Yuba County, California History Transcribed by Kathy Sedler This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://calarchives4u.com/ These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of the submitter. All persons donating to this site retain the rights to their own work. Chapter XXI - Floods The condition of the valley in the matter of floods, prior to its occupation by the white race, it is impossible to ascertain with any degree of certainty. The Indians, however, have a tradition of a great flood sometime in the early part of the century, probably in 1805, which inundated the whole valley and in which a great many lives were lost, and many villages destroyed. It forms an era in their calendar from which they date events. Again in the winter of 1825-6 we hear of flood, through Indian Peter. He used to say that the trapping party he was with was compelled to camp in the Buttes on account of high water, and that those hills were full of grizzlies, elk, antelope, and smaller game that had taken refuge there. The early settlers speak of floods in the winter of 1846-7, which did but little damage, simply because there was not much to be injured. The season of 1849-50 was also a wet one, and the streets of Marysville were for a time muddy and almost impassible. The miners along the river were compelled to work in the creeks and ravines in the hills until the water subsided. There was but little property to be injured except mining dams, etc., and the loss was small in consequence. In the winter of 1852-53, the city of Marysville was visited with four floods and the surrounding country was more or less under water the whole season. The rains commenced early in November, 1852, and towards the latter part of the month the water was as high as it reached the season before. Again, a week or two later, the water rose six and a half inches higher than at first. The waters then subsided, but the last week in December was one of continued rain, and on the thirty-first the water began to come into the city. The rivers were both very high, and the water in Yuba river was backed up by that in the Feather, and thus found its way into the streets. The next day the water was twenty and one-half inches higher than at the last flood, and was from six to ten inches deep on the floors of the buildings about the plaza. There had been a grand ball projected at the Merchants' Hotel on New Year's eve, but when the hour arrived the hotel was surrounded by water. Several young gentlemen, loath to lose the anticipated pleasure, proceeded to the hotel in boats, and, with a number of ladies residing there, danced merrily until morning. All the low and bottom lands were completely submerged by this flood, and as it was the first experience the new ranchers had enjoyed of this kind, they lost very heavily in stock, crops, etc. Communication from the city with the outside world, and between the farmers, had to be maintained by boats. People were compelled to come to the city in boats in order to obtain supplies, and trading to the mines was effectually blockaded for sometime. The continuous rains and almost impassible muddy roads had been such a draw back upon freighting that a great stringency of supplies was caused in the mines. At the earliest possible moment, a number of energetic and enterprising men started out trains of supplies, hoping to reach the destitute regions before the markets were supplied, and thus reap a bountiful harvest of gold to reward them for their labor. Those who reached the mines first were amply rewarded for their exertions, and were able to secure any price their conscience would permit to ask, such as one dollar per pound for flour, and twenty cents per pound for hay. The fourth and last flood of the season commenced to assert itself on Saturday, March 25, 1853, and on Tuesday the water reached a point eight inches higher than in January. Both the residents in the city and the farmers had gained valuable and costly experience by the previous freshets, and though the water was higher, and a week passed from the time it commenced to rise until it finally subsided, yet there was not nearly so much damage done as would have been the case had that been the first flood. The farmers protected their property and removed stock, etc., to higher localities, and the merchants at the first warning moved their goods upon shelves, or into the second stories, so that when the water came, there was less for it to destroy. About one hundred thousand dollars worth of damage was done, however, in various ways. The water covered First street, portions of A, B, C, and D streets, Maiden Lane, and the Plaza. Boats of various sizes and many of nondescript character, bearing external evidences of hasty and primitive construction, flitted along the watery streets. The imprisoned ones leaned out from the second floor windows, and merrily hailed the passing boatmen. A ferry line was established between the Merchants' Hotel and dry land, over which the people who boarded there passed to reach their places of employment. The country on all sides