Plumas
“Beginning on Christmas Eve, 1861, and continuing into early 1862, an extreme series of storms lasting 45 days struck California. The storms caused severe flooding, turning the Sacramento Valley into an inland sea, forcing the State Capital to be moved from Sacramento to San Francisco for a time, and requiring Governor Leland Stanford to take a rowboat to his inauguration. William Brewer, author of Up and Down California in 1860-1864 wrote on January 19, 1862, ‘The great central valley of the state is under water — the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys — a region 250 to 300 miles long and an average of at least twenty miles wide, or probably three to three and a half millions of acres!’
‘In southern California lakes were formed in the Mojave Desert and the Los Angeles Basin. The Santa Ana River tripled its highest-ever estimated discharge, cutting arroyos into the southern California landscape and obliterating the ironically named Agua Mansa (Smooth Water), then the largest community between New Mexico and Los Angeles. The storms wiped out nearly a third of the taxable land in California, leaving the State bankrupt.
“The 1861-62 series of storms were probably the largest and longest California storms on record. However, geological evidence suggests that earlier, prehistoric floods were likely even bigger. There is no scientific evidence to suggest that such extreme storms could not happen again. However, despite the historical and prehistorical evidence for extreme winter storms on the West Coast, the potential for these extreme events has not attracted public concern, as have hurricanes. The storms of 1861-62 happened long before living memory, and the hazards associated with such extreme winter storms have not tested modern infrastructure nor the preparedness of the emergency management community.”
Yuba City, opposite Marysville, was all submerged with the exception of the two knolls upon which stand the residences of G. M. Hapson, Indian Agent, and ex-Sheriff Kennard. It is thought that the new Sutter county court house at that place must fall, the walls being pushed out of line about a foot by the settling of the building. A large ranch belonging to the California Stage Company is located on the road to Marysville, four miles beyond Nicolaus. Not a single animal was lost from it. The Marysville Appeal of yesterday, has the following particulars in regard to the losses by the flood at various localities north of that city.
The following detailed account of the condition of affairs at Marysville is from the Appeal:
Marysville is now slowly emerging from a flood, more disastrous and extensive in character than any which has been known since the place was settled by white people. On Saturday, the rivers were slowly rising, but not rapidly enough to justify the opinion that there would be much of a flood, but by Sunday morning at daylight it was found that the Yuba had backed up into the slough to such an extent that all the lower part of the town below E street was in danger, and the flats were fast filling up with water. The rain continued to fall in torrents during all of Sunday, and by night one sheet of water was stretched from the slough above Third street to the Yuba, making islands of most of the buildings below E street, on both sides of the slough, below Fourth street. All night long of Sunday the rain fell in sheets, and the wind blew furiously, adding to the terrors of those who watched through the night.
About daylight on Monday marning the outer side wall of J. L. Eaton's store, on the Plaza, fell with a tremendous crash, the foundation having been completely undermined by the water, which had now risen to such an extent as to cover the whole of that part of the city, except where the street was higher than the adjacent lots. Mr. Eaton's family reside in the upper part of the store, and they were hurried out at once, in their night clothes, and taken to the Merchants' Hotel, around the corner, on First street, and in about ten minutes after, to the horror of every one, the floors of that building gave way, and a great portion of the interior of the hotel was precipitated in a ruin, the whole of the cellar supports being suddenly cut out by an immense body of water which rushed in. The alarm which prevailed was frightful in the extreme, for at that early hour but few were up in the house, and the inmates, among whom were many families, were still abed, and came rushing out in their night clothes, and barefoot, in the rain and water. To add to the terrors of the hour, other brick buildings began to crash, a large brick store house in the rear of the Merchants' falling with a tremendous noise. Then the interiors of all the stores on the upper side of First street, around the corner to Lennox & Elwell's on the Plaza, fell one after another. The fire alarm bell now rang, and numerous citizens went to the rescue with teams and skiffs, and began taking people and goods to places of safety.
Rev. D. Deal, of the Methodist Church, living near the slough, was awake all of Sunday night, and before the Merchants' Hotel fell, heard cries of distress from the west side of the slough, and, ringing the bell of the church, brought boats to the rescue, and some families were taken from the roofs or upper stories of their houses, half under water, and when morning dawned the entire flat which lies below Sixth street, on the west side of the slough, was one sheet of water, numerous small houses floating around, horses, cows and hogs swimming for dear life, and roofs covered with affrighted pigeons and poultry.
