CALIFORNIAN EXTRACTS. THE FLOOD AT SACRAMENTO! IMMENSE DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY!! DESTITUTE CONDITION OF THE INHABITANTS!!! [From the "Alta California," January 19.]

New Zealander, Volume 5, Issue 418, 17 April 1850, Page 3

CALIFORNIAN EXTRACTS. THE FLOOD AT SACRAMENTO ! IMMENSE DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY!! DESTITUTE CONDITION OF THE INHABITANTS!!! [From the "Alta California," January 19.]

The deplorable catastrophe which lias befallen the thriving and populous city of Sacramento, now completely submerged by the waters of the liver of that name, can but excite our liveliest sympathies, anil we hasten to place the fullest particulars before the public in the shape of an Extra. We have been kindly furnished by a friend with a most graphic tiec<uiit ot the flood, containing the most interesting paiiiculars. We are compelled to take many libei ties with the eaily portion of his description! in order to place the nioie importont parts before the public at the euiliest possible moment. Sacramento City, Jan. 10, 1850, This will be a day never to be forgotten by the residents of Sacramento City as a day that awoke their fears for the safety of their city against the dungersof a Hood long since prophesied. ***** :|: I was awakened early on the followin/r morning (the 11th) by the shouting and noise fiom without ; 1 rose and dressed, and went out upon the verandah of the Sutter Hoube, (where I had taken a room) and here I had a clear view of the dangers to be apprehended. Before me, along the entire length of the levee, I saw with certainty the beginning of a flood. Loug before noon Imudredi of boats were crossing every street, far and near, and beaiing to the several vessels that lay at the river's bank, women and children, the sick and the feeble; and as they nrrived the owners of the vessels were ready to offer tuem prompt aid and every comfort in their powes ; and when they were safely landed upon the decks, the shout of joy went up to heaven in loud cheers Irom those who landed them, for their safety, and these shouts were echoed back by the hundreds of voices thut were in the surrounding boats, and within hearing of the response. During the entire duy and until night, this work of humanity nnd mercy vvent on. The loss of property must be very great— it must be over a million of dollars. As night approached and the waters continued to increase, great fears were entertained for the buildings

