Los Angeles herald., 1907-03-25
LeveeS Give Way and
Islands Are
Doomed
Victims Call in Vain for
Assistance as the
Water Rises
Country Surrounding Sacramento Is
Now One Vast Sea-Live Stock
Swept from the High
est Points
BY Associated Press.

BY Associated Press.
SACRAMENTO, March 24.-Reports
from the down-river islands tonight
were not of rainbow color.
The situation was pronounced as
flowing through the streets of Isleton
and CORTLAND reported that it was
feared the Pierson district would go
before morning.
While telegraphic communication was
cut off with Freeport and Walnut
Grove it is thought matters have taken
a change for the worse all the way
from Freeport to Sherman island.
Everywhere the farmers are fighting
against the highest water ever known
and the prospect is for the complete
inundation of the island country.
George N. Peachey, the telephone
manager at Courtland, summed up the
situation tersely:
1T all looks bad.
1.-THE cross levee above Walnut Grove
has broken and the residents of the
land around reclamation district 551
are in a state bordering on panic.''
G. G. Eastman and T. j. Stephenson
came to Courtland tonight with an ur-
gent call for help. Mr.. Stephenson had
about 1900 cattle huddled on the levee
and there appeared to be no way of
saving them, so rapidly was the water
filling in the lands between Walnut
Grove and Courtland.
Case Seems Hopeless
One of the hardest fights ever made
by the people of Pierson district Is In
progress tonight, and after weary hours
of battle against great odds the most
hopeful acknowledge that the struggle
seemed hopeless, and while they by no
means give up it is the general opinion
that the district levees will go out
before morning.
A late report from Randall island
said that the levees were still holding
and 1t is believed that they were fully
under control.
From Ryer island, the levee of which
broke at IL O'Clock Saturday morning,
repeated cries for help are going up.
William Kelly sent word to Courtland
that the water was gradually creeping
up on him and that if assistance did
not come soon he and his family would
perish.
He asked for boats to remove the
family and their household effects and
an effort is being made to reach him.
The tremendous force of the flood is
best exhibited in the way in which it
tore the Ryer island levees to pieces.
They are strong as any on the river.
They have a base of from 100 to $50
feet wide and are thoroughly riprapped
against the Yolo basin, so that they
were not undermined or eaten away,
but were literally crushed by mighty
wall of water which ran three feet over
the top Of the embankments and tore
them to pieces.
Cross Levee Parts
Today the cross levee on Jackson
slough between Brannan and Andrus
islands parted and the floods from
Brannan came into Andrus with a
rush.
Practically the whole town of Isleton
is under water tonight, varying in
depth up to two feet. Between the
front levee which is still intact and the
hotel the water is eighteen inches deep
and rising rapidly.
The water Is tapping along the foun-
dations OF the hotel and it will prob
ably be flooded by morning.
Many of the Isleton residents have
deserted their homes, taking what
household goods they could carry to
the top of the levee.
Late tonight the Grand Island levees
are still holding and it is believed that
they will weather the flood. Consider
able trouble is being experienced, how
ever, at lower Grand Point, where the
water is sweeping through the levee.
A Golfer dam is being constructed in
side the levee, and this may save the
island.