All that portion of town bordering on the slough which makes into the Yuba above A street was afloat by daylight, and as the water rapidly rose during the forenoon, house after house was submerged, many of the smaller ones going off with the rapid tide, which set toward the Yuba. Dr. Teegarden's family were early driven out, and sought refuge in the residence of A. D. Starr, near by, but were soon after driven to the upper floors, the water rising to a hight of four feet in the parlor story. Starr's mill, near by, was also under water to a disastrous extent, his brick storehouse being nearly filled with water. Covillaud's and Hoffstader's ranches, up the Yuba, were early under water, the families being compelled to seek refuge in the upper stories, whence they were rescued by the steamer Defiance, which went around the Yuba bridge and took off the people in distress, who were destitute of the means of escape. Hoffstader lost all of his dairy cows, some seventy-five in number, all of them valuable American stock, which, with the damage to the property, stacks of hay, etc., floated off, will amount to a loss of $10,000.
The rapidity of the rise of the water was unprecedented, as when it began to break over the high ground next the river the rush was tremendous, but by noon the flood had reached the highest point, and news came in that a subsidence of two inches. had been noted in the upper part of the town. At that time the only portions of the town not submerged were as follows: Oa the Yuba water front, from the corner of High street to the foot of A street; on R street to Eighth, on Eighth street from C to A street, and on A street to Seventh. The entire lower part of A street from Seventh down to Second, was under water, and all of the cross streets over to C street, except here and there in spots which were higher than others; and nearly all of the part of the town east of C street was navigable with boats. Southward, the whole plain toward Eliza was one sheet of water, dotted with trees, roofs of houses, floating animals and wrecks of property of every description. The Yuba bridge, being supported at either end by high embankments, stood unshaken, but the water was up to its sills, and the steamer Defiance was able to navigate around its outer end, with ten or twelve feet of water over the turnpike. Westward, one vast water level stretched to Yuba City where a kindred inundation was raging--the entire town site being under water. Northward the plains were cut up into broad streams of running water, which were swiftly coursing toward the great sheet of water stretching between Yuba and Feather rivers, up as far as the residence of Judge Bliss, unbroken except by the upper stories of houses, trees and floating debris.
Any estimate of the total amount of losses must be necessarily vague, and not to be depended upon. We shall not, therefore, attempt even a rough estimate at present, though it must amount to several hnndred thousand dollars. Besides the losses on the Covillaud and Hoffstader ranches, above noted, there was a large amount of stock, mostly horses, lost from the Quintay ranch, many being valuable animals, belonging to parties in town. From the sheep ranch of Glazier Brothers & Co., a large number of sheep were lost, valued at ten or twelve thousand dollars, and a large lot of cattle belonging to Glazier & Thompson were supposed to be lost from a ranch in Sutter county. The heaviest losses in town were, of course, the losses to the dealers on the Plaza and First street, near the Merchants' Hotel. R. E. Brewster, L. H. Babb, Lennox & Elwell, J. L. Eaton, and others, are heavy losers, their goods being precipitated in broken piles into the cellars, filled with water. The losses of boarders and the lessees of the Merchants' Hotel are also considerable, valuable furniture, pianos, clothing, cash and small valuables being involved in an inextricable wreck, smashed and wet; though, by great exertions, many articles were saved. The loss falls very heavily upon small property holders in the northern end of town, where many small houses were torn by the strong current from their foundation and carried off beyond recovery, their unfortunate owners literally houseless and homeless, barely escaping, in some instances, with their lives. On Third street, below D, Hudson, Willey & Caine had a great quantity of lumber, which was floated off, though some of it was saved by being boomed between the houses at the end of Second street. Williams Co.'s flouring mills were filled with water up to three or four inches on the main floor, where all the flour was stored, and the loss to gardens, fences, out-houses and small sheds is scarcely calculable now.
