New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-12-14
THE SACRAMENTO FALLING.
GREAT VALLEY FLOODED BY THE BREAK.
ING OF A LEVEE.
HUNDRED DWELLINGS UNDER WATER
GRAND ISLAND, THE RICHEST WHEAT
SECTION OF THE STATE, SUBMERGED
THE STORM NEARLY OVER.
.BY TELEGRAPH 10 THE TKIBUNE.I

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,Br TELEGRAPH 10 THE TKBUNE-I
San Francisco Dec. 13.-Dlspatches from Colusa and
other threatened points the sacramento River show
that that river Is gradually falling The country is
pretty well covered with water and many valuable
ranches are flooded. How great the loss cannot be
estimated until the water subsidies but II will be
several millions. The Colusa people had an anxious
night but their fears of the breaking of the levee
were ended about midnight. when lcvee lust above
the town gave way and great body Of water poured
over the rich country between Cosa and the ButteS.
In this great valley were more than 100 families but
now all that be OF their habitatiOns
Is an occasional chimney or gabled roof above the
drcaIy waste of water.
One Of the saddest cases IS that OF j. K. Tolman,
who had fino ranch about three miles below Colsa,
on this side of the river lie had scarcely recovered
from the serious flood of 1879, in which all his build
ings were swept away and his family narrowly es
caped with their lives They compelled to take
refuge In srawsack. and from the fearful exposure
his wife sickened and died. Toman, however, set to
work 10 reclaim his ranch and in ten years has built
fine house and reared Of the best orchards in the
velley.
Wednesday night he discovered that the levee that
protected him was fast growing weak, and, remember
lE2 his former terrible experience he reused his family
In the middle Of the night and drove rapidly into
Colsa. Yesterday afternoon break was discovered
near his barn. but number of willing hands sue
ceeded In stopping up the hOle and It was Thought
at the time that the work securely done. Tolman
came to town. took supper with his family, and re-
turned to keep a lonely night yigi on the levce. At
IL O'Clock he hurrying into town for help The
hank had broken and the water pouring In torrents
on his ranch. The line of patrolmen extended for
nine miles up the river and six miles below The
watchers hand when the break occurred at
Tolman's, but were poweress to check It,.
NIoultons big ranch, which lies ten miles above
COlusa. on the other side Of the river had to be
abandoned, and now lies under ten feet Of water.
p v Burlly and Bowdcn. two of MoutOn's foremen
had perous experience coming down from the
ranch They made the trip in small boat, which Vas
constantly shipping water Their lay right along
what was a country road a short time ago, Dut now
II forms part of this great whitecapped foamlng
inland
This afternoon another break was reported below
TOman's which that Grand Island, the richest
wheat section OF the valley, IS under water. 1T IS
fully 10000 acres I'm grain, aud that nothing can
save Senator Fairs big wheat ranch near Woodland
one of the effects of the flood IS on Reclamation
District No. 20, which recently divided into small
fruit farms. II IS all under water. W. s. Green, one
OF the best authorities In the valley puts the loss on
District No. 20 at 100000. Looking the river
from COSa, droveS of horses and cattle can be seen
shivering 10 their knees I'm water. while Others are
cln gng to the slippery sides of the levee The barns
and houses are all under water.
II the water rccedes rapidly as II usually does the
damage will not he great estimated, but another
rain would be disastrous. The wind Is now in the
north. and all signs point TO pleasant weather. CouSa
IS crowded with farmers who have come into town
with their families in many cases bringing live stock
and valuable household goods.