The herald., 1893-02-11
STARTLED FROM THEIR SLEEP,
A Midnight Alarm in the City
Of Bakersfield.
The Kern River Breaks Its Banks
and Floods the Town.
Miles of Country Inundated and Much
Damage Done Railroads and
Bridges Washed Out-Frefght
Trains Wrecked.
By the Associated Press.l

By the Associated Press.1
BAKERSFIELD, CAL, Feb. 10.-The peo-
pie OF Bakersfield were startled from
their sleep about midnight by the loud
clang Of the city fire alarm. 1t rang so
loud and long that they started from
their beds, expecting to find the town
on fire. Instead of fire they found that
water threatened it, for they were in
formed that the Kern river, which is
about mile and half from town, had
broken its banks and was rapidly ap-
preaching the city. A rush was at once
made for high ground and many sue
ceeded in getting there before the
water reached them. Others, however,
staid too long and had to be taken out
in boats. No lives were lost and little
damage was done to property.
FREIGHT TRAIN WRECKED.
The Southern Pacific railroad suffered
the most, for the water washed the
foundation out from under its track and
freight train of about 40 cars was
wrecked. The wreck will probably be
almost total loss to the Southern Pa
ciic company, as no one can get within
mile of where the wreck occurred.
The trainmen escaped by jumping and
swimming to trees.
The river is the highest it has been
since 1861. The rise came to a stand
still at 6 o'clock this morning, and has
gone down several feet, but part of the
town iH still under water.
The water spread out about two miles
wide, submerging the railroad, the
northern and western part of Bakers
field, and many farms below. 1t did
not reach the business part of town. 1t
is impossible to tell the amount of dam
age, as the country is impossible. From
appearances the river has taken its old
course that it ran before the flood of
1868.
A TRAIN UNDER WATER.
DELANo, CAL, Feb. 10.-North-bound
engine No. 1899, pulling special freight,
ran into washout four miles north of
Sumner at 3 o'clock this morning. The
engine and ak cars are under water.
The river has been rising rapidly. 3
Kern river is nearly four miles in width.
The river broke it's banks last night
about midnight and has flooded the
country for miles. The people were
taken from their houses in boats. The
extent of the damage is not vet known.
wAsHoUTs IN TULARE COUNTY.
VIsALIA, CAL, Feb. 10.-High water
today washed away several bridges
across the st. John and Kaweah rivers.
The Cain and Encina orchards are
flooded, doing great damage. The lands
of the Mineral King Fruit company,
-..,iss7 ---.i--s-s-~ town. arc COW
cred with water. Numerouu headgates
OF bitches have been washed away.
The Visalia levee is broken in several
places. but the city is safe from inunds-
tion without another rise OF water. Re-
ports from the Tule river state that all
the bridges across that stream are
washed away. Travel between this CITY
and Exeter, the east side railroad sta
tion, is closed by high water. The dam
age to the bridges above will cost the
county $4,000 to $4,000. The entire
damage to the county is probably
$50, 900.
THE STOCKTON FLOOD.
STOCKTON, Oal., Feb. 10.-The high
water is rapidly receding. The cellars
in business houses are flooded, but no
great damage has been done in the city,
THE STORM IN SAN BERNARDINo.
San bERNARDINo, Feb. 10.-The heav-
lest rsin storm of the season prevailed
here for "a hours up to O'Clock last
night, when it ceased. The rainfall was
2.l2 inches, making $50 for the season,
with three times the amount in the
mountains. The streams are running
full, but no serious damage is reported.