Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-12-14
EFFECTS OF THE FRESHET.
A VISIT TO THE DISASTROUS BREAK
AT PAYNE's RANCH.
Live Stock Swept Away-Brave Boat
men Save Three Lives-Mr. Mar
dison's Heavy Losses.

Bumed thelr normal condluon once more.
The river continued TO fall yesterday,
and at midnight last night had re-
ceded from % feet II inches-.he highest
mark reached-to "a feet 8 inches. Before
the breaks occurred in the Yolo leyee be-
low the town of Washington the stream
had rolled along in rather sluggish man
ner, but yesterday it YVES rushing past the
city like q miil-race. Probably not less
than 5000 people from this city crossed the
Yoio bridge yesterday and walked down
the levee 10 the scene of the first break in
the leyee. The reason the tourists did not
20 down to the other breaks will be ap-
parent to all who reach that point
Among those who visited the break was
a RECORD. UNION reporter. The view from
the north end of the broken leyee is grand,
even though it tells of the
WRECKS OF HOMES
That were. The cut is about 800 feet wide,
through which the river rushes with q
lold roar and terrific force. About fifty
yards from the line OF the levee the water,
in its downward rush through the opening
strikes the ground sid rolls upward and
backward. ike the breakers on an ocean
beach, and seething onward over what was
but couple of days ago a well-appointed
farm, out into the willow and tule wastes
beyond.
On the ievee was piled the furniture and
household effects of Henry Payne, whose
residence stood at the cad Of the break,
with the water creeping up around ii and
the adjoining buildings.
,tp pAvNErs rossrs
The reporter met Mr.. Payne on the levee
removing some of his property to place Of
safety, and inquired Of him as to his actual
losses, irrespective Of the damage that would
result to his farm.
well, 1 can hardly tell, - be replied. Il
had sixty-three hogs on the place, and all l
can see left are three or four. The rest were
swept out with the food, and of course are
lost. Besides these I lost nine head of
horses and cows. Some of them may have
been carried out into the fields, where they
may strike ground, but don't look for it.
Men are out in boats looking for them, but
the stock is probably all lest"
About $50 yards from the levee, in the
middle of the seething, roaring waters,
stood a couple Of trees, in which Mr..
Payne's chickens had taken refuge when
the chicken-house went TO pieces. Above
and around then 1osted several hawks, and
the doom of the fowls was apparent.
AN ACT OF HERoIsM.
It seems that the Payne ranch was en-
tirely without means of escape for its peo-
pie except by the levee. There was no
boat on the place, and when, on Thursday
night, the hop house in which four Chi
ness had taken refuge went out with the
food, there was no way in which to aid
them. One escaped TO the bank, but the
other three we're carried away and would
have been drowned had they not clambered
into a tree against which the building
struck before going TO pieces.
Word was sent 10 Washington and
Homer Todhunter procured a boat for
James Weir, William Harness and Frank
Fay, who CALAMITY risked their lives to
save those of the Cinnamon. The intrepid
boatmen braved the currents and debris of
the swollen river and went down to near
the break, through which Of course no craft
could successfully go. So the boat was
taken over the levee, placed in the back
water, aud the men then pulled out to
where the imperilled Chinese were perched
in the tree, directed in the darkness by
their cries for help. They were wet and
nearly dead from cold when rescued.
This was only one OF many acts of hero
ism for which the young men Of Washing
ton have been noted, and for which they
are entitled TO great credit.
MARDIsoN's RUINED HOME.
Just below the Payne residence, and
right in the track of the invading waters,
stood the comfortable home of H. S. Mar
Olson. There is nothing now left to mark
where it stood, the yellow, roaring tide
plunging over the site many feet in depth.
On Wednesday Mrs. Mardison was con-
fined, and her husband pTudenly removed
his family to a neighbours house. 1t was
well he did, for the embsnkment in front
of his place gave way on Thursday after
noon and the river threw its force against
the house, crushing it TO pieces and scatter
ing all its effects through the tule Wilds.
Everything was swept out, including nine
horses, some Of which belonged to Mr.
Mardison and others to people in this city
who had them on pasture.
The other places along the levee between
this city and the break-those of Thomas
Snyder, Curtis and others-were safe, and
in danger only of being flooded by the
back-water. But this process will be so
slow that they will have ample opportu-
nifty to save their movable property.
BACK OF WASHINGTON.
In the fields between Washington and
the Bryte ranch the Messrs. Todhunter had
many head of horses and cattle, which
they were yesterday engaged in removing
to high ground. The water had come in
from breaks many miles above, and is
quite deep. The men would capture few
head of stock and lead them behind boats,
while other boatmen would drive the rest
behind them. Mr.. Homer Todhunter said
they did not expect to lose single head.
CAUTION TO VISITORS.
As thousands of people will visit the
break within the next few days, we desire
to caution all against approaching too close
TO the edge of the broken leyee. The water
is constantly undermining it, and every
few minutes large sections drop off into the
seething torrent.
Yesterday afternoon piece of the levet
fell in, taking with it a man and boy. By
prompt exertion on the part of person;
present their lives were saved, but with
great difficulty. Parents should be careful
about allowing their children to visit thu
break, and no one should approach within
thirty feet of the edge.
BAcKwATER IN YoLo.
The back-water is rapidly creeping il
upon the town of Washington, and is ais,
encroaching rapidly upon the track of tn
railroad leading TO Dayisville At midnigh
last night locomotive carrying severa
railroad officials went out as far as Webste
Sldllbl ~ SAeiAA4AhS thS SSAOttAoA4 VI eAA-4ssl
There is some fear that the water may go s.
high as to cause trouble for trains.
cHIco's LOST BRIDGE.
About s o'clock yesterday morning
large section of the Chico free bridge
which was swept away on Thursday
reached this city and lodged against one @
the cut-waters of the Yolo bridge. Home
Todhunter, assisted by other Washington
ans, went out and dislodged the moDste
and it went its way down the river.
WAS THE OWNER LOST?
Yesterday one of the steamers on tn
river picked up hunters boat containin