The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-08-14
The Cloud. Burst IN Nevada.

Cured in Eureka, Nevada, is taken
from the Sentinel, of that city, of date
July 25
"Our community has been visited by
a great calamity-a calamity in pres
sence of which man stands helpless and
appalled,, overawed by the mighty
forces OF Nature. Fer some days past
our ordinarily arid region has Witnessed
rainfall which would, even in the
height of the rainy season in Oregon,
be regarded as phenomenal. Yesterday
morning sharp shower, broken by
glimpses of sunshine, greeted the early
risers in our town. About $50 A. NJ. it
assumed proportions threatening a
severe storm; and even at that hour
considerable damage was done by the
flood on Ruby Hill. After occasional
lulls, at about 10 A. NJ. the shower in
creased in violence; the lightning grew
more vivid and more frequent, and still
more closely followed by the ominous
thunder. The storm apparently passed
away, and blue riffs of sky, harbingers
of an unfounded hope, were visible in
the northern heavens. But on the hills
to the south and west the heads of the
great and precipitous canons which de-
bouch into our valley, still hung gloomy
and threatening vast masses of black
clouds. Shortly after IL o'clock the
effects of the preceding storm were
made manifest In the vast increase of
water flowing down the channel con-
structed along the line of Buel and
Spring streets. BY this flood, though
great excitement was created, but little
damage was done. Some houses in the
more exposed localities had their first
floors flooded and much furniture in
jured and some of the smaller bridges
and q few out-houses were carried
away. This was but the precursor of
the terrible visitation of few hours
later.
"Again the falling wind, the balmy
air, the growing glimpses of blue sky
held up to us the delusive phantom of
hope; and stillgloomy and threatening,
as premintory fate, lowered the heavy
clouds over the southwestern peaks.
About / o'clock the rain commenced,
and this time with redoubled force.
Hard and fast the rain poured down,
mingled with hail. The black clouds
closed upon us, the lightning grew nearer
and fercer, and calculations closely
made proved period of about one and
q half seconds between the flash and the
following thunderbolt. (This estab-
lished an elevation of less than 1900
feet, and our surrounding mountain
peaks are at least 5000 feet above our
level.) A few minutes before 2 P. NJ.
two horsemen came galloping down
Main, Spring, and Buel streets, warn
ing the startled people of the approach
of the mighty flood. Most thought
only of their lives and saved themselves
regardless of their effects. Others
stood stupefed at the threat of an APP
preaching, underlined danger. Too
many chung too late to their houses in
a vain endeavor to save their property by
removal to higher ground.
"Close upon the heels of the warn
ing horsemen followed the torrent.
And such torrent Over the entire
ridge extending from Pinto to Ruby
Hill the massive clouds had broken.
Toward the summit there was no rain,
but a deluge, down Railroad, Eureka,
New York and Goodwin canons flowed
the water at an almost inconceivable
rate of speed, gathering strength and
ferceness in the descent. From the
Richmond to the Jackson furnace,
where these canons unite, and where
our valley approaches a quarter of
mile in width, the entire ground was
covered by terrible seething mass of
waters at least three feet in height,
bearing heavy timbers, the wrecks of
cabins, and even masses of rock, in its
angry, headlong career upon our de-
voted town. AS the valley narrows
toward the center of the town the cur
rent increased in ierceness and power.
"The entire town was aroused. Great
and certain destruction of property was
evident, and manfully did most of our
citizens struggle to save what could be
saved. But even up to this moment
none imagined the fearful loss of prop
erty and of human life which followed.
" For over half an hour the water
rolled on. One house after another
toppled and fell, and the angry pillows
beat upon the wreck and dashed it to
pieces. Many houses (some of them
dwelling-houses and with families in
side) were lifted bodily up and carried
down the mighty stream. The sight
was magnificent in its terror. The
Eureka Hall, building 100 by % feet,
was early carried away, and added to
the horror of the scene as it came crash
ing down along Spring street and
through to Buel street, in the rear of
he International Hotel, carrying away
with its massive weight many buildings
already lettering. AS the houses sue
cumbed to the swelling stream, many of
them would rise grandly from their
foundations, and like stately ships turn
gracefully head foremost into the cur
rent and sail on an even keel until
wrecked against the first debris. Here
was seen two-story house, to one of
the shutters of which chung q man with
the energy of despair, as he drifted to
almost certain death. Then, in a cabin,
rocked and tossed upon the waves, were
seen a man and wife struggling to es-
cape. Here was seen the detached roof
of house beating from side to side of
the stream, and desperately clutching
the ridge, man striving for dear exist
ence. Close upon this heart-rending
spectacle followed heavy wagon and
team, the massive structure tossed like
chip, and the poor dumb beasts scream
ing in their mortal agony.
1.-The loss of property was immense.
The loss of life was great. Up to the