The Placer herald., 1861-12-14

water mark, and twelve feet higher than ever
known by the residents there. The large
flume of the American River Water Com
pany, from the dam at Tamaroo Bar to the
Oregon Bar Ferry, in length from one and
half to two miles was entirely destroyed;
and it is said that the Company's dam at
Tamaroo has met the same fate The wire
suspension foot bridge at Rattlesnake, and
the fine wire suspension wagon bridge at
Whisky Bar, both supposed to be above the
reach of the highest water, were swept away.
From the wire suspension bridge at Carol
ton we have not heard; but it is supposed
that it escaped injury,-being built high.
AS there were number of fine orchards
and gardens in the low lands along the riv-
er, they must have suffered severely; al
though we have no information on the sub
ject. Fumes cabins, Wheels lumber and
every species of property within reach Of
the water, are said to be gone.
At Folsom the water was eighteen feet
higher than the freshet of last Spring; and
Coover and Stockton's mill, not then reached
by the water was flooded to the second story.
The fine race and dam, connected with the
mill, are nearly ruined, and the damag of
the Company are estimated to be at least
$4,000. Kinsey and Thompson's wire sus-
pension bridge had rough usage--the abut
nents being injured-but the structure stood,
contrary to the expectations of many, who
expected it to 90. The wooden arch or
false'work, Of the Central Railroad bridge
at Folsom, resisted the current for some
time, but fortunately went away without in
juring the main structure. Below the bridge,
where the huge masses of granite form the
bed of the river, the appearance of the
flood is described as being appalling in its
grandeur and fury. 1t seemed as if the
rock bound river would be torn to its deep
est foundations. Below Folsom the mighty
tide swept outward from its mountain gorge
to the plains, where mingling with the tor
rent Of the Sacramento, it spread ruin and
desoation over the valley-carrying away
houses, fences, grain and cattle by hundreds
and thousands-and inundating the city of
Sacramento, where property to the amount
of $l,5OO,OOO or 50 100000 has been des-
troyed. For brief but sad description, of
the disaster at Sacramento we refer our
readers to the account Of our regular cor
respondent.
During the week the whole business of
the country has been deranged by the food
For three days we had no communication
with Sacramento, and were in great anxiety
AS to its condition. Telegr; ph lines were
down and railroad trains and stage tlips
suspended. Neither has there been any
communication with Nevada county: and
from the destruction Of bridges in that dir
rection, we cannot tell when travel or mai
facilities will be re established
We have given the losses in Placer county.
AS far AS we have been able to obtain them:
but the account is far short Of the reaIity
and we fear that a number Of lives have
been lost OF which, AS yet there is no in
formation. 1t seems scarcely possible hat 50
many Cinnamon could have been lost and
no white persons but we have not learned
that any Of the later have been drowned in
the county.
The following in reference to The destruc
ton on The Middle Fork of The American.
is akeh from an extra issued from the Pia
Ger Courier office:
son Junction Bar, Middle Furk of the
Am erican River, number Of large water
wheels. derricks suces, fumes several mi
n-rs cabins, AMI a wire suspe nsion foot
bridge was carr ed away.
On American Bar, considerable DAMAGE
was done to mining claims. Oar clever
friend, Jack Williamson, who keeps store
on the lower end Of the Bar, and who least
deserved i'll luck, finding that the flood was
encroaching upon him, took time BY the
forelock and removed all his goods to anoth
er building which stood out Of danger, and
escaped with only the loss of the building.
which t1oated like kite" the money safe,
containing, fortunately nothing but Jacks
last will and testament, being left in the
building as ballast. If anybody should find
safe in the river, they will please under
stand where it belongs-and further. that as
there is no cash in it, it will be useless to
break the lock-
On Pleasant Bar, the whole settlement
had to take to water" AS every house on
the Bar was. surrounded with it. BY ener.
gy and perseverance Of tho men folks in
flashing the buildings with cables, ropes.
and loading with stone ballast, the town is
still "thar, or thalabouts." The wire sus
pension foot bridge which connected "Bos
tom with this Bar went off like a streak
On Horse Shoe Bar great damage was
done. A large number of buildings, near
y all the large water wheels and derrcks
used this season in mining, sluices, fumes,
lumber, &c, were carried off, Almost the
whole bar was inundated. A heavy suspen,
sion tlume, which crossed the lower end of
the Bar to Grey Eagle, was also carried away;
The water rose up into Mr. Garrison's store
to the depth of about four feet. Mr. G. had
moved his goods to building on higher
I ground, and as his store is again clear Of wa