The morning call., 1892-12-05
NOTES FROM NILES.
Damage Done by the Storm-RaiIroad
Traffic Delayed.
Correspondence of THE MORNING. CALL

Correspondence OF TIRE MORNING. CALI
The present unprecedented storm is Of
course the main theme of conversation in
all quarters. ami it is by far the heaviest
ever EXPERIENCED so early in the season.
The wind. which blew gale further out in
the valley, did no damage in or near Niles,
except to PROSTATE a few telephone poles
which had been set too shallow. Near Cen
terville fences and trees were broken and
blown down in the gale on Saturday. At
ITyington the roof of the large iron ware
house belonging to Lowry, Stellar & Vol
mer was blown of and onto q lot OF freight
cars standing near, blocking the trains for
some time.
The trains from Niles. connecting with
Livermore, have been delayed so that they
have not been on time for over a week.
No mention has been made in any papers
of disastrous eloudburst which occurred
last Tuesday, the 30h of November. on the
southern slopes OF Mount Hamilton. From
reliable Information it Is said to have ex-
tended more than twenty miles, although
the main force was directly on the slopes
Of Mount Hamilton. and the water found
no other means of escape except through
the tributaries OF our Alameda creek
swelling it so that by Wednesday evening
1t had reached the highest point known for
thirty years. sweeping away bridges and
small buildings and doing a vast amount of
damage. just above Sunol, where the
banks are low, the wafer swept ont toward
the town, carrying away half mile of the
track. The new railroad bridge just north
OF SUnoi about mile WAS also carried
away.
The scene at the Forks, the head-waters
OF the creek, is said to have been grand
beyond description. Ii is one OF the widest
and most beautiful sections OF country in
tins part OF the State, and the mighty flood
but added TO It's grandeur. a portion of the
rloudbursi fell into and over on our side Of
Mission lark, pouring in streams down the
mountain, washing away fences and fruit
trees and eaviDg in portion OF Charles
Mclyor's wiBe-celiar.
The Rrmillard brickyards. between Pleas
anton and Bivermore in the Livermore Val
ley. were completely submerged. The dam
age is estimated at 100000. The track here
was also shifted.
The creek ran over its banks in Niles.
flooding the lowest parts Of town and com
pleiely cutting off and surrounding dozen
or more houses for several hours.
Our three bridges stood the flood splen-
didly. Great trees came down and swung
under perfectly clear. AT the picnic grounds
all the lighthouses, saloon. tables, benches
and dancing platform are gone.
The Indians living over on the island"
were compelled to abandon their house, as
the water came up over the floors.
The stream came up into James Shinn's
orchards on the north bank of the creek.
filled in over the roadway several feet and
ito G. E. ChitiendeD's place, covered more
than half the California Nursery Comma
ny's grounds-700 acres-and continued one
unbroken sheet Of water for four miles or
nearly to Alvarado, the water covering in
many places mile in width. There will
be little damage, however, as the water will
not remain.
The narrOw-gauge track had over a mile
OF track carried away near Halls station, in
line with the creek. and il was carried half
mile out In field. Ii took a large force
OF. men all day Thursday to replace it, The
height OF the water at z o'clock was more
than ever known since the flood of 1862
The wash or overflow upon the flooded
lands Is as beneficial as tons of manure
There have been a great many laughablc
incidents aud narrow escapes, but Iortu.
nately no serions accidents.
The Ladies Guild held bazaar Friday
evening, December 2. in the hall. and In
spite OF the continuing storm there was a
good attendance. The booths were ex-
tremely attractive and the hall presented n
very bright appearance. The Little Work
ers' table proved the center OF attraction.
with its score or more of dolls and pretty
things made by our little workers. The
ladies think they will clear $50 The en-
tertainment was success.
The town has been full of visitors during
the past week. notwithstanding the storm.
Mrs. l.. L. THANE
Niles. Dec. 3. 1892