Over the valley south of Marysville, which is lower land than north of the city, the flood extends for several miles, till it meets the first swell of the foothills, where it takes off in numerous sloughs, most of which impassable to teams and horsemen, some being raging torrents. This part of the valley was submerged very suddenly, and to a greater depth than has been known since 1853. All of the bottom land farms are flooded, and many were stripped of all the stock upon them. Forty horses were swept from Hedges' ranch, besides a large number of cattle and hogs. Hedges' house stands on a high knoll, which is now an island, the water filling the cellar. Numbers of hogs were drowned on Low's ranch. Where Feather river sweeps past Eliza, stock of every kind could be seen yesterday constantly passing down stream, some alive and strugglmg, and bellowing or squealing for life. The flood was also very destructive to game. Hare and rabbits have been destroyed by thousands. The hands on the stearner Defiance caught about a dozen large hare floating down stream on brush, hay and timber; and others were noticed perched on tree-tops, alone in a waste of waters. Several hogs were also caught for the steamer's table. The river was yellow with pumpkins and squashes occasionally. Large quantities of these vegetables had been left in the fields ungathered. Portions of corn and potato crops, also left ungathered, were of course utterly destroyed. At Simpson's, three miles up the Yuba from town, the old bridge was carried away; but the new structure, recently built, was still standing yesterday afternoon, its sills about three feet above the water. It is seven hundred feet long, and the sills are secured by iron bolts to piles driven twenty feet into the river's bed. Mrs. Simpson's house stands on a high knoll, unaffected by the water, which sweeps along at this point in a current of fearful strength. Her poultry house and poultry, with some fencing, were swept off, and. some damage done to grain on storage in an outhouse. Turner's bridge, just above Simpson's, is reported to have been destroyed, and probably has been. The ferry boat at Simpson's was saved.
Passengers who came from Lincoln by stage, on Sunday morning, found Bear river so well up that one end of the bridge at Campbell's was partly afloat. The driver hesitated to go on, but the passengers insisted, and he reluctantly pushed ahead. Dry Creek was forded without difficulty, though pretty full, but, arrived at Eliza, just at evening, after a slow and laborious drive, our irrepressible travelers found a wide waste of turbid and swift water before them. They went on afoot four or five miles to Simpeon's, hoping to cross to the city in a skiff, but the passage was too hazardous to be attempted, though earlier in the day the passengers and express matters by a previous stage had been boated across. Yesterday afternoon the steamer Defiance picked up the water bound travelers at Eliza, besides rescuing others along the banks. In going to Eliza, which is about six miles below town and the mouth of the Yuba, the Defiance did not follow the main channel of either stream but steamed straight across the submerged prairie, over fences, fields, telegraph wires, and perhaps houses. Within a mile of town the telegraph poles remained standing in calm water, their tops visible for a short distance only. From the deck of the steamer the city looked as though it stood in the centre of a vast lake.
Many persons living on the bottoms south of town narrowly escaped with their lives. Two Mexicans saved themselves by climbing a tree, where they remained several hours until rescued by a boat frem Low's ranch. The family of Hooper, above Simpson's, was rescued by a boat sent from the latter piece. Small boats could pass from Low's ranch to the city yesterday, the current not being very strong; but further up the Yuba, the flood could not be navigated without great risk, and boatmen refused to carry passengers at all, only going out to save endangered human lives. The country to the southward, as far as the eye can reach, presents a very melancholy spectacle, being one waste of muddy water, on which are floating houses, fences, lumber, hay, straw, and the dead and living bodies of hogs, cattle, and horses. The Yuba is said to be sixteen feet above its usual level, and the suddenness of its rise is unprecedented, and surprised everybody living in the bottoms, who else might have prevented considerable less of property. The low land, sloughs, and creeks, between the Yuba and Bear rivers, are now quite impassable, and the Bear river bridge at Campbell's has doubtless been washed away. The stages and stage horses that were unable to reach the city from that direction on Saturday and Sunday, have been taken to the Yuba ranch, near the foot hills.
There are a great many stories current of deaths from drowning and falling walls, but we can hear of only two upon which any reliance can be placed, strange as it may appear, when we remember the crowded hotel in which the floors fell without a moment's warning. A man, coming into the city on horseback, Sunday afternoon, was drowned near the Quintay ranch, and a woman was carried off in a small wooden house from the flat beyond the slough while a boat which had rescued her children was gone to town with them. The house went down the current so rapidly that it could not be seen when the boat had returned to the spot where it stood. The frequent sight of houses floating ark-like along the swift current was novel indeed, some of them being upright, some bottom up and some floating along lopsided. One house, full of furniture, lodged near Fourth street in a tree, and the furniture was saved by boatmen. The foot bridge across the slough at the head of E street, was floated off early in the day and went up country for a mile or two on the rising tide, but came back en the ebb. Many narrow escapes occurred at the Merchants' Hotel, when the floors caved in; one lady fell through in her night dress, but was rescued without any serious injury. A gentleman lodging in the second story, next door, fell through to the basement, where he was held across the floor joists by his arms, the falling bricks rattling about him. Two other gentlemen, Dr. W. P. Rice and Lambert, fell from the third story of the hotel to the basement, being bruised badly, but broke no bones. One old gentleman, whose retreat from his bedchamber was cut off by the falling of the stairs, escaped by tying his bedclothes together and letting himself down to the balcony below. But we could fill columns with such small matters without exhausting the catalogue of items. Skiff building was the order of the day, and though a dozen boats could scarcely be found in the morning, before night the waste of waters was covered with a fleet more numerous than that which threatens the coasts of Secessia about these days. The steamer Defiance was made useful by her owners during the day in cruising up and down the sloughs and streams, taking off the housewrecked inhabitants in the vicinity. The Defiance went up the slough as far as the head of D street, and probably none of those who witnessed it will ever forget the strange sight of a steamer away up there, where the dust was blowing but a few weeks since. The Defiance blew a tune or two to congratulate the inhabitants on the subsidence of the waters, and snorted her way back to the deeper water. But nobody who lives in Marysville to-day will ever forget the great flood of December 9, 1861, unless we should be so unfortunate as to have its terror and disaster washed away by the rising wave of another and a greater.
