Indianapolis Times, Volume 39, Number 274, Indianapolis, Marion County, 13 March 1928 — Page 1

DAM BREAKS; HUNDREDS DROWN

TORRENT SLASHES PATH OF DEATH THROUGH RICH VALLEY OF CALIFORNIA

fToll of Life Soars Hourly, With Vast Territory in Ruins. 200 MAY BE VICTIMS Scores of Homes in Direct Path of Huge Wall of Water. BY DAN CAMPBELL United l’ress Staff Correspondent LOS ANGELES, March 13. Ehvept by Hood Avaters from a mountain reservoir, the historic Santa Clara River valley lay devastated today, while the death toll from the worst disaster on the Pacific Coast in Recent years mounted hourly. Cutting a sixty-mile path of death, the raging torrents from the St. Francis Dam, which collapsed at 1 a. m., raced through the valley, from the mountains to the sea. Rescuers struggled frantically to invade the cnce peaceful river basin —now flooded and strewn with debris and the wreckage of homes and stores—to determine definitely the number of dead. A check by the United Press shortly before 10 a. m„ Pacific time, indicated the death list would reach 200 and might go far beyond. Whole towns were swept by the flood. The following reports, as yet without official verification because of disrupted communication, had reached Los Angeles at that hour: One hundred bodies reported recovered in the Santa Paula district. Sixty-three bodies reported brought to Newhall. Three bodies reported at the Harry Carey ranch. Four bodies reported recovered at Fillmore. Four bodies reported at Piru. Twenty bodies reported discovered one mile west of Saugus. The fate of four hundred or more families in the vicinity of Newhall. in the direct path of the wall of water liberated when the St. Francis dam burst, was unknown. Fear Crew of 100 Lost No word had come from a colony of more than 100 employes of Los Angeles Power Company and it was feared many of them had been drowned. Saugus officials said they believed it must have been impossible for families living just below the huge dam to have escaped the terrific torrent which swept down upon them as they slept. Three unidentified bodies, those of a man, a woman and a child, were found on Harry Carey’s ranch and trading post, which was obliterated by the flood. Grave fears were felt here for residents of Fillmore, Santa Paul and Piru, towns situated along the Santa Clara River. No word has been received from them since shortly before the flood. Brides, Roads Destroyed With all lines of communication broken and all roads and bridges destroyed, it was impossible to determine the extent of the damage and death spread by the torrent. On the fringe of the stricken refeion rescue squads reported a desolate picture where peaceful homes and sleepy ranches once dotted the Valley. Property damage will total many bullions. Seven towns and cities situated along the Santa Clara River were reported practically destroyed. The Los Angeles aqueduct dam crumbled under pressure of water from a cloudburst in the high Sierras, and 38,000-acres feet of water poured into the river basin. The flood swept towns before it in its Wild dash. Tears Path of Ruin Buildings and homes were carried feway by the head of water. It tore a path through the cities of Newhall, Fillmore, Saugus, Piru, Santa Paula. Saticey, Castiac, Oborg fend Camarillo. According to reports from Ventura. on the seacoast, near the mouth of the river, the Santa Clara River became a torrent fifty feet deep and two miles wide. Wrecked homes, helpless animals, and debris were earned along with the flood. All bridges through the Santa Clara basin were swept away, including the Southern Pacific Railway bridge between Ventura and

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The Indianapolis Times Cloudy and much colder tonight, lowest temperature 30 to 35; Wednesday generally fair.

VOLUME 39—NUMBER 274

In Flood Path By United Press LOS ANGELES, March 13. —The population of a number of the cities in the floodstricken Santa Clara river basin was estimated as follows by the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce: Fillmore, 25,000; Newhall, 800; Piru, 7,500; Santa Paula, 7,500.

