The record-union., 1891-04-12
THIRTY YEARS AGO.
First Appearance on the River of the
Steamboat Nevada.
a Flood Scare in April, 1S61-An Old
Time Fight on Second Street
Everyday Incidents.

The steamer Nevada, built to ply be-
tween this city and San Francisco, made
her first appearance here on the morning
of April 10. 1861. The Nevada was a
grand boat, and great traveller, as all
old residents know. She once made the
run from this city to San Francisco in
four hours and twenty minutes-almost
as good time as that made by the railroad
express trains. She had forty staterooms
along the main saloon, ten bridal cham
bers, and sleeping accommodations alto
gether for 160 passengers. She was 235
feet in length, thirty-six feet beam, and
ten feet six inches depth of hold. Her
draught was about five feet. Travelling
by water to San Francisco in those days
was luxury, and there are not a few of
our old and staid married people of the
present day-both men and women-who
can recall little romances in their own eX-
perience that will always endear to them
memories of the old-time steamboat days
of the Sacramento. How many hearts
We're won during those long and interest
ing Journeys up or down the river, in the
SilVerY moonlight on soft summer
nights! And, it may be added, how
many heart-ties were sundered at such
time by lovers quarrels!
ment in town on the night of April 8,
1861. Late in the afternoon the discovery
was made that the river had undermined
the embankment just south of the R.
street levee, and was rapidly cutting its
way through. Several hundred men
turned out and a temporary bulkhead of
lumber and sacks of earth was con-
structed, but about l o'clock that night
the situation again became serious, and
No. engine cOmpany'S bell was rung to
call out the citizens. The purpose was to
secure a hundred men to go to Folsom on
a special train and load cobbleS to be used
in protecting the levee. There was no
trouble in getting the required number Of
volunteers. and by half past l o'clock the
train was on its way. 1t returned in
few hours, and the work of stopping up
the hole was resumed with vigor. The
river then stood at q feet 8 inches above
low-water mark, and was overt1owing
the country at various points north and
south of the city. 1t was running over
the levee at Reeds and Conrad's ranches
on the Yolo side, and at Hacks place,
seven miles below the city on this side
The river lacked nine inches of reaching
the highest mark ever attained up to that
time.
.A couple of weeks ago the Placer
vile Democrat published letter making
the claim that J. III. Burgess, now of
kangley, Ill, and party, with their teams,
Hangtown, in 1S49, arriving there on July
2lst. There are several old '49ers about
here yet" says that paper, "one of whom,
j. @. a. Ballard, arrived here early in
August of that year. Mr.. Ballard says
that at the time Of his arrival the credit
for bringing through the first team was
given to Mr. Stuart, who arrived here in
July with an OK team, bringing with him
his wife and two daughters. At that time
q lady in the camp was a wonder, and
the fact of the arrival of Mr.. Stuart and
family was decided event in the camp,
spoken Of on every hand. In early days
1T was accepted as a fact here that MIR.
Stuart's OK team was the pioneer of the
immense caravan that soon followed, and
no other claims for priority were ac-
knowledged. Mr.. Stuart settled here
with his family, one of his daughters
afterward marrying here"
William Young kept saloon on
Sixth street, between JIand X. He had
been drinking heavily for some days, and
went over to Washington to stay a few
days with friend named Frank Brown,
a fisherman, who lived on barge. The
first night he was there his friend was
awakened by a strange noise, and found
his visitor (whO occupied the same bunk
with HIM sharpening knife. He reached
over to ascertain what was going on and
found Young to be covered with blood.
Brown grappled with him, but Young
he succeeded in gashing in horrible
manner. Brown held him as well as he
could and called for help, which soon
came, and the victim of mania q pOtL was
secured and prevented from doing fur
ther harm.
.........The junction of Second and X
streets has always been noted as scene
of violence, and quarter of a century
ago acquired the title of 1.-The Bloody Cor
ner." Shooting scrapes, suicides and
fights innumerable have taken place
there, and in early days it had well
Earned the title given it. One day thirty
years ago a bloody fight occurred there
between Wash. Montgomery and George
Lloyd. While it was in progress Lloyds
brother Ed. came up and took hand,
and between the brothers Montgomery
was downed and terribly beaten, both
men kicking him about the face until
nearly killed Officer Sam. Deal came up
In time to save his life, and arrested the
Lloyds.
.........A prominent Jewish family in San
Francisco had for servant young girl
recently from Ireland. She was devoted
to her church (the Catholic), and one day,
while the family were absent from home,
she carried her mistress baby off TO her
own church and had it baptized by the
priest. The mother got there just after
the ceremony was ended, and then a scene
occurred. The servant girl was soon seek
......... There was bill before the Legis-
lature in 1861 which provided among
other things, that no person shall publish
in any newspaper the testimony of facts,
or any statement whatever of the testi-
mOny, facts or circumstances, or anything
concerning such evidence or statement Of
facts and circumstances relating to any
crime or misdemeanor. 1t is unnecessary
TO add that the bill did not pass.
.........The Eastern press was discussing
the then latest scandal, involving Rev. /.
5. Kalloch (who was pastor of the fremont
Temple in Boston) and a young lady MEM
Der of his congregation. Kalloch was sell
dom free from some sort of trouble, and
his subsequent career, including his term
as Mayor of San Francisco, is still fresh
In the minds of the people.
......... While bathing in the surf at North
Beach, San Francisco, on the 7th Of April,
1861, James +. Cooke, the builder of the
old Forrest Theater in this city, was
crowned. He was the father of Mrs. Jas.
w. Cofiroth, and well known here.
Thirty years ago. when the Legis-
lature remained in session beyond the
constitutional limit, the members re-
Geiyel half nav