tint were considered sale until now, for the vast body of water that continued to lush on the levee in front of the, -city wus evidence that but a few could expect to be above the reach of water in the morning. Measures weic now t.iken to prepare several places were food and lodging could be had, by raising new floors some two or three feet above the former oucs ; but this could only be done in a few houses, so many being under water and all cooking apparatus belonging to the ninny eating houses being completely subineiged. Besides this the several " Bakeries,'' were so deluged tliat no bread could be had other than hard bread. Thesis places for le/reshraent were quickly arranged so that the many hundreds that were driven from their homes and could not be accommodated on board the shipping should find food and shelter until they could icave the city or find houses in some place until the waters should subside. This night (Friday) was one of great anxiety and watchfulness to many ; but when morning dasvned hopes were entertained that the waters had reached their " ultimatum/ for they had advanced but little during the night ; this was owing more particularly to the va tback country which gave the rising flood outlet. Irevioußly the obstiuotion in and around the cily in am 3asure prevented its outlet ; now the water lnd risi n ab we these obstacles and was spreading far and wiic ov-t the vast plains beyond the city. Far us the eye could reach the scene hud now become one of wild and feazful import — floating lumber, bales and case* of goods, boxes and barrels, tents and small hou CS were floating in every diicction. The poor and suffering Leasts were in a pitable condition, aid called forth the sympathy of all, and what could be was done to save them. Ilundieds of horses, mules, and oxen were wandering 1 about seeking places of security and food. Many, very many, must have perished. Some gained places of safety by swimming a mile or more to the high blutl, back of the city. It was indeed sad to hear their low and plaintivo bellow* ing, as it told of their approaching death by cold and starvation ; some were fed by the warm-hearted and humane as they came near to the dwelling, asking by their looks for food. During all this day (Saturday) there came from time to time new evidences ot impending nun. The rush of the liver became more and more rapid, althoutb the rise of its waters seemed to stop for a while. But the current of rushing waters ran so strong thiough the various streets, particularly those opposite the Jevcp, viz., J, X, JL, and M streets, theEe being the mam business streeti ; and also the cross streets, by the watets fiom the Slough above, that Piont, Ist, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th streets, became like rapid rivers— so much so thut it was almost impossible for the boatmen to stem the tide, and many upset in trying to navigate these streets ; the waters were now so high tliioughoul the entre. city that all business was carried on by the boats. The result of these vapid currents within these streets, was to undermine the buildings that were consideied substantial and safe from danger- As an evidence of the power of the current, the new and valuable buck building at the corner of J and 3rd street, built at great cost by the Messrs. Meiritt, having walls nearly or quite eighteen inchei in thickness, was undermined, and tell with a heavy ci'abh, carrying with it the next store, Messrs. Massett and lirc-wster's, with which it fell into the flood a mass of ruin. The large iron store on X street, was lifted from its position, carried into the Btreet and then overthrown, and vaiious others shared the same fate. Some were lifted and were seen moving on in the rapid current soon to become u mass of ruins. Few, very few house, i*- i? to be feared, will be able to bland these cuncuts long — none can do so, unlcsß they are secured by pertnnnent foundations and securely fastened. Among those that I visited in passing through the city, as the sun went down, that had a fair prospect ol security, were Messrs. Smith, Bensley, and Co., in J street — this fine building wa6 still many inches above the flood, on tho lower floor, and gave evidence of having been built with much securityi strength, and farsight. Messrs. Geiston and Co., also, on the corner of J and Third street, a fine and large warehouse, wjs apparently very firm, though not so high above the ground as the last, the water being several inches upon the lower floor, yet this splendid warehouse was liuilt six feet above the ordinary level of the street— this will give some faint idea of the great rise of water in this vicinity. The City Hotel, where so many of our friends have enjoyed the excellent fare that was always piovided by the proprietors, was so completely submerged as to compel the boarders to enter the boats, at the second story, the first being completely under water. The only hotel now left where the many can be attended to, is the new hotel, called the Sutter House, built by S. Brennan, Esq., owned by Messrs. Dewy and Smith, and very recently opened by Mr. Jackson. This hotel is now only ju->t above water, the flood being level with the floois. When this is flooded, theic will be uo public hotel left in the city, although there are still a very few eating and lodging rooms, struggling manfully against the threatening flood ; among these should be named the Sierra Novadii, kept by Mr. M'Knighr, a most enterprising man, and who waB driven (torn his former house to Ins present position by the sudden flood ; he is now located near the Sutler House. **#* + •* Tne tcene presented to view from the main-top was w'ld in the extreme— a vast lake of waters, llcie and there only the tops of a tree, or the clumps ot trees, were visible beyond the city for miles in extent, even to Suttcr'b Foil— nought but the lush of watero. Two high blurts were indeed seen above the water, fai to (he right of the Foit ; and here was presented a most thrilling sight. The highest point of the bluff was crowned with tents, and from thcucc, down to the water's edge, was seen a dense mass of men, horses, and cattle, promiscuously mixed, all seeking safety by a rapid flight from the flood to these mountuins of hope. The Sacramento this morning was still more rapid, and the floating wrecks that swept by only portended greater ruin still. The rush of passengeis to the noble steamer Senator, as the morning opened, also told that there weie many who were compelled to n'nd a home elsewhere, and others, who flod from these scenes of danger and suffering. As we came down, we could see all nlong tho banks for twenty miks, cluttering groups of cattle and dcci, ffatherintf upon the highest points of land, hoping to Escape the almost certain death that awaited them. Here too, were seen houses and tents, floating amid the ticca and drift, deserted by their occupants. As near as can be estimated the rise of waters ii six feet within the city, and the river has risen from twenty. five to thirty feet The losi of property v, very great, taking the all of many. Several merchants are very heavy sufferers, loosing in meichandihe and build ings and loss of business from ten to thirty thousaud dollars each. A vis. to a private letter, just received, giving a leas gloomy account of the flood, written at 12 p.m., on the 12th inst., says :—": — " The lower floor of the Sutter Hotel is still above water — board eight dollars per day. Boatmen charging from ten dollars to fifteen dollars an hum." *