of Marysville was under water. Yuba City was completely flooded; the only dry spot in town was the Indian rancharie on the bank of the river. Sutter's garden at Hock Farm was overflowed, and water stood on the lower floor of his house. The steamer Gov. Dana coming up the stream on Tuesday, could proceed no farther than Hock Farm on account of the violence of the current, and was compelled to return to Sacramento. Considerable damage was done to crops that had been put in by the farmers, but beyond this the loss was small. By Saturday the waters had subsided sufficiently to permit the pack trains to leave the city. Although, every few years the water rose pretty high and covered the low lands, there were no disastrous floods until December, 1861. Long and incessant rains ushered in the rainy season, and Saturday, December 7, 1861, the water commenced to rise rapidly in the river. All day Sunday the rain poured down, and that night the city was nearly under water. Early Monday morning several buildings, undermined by the water, fell crumbling to the ground, creating great consternation. The floors of the Merchants' Hotel fell through to the basement, carrying with them the sleeping occupants, several of whom were severely injured by the fall, though no one was killed. Many people were rescued from here and other perilous situations by some of the heroic firemen, who worked among the crumbling ruins at the extreme peril of their own lives. A great many frame houses were floated from their positions, and some of them were carried down the stream, in one of which was a woman, whose children had been rescued by a boat. When the boat returned fro the mother, the house had been carried down the river. Only two cases of death are recorded, both by drowning. The steamer Defiance made its way through the streets giving assistance to those who were rescuing the unfortunate. The condition of the country is well described by the Appeal, December 10, 1861. "Westward one vast water level stretched to Yuba City, where a kindred inundation was raging; the entire town site being under water. Beyond this to the foothills of the coast range there appeared to be no dry land. Northward the plains were cut up into broad streams of running water, which were swiftly coursing towards the great sheet of water stretching between the 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. Southward the whole plain towards Eliza was one sheet of water, dotted with trees, roofs of houses, floating animals and wrecks of property of every description. Where Feather river sweeps past Eliza, stock of every kind could be seen constantly passing down stream, some alive and struggling and bellowing or squealing for life. Hare and rabbits were destroyed by thousands." The people in the country had to leave everything and flee to high ground fro safety; many who were too late for this, climbed trees and remained perched among their branches until rescued by friends. Nearly all the bridges on Yuba and Bear rivers were carried away, and drift timber and saw-logs came down the stream in great quantities, some of which were left in gorges thirty feet high when the water fell. The water-wheel in McDonald's mill on Bear river, near the wire bridge, was washed out and carried down stream to Johnson's crossing, a distance of five miles. A thick deposit of sand was left on the bottom lands when the waters retreated, varying in depth from one to six feet, doing an immense amount of damage. The was the first appearance in any quantity of that disastrous "alluvial soil" that has brought ruin and devastation to so much of this fair valley. Farm produce, such as pumpkins, squash, potatoes, corn, and hay, was destroyed in great quantities, as was also stock of all kinds. It was reported that over one hundred Chinamen were drowned at Long Bar, Ousley's Bar, and Sand Flat. Again, a month later, the eleventh of January, 1862, the water raised six inches higher than before, but the warning of the previous flood had caused the merchants and farmers to move everything perishable beyond the reach of danger. The loss of stock this winter and the next summer was very great, and in Sutter county was estimated at three-fourths the entire number. The great loss here was that but few escaped except those able to reach the Buttes, and the cold weather nipped the grass, causing large numbers of the cattle to die from starvation. The next visitation occurred December 19, 1866. Quite a severe storm raged for several days, and all the low land and some of the streets of Marysville were flooded. A great deal of levee, which was small and of comparatively recent construction, was washed away in various places. It was, however, reserved for the year 1875 to chronicle the greatest and most destructive flood that the annals of the city of Marysville bear. The city had surrounded itself with a vast levee seven miles long, to construct which, had been expended an immense sum of money. To this fact is due the unusual amount of damage experienced this year; for, relying upon their huge and expensive