Los Angeles daily herald., 1890-01-26
THE STORM.
The Streets Turned Into
Rapid Rivers.
NO RAILROAD TRAINS IN OR OUT
East Approach of the AlisO'Street
Bridge Washed 0ut-The Cable
Roads Stop Running.

The rainfall yesterday evening from
5 O'Clock until nearly 8 O'Clock was af
heavy as any that has occurred this
season, and the evening resembled some
of those in December last, when it ap'
peared az if the clouds had burst and lei
out their contents on the city. The rain
commenced early in the afternoon, but
it did not come down with any violence
until it began to grow late in the after.
noon, and then it poured as if to make
up for lost time. The ground, which
already had all the moisture it could
contain, refused TO hold any more and
the consequence was that the
streets and thoroughfares were
flooded in very short time. The streets
in the course of the Arroyo de los Reyes
as usual were in the worst condition and
for several hours they were almost i'm
paseable. Hope street was rapid river
across which it was almost impossible to
swim horse, and Grand avenue and Olive
street as far south as Pico street were
almost as bad. Not far below Pico street
the Arroyo de los Reyes debouches upon
Figueroa street and this thoroughfare
was said to have contained more water
than at any previous time. Washington
street was next in the course of the
stream and the water rushed along that
thoroughfare with the speed of a mill
race.
Early in the evening the cable road
had to suspend operations and those who
had not reached home before five O'Clock
had hard time in crossing the various
streams.
Main street. south of Ninth, was an
other river-bed, and in places the water
covered the whole street from curb to
curb. There Was 30 much water at the
Intersection of Ninth, Main and Spring
that, despite the curbs recently con-
structed, the walls of the basement of
the building in course of construction
by Mr.. Garvey csved in, and the people
living in the cottage just west of the
Garvey property moved out for fear that
the house would slide into the lake which
had formed in the excavation.
Alameda street became impassable
early in the evening, and the water at
First street was waist deep clear across
the street. The streets leading into Ala
media carried large streams, and for
time there was more water here than in
the river.
The river did not give as much trouble
as was anticipated, and at midnight last
night it did not cover the entire bed.
There was sufficient water in it, however,
to wash away part of the east approach
to the Aliso-street bridge and part of
the levee on the same side. The Street
Superintendent had force of men work
ing at the east approach to the First
street bridge. A number of men we're
stationed along the levee north Of Kuhrts
street, but the water did not get high
enough to give any cause for alarm. The
Arroyo de las Posas carried large
stream of water, and the baseball
grounds were flooded. Some of the
small bridges across the stream were
washed away, but no material damage
was done.
The streets leading from the hills en-
both sides of the river were badly
washed, and moet of the work done by
the Street Superintendent since the last
rain was undone. Second street wac
river of considerable size for several
hours, and Temple street was almost i'm
passable. at Temple and Beaudry
streets there was good-Eized food, and
the sand washed over the cable tracks in
large quantities.
The cable roads stopped running about
half-past 5 o'clock. At this time the
water commenced to pour into the power.
houses, and despite the efforts OF Colonel
J. G. Robinson and assistants, it gained
sufficient depth to stop the engines. II
the rain does not come down very heav-
ily this morning the roads will run as
usual today.
About s O'Clock telephone message
was received at Police Headquarters to
the effect that q 9-year.old boy named
Johnny Conrad, who lives with his
parents on Georgia Belle street, while
attempting to cross Hope street at Sixth
with two Juvenile companions, had beer
swept down for two blocks by the raging
current. His screams for assistance
were heard by several people who live
along the street, but the current had
carried the boy out of sight before they
had time to equip themselves before
leaving their houses, and the
probabilities are that he would
have been drowned but for tn,
prompt action Of the janitor of the Lo
Angeles College, corner of Eighth an'
Hope streets. Directly he heard TIA
boys cries he ran out OF the college an'
at great personal risk managed 10 dra
him out of the stream. He carried til
lad into the college and the police wer
notified in case his parents should inquir
for him. 1t is not known what becam
of the other two boys, but it is believes
that they escaped, from the fact that h
report of their absence from home ha
been made up to late hour last night.
Officer Mcguire, of the police force
started ont from his home on Flowe
street TO make social call, last evenin
about o'clock, and attired in hi
''Sunday best" clothes got as far 9
Hope and Sixth streets without advel
ture. While attempting to cross at tn
point, however, he was knocked dow
by the force Of the current, and aftt
being rolled over and over by the wats
managed to regain his feet after
desperate struggle, and was oblige
to return home and change, 6
his clothing was wet through. He hs
deferred his visit to his friends until th
weather becomes more settled.
Another accident was reported froi
the same point at nine O'Clock, p. n
Assistant City Attorney W. E. Dunn VI
being driven to his residence, the Hot
Ammidon; on Grand avenue, in hat
belonging to John Elmers, bat viii
attempting to ford Hope street Il
vehicle was overturned and Mr.. Dur
was ohlivad f0 wade in the water. Whit