Major flood washed through Riverside-Pocket area 109 years ago
August 1, 2013
On Feb. 27, 1904, the river quickly reminded Riverside-Pocket area residents of its great power, as a levee break resulted in a major flood in the area. Shown in this photograph is the flooded home of Pocket resident Manuel Seamas. Photo courtesy of PHCS Editor’s Note: This is part 16 in a series about the history of the Sacramento River. When it comes to the history of the Sacramento River, in relation to the Riverside-Pocket area, the river received its most concentrated attention from residents of that area on Feb. 27, 1904. This fact is undeniable, as it was on that day that a break in the levee at the sharp turn in the river, near Sutterville Road, about three miles south of the old Y Street (today’s Broadway) levee, caused floodwaters to inundate an estimated 10,000 acres in the Riverside-Pocket area. The levee break became known as the Edwards Break due to its location at the ranch of local farmer Eustace Richard Edwards (1849-1931). Eustace, who was the oldest of the childrenof Welsh native Thomas C. Edwards (1816-1877) and Massachusetts native Sarah W. (Lincoln) Edwards (1822-1897), was born in Massachusetts. According to the 1870 U.S. Census, Eustace was then residing with his family in the Sutter Township, which included the area that would become known as Riverside. Eustace resided in this general area for the remainder of his life, with his final address being 3225 Freeport Blvd. The Edwards Break occurred shortly after noon, and less than three hours later, the break had grown to about 100 feet wide, and was continuing to expand. While a reporter for The Sacramento Bee was interviewing county surveyor Joseph C. Boyd, about 10 feet of the levee was washed away, along with a massive oak tree that had been derooted by the floodwaters. Although Boyd said that it would take two weeks to repair the break in the levee, The Bee then-reported that because of the protection of the Y Street levee, there was “absolutely no danger in the water entering the city(which then had its southern boundary at Y Street).” A Feb. 29, 1904 report in The Bee, in part, read: “The Sacramento River is steadily falling (from 27.9 feet on the day of the break), registering 25.9 feet at noon to-day (sic). So far, as Sacramento is concerned, this fact is of merely passing interest, for there never has been a time during the present high water that the least fear from flood has been felt. The levees about the city offer absolute protection.” However, on another page of the same edition of The Bee, it was reported that some city residents feared that the floodwaters from the south might spill over the Y Street levee. While the city avoided floodwaters from the river, the previously mentioned chaotic flood scene transpired to the south of that area. With news of the break, rescue crews were quickly organized and efforts were made to bring various south area residents to safety. Many curious residents of the city set out on excursions to view the changes inlandscapes that occurred as a result of the levee break. Thousands of people visited the city cemetery at the present day address of 1000 Broadway to observe the submerged area south of the city. Graves on the low ground and the southern and southeastern portions of that cemetery were submerged in water due to the break. In its Feb. 29, 1904 edition, The Union described the Odd Fellows plat along Riverside Boulevard as a “lake of water,” which, in part of that area, was being used as a thoroughfare for rowboats during the previous afternoon. Sightseers on foot and in buggies and other types of vehicles made their way along the road atop the Y Street levee from Front Street to 25th Street to view flooded scenes, which included St. Joseph’s Cemetery, which was halfway submerged with floodwaters. The Union described the scene at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, as follows: “The highest points of the cemetery were not submerged, but in the northern section, not even the gravestones showed above theflood.” In describing the southward view from the Y Street levee, The Union noted: “Standing on the levee and looking south, the inland sea stretched as far as the eye would carry. Here and there a clump or grove of trees waved in the south breeze; here the tops of a row of fence posts marked a division line: there a house, submerged to the windows, looked the acme of desolation. A big cattle barn, submerged halfway to the eaves, stood sturdily in one direction, in the other, a hop house looked out over the watery waste.” A line of people could constantly be seen on the bridge connecting Sacramento with Washington in today’s West Sacramento during the daylight hours. Several hundred of the city’s more courageous residents walked southward down the Front Street levee to obtain a close view of the break in the levee. In its February 28, 1904 edition, The Union encouraged the public to view the flood from the Capitol, as follows: “As the submerged district is of unusual extent, the sightfrom the Capitol dome is one well worth seeing. The view from the first and second balconies surrounding the dome is preferable from that obtained from the cupola, as there is plenty of room in which to move about and take in the panorama in all directions. The Capitol cupola will be open for visitors to-day (sic), says Secretary of State (Charles F.) Curry.” The Bee reported that floodwaters were still rushing through the “great crevasse” with “undiminished force” two days after the levee broke. The same report noted that “the roar of the rushing torrent could be heard a great distance away.” Although the loss of human life seems to have been limited to a man who was killed at the site of the levee break, many animals, including livestock, perished in the floodwaters and large amounts of crops were destroyed. Several weeks passed before the floodwaters finally receded and people were able to return to their homes. And despite the fact that the levee was eventually repaired and manyflood-free years followed, the images of the great flood of 1904 would never leave the memories of Riverside-Pocket area residents of that era.
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