Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1862-02-07
The Great california Flood.

/ "A cOFfpS IlOnuell Ol lnC New / OfR ! flD'lIC
writes OF the great hjod at Sacramento, as
follows;
4 railroad roniiec;S Sacramento and Fol
son. both ON the southern bank of the Amer
lean River, and 20 miles apart. The railroad
enters the Capital City about Two miles north
of the American River, ON high cmhnnk-
ment. The ordinance authorizing the compa-
ny TO bring their rails and cars into the city,
provided that wide bridge sLDu'd bc kept
open under The track Il short distance cast Of
the lcvee, and the bridge was made; but years
lass without ! ;se for and VIII n came
10 need repairs the railroad Company m;d
an enIblnkmcnt which was higher and wider
than the leycc. \ I'd now on the morning
the 9th Of November, here came along the
Amcricun River. with Il md thu cover Il
the whole country. The waters ran agni 81
the lcVce, and then down to IiIc Ia ir'Iad TIM
'stttrfrelf1, and enable 10 x, faEtlcf II Ia apcii
itself up against tho,e Two barriers unit il rose
above the lcvee and began 10 pour in. soon
the soft Earth gave way, and the vast ly o
water poured into the city and fl ,odpd every
portion Of it except sma IElrt Of Fro
street. The lcvcc, which had been built for
the protection OF tie city NOW was the cause
of great injury, Tor instt ad of keeping the
water out, il kept ii in TIN, flood entered at
the east, wherethe country is high, AID il the
evcc had not been in the way the water w,.u d
have run off without touching the busntsS
part Of the city. The Sarram nto River was
much lower; It's f,od had not had time to come
d'wu, so there abundlnt room for the
waite OF the Amer can to spread out when il
should reach the Sacramento.
But the lcvee damned The wafer in. and it
soon, Oh the SOU .hern lcvre, was ten feet high.
er inside than the level of the Sacramento on
the outside. In some pace the waller vi $
fifteen feet deep, i'll others ten, in others thre.
the greater part of the most fashionable
houses had from three to six feet OF water in
the parlOr. In mlnv Of the huu>es the line Of
the food is visible Oh the plasterng in tie
second story. Doz-ns of wooden houses, some
of them two stories high, were lifted up and
carried of. 80
The destrue ion Of property was tenn
The water game 50 rapidly TINT mnst redftr
had not more than an hours Warning Of the
dargrr. Most persons living in two story
houses carried their furniture, cooking utensils
and provisions up airs; those who lived in
Une-story Eouss ran tor their lives. And
when the wafer had reached the city, there
were no boats. Men, women and rhildr n hid
stayed in the houses, thinking there was no
danger; and when The flood rose they could not
get away. Some Of the houses were carried
off. ana boats were sent after them 10 rescue
their human freight. al the firew0od, most
Of the fences and sheds. all the poultry, cats,
rats and many Of the horses and COWS were
swept away.
lac fl nod at nine O'Clock in the morning. had
filled the city-two huurs later the cl1ain-gane
were at work Oh the southern levec, to cut il
and let the water out. When the cut was
made, the rush of waters was as fierce 10 get
out as it had been 10 get in; and soon the
wafer fell five or six feet, but still RENAL :et
seveisIi frrt dvei' ilo greater part of the
city during all that day. The water then fell
gradually until it reached its present stage
which is about on level with the lower part
Of the city, and at that level it has stood Tor
the last week k-somctimes rising IA little, pme-
times IA! II A. the american River fell,
the Sacramento rose, and there was great icai
that the pace would again be submerged;
but ihc danger for The present Is past The
departure oil the alter showed a terrible de-
vastali,,n. The rich men had l,sl avery large
portion of their prnparly-the POOR had losl
,t.l