The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-01-21
[Speoial Dispatch 10 The CALI

n ACRAMENTO. Jan 2O.-The Sacra-
mento valley was swept its full
- length and breadth tonight by a
wind and rain storm which would
do credit to a Texas northwester. For
three or four hours it continued with
terrific force. laying low telegraph and
telephone wires, churning the overflow
into a fury and unquestionably doing
great damage both above and below
this city. the extent of which can not
be told tonight because Of demoralized
telegraph and telephone conditions
Up the valley this evening. before the
heaviest Of the storm broke, the rain
had already been heavy enough to cause
the rivers to rise again. and tonight the
Feather. Yuba. American and the upper
Sacramento are rising rapidly.
Flood Waters Receding
What erect the great volume of
water VIII have on the receding flood
IS problematicaL The Sacramento at
this point IS falling tonight and is now
three and a half feet below the mark
set Sunday night. It is not believed
enough water has fallen throughout the
valley to cause the river to rise to this
high point again.
Below this city the river is dropping
rapidly. and reports brought by steamer
. from Rio Vista, Walnut Grove and
Isleton this evening are to the effect
that the levees are holding. The people
OF the island district were afraid of a
heavy wind, however. and it is impos-
sible to tell what is taking place in
that district tonight
Island LeVees in Danger
When the steamer Empress left Isle
ton at 3 o'clock this afternoon four
boats were in readiness to carry gangs
OF men to any section of the island dis
trict as soon as needed. but with the
terrific wind Of tonight it is not be-
lieved men could do much to hold the
water once it got over the levees. 1t
seemed TO be the general opinion in
the island district that Tyler, Brannan
and Reyer islands We're in the worst
condition. although the levees on
them were holding when the steamers
left this afternoon.
Breaks in the levees above and be-
low this city during the high water of
few days ago caused the Yolo basin
aud several smaller reclamation dis
tricts west Of the Sacramento river to
du, and tonight there is one vast sea
from Rio Vista almost to colusa-
Railroad Gang Recalled
The heavy wind churned this water
snto great waves. and many reports
have been received here of further
breaks in the Ievees on the west side
Of the river.
The Southern Pacific work trains,
with gangs Of men repairing the great
1vashout near Webster. were called in
this afternoon when the wind came UP,
for fear the waves would wash the
,vorkmen and possibly some Of the cars
away.
1t is believed that a much larger
stretch Of track viii be missing in the
morning when the train goes back.
The track has been under water for
four or i've miles and has been broken
I'D a number of places.
Six Persons in River
Probably 500 yards OF track. ali
told. is gone. No estimate wiz be made
F.. by the Southern Pacific officials as to
when trains VIII be running over this
line which is the direct route 10 San
.. Francisco. Trains viii be operated
the temporary bridge at Elvas tomor-
row, the officials say.
Along the Yolo side Of the river. near
this city "A number Of houseboats were
overturned by the wind tonight. In
one A. d. Somer. his wife and four
children were caught, but they were
rescued by Sergeant Rible and Patrol
man Shields.
Most of the river steamers coming
up this evening tied up during the
orm and came into this city late
after the heavy wind had passed.
Venice Island Fears Flood
ISpecial Dispatch 10 The Call
STOCKTON, Jan. 2o.--At 4 o'clock
a scr,o~roxv afternoon Venice island will