Sacmmen'o City, Jan. ?<J, itfJO. After the recent ovei flow of oiu riiy of coins* 1 our business rommunity are in doubt how to {..oru'd, ;o much uncertainty being felt nfe to vlicl'lnii \m- y\},\][ have another rising of tlie waten. The tiru v con. tinued gradually to lecede after the first gio-.t demonstration, until yesteiday, when it tacked ship, anu stood in up to this morning, bince which lime it lias a«nm receded a few inches. There is plenty of ener»v and enteiprise in Sacramento (Jiiy to launch into business ot once, as soon tv this qu^otion \i settled. The river would unquestionably fall rapidly il u? could have a few days of noitheily wind L <wl a little cooler atmosphere: The prevailing wind is from the southeast, accompanied, about half the time, with rain. A gentleman ftom Georgetown (situate on high ground, in the vicinity of the south fork of the Ameiicau River) informs me Unit when he Jeft thcie, on Monday last, there waß ft foot of sno>\ on ihs giound. J have heaid from others that there is a lai^* amount of suo* yet on the mountains. This chcuiusUnice may ypt cause us moie trouble. From the mines, in various sections, the intelligence is favourable, ami since the frcoliet here, many huvc gone directly to the digging. On the Yuln, particularly, miners are said to be doing aa \iell, in projiortion to the time they work, as tliny did lust fall, and every one knows that that stream bus always been noted for its great yield. Many intt'llifrprit minci-. are of opinion that the recent heavy rains luu' formed many more bars. Tins mfuemo sivnis !o !>e hardly fjuestioned by any one. Pining the past week, many people here in the absence of oilier business, httve amused theinsdves by seaiohiin: in the dirt, and some have really done tha thin^ up to advantage. Lumps, weighing as higli as half an ounce, hav.j b^eu picked vp. One man ib said to have collected 30 dollars in a single day, Yesterday, as hvo men weie taking a rorji 1 ? from one of our hospitals to the bur/in" giound, at thu Fort, in a boat, one of the men w is dumned in one of the upper sloughs. The bout was leaky, mid when nearly full of water, the unfortunate man jumped from her with the intention of Mvimnnng to the diy land, m which utlempt, from home unknown lircumstance, he failed, lie wus a unlive of Belgium. The El Dorado bi ought up a largo number of passengers to-day— near or quite a hundred — most of whom Boomed to be bouui tor the mmp Q . Yours, Sec, J.G.

Suicrnr,. — A man named George Davis committed suicide ou Friday last, in his room at Brown's hotel m this city, by swallowing a quamitv of laudanum. He, was found m his bed insensible, with the \n\\ containing Hie laudanum near linn- A lutrer, directed "To the finder of my corpse," was lymjj, on a tt'olc in tho room. Its contents were as follows : — " I have coin. mittcd this awful act rather than dv* a lingering death by starvation. Please £Pt this given io Captain Webster, on board the Ent;lu>li schoouex Pci/i, now lying at Clarkes Point, and lie will, I tmst, convoy to my father (Mr. Georgd Davis, woolstapier, Beuuondt 6cy, London) the tidings ot his •on'a futc. I U.iv« striven h«rd— God know; how hat %% — to get an hon^s living, and cant, so have only to die.-~G, D. & Co."

