The Placer herald., 1861-12-14
SACRAMENTO CORRESPONDENCE.
SACRAMENTO. Dec. 18th, 1861.

SACRAMENHO CO1t1 OA~A'-2A'-,'
SACRAMENTO. Dec. 18th, 1861.
Editor, Herald:-Snce addressed you last, q
terrible calamity has befallen Sacramento. One
week ago she held her head proudly and indepen-
IDENTIFY above all opposition-today she meekiy
and in u mendcant garb, bows her head and asks
for aims.
THE FULL PART ICUIARS.
1t cannot be expected of me that should enter
into detailed account OF the nood. lull anu
accurate description of the incidents alone
would make book. 1t is enough TO say tnat on
Monday noon last, nearly every entire block In
Sacramento was submerged by the waters OF the
American river. The only exceptions were iour
or five lots at and in the vicinity OF ana lotn
streets, and along the levee Oh Front street.
THE CONDITION OF THE CITY.
The flood was precpitate that the dcstruc-
ton of property was almost general everybody
who possessed anything lost the whole or part OF
it, Out of population of $4,000, every individ-
ual. from the poorest to the richest, and from the
youngest to the oldest is a sufferer Many III thc
vicinity of street. or in that section OF the city
lying between X. 10Th. and the Sacramento river,
not only lost their personal property, but their
homes. Those living in this locality, and IN one
story houses barely escaped with their lives
The waters rushed so madly into this low quarter
of the city, that very few made the least effort TO
carry off goods of any kind. The fact that the re-
port was unbeleved that the American had over
flowed its banks. and was on its way to the city,
contributed largely to this end, aud everybody
LAUGHED AT THE REPORT!
People thought sudden submergence of the
city impossible and not until dozen streams,
large as respectable rivers. seen cOursng
through many streets, did they begin to stir
Then it was
ALL PANIC AND CONFUSION.
Thousands had property to save in the busi-
ness parts of the city. and families in another
Men hurried everyway and if impeded by
stream Of water, they unhesitatingly plunged into
and through it. Houses having foatcd from their
their pinions, were pursued by boatmen, and wo-
men and children
RESCUED FROM WINDOWS
and from their roofs many of them saving n OF a
single thing of their household except what they
might have had on their persons at the time.
STOCK SHOW.
As soon as it was positive that the. flood was to
be general. every precautiOn was taken by those
owning stock to save it by leading. driving or
hauling it to the highest ground in the city. By
II NJ. the Plaza and the streets north east of it.
were a complete jam of mules before wagons, stud
horses. carriage horses, Eulls. cows and calves,
hogs, &c. The jam was SO great that it was al
most impossible for a person to pass through
them. much less for any of them to move a loot
either to the right or left. And this stock show
did not compose one half of the stock Of the city
Through the streets looking in any direction,
mi ght have been seen all kinds OF animals swim
ing to and fro. Pigs were squeaing, cows lowing.
bulls believing, horses neighing, chickens flying
to fences and trees for perch-even the rats
were forced to public view. and were fleeing be-
fore the surging waters. In short space OF time
ill-shaped boats of all kinds and sizes, were seen
passing in all directions.
TURNED SHIP CARPENTERS
When the food became apparent and certain
many procured lumber and hastily put together
som, kind of scow-boat Your correspondent
never built boat before, but by intuition and the
force of circumstances, he hastily converted about
eighty feet Of lumber into float in a very short
space OF time; and when found the waters slow
ly climbing upon the floors of my house, about
o'clock Monday evening ! can assure you look
ed upon my work with a good deal of compa-
cency.
OH WHAT A NIGHT.
Such a night us this Monday nj aht was 10 the
citizens OF Sacramento. was then and is yet ndcS-
crblble. The moon and stars as if mocking at
cur calamity, shoue out and lighted up this terri
bic scene. Above us all it was bright clear and
calm. and below great sheet Of angry water
as far AS the eye could compass, ready to engulf
TUESDAY MORNING.
BY this time the water had receded three feet,
and the excited and alarmed people could venture
forth. and in measure begin to observe the work
of destruction which had been so rapidly perform
ed. Such an embargo had been placed upon loco
motion before this that we ourselves had no cor
rect knowledge of the loss the city and its citi-
zens had suffered
RUMOR UPON RUMOR.
AT first madam rumor would have it that hun
drcds had been drowned. and that their bodies
had hoaed away with the debris of broken houses
sidewalks and fences But these proved incor-
rect But one or two persons are known to be
drowned though the escape Of many was mracu-
lOus.
DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY
The destruction of property has been immense,
both persOn'l and in merchandise. 1t has been
estimated at 81 100000. but this sum cannot cover
the loss The aggregate cannot be known. The
real loss is exceeded by depreciation of every
description OF property. Confidence in the future
safety of the city from like floods is gone and
probably never will return. Sacramento city is
''swamp and overfowed land" and with a bank
rupt treasury and disheartened population
what is there left but life which may he classified
as valuable? People may joke and make light
of the terrible devastation but there is behind
it an expression of sorrow and despair expressed
in every mans countenance that tells US the lest
ing is but the expression OF a bitter grief finding
vent in the extreme opposite direction to that of
lamentatiOn and weeping.
BUSINESS ENTIRELY SUSPENDED
Business, except that closely connected with
the necessaries OF life is entirely suspended.-
Our authorities and many OF our most prominent
citizens are in counsel as to what is to be DONE
Many of our kind hearted people are supplying
the wants of the perfectly destitute, which mum
Der go high into the hundreds. Agricultural
Hall, and several other brick buildings are great