At this time my husband was engaged in transporting goods to the towns
above Marysville. He kept his horses in a shed at the rear of our
dwelling. One night we were aroused by the cry of “Fire!” Upon opening
my eyes, the room was as light as day. It appeared as if the whole city
was in a blaze. The flames were rapidly spreading. Those light wood and
canvas buildings offered but slight resistance to the fiery element. Our
first thought was of the horses and wagon, as they were of more value
than the house, or all it contained. They were given into my charge,
with instructions to lead them away out on the plains, and hold them
there, while they remained to throw what few things we possessed into
the wagon, and drag it off. The most valuable article in the house was
my side-saddle, for which was paid the sum of sixty-five dollars. That,
in their haste, was forgotten, and left in the house. I had petted those
horses so much, they would follow me anywhere. They stood perfectly
quiet beside me, apparently watching with me the progress of the fire. I
expected, of course, our little shanty had shared the fate of half the
buildings of the place. After the fire had subsided, we returned to
town; and there, sure enough, stood the little house unharmed, while all
on the opposite side of the street lay a heap of ruins. In one week from
that time, very nearly the same scene was enacted over again.
This time, too, the canvas shanty welcomed us back again to town. Had it
been of any value, perhaps it would have shared the fate of its
neighbors; but, valueless as it was, it looked better to me upon my
return than a mass of smoking ruins in lieu. What oversights a person
will commit when alarmed, or agitated by the cry of “Fire!” One of these
nights I dressed myself hastily, put on my dress (which fastened in
front) hind-side before, and fastened every hook securely. Of course, I
never discovered my mistake until I returned to the house. Soon after
this, my brother left for the mines. When the rainy season commenced,
our house was a poor protection from the rain. It ran through the canvas
roof as through an old sieve. We soon vacated it, and went to the
Oriental Hotel. This building my husband rented for the sum of six
hundred dollars per month, furniture included. It was a spacious new
building, at that time the finest in the place. Our expenses were
eighteen hundred dollars per month. We employed three cooks. To our head
cook we gave three hundred per month, and all the other domestics in a
like proportion. To one little boy, not much higher than the table, who
was employed to wait upon the cooks, clean knives and forks, bring in
wood, etc., we paid the exorbitant sum of sixty-five dollars per month.
Notwithstanding our expenses were so much, the net profits were ample.
We had twenty and twenty-five dollars per week for board. The house was
always crowded. While we were at the Oriental Hotel, the city was
inundated. Oh, that was indeed a gloomy time! A vast amount of property
was destroyed, and some lives lost. The sudden melting of the snow in
the mountains swelled the mountain streams to rushing torrents. The most
intense excitement prevailed in Marysville, as the Yuba River, swollen
to its utmost capacity, was still rapidly rising. What a wildly rushing,
roaring, foaming mass of water came thundering on! Higher and yet higher
it came, until the plaza was fairly submerged. Trucks were rushing to
and fro, laden with merchandise being conveyed to the upper part of the
city. Many objected to leaving their houses, thinking the water would
abate, until they were obliged to make their egress through the windows,
and in boats were taken to dry land. The Oriental fronted on quite high
land. At the back was a large basement, where was situated the culinary
department, also the servants’ apartments. All this part of the building
was entirely submerged, and the water lacked but a few inches of being
to the first floor. Night was coming on, and the water was still rising.
Fear and anxiety sat enthroned upon the countenances of all. A short
time previous to this, there had been erected on the plaza two brick
blocks. The water undermined the foundation of these buildings, and that
night they fell with a terrible crash. It is almost impossible to convey
to the minds of those not present any correct idea of the gloomy aspect
of affairs during the inundation. Towards morning, the waters ceased to
rise any higher, yet did not subside in the least. A man residing on a
ranch about five miles above Marysville, in attempting to save some
cattle from drowning, was swept from his horse by the force of the
current, and was borne down stream with astonishing rapidity. He managed
to keep his head above water, but was unable to clutch at anything
whereby he might save himself. As he neared the landing at Marysville,
all the latent energy of his being was aroused to save his life, as that
would be his last chance. There was a large steamer lying there, made
fast to the big tree on the plaza. Any one who has visited Marysville
will recollect this venerable tree. Some of the earliest pioneers to
this place recognize it as an old friend, under whose protecting arms
they have for many nights sought a shelter. With almost superhuman
exertions, he caught hold of one of the paddle-wheels of the steamer,
and maintained his position until rescued by some people who had seen
him struggling in the water.
Feather River, too, overflowed her banks, and, in a south and westerly
direction from Marysville, nothing could be seen but one unbroken sheet
of water. Many of the smaller houses were washed down stream. One
couple, living on a ranch twenty miles from Marysville, on the bank of
Feather River, and far from any other habitation, were driven for safety
to the top of a table. As the water rose higher, they were obliged to
rise higher. It was a little bit of a shanty. They knocked a hole
through the roof, and crept out thereon. They soon found they must vamos
from there; so they embarked in some sort of a craft (tub or barrel),
and paddled off to a little island. After congratulating themselves upon
their miraculous escape, they found they were not the only occupants of
this island retreat: a big grisly bear had preceded them. Not relishing
such close companionship as he seemed inclined to offer, they quickly
beat a retreat to a large tree, and, seated in its topmost branches,
carefully guarded by “Old Bruin,” they passed twenty-four gloomy hours.
When assistance arrived from a neighboring ranch, in the shape of a boat
well manned, it was Bruin’s turn to beat a retreat, which he did. The
frightened, hungry couple were released from their perilous situation.
My brother had returned from the mines, and was living upon a ranch on
the banks of the Yuba. He swam his horse quite a distance to save a
woman and child. When he arrived at the shanty, they were perched upon a
table, calmly awaiting their fate.
The boats were sailing in every direction about the city; and all
through the night could be heard the shrill cry of “Boat, ahoy!”
resounding far over the waters. All night long, on the opposite side of
the Yuba, sat a Spaniard on the ridge-pole of his house, at one end,
while, at the other end, was a big rat, each anxiously expecting relief.
Very gradually the waters began to subside; but it was a week before the
city was passable at all. One small house which was washed down stream,
and lodged some distance below, the owner afterwards recovered; and,
after placing it upon its original site, he corralled it, for fear of a
similar accident.
We kept the Oriental four or five months; but the numerous cares
devolving upon me were too wearing for my constitution. Could I have
been relieved from so much anxious solicitude, we should have remained
in the house longer. Now the rainy season was nearly over, we returned
to our little shanty.