was written at IL P. NJ, on the 18th JAM
uary, gives less gloomy account of the
flood, finishing with the following:
The lower floor Of the Suffer Hotel is
still above water-board So per day.
Boatmen charging from $40 to $l5 an
hour.
We are happy to observe that there is
no record here of any loss Of life. In ad-
diticn to the above, the Alta California
gives the following:
When the Senator left the entire city
was under water, boats were navigating
the streets and carrying passengers from
the second stories of houses. The only
means of getting about was by boats, and
every imaginable craft was engaged in
navigating the streets. The ridge Of high
land, about two miles in the rear of the
city, was literally studded with tents, and
human beings were mingled with alright
ed animals who had alec talon refi,re