From Chico we learn that the flood at that point was extensive, and large numbers of cattle were drowned. It is reported that the amount of cattle drowned in the vicinity of Missouri Bend, near the mouth of Pine Creek, will reach three thousand, and that ranches and houses without number were submerged by the flood. At Bidwell's Bar the rise of water was said to be four feet higher than at any previous flood, and a great deal of damage was done to property, swept off or ruined by the deposit of sand or sediment swept down by the flood. Nearer Marysville, Bliven's ranch was completely covered, except one spot on which the house stood, untouched; the amount of stock lost from the ranch, however, is very small. From this point to the Honcut, and around by the Feather river to Marysville, the loss was very large, sheep, cattle, and hay being swept off in a promiscouous wreck. The general loss however, is less than on the Yuba.
The rise of the Yuba at Downieville is reported to have been very sudden, as a flood which had caused some destruction had but just subsided, when the rains of Saturday and Sunday brought up the stream again to such a hight that the town was flooded in a very short time. From the Jersey Flat part of the town many houses were reported to have been swept away, and every house is said to be gone from Durgan's Flat, while every bridge, flume, and wood work of the sort, in and around Downieville are reported as swept out by the flood which was as violent as sudden.
The first reports from Foster's, Long, Parks' and Ouseley's Bars were much exaggerated. We learn that at all of these places numbers of Chinamen were drowned, varying from eighteen to twenty five at each place. The flood has been very destructive of life to these poor pariahs everywhere, as they always congregate on the river bottoms where they work over old digging or cultivate vegetable gardens. At Foster's Bar the bridge went out, and Batchelder's and Flattery's stores went out, losing many goods. Several small houses went out at this point, and also at Sand Flat, Long Bar and at Parks'; but except this and loss of flumes and other mining apparatus, the damage was not very large. The largest amount of loss on the Yuba is undoubtedly among the ranch owners near Marysville. The loss of life is not so great as at first reported, many parties who were reported missing having been found in out of the way places, where they had been carried by the flood and force of peculiar circumstances. The Barnes family and Thomas Brophy's family are found to be safe, though they experienced much suffering and discomfort in their perilous condition.
At Nevada (City) many of the lower floors of the buildings were deluged by water, from the large flume which passes through the town. The flume choked up, and the water flowed back and ran over the town. The damage to ditches and bridges in that region was very extensive.
THE LATE RAINS AND OTHER MATTERS IN SIERRA.--A correspondent of the Union, writing from La Porte, December 8th, says:
The rain has been pouring down here for the past forty hours, and it is thicker overhead and looks more like a severe storm than it has at any time. Rabbit creek is higher than it has been known for years. The flume will only carry a small proportion of the water, and the torrent is fast tearing the flume up. We fear it will throw about one hundred men out of employment, who are working above on the creek; we also have grave fears that the bridge across the creek will go off. It is said that Slate creek is so high that the bridge between here and Port Wine is in danger. It has stood several years. Ditches have been constantly breaking during the past twenty hours, although no water is turned in at the head--the water all gathering from the side hills. . . .
FLOOD IN PLACER.--A correspondent of the Union, writing from Auburn, December 9th, says:
The late storm is the severest one I have witnessed since my arrival in this State, which was in '49. We hear of damage being done by the violence of the swollen streams in every direction. Crandall's turnpike road, leading from Auburn to Secret Ravine, will be impassable for heavy teams for at least a month. It will cost about $4,000 to make complete repairs, and the loss of toll will amount to as much more, making their total loss not less than $8.000. I have not heard from Virginia and Gold Hill yet, but I presume, from my acquaintance with that section of country, that there is no claim or drain-race but what is filled to a level corresponding with the sides or banks of the ravine. On the North Fork I learn the water has been higher this time than it was ever known to be before--carrying away Rice's bridge, at Mineral Bar, on the road from Illinois town to lowa Hill. The North Fork bridge, just above Auburn, on the Yankee Jim road, is also in great danger of taking a sail to Sacramento City, as the abutments on one side are fast undermining, and should it go down it will cut off the whole "divide" from the county seat, except they take the circuitous route via Murderer's Bar Bridge and Folsom. Whisky Bar bridge has also disappeared amongst the wreck of matter, and will probably be picked up next Summer in Sacramento for kindling wood.
