Daily Los Angeles herald., 1884-02-20


Gabriel Valley and Down Both
San Gabriel Rivers Overflow OF
Gospel Swamp Loss of Life
Feared.
1. The road to Compton through the
adobe tract may be considered impass-
able for teams with any kind Of load.
Some parties were stalled there yester-
day with light wagons. The Santa
Monica road for teams Is i,npassable
near the residence of Mr.. John D.
Young.
The Arroyo Seco was fordable yestsr-
day, and several parties went to and fro
between that place and the city, and
came through the river from East Los
Angeles without any trouble.
Work ON the Los Angeles river was
very active yesterday. Messrs. Pomeroy
4 Mills had about thirty men at work
on the Sabiohi and Hollenbeck tracts,
draining of standing water and remov-
Ing obstructions. They will unite chser-
fully in movement to build levee
along the bank Of the river. They made
proposition last Fall to the same effect
and had their proposition been followed
BY similar offerings from others this
damaging freshst might have boen
avoided.
On the east side Of the river at the
East Los Angeles bridge the current has
been sent back under the bridge and Q
contract let to VIM. Lsdbettsr, the
builder of the old bridge, to put an
addition on the east end in place Of the
ill Of earth which has been carried away.
He commenced work yesterday.
Active work was kept up all day by
Nisdt q Co. to project their property
from further encroachmeBt, but 1t seems
that property holders on the other side
Of the strsam object to this movement
for fear that 1t will defect the current
90 ~ to wash away some portion Of the
eastern ahore. There 10 much damage
from washing in that locality.
About 400 men were at work from the
covered bridge to First street. A large
force was employed in making . founda-
tion and in placing thereon . large
number Of jack-screws for raising the
center Of the bridge, which has settled
about two feet from it. proper level. A
force of men numbering over hundred
was at work all day making brsskwatsr
Of sAnd-bags to change the current Of
the stream to the east side in order to
arrest the wearing away Of the west
bank of the river, whore the greatest
damage has been done. Mayor Thorn,
Col. Moore, DR.. French and Street
Superintendent Boyd we're very active
at this point, and large amount Of
work was done under the immediate
supervision Of Will Stosrmsr, who was .
chief among the sand.baggsrs, and who.
unlike the sand-lottsrs, were hard ct
work putting sand-bag. into the swift
current Of the river.
II any person imagines that this il fun
and picnic besides, 1t would be an
educator 70 put. himself in the place Of
these men. who threw in about sixty
bags minute, weighing about . hun
drsd pounds apiece. while those who
located them were standing in . cold,
rushing, muddy river, whose chilling
waters were at times up 70 their arm
pits, and who had 70 sxsrt themselves
T. prevent being swept away by the
terrible current. At the time ths HERALD
reporter left the scene. about half the
stream bad been tur&sd into the nsw
channel, but there was terrible strug.
gls going on between the balance Of the
stream, which was running swift and
deep, and seemed 70 defy al efforts to
arrest It. There seemed to be neces-
sIty for long timben to span the chasm
and hold the balance Of the dam while
being placed In position. There wsrs
no more housss washed away yesterday.
but the white cottage Of Mr.. Knox still
remains on the ragged edge held by
ropes.
PLuN,xn AIoxo rHs RIVER.
A vast amount Of household and
other property i being discovered along
the river bank for the space Of six or
seven miles down the stream. In .
trunk that wss picked up 1t Vernon yes
tsrday, the sum Of $50 was fousa.
Chief Cuddy has placed . petrol On both
sidss of the river to tho city limits and
the Sheriff has plased dsputy on each
side Of the stream below the city 10
guard the property which i being left
by the receding waters. This property
amounts to thousands of dollAn and
must be guarded with constant vigilance
to prevent il from falling into the hands
Of tAievss who are eonstantly prowling
along the banka It is now stated
that about forty houses we're carried
away and about ninety city lots have
disappsared from view. Like Nsbushad-
nssssr. they have been turLsd ont to
gran in the green fields Of Florsucs,
Compton and Csrritos.
ZEE Ioss 100000.
A careful survey Of the situation BY
. HxRALD reporter. yesterday, reveals =
heavy los Of al conceivable varieties.
An estimate made by shrswd Observer,
last evening. make the los within the
city limits about 500. 900. This. II 10
claimed, will rebuild the bridges and re-
store the other property Destroyed.
AN uNyoRruNA7E VICTIM.
One Of the sufferers by this calamity
10 our much esteemed fellow citizen. Mr..
John Fischer. Mr.. Fischer was ct San
Pedro at the time Of the disastsr. in the
service Of the Government, attending IN
the discharge Of = shipload Of coal, and
only heard yesterday Of his greet loss.
His daughter was attending the Normal
School in this city. and had charge Of
his neat little cottage, which he had fin-
ishsd in October Last out Of his diligsnt
esrnings Of the past three ysan. Mr..
Fischer was formerly man Of wealth,
and one Of the leading citizens Of Ana
helm. and highly respected by his isl.
low citizens. His son. Mr.. J. y. Fischer.
had recently built house adjoining. ~
also had his son-in-law. Mr.. McKinne,