The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-01-29


but were doing nothing Of importance. The mes
sage of the Governor had been voted out of the Lee
gislature by majority OF two votes
Goeat Flood I'm Sacramento.
From the Sacramento Union, Dec. 20
On Sunday morning, about four O'Clock, break
was discovered near the upper end OF the new levee
above Suffers fort and in the centre OF the great
slough which extends along the base Of the ridge.
The American river, throughout Saturday had been
rapidly rising, and towards evening to such height
as to flow through the breaches made in the old e-
wee during the freshet OF last spring. The old
sloughs in the vicinity Immediately commenced II
sing and the water, driven by the wind, washed
against the base Of the embankment and percolated
through il. Although the levee at this point
sixty feet on the base and although workmen had
been engaged in strengthening it, the current sue
ceeded in undermining and tearing it away. lmme-
diately upon the discovery Of the breach large
party Of laborers despatched to the spot, but
the angry element had obtained complete mastery
and dehed the puny attempt of man to arrest its
progress. By ten o'clock on Sunday morning the
gap had opened to the width OF sixty feet, and
through it the water with fearful velocity towards
the fort, aud southerly to Suffer- The Marshal re-
paired to tie latter place and opened the evee at
point between the drawbridge and the Sacramento
river, in order to drain Oft the water from the sloughs
above. During the day the crevasse gradually widen
ed, and at dark, last evening, at least an hundred
feet Of earth had been swept away.
The Sacramento river also rose with alarming
rapidity during Saturday and Sunday morning, until
than at any time during the food OF March last;
there was but little variation during the day-at
night the water percephbiy lowered, and is now
sorle fourteen inches below the summit of the lcvee
in front Of the city. Suffer lake at noon, Satnr
day, was upto the doorstep of the Oriental Hotel,
and running in front Of all the buildings on I street.
without the leyee All day long laborers were iuces
sanity employed in packing bags of earth aud piling
them up on the narrow part of the levee, above
Fifth street, through which the water oozed. An
additional force was occupied during last night in
securing ell weak points on this section OF the
levee.
The American river began to recede slowly on
Sunday morning, and at night was several inches
below the highest point Of the morning. Mr.. Stew
art who resides on this stream, informs us that at his
house the water, in the morning, stood precisely at
the highest point attained in March last Early on
Sunday morning the wind Ycered to the north, and
for a few hours there was every prospect OF per-
manent change; but during the day it wheeled about
to its old quarter and the afternoon and evening
proved showery and warm.
The entire country on the west side Of the Sacra-
mento, far the eye can reach Is one vast lake,
the only dry spot III Washington being the little
cemetery knoll. pootah creek Is said to be seven
miles wide, and Cache creek mighty river. The
east side Of the Sacramento. above the mouth ofthe
American, is also under water for many miles.
The Sacramento is still little lower than the
American river, but the former stream, il must be
rccoeced has not yet felt at this place the influence
OF the rains which have fallen above during the last
three days The weather, however, has been ex-
cessvey cold, that trust they did not extend far
to the northward.
The force with which the water nece ssaTily enters
the in the evee keeps wearing and tearing
it away. By this morning the action OF the water
viii have widened il 70 much greater extent than i
attained Oh Sunday evening. Unless some plan can
be devised for preventing this gradual destruction Of
the embankment, the city must receive the whole
bulk of the surplus food from the American river; in
that event, the destruction Of property will be much
greater than is now Anticipated unless the recession
Of tIr IN no i'm anil
rapid, which i a thing hardly TO be expected under
the circumstances.
AT half past ten o'clock on Sunday night, X street
was swaTmng With small boats "a low down az
Fourth The water had entered J on Fifth, and was
still advancing upon the northern and western por-
tons Of the city including that district lying between
Front and / from On Third, to | on Fifth street.
This morning We shall not be surprised IT, find it
washing the base Of l. street, far down Front.
The course Of the water from the crevasse was
along the eastern extremity OF the city to TIE south
ern and southwestern boundaries, from which il
backed up, entering at the lower part, and coming
in the direction Of andI streets.
Al night long those having property at stake,
were on the alert, and when We retired from the OF
fee at ~ o'clock, the sound 81 hammer and caa!klng
chigel could be heard 1T work In repairing skis ahl
floats Of various descriptions for the saetyof life and
properly, and for The convenience OF getting aDJ1t.
The state Joufa43 adds The water i said to be
seventeen inches higher than il was during the
great fIeshCt o. 1850 Tie now lovec has done much
towards saving - from inandatiJn.
Several Of tie lew brick bli!dngsrecen'ly erected
in this city were considerably damaged during the
storm The new house Of Read o. sunk and
cracked very much slight crack Is also visible in
the mont wall Of the Orleans Hotel and some slight
damage was done 70 Tie building o. Mr.. Patchin, on
J street. Var, however, We have nothing to note
Of material injury
The Sacramenfo Uai01s of Dec. u says:-.
Since Sunday evening, the waters in the American
river, % The ferry above Isles bridge, have receJed
thrce and halfiest Sltter's Lake has llso failen