The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1853-03-31
A CALIFORNIA SNOW STORM.

through the papers states, that the snoy
upon the Sierra Nevada mountains of Cali
fornia, n some places covers the TALES
pines. Something Of its average deptl
may be learned from the following graph
ic extracts from letter furnished us fo
publication by brother Of the writer--
As we presume there is no objection to Civ
ing the name of the author, and as it will
impart on interest TO the letter and give
reliability to its contents, We would state
iha. it was written by Mr.. WM. DAVIDSON,
Of Clinton CO. II is social letter, not
written with a view to publication, but 10
give his brother correct view Of things
as they exist in that portion Of California:
Have you any idea ofthe SHOWS Of Sier-
ra Nevada? No, know you have not, will
il amuse you il ! attempt to describe the
appearance Of things now? perhaps it will,
and as cannot go cut to-day, may as
well amuse myself by writing.
You must dwell upon these Alpine
heights, before you can see or appreciate
a genuine snow storm; turn in what d.
rection you may nothing meets the gaze
but snow! snow! huge mountains OF
now! Not such pueri!e insignificant,
SHOWS as those to which you are accustom-
ed, no indeed, but SHOWS which obliterate
all marks of former world filling up val
ieys, leveling hills, burying the houses
hiding all familiar things, so that one may
stand on the roof Of his own house, in the
midst OF his own village and be stranger.
The rough and rugged sides of the great
mountain, which ascend far upward to the
east of our village, are new smooth and
level as garden walk. The bushes have
long ago been hidden, the tall frs and pines
have taken their place, the lofty forest has
shown the insignifcance of chapparel, and
will in due season, in turn disappear, such
IRE the SHOWS we have mere. Here is
where the Snow King holds his court, this
is the very threshold Of his palace.
We have had three distinct grand storms.
The first lasted six days, the second eight,
the third l3 nights aud Ii days, then came
one clear day, then the snow again com
menced, continued one day and was super
ceded by the rain which poured down for A
laws and nights, then we had lhreo clear
davs. Now the rain has again commen-
ccd, when it will cease, who can ,ell?-
During these l3 nights and II days you
must not suppose the snow fell occasionally.
more or less, sometimes Iniermitting its Of
forts, the clouds less dense and with a
CLEAN Of blue sky now and then, as would
I've the case in any other country-no such
thing. Horizontally few yards bounded
the view, to look in the direction Of the
wind was impossible, the driving fl kes
binding the sight. If you turned your
gaze upward, few feet above your head
appeared driving mass Of solid snow push
ing furiously onward, from which portions
we're continually breaking and falling
Day by day the clouds Iabored, relapsed
not their efforts, the unremitline, continual.
driving storm ragged necessarily, I'LL one
could but believe, such unceasing toll
mast be wearisome, and feel touch OF
pity for the tired clouds. But whether the
clouds were tired or not they only quit
showing to commence raining, which new
labor they are now prosecuting with won
derful zeal.
have no idea that any effort Of mine
would convey TO you correct conception
of mountain snow storm, but if cannot
describe the storm while raging, | can tell
you something about its results, OF the pres
ent aspect of things. Before this rain
commenced, which has caused the snow to
settle some two or three feet, it was from
II to Is feet deep, but from knowing the
depth in feet and inches you will be hard
" likely TO form correct idea of how
much snow this really is. Well try and
conceive how things must appear, when J
tell you the snow is two feet deeper on a
level than the comb OF the roof of my house
No portion of the house is visible, nor would
a stranger from any outward indications,
imagine that a good sized comfortable
house lay bid beneath that uniform plain
of snow. OF my neighbor Young's house,
only few leet Of the chimney can be seen.
while lower down the hill, the houses have
totally disappeared, a slight mound only
marking the place Of those uninhabted,
the upward curling of the smoke, issuing
from circular hole in the snow, shows the
wherea bouts OF those not yet deserted. My
comrades as have mentioned have eli
gone to the lower regions--,hat is to the
valley. Ofan once thriving village, there
are only four houses inhabited, one of those
lis about 100 feet distant. Mr.. Young ano