Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-01-04
THE STORM.
Continued DownpOur for
Many Hours.
LITTLE DAMAGE SUSTAINED.
Street Cars Stop Running-Banks
Cave in--The LeveeS Hold
Firm.

Early yesterday morning the sky
became overcast with heavy clouds
and by daybreak the rain commenced
TO fall and as the day grew the down
pour became heavier and heavier, I'M
til the streets were running rivers and
she sidewalks were scarcely better.
At no time is the poor condi-
tion OF the streets and sewers
40 noticeable as during heavy rain
storm, and especially was this the
case yesterday. AT noon the down
fall was very heavy, and so it con-
tinued until nightfall, when it settled
down into steady rain, which con-
tinued without cessation until the
hour OF going 10 press. Those who
could remain at home were particularly
fortunate, for they escaped the horrors
of miserable crossings and leaky
awnings. Early in the day it was
feared that there was some danger OF
a flooi in the river, but when visited
at a late hour last night there was not
q great deal OF water within its banks.
In fact there was moro water outside
than inside, and the levee seemed III
no danger Of giving away.
Early in the day the Second street
cable road gave out, and people liv-
ing over the hills had to walk home.
The next road to give out was the
Electric line, and in the evening the
Fifth and Olive and Spring and Sixth
street lines stopped running. Both OF
these latter lines ran with difficulty
all day long, for repairs had been
going on along the lines and
che rain had softened the earth,
making it almost impossible to take a
car over the road.
The streets were in bad condition
in the centre OF the city. First street,
between Fort and Main, was series
of sink holes, and the water at
the corner OF Spring was over
the sidewalk. Main street ex-
except whore paved, was so
broken up that it was dangerous for
teams to be driven thereon, and no
less than nine horses were dragged
out OF sink hole on Third street,
between Main and Spring streets. The
water was reported to be several feet
deep on the corner Of Sixth and
Grand avenue, and a force Of men
we're at work last night constructing a
ditch 10 carry it off.
The water last evening was about
two feet deep in Chinatown garden,
but no serious damage was done. On
Alameda Street, near First, there was
about sixteen inches OF water, and
the Electric Works had to dam up
their doorway to keep it out. 1t was
reported at one time that the canal
reservoir had given way. but this was
ascertained to be false, as also the
report that the leyee below the Downey
avenue bridge had been broken.
Considerable uneasineSs was ielt by
property owners on New High, be-
tween Temple and Second streets, on
account OF the caving OF the embank
ment on the west side of the street.
In many places the bank is fully fifty
feet high, and the rains OF yesterday
percolating into the soil caused large
pieces OF earth to break loose and
slide off into the street below.
In couple Of instances fences and
silrubbery were demolished by the
slides. A ttree-foot granite wall is in
course of construction for the purpose
Of supporting these huge banks, but
if the storm continues much damage
will be sustained.
Up to eight O'Clock last
night the signal service reported a
fail Of over two and quarter inches
All o'clock yesterday afternoon the
railroad companies had not suffered
any washouts from the heavy rain
storm. Nevertheless, the officials were
all in u very uneasy frame OF mind,
and the rain continuing during the
remainder of the night, some serious
damage was expected.
The rain caused quite bad land
slide at at Ortega Point, four miles
south of Santa Barbara, which will
detain all trains from that point for
twenty-four hours. Ii the storm con-
tinues, that point will suffer a most Sc
rious washout. AtAurant two ties had
washed out under the switch and the
water WAS rushing through the gap at
a terrible speed when the p. 81.
train passed over it. A gang was
sent out to repair the place at once.
At Carpenteria the track is covered
with water six inches deep for a dis
lance of half a mile, as is also the
condition of the road between here
and San Fernando. At 5 80 O'Clock
the officials Of the road stated that no
trains would be run out Of the city
during the night without pilot in
front OF the engine to see that the
track was clear, and that if it was
still raining at o'clock no trains
would he sent out at all.
Every precaution was taken to pre-
vent accidents. Track walkers were
stationed along the entire line and
gangs OF track repairers were kept in
readiness to respond to an order to 60
to work at any moment during the
night.
The track along Alameda street
was entirely covered with water, as
was the switch at the south end OF
the yards on Fernando street. If
trouble occurs, it will most likely be
upon that part OF the line running to
San Fernando, Santa Barbara and
Yuma.