The Placer herald., 1861-12-14
GREAT STORM AND FLOOD,
Immense Loss of Life and PrOperty---Des-
tructiOn of Bridges, Horses Cattle, etc.,
Co mmunicatiOn with Mo untains and
Valley cut of.

Within the past week California has been
visited by the most violent rain storm ex
perienced since the settlement of the coun-
try by Americans; and the destruction of
life and property has been far greater than
by the great freshets of 40, 81 and '52.
For several weeks considerable rain had fall
en-, but not in quantity to cause an overflow
of streams. On Friday last, in this section,
the rain again commenced falling, and con-
tinued steadily through the night and all
day Saturday; but it was not until Sunday
that the storm reached its greatest hight
Through that day and night the rain fell al
most without ntermission, and a. times in
the most surprising quantities In this vi
cinity, the Auburn ravine, Ordinarily an
unpretending rivulet,) soon attained the di,
mensions of river, and threatened destruc
ton to everything within its course. With
in our experience, since 80, we have known
this stream to be very high, but on Sunday
night all its previous performances were
eclipsed The bridges and culvers built
over the Ravine, at different points by the
Turnpike Company, although capable Of
passing large quantities of water, were far
too small for the flood, and the water rose
until it covered the road both above and be
low town, taking out several of the brick
and stone arches, and washing off the top
of the road down to the rock, and tearing
down the retaining walls in number of pla,
ces Large logs were swept upon and Ger
the road as if they were but chips Sever
al houses near the ravine, came near going
off, from the quantities Of drift wood lodged
| against them, and it was onl y by hard work
under the peltng storm, that several prop
erty owners saved their buildings. Two
persons came near losing their live by being
washed in the ravine and it was only bv
timely assistance they were rescued
AT Morrison's one mile below town. large
part Of the stone wall, fronting the garden,
was carried away, as well AS a portion of the
garden itself, and qnte number of fruit
trees. The house was flooded, to the
depth of more than foot, by mud and wa.
ter. But the damage near Auburn WAS tri-
tiing compared to that sustained in the vi
ciniy of Gold Hill and Virginia The deep
mining claims and drain bitches there, were
quite if not all filed up with taings and
sediment; and it is estimated that $4,000
will not repair ,an,.ges. A Fox's Flat the
ravne claims suffered in the same WAY; and
further down in the plains, the orchards and
ranches bordering Auburn Ravlne, have suf.
tered severely
The American Rivers and Bear River,
were scenes o. greatest destruction On
Sunday these streams rose rapdlv-Bear
River takes the Lead Ga that evening En-,
gishs bridge, on tie Auburn and Nevada
road, went out just aS six horse team was
driving off the southern end Another
team IN company, was approaching the
northern end but the bridge could not wait
for the wagon" and set sail. Thi, bridge
was built in 1851, and had resisted ali pre-,
vions floods. On the same day PrebIe's
bridge, above lllinoislown, went off The
bridge at McCourtney's Crossing and at
Johnsons were also swept-the latter as
early AS Saturday. Every bridge on Bear
river is gone. The Sugar Pine Saw mill, n
mile and half above the Auburn and Ne
vada road, on Bear river, was washed awav
on Sunday night. The sawed lumber was
saved From the lower part of the river we
have no information, but the loss in cattle.
and for, /
enormous.
On the North Fork of the American, the
trail bridges at Green Valley and Ford's Bar,
and Rice's wagon bridge, at Mineral Bar,
were carried away. The latter on Sunday
evening. The North Fork bridge, at the
crossing above the junction, on the road
from Auburn to Forest Hill was severely
tried-the water being nearly up to the
flooring, and heavy drift wood striking oft
but came off without material injury.
During Monday morning it was not expect
ed to stand from one moment to another.
At this bridge the water was six feet higher
than ever before known.
The most thrilling disaster on the North
Fork was the carrying away of forty five
Cinnamon, at Oregon Bar These poor
creatures were living in cabins on heh
bar; and as some of them had lived there
through previous floods in safety, they con.
cluded to remain. One of the company
becoming alarmed left in time to save him
self. The others, forty five in number, did
not attempt to escape until the back chan
mel on the bar filled, and the water surround,
ed their cabins, when, in attempting to
reach the main shore, all were drowned,
Several of the bodies have since been found
some at the North Fork bridge, and 9th