l62 HISTORY OF PASADENA. 



ing until midnigiit, when it cleared. No great damage was sustained in 

 and around Pasadena beyond some heavy washes upon the steeper slopes 

 and mesas, although some complain of owning an acre or two of real estate 

 that had been transported from their neighbor's orchards by heavy washing. 

 The most serious damage was done to the main cement ditch beyond John 

 W. Wilson's ranch, about a mile of which was buried in the sand and 

 debris, and about fifty feet destroyed. In the valley everything was flooded. 

 At San Gabriel culverts were partiall)^ destroyed, and the plain beyond, 

 embracing the El Monte and Savannah districts were covered with water. 

 * Ji-- >i< The Pasadena Central School has been closed during the 

 past week on account of the storm, but will re-open as usual on Monday." 

 [Several items through the paper show extensive rainfall, mudholes, wash- 

 outs, impassable roads and streets at this time.] 



The same paper of March 8th says : ' ' On Monday morning [March 3] 

 began another rain storm that for damage done surpasses the one last re- 

 corded. " The storm continued till Thursday, accompanied at intervals 

 with sharp thunder and lightning. The local report continues : "A 

 heavy and deep wash, beginning south of Mountain Avenue, near lyake 

 Avenue, extended into one corner of the Mutual Orchard Co.'s orange 

 grove, but beyond that shallowing out over a large area, then again cutting 

 heavily wherever the ground has been recently plowed. Farther up the 

 slope, crossing the Crank property, another large wash occurs, extending 

 down through the lands of Clark Maudlin, Henry Wood and Samuel 

 Bundy. On the Gano, Banbury and Woodbury estates, the damages have 

 been very great, and will require thousands of dollars to repair. It is said a 

 double harrow was carried bodily from somewhere about Swartwout's ranch 

 down to near Villa street. [Over a mile.] This will give an idea of the 

 force of the torrent." 



"Later: About 250 feet of the main ditch on the Lake Vineyard 

 Co.'s lands was washed out by the late storm." 



Again, March 15, the Union says : "This season will certainly exceed 

 any previously recorded one, for rainfall. The wet season of 1862 gave this 

 county 36 inches of' rain, and not since then has it reached 30 inches. 

 Now we have 35. 18, with two or three good months to hear from ; so we can 

 predict from 40 to 45 inches with almost a certainty." 



I remember myself that during 1884 rain fell sometime during every 

 calendar month of that year except September. The Union of October 1 1 , 

 says : 



" A light rain accompanied by thunder and lightning, visited Pasadena 

 on Thursday. At Los Angeles and along the Sierra Madre mountains it 

 rained quite heavily, and an old-fashioned thunderstorm seemed to be rag- 

 ing in the mountains. ' ' 



The paper also mentioned generous. showers on December 7, 8 and 11. 



WEDDING MUSICIANS SOUSED IN THE ARROYO, 



Wednesday evening, April 9, 1885, a notable and historic wedding oc- 

 curred at the residence of E. F. Hurlbut on Orange Grove Avenue. Miss 

 Jessie Banbury, daughter of Col, J. Banbury, was married to Dr. F, De W. 

 Crank, brother of J. F. Crank, who was President of the first railroad into 



