The rain was so heavy and long-sustained that it was, of itself, sufficient to make a good wild flood, while the snow which the warm wind and rain melted on the upper and middle regions of the basins was sufficient to make another flood equal to that of the rain.

Now these two distinct harvests of flood waters were gathered simultaneously and poured out on the plain in one magnificent avalanche.

The basins of the Yuba and Feather, like many others of the Sierra, are admirably adapted to the growth of floods of this kind.

Their many tributaries radiate far and wide, comprehending extensive areas, and the tributaries are steeply inclined, while the trunks are comparatively level.

While the flood-storm was in progress the thermometer at Knoxville ranged between 44 deg.