, 1862-03-08
Another Flood in california.
The Sacramento Valley Inundated---AIvara-
do. AlvisO, san LeandrO and Nappa City
under Water.

do AlvisO, san LeandrO and Nappa City
under Water.
A disaster has befallen this State from which she
will scarcely recover in half century. Many are Of
the opinion that so widespread is the second food,
and universally destructive has it been that thou
sands of citizens have been utterly bankrupted-
The first nundation, though it was, of short du
ration. The one which now covers the Sacramento
Valley thrOugOut its vast extent, will not it is greatly
feared abate tor some time. No person who not
at Sacramento on Saturday can appreciate the magn
ude Of the disaster and but the sufferers them
selves estimate its destructive effects.
Except Tor historical purposes, it would be useles,
0 trace the immedlated origin OF the innudati0n
sacramento for high have the waters risen that
uman foresight could have prevented it. We give
rom the Union, however, the following facts:
"RabePs Tannery was also Con Friday morning)tht
scene OF life and activity. The Committee OF Saiet
mad constructed the new levee, and left the old ont
standing breakWater tO protect it. They arTang
ed to let the water gradually to form basin Of still
water to guard off the current. This they deemed
necessary to prevent the embankment from wash
ing away. George r. Hooker, who resides in the
neighbOrhood, had been duty the evee all night
At about daylight for the purpose alleged, of
making portion Of his garden secure he cut the
old levee at the lower end of the basn and started
stream Of water through into the river. The effect OF
this procedure to start current along the base of
the new levee, which found would wash
away and bring the full tide of the river with all its
resstess and relentless force through the heart of the
city,
While the water thus rushing into the city from
country rivers besant be observed in the Sacramento
and the river poured in through the street evee into
the city, meeting the tide from tile American By
Friday at the flood had passed L. K and streets
and reached the very steps of the Capitol. The Leg
stature adjourned at about OcOck and at two the
attaches had to be conveyed to their hotels in boats
From that time until midnight the waters rose with
fearful rapldty While the boarder5 at the St. George
at dinner the floor was suddenly covered to the
extent of two and half feet and every other house
in the city was Hooded to greater or less extent. At
! rlrsIf
streets nearly six feet in depth, and twithstald
ing the noH-chalence of the bOatmen who sang
songs and jeSted with the people the balconies ev
identity with the view Of dispelling the gloom much
CONSERVATION was manifested. The stream rushed
down street with tremendous velocity, and fears
were very reasonably expressed that the oundatlns
OF the brick buildings would give way. This appre-
henSloh, as may well be imagined greatly heightened
the sense Of danger by which the people felt they
we're surrounded On Saturday morning it was found
that the water had fallen inches and hopes
began to be expressed that the disaster over but
by noon again the water from the city was running
over the leyee into the Sacramento. From that time
until half past two P. NJ, when the steamer left the
river continued rising 1t might be naturally supposed
that the merchants Of Sacramento had ample time to
save their goods 1t is certain that they took evey
reasonable prcauton but it must be remembered that
the Hood was ~ inches higher than the highest water
mark OF any previous year, and thus although the
merchants thought their goods had been placed be-
yOnd its reach to their they found that every
article OF a pelishable nature had been re dered
WOfInI0SS IL Is nOJ an eXaggeratOn to that they
have lost nine tenths Of their property. We have
been informed that not less than sixty wooden build
ngs were carried Oft from the lower parts Of the city
On nearly every street could be seen two-story tene
ments which had been capsized shifted from their
foundations.
THE SCENE FROM THE WHARF.
The people commenced crowding to the steamboats,
at an early hour on Saturday morning and notwith-
standing that the whole valley far s the eye could
reach, was but vast waste Of waters and fresh stories
Of disasters were constantly coming in the scene from
the wharf had very animated appearance. Hun
dreds of small boats Of every conceivable descriDton
were navigating the streets. Some Of them had been
lmprovsed for the occasion, and made of boxes
lashed together others were inverted dining tables
with their legs cut off; others, fiat bottomed crafts
made OF the ghest material and frequently half full
Of water from the leakages. Then again where men
could not obtain boats they were content to travel
RATS.
RUMoRs, ETC
thousand rumors were constantly set ahoat of
lives having been lost but owing to the difficulty of
locomOtion it impossible to ascertain their truth
1t was SAID that early on Saturday morning. some
twenty men while engaged in Strengthening the evee
on the American were drowned by sudden crevasse.
One man was also reported as having been drowned
some where on street. But there has been less loss
Of lie IN the city than might have reasonably been
expected.
COMMUNICATION CUT OFF.
OF course, all communication with the interior was
entirely cut of. The stage horses and indeed all
other animals upon which Il value could be placed
Nci0 CDuos Oh 10 INC lcFeG or upon the steamboats,.
The railroad embankment was altogether submerged
and the cars were one third full of water When the
Sacramento hoats left, the boats from Marysville had
yet made their appearance. 1t was suDDosed that
they had either been detained ut MUysVie for the re-
lief Of sufferers there, engaged in picking M
drowning families along the oanzs Of the river.
JOURNEY TO SAN FRANCISCO
Some 1909 passengers and some 500 horses came
down on the steamers Chrysopolis and Nevada One
OF two board were distressing to an extreme
Many women, who had children with them had lost
all they possessed in the world, and their sorrowful
countenanccs would have touched a heart of stone.
Some had not tasted food foI twenty hours Their
immediate wants were, however well provided for by
the hospltabIc commanders of the boats. Looking
from the hurl loane deck Of til ChrysOpOs the scene
east tad west, north aud SOUTH was Of the wild
est dessoati5n Water water everywhere. The one
story ranch houses on the plains were all submerged
and we fear that hundreds of lives have been lost
Whhe along the Immediate banks Of the the set
tiers generally are presumed to have boats those far
ther in the interior had no means Of escape and must
have been beyond the reach of mercy Certainly thou
sands upon thousands of horses, cattle, hogs sheen
etc, have been drowned.
When the Chrysop lis reached the ranch of JUDGE
Read, some ten miles below the city a touching scene
was witnessed on the upper balcony of the house. The
Ndles ana children Of the family stood in row
each waving signal Of distress. while servant blew
norm to attract attention. Immediately perceiving
their condition, Capt. Chadwick stopped his steamer
and sent Il small boat to their rescue. 1t was found
that every article Of property had been swept away
their hair streaming III the wind were at length put
on board and the tears rolled down the cheeks o
many Of the spectators. The mother was the last to
get On deck, aud as she her children safe around
her her long pent up agony broke forth I'M cry of Joy
and gratitude to Heaven 50 wild and piercing that it
can never be forgotten by many OF those who had
the painful necessity OF hearing it. Three other fam
a- Of the ti ner rnsrnad bv the Nevada
some nall mile below this ranch The water in the
river was rising at the rate of four inches am hour and
IL IS easy to see that it the toou eo..ti.-4l e
at this rate for even four hours every household along
the whole line of the river must have either been
drowned or compelled to save themselves in small
boats or RATS.
FURTHER CONCERNING THE FLOOD.
dispatch received at eight O'Clock last evening
from Warm Springs, says that the town OF Alvarado
was SIX feet under water; and that the inhabitants
mad been hnng minute guns call attention to their
distress, but 1t impossible to render them any as
sstance
We also learn that the town of San Leandro is in
inundated In fact, there is doubt that all the val
eys and low grounds of the bay counties are under
water.
The "SOphie McLane'' was unable to effect a land
ing at lviso on Saturday the dock being entirely
submerged, and she returned with her passengers.
Nappa City is also innundated.-S. f. Herald
The American river had risen during the night of