We have been informed that the town of Oroville has suffered considerably, but have been unable to obtain any particulars.
Sacramento
RISE IN THE RIVER.--During the past week the water in the Sacramento river has stood, at the foot of N street, according to the city guage, at from eleven to twelve feet above low water mark. At about noon on Saturday, a gradual rise commenced, which continued through the day. During the night and early yesterday morning the advance was more rapid, and at dusk last evening the water stood at seventeen feet eight inches above low water mark. The rise within thirty hours was about six feet. This hight is unprecedented at this season of the year. The highest point attained last year--later in the season--was twenty-one feet nine inches, or four feet one inch above the figures of last evening. The Sacramento and the American rivers have mutually contributed to this result. During the past week the upper Sacramento has been so high that the banks at Colusa have overflowed. Within the past few days there have been heavy rains in the mountains, which through the melting of the snows caused the American to rise suddenly about midnight on Saturday night. At about that time it rose so high as to flow over the bank at Mrs. McKeon's ranch, opposite Seventh street, into Sutter slough. By daylight the slough was filled with water, up to within four feet of last year's high water. A considerable portion of the river bank, in addition to that which was destroyed last year below Mrs. KcKeons house, was washed away in the night, inclnding several large sycamore trees. Yesterday afternoon the low section of road between Lisle's bridge and Hubbard's Garden, was several feet under water. The levee below R street, at a late hour yesterday afternoon, appeared to suffer little or none from the sadden rise. An active eddy is still formed by the old bark Ninus, but it appears to be leas destructive than last year. This point may, however, require attention from the proper authorities if the river continues to rise. The melting of immense quantities of snow had swollen the Feather, the Yubas and the Bear rivers on Friday and Saturday, according to accounts from that region of the State. The Bear river bridge at Johnson's ranch was swept away on Friday night, and the Marysville stage from Lincoln was compelled to return to the last named locality with Saturday morning's passengers. We are informed that during the afternoon of yesterday several of the residents of the vicinity of Rabel's tannery were engaged in repairing and strengthening the levee at that point. . . .
On the Yuba River near Goodyears Bar a group of miners numbering 150 were stranded on the opposite side of the river. With great ingenuity a rope was stretched across the raging river and a note was sent to the stranded miners asking their needs. A reply was soon returned stating “Whiskey for Gods sake man Whiskey. After kegs of whiskey and carboys of wine were sent over the river via the rope the miners seemed content although when need again arose they would fire a cannon towards the camp on the other side of the river to let their needs be known.
On March 1862, the Wool Growers Association reported that 100,000 sheep and 500,000 lambs were killed by the floods. Even oyster beds in San Francisco Bay near Oakland were reported to be dying from the effects of the immense amounts of freshwater entering the bay. Full of sediment, it covered the oyster beds. One-quarter of California's estimated 800,000 cattle were killed by the flood, accelerating the end of the cattle-based ranchero society. One-fourth to one-third of the state’s property was destroyed, and one home in eight was carried away or ruined by the flood-waters.[16] Mining equipment such as sluices, flumes, wheels and derricks were carried away across the state.
An early estimate of property damage was $10 million.[18] However, later it was estimated that approximately one-quarter of the taxable real estate in the state of California was destroyed in the flood. [24]
“…After the deluge, what? The drought. It began in the fall of 1862, and lasted to the winter of 1864-65. The rainfall for the season of 1862-63 did not exceed four inches, and In the fall of 1863 a few showers fell, but not enough to start the grass. No more fell until March. The cattle were of gaunt, skeleton-like forms, moved slowly of food. Here and there, singly or in small weak to move on, stood motionless with of starvation. It was a pitiful sight. …
“The loss of cattle was fearful. The plains were strewn with their carcasses. In marshy places …the ground was covered with their skeletons, and the traveler for years afterward was often startled by coming suddenly on a veritable Golgotha — a place of skulls — the long horns standing out in defiant attitude, as if protecting the fleshless bones. …The great drought of 1863-64 put an end to cattle raising as the distinctive industry of Southern California.”
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amazing rains for sure as we slog through yet another storm. Wow must be more careful what we wish for 
John