Mutiny — Four men, named Philander Rice, Chas • Golderinan, Thomas Varuey, and William Lamprey, were arrested yesteiday by the Sheriff, by order o* Judge (\liuond, charged with mutiny on board the shfp Robert Pulsford, Captain C'ooKi of Uoiton, while 0,1 her voyage to this po.t. They vr-sie !.old to a Uu nir,

Alcalde's Court. — Before his Honor Judge Geary . Sentence! : The following named persons were brought before his Honor yesterday for sentence -viz., John Hutchins, a sailor, was fined ten dollars (or bein» drunk and disorderly ; 11. Sanburn,, tor firing a pistol in the streets, fined fifteen dollais; Jessie Veto, sicne offence, twenty dollars. G. Honon, Thomas Alderson, John Bailey, and John M'Cauley, tor bei'ig duink, were reprimanded and discharged.

Selling Females at Auction*.— We Icain dam very good authoiity, that the captnin of u vessel iccently arrived here fiom Sydney, New South Wai;:", having three females on boaid, who, being unable to pay their passage from thence to San Fiancisco, wem taken on shoie near Clarkes Pomt, where, shortly after being landed, they were put up at auction, <mil sold to the highest bidder, to serve at hbom- for five months. Fifteen dollais each was n'lvcn by puichaaors to the captain, who waa well satisfied tho sale— « We should hke to know by what au'.hoiity the rale wts made.

Absconded.— lt is deeply to our regret that wo learn the trulh of ihcrepoit that Russell 6t Mycia, late proprietors of the Ward House, li'ivu taken Uj> their line of march for parts unknown, win re the climate may prove more colonial '« thcii lie.uih. The on- (lit is, that they look the "sabine chute" t<> scl his Majesty the Hawaiian King, and ihat they aw defaulters to a considerable amount) ha\c stuck many parties in this place for quite heavy sums of money, besides leaving muny liabilities of the c3Uhhihix.cn (. What gives the matter a still moic icpulsive appearance is the fuct that Myers, who was kno«yn a; Colonel Myers, appropriated to his own u&s npwaidsof a thousand dollars belonging to the fund for the lelief of tho indigent nick and poor of San Francisco, which wa? placed in Ins hnnda as treasurer of the aMioeia'ion. A , we understand it, it wus not through iiuuivei tenre th.it this was used, for application was made to him Jo pay it over, some time before his dcp.uturc, when he .issnroil the parties it was all right and held .sacred. The man who has assumed &uch a benevolent tone as Mym in the matter, and hai played the " Oily Gammon" so thoroughly, would, i\s the saying is, "tli^up the Unit of his grandfather, and sell them lo the button-maker." It is nothing more nor less than a coolblood^d robbery of the sick and indigent, lo whom Bymp»thiaitif> humanity had extended a charitable hand. A. rotund of 451000 has been offered by tlie oflkeis o( the Reln-t Association to uny pcison who shall bring him wit)n<i the jurisdiction of the coutts of San Fiaiiciseo. 'We have little hopes that this measure will tuccedi, as larger rewards have utterly failed to stimulate our police to any very particulur exertion m scnchm;> after criminals ; and no other c'nss of the (ominnntiy can be expected to take such an iutciost \n (lie m.ilt( J i" as the regulurly constituted officers of justice, Nous yen ons.

A young man, who has visited San Francisco, wnttiflg to a friend here, Bays that it is no uncommon tli ng to see dead bodies laying in the same spot (or ibiyt, together, — individuals scarcely sparing time neressjuy for the interment of a friend. The Americans have liezcrl upon this neglect of the dead as a meaiib in benefit the living ; and the writer says, " they me importing from America coflins, in nests." In some pai ti at the Happy Valley, holes, a few feet deep, attract attention. At one end ol each excavation, a post •jupnoits ii buaidi wherein (a inscribed, " This grave for balo." Two men working together, and one being tnk'Jti ill, the otht'r w.is overheard to remuik, " 1 say, il you're going to the, you had bettui dij yoiu grave m-.il"