Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1881-02-18
The GREAT FLOOD IN CALIFORNIA |
cities aud Farms unundated-Ini
mcnse Loss of Property, stock,
ana it Is Feared of IIu.
man Livcsi
Mcn md Children Work In Mud
and Rain to save the Levccs,
but without Avatli
SIX Inmates Rescued from the
Roof OF a Hcspitnli
Yuma Cry. Feb


IA Vivid Description Of the Exciting Scenes
from our own Correspondent.
YuBA CRY, Feb 6, 1881.
ED. JOURNAL, AND FRIENDS OF THE
F." BLACK SwANP":-You may be glad to
hear that we nre yet alive and above the
waves. You will doubtless have learned
ere this comes to hand OF the great food in
this valley, on the 2s,h ult., and Of the
still much greater one on the 4th inst. ]
do not propose nt this writing to attempt
description.
on AN ISLAND.
Would say TINT we are here on an island,
ubou, miles long, ami varying in width
from 40 to 200 yards. Yuba City is safe,
and Marysville is safe; but the bridge
uniting the two places is wreck. Yuba
City stands OIL little cminence about 200
yards wide, opposite the junction of the
Ynba River, while back, or west of it, is a
slough, once the river bed. The river ia
held back by levee varying from to 12
feet above the business portions of the
city. The Feather river runs south along
the levee, while the Yuba pcurs in from
the east, striking the Feather at right an
giles opposite the center of our town.
EFFORTS TO SAVE THE CITY.
On the 2Sth ult., the water swclled to
Is feet, 0 inches, or } feet higher than ever
known to white men, and it was only by
the united efforts of all our citizens of all
professions that the levee was held. About
1000 grain sacks were filled with earth
aud placed upon tile levee TO save the
town. BY evening, however; the river
ceased to rise, and, the levee having broken
u few miles below town the water gradual
ly subsidized. But the mountains were COW
cred with black clouds and the lliermome-
Ter ranged from $50 to 70'. On the 2d of
Feb. the rain became general and all night
long poured down in torrents.
FLOOD AND DISASTER.
On the Sd it rained all day and the tele-
graph lines from the mountains brought
continuous stream of news Of flood nnd
disaster that chilled the stoutest hearted.
The afternoon trains failed to come, and
one line after another failed to respond un-
til all communication from above was cut
off by BPM. Hopeless, but determined,
every man and boy in town mounted the
levee and worked for his life, with heavy
rain pouring over all and such mud as the
people of the Black Swamp" only can
appreciate.
THE LEvEE BROKEN.
The river constantly followed our work,
keeping about level with us until 2 A. NJ,
oiSthe 4th, when messenger came rush.
ing in with the news that the levee was
broken miles above town. All those liv-
ing in the low part OF town at once convey
ed their dear ones to the highest ground.
but In less time than il takes to tell it, the
roaring torrent came around the town COW
ering the low streets, but rising only to the
edge OF the lowest part OF the main street.
But the vast plain west of us-what, Oh,
what might be the situation of the many
loved ones on the great plans, was the
thought that hung heavy on every breast.
THE TERRoRs OF A NIGHT.
II seemed MS though the night was the
darkest ever witnessed, and AZ though day
light wouldunever come. 1t did come
though and opened to our waiting optics n
scene that can olly be felt. The pen Or
tongue tie boil, too dumb and stupid to
convey 10 I've outside world, aud rl,nps il
is well, for I'll mankind see qnile enough
Of i'll witl.n, gcnlizing that afar off.
VAST Pain UNDER WATER.
The Who'll, slain was under n roolina
snrging torrent. The upper part of beau
tiful dwe ..ings and the trees nlone being
visible, East, West. NortI, and SouiI,--al
was sea and up to this time the whole
plain is under water. We know hut little
Of the destruction throughout the country
We have not heard oil any loss OF human
life yet, hut suffering will soon be intense
where families are lodged upon an enlinencs
or roof without food or bedding.
STEAMERS DARE NOT 90 TO THE RESCUE
The loss Of live stock must be Immense
The steamers ID. Il. Knight, G. N. .Smai
and the Flora are on the river between here
and Sncremento, daily, but they dare moi
venture into the levee breaks, and so cal,
bring IN but little intelligence from the
country back OF the river.
Perhaps no other country except Cali
fornia discharges it's waters over the high
est part Of the valley, TO the sea. But thu
great mountains OF earth that are yearly
washed down from the mines and settled IL
aud along our rivera has already lifted
them above the entire surface OF the farm
lands from 3 to 10 feet. The cities ant
towns are built on natural eminences alonl
the rivers, or surrounded by levees, and il
time OF danger the citizens acting in self
defense generally save the cities while tn,
farmer, who can only Interest few men il
his safety, must yield his property to tn
food aud climb for his life.
Six INMATES OF HOSPITAL RESCUED
Six men who were in the county hospi
tnl 2 miles northwest OF Yuba City, wer
scen on the morning OF the 9th ON the ron
Of the building. A boat was sent out an,
they were saved The building had lh
two end walls crushed out and was move,
about 80 feet from its foundation an,
lodged against a little bank which was ala
covered with dashing current.
One Of the inmates. on being asked ~
he thought Of what bad boy he had been,
while sitting on the roof Of that cr,l.l,,n
building, said, Yes, / thought OF all n,
bad thinga ever did IN my life" His in
terrogal0r then continued: Z" suppos
you also made promise OF two TO breaI
after you got out Of TINT sorape." The ol,
man answered, Yea, did make some yer
soIemn promises which cannot we'll al
ford TO 80 back on"
will send you local papers containing
incidents OF the food. s. ii. RAUB.
=. s. The steamer Gou Dana has run ih
levee and gone into Yuba county to say
liyes. s. H,R.