guardian, the people did not take those precautionary measures formerly adopted, and when the flood came, it swept everything before it. Even goods that were placed upon platforms supposed to be above the reach of the water, suffered, for the water respected nothing in the shape of the traditional "high water mark," but moved up higher, leaving a mark that tradition will not have to be called upon for sometime to verify. For a week, heavy and incessant rain and snow storms prevailed, accompanied in some instances by thunder and lightning, an unusual phenomenon in the valley. Tuesday morning, January 19, the water rose so as to threaten a flood, and an alarm was sounded on the fire bell. The citizens all turned out to contest the advance of the invader. The Brown's Valley grade was the first point threatened, but by diligent labor two feet of dirt were thrown up in time to make it secure. The next weak spot to be developed was the levee near the cemetery, where the water, already three feet deep, began to pour over the bank for a long distance. Heroic efforts were made to stop this with sand bags, but is was of no avail, and at dark the work was abandoned. Then there was a wild rush of people to get to places of safety, large houses, churches, court house, etc., were thronged with people whose residences were too insecure to be trusted. At eight o'clock in the evening, a break was made near the hospital, and a torrent of water came sweeping down the slough and spread itself over the first ward. Many women and children who had delayed their departure had to be carried away in boats or on the backs of men who came to save them. Barns, sheds, and a few frame dwellings began floating about in an erratic manner, some of them containing people. Boats were few, and these had plenty to do in transporting people and goods to places of safety. Rafts were called into requisition. The water steadily advanced until Wednesday noon, when it stood from three to five feet deep in the streets, and in some places in the first ward, ten feet deep. In most of the houses the water was from two to five feet in depth, in some much deeper. About twenty houses alone of the whole city escaped this visitation, thanks to high basements. A strong current ran down the F street slough to the Yuba river, and the whole valley, including the city, was one vast sheet of water on a level with the rivers. When Wednesday came it was a mixed question where a breakfast was coming from. The waters in their angry roar had said: "Stand not on the order of your going, but go at once," and go they did, making no provision for the hungry morrow. But food was provided in various ways, so that, although some may have feasted a little less sumptuously than usual, no one suffered long from hunger. Those who had been so hastily driven from their homes, had nothing to wear but the wet clothing in which they had escaped, and nothing on which to sleep or protect themselves from the cold. Thursday night, however, saw relief. The steamer Flora from Sacramento brought Christopher Green, Mayor of that city, and a relief committee, with a load of provisions, clothing, etc. The citizens now organized a relief committee for the purpose of a judicious distribution of the supplies of money, clothing, etc., that now began to pour in from neighboring cities, who deeply sympathized with their stricken sister city. Sub-committees were appointed to canvas the city and give orders for supplies upon the relief fund. In this manner all were rapidly and amply provided for. The amount of contributions, so generously made, were about thirty thousand dollars in money, four hundred mattresses, one thousand blankets, besides clothing, provisions, etc. Only one life was lost in the city, that of a little son of Mrs. John Laughley, six year of age. The family had been taken from their home on a raft, when the boy was accidentally knocked into the water and drowned. His body was recovered in the morning. The damage done to property in the city was enormous. The Episcopal Church, M.E. Church, Court House, City Hall, Woolen Mills, Marysville Mills, Buckeye Mills, Brewery, Marysville Foundry, Swain & Hudson's Factory, Soap Factory, Empire Foundry, Gas Works, the two Lumber Yards, Rag Carpet Factory, Broom Factory, and the stores and residences generally suffered largely. It was a long time before the deposit of sand was removed from its lodging places on the floors and in all the nooks and corners. The railroads were badly damaged, and in the country there was a great deal of destruction of stock and farm property generally. The farmers of the valley and the citizens of Marysville especially, will long remember the great flood of 1875, which forms an era from which they date events. The spring of 1879 had also its full share of high water, a great deal of damage being done to the ranches on the low lands, and great expense and trouble were incurred in keeping the many levees in condition to resist the encroachments of the water. The city happily escaped anything more serious than wet streets and flooded cellars.