Oxnard. Rail communication probably cannot be re-established for twenty-four hours at least. The wall of water was two miles wide in places and was rolling down the valley toward the Pacific Ocean with such force that it was believed everything would be carried before it. The first small rescue squads, sent into the flooded regian before daybreak, reported that the onrush of water had caused great devastation. The St. Francis dam was completed a year ago and is the second largest dam constructed by the Las Angeles bureau of power and light. Southern California Edison Company power lines, serving Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, went down when the water struck. Power Lines Out Santa Barbara newspapers were unable to go to press because of lack of power. Lines serving Los Angeles partly were repaired, although certain districts were without lights. Red Cross chapters throughout the State were rushing relief squads to the inundated sections. D. C. McWatters, head of the local chapter, ordered the equipment used in the Santa Barbara earthquake disaster made ready for immediate service. The huge dam collapsed shortly before 1 a. m. All wires in the section were torn away, leaving the stricken cities in darkness. After the dam broke, automobiles raced to nearby towns to warn of the approaching flood. No word has been received for hours from Santa Paula, a town of more than 1,000 population. Shortly before the flood reached that section, the United Press correspondent at Santa Paula reported by long-distance telephone that the residents were fleeing to the hills. They had been warned by fire sirens. 1 Many, it was believed, started too late to reach high ground. Piru and Saticoy, also in the path of the flood, had not been heard from, and it was feared they suffered heavy loss. San Fernando Valley, one of southern California’s garden spots, was saved from the flood by a mountain ridge, which diverted the water down the Santa Clara River and Santa Paula canyon. Ridge Route Blocked The famous Ridge Route leading north to Bakersfield was completely blocked and all highways in the affected area were impassible. Bodies of eight men were recovered and taken into Newhall today. At the Edison Company camp below the dam, fifty men were employed. They may have been sleeping when the water swept upon them. Half a mile farther down, at a power bureau sub-station, 125 men were employed. “I talked to old residents of the district,” Captain Newstetter of San Fernando police division said, “and they believed that escape from the waters must have been impossible for many residents of the valley. In some places there must have been a seventy-foot wall of water.” Family Is Saved Fii?e members of the family of B. W. Hunick, rancher, were saved when they joined hands and floated to the edge of the flood, but a 12-year-old daughter and a baby of the same family were swept away in the darkness, it was reported. Hunick was asleep in his ranch home with his father Charles, another rancher named Halschau, Mrs. Halschau and Halschau’s father in a cabin a mile and a half above Saugus. The names of the 12-year-old girl and the baby werF not learned. The Hunicks and Halschaus were taken to the emergency hospital at Newhall. An uncle and a sister of Hunick were missing and were believed to have perished. The ranch and Indian store owned by Harry Carey, movie star, two miles from Saugus, was swept away by the flood. It was not known whether any one on the ranch was lost. Carey spent much of his time there. His family lived on the

Whole Towns Are Blotted Out by Raging Sweep of Waters. FEAR FOR COLONY OF 100 Roads and Bridges Ruined, Trains Halted. Power Lines Down. ranch and Carey employed several men to maintain it. The Indian store is half a mile below the ranch on the San Francisco road and, due to its low position, probably received the brunt of the water. Authorities here began the task of coordinating relief work shortly after reports of the disaster reached Los Angeles. Sheriff William I. Traeger dispatched betwen 500 and 600 deputy sheriffs to the scene and fifty deputies from Ventura County were ordered out for relief work. Police Chief James E. Davis ordered out 400 police officers, who were sent to the San Fernando division. The Red Cross installed an emergency hospital at Newhall. The Southern Pacific main line inland route to San Francisco still was intact, but the branch running from Saugus to Fillmore was wiped out, representatives of the railroad reported. OPEN HOOVER OFFICE Campaign Headquarters Are at Claypool. State headquarters for the presidential campaign of Herbert Hoover, secretary of commerce, were opened today in Room 725, the Claypool. Oscar G. Foellinger Ft. Wayne publisher, whose insistence injected Hoover into the Indiana primaries as the opponent of Senator James E. Watson for the presidential preference vote, is directing Hoover organization work from the local headquarters. Harry G. Hogan, Ft. Wayne banker and State manager of General Leonard Wood’s presidential campaign in 1920, is lending a hand. Republican leaders throughout the State are aligning themselves with Hoover, Foellinger said, aiding materially in the formation of a State-wide Hoover-for-Presi-dent organization. FLIGHT TEST DELAYED Breaking Up of Lake Ice Forces Stinson to Postpone Take-Off. By United Press MT. CLEMENS, Mich., March 13. —Breaking up of the ice on Lake St. Clair caused indefinite postponement today of another attempt by Edddie Stinson, airplane manufacturer, and Capt. George Haldeman to break the world’s endurance flight record. The fliers recently remained aloft 18 V 6 hours and were forced down by a snow storm. The lake ice was used for the take-off. EXPLAIN MEMORIAL DAY Grand Army League Will Conduct Programs in Schools. The annual drive to stimulate greater interest in observance of Memorial day, May 30, will be launched next week in the public and parochial schools here under auspices of the Grand Army Leagu*. George Hawkins has been appointed chairman of the committee sponsoring the school programs. Meaning of the holidy will be explained to pupils. Hourly Temperatures 6 a. m.... 55 10 a. m.... 57 7a. m.... 56 11 a. m.... 48 Ba. m,... 50 12 (noon). 47 9a. m.... 57 Ip. m.... 46

Bad Start By Times Special FT. WAYNE, Ind., March 13. —This year didn't start right for Herman Himmelstein. He has filed suit for divorce from Mrs .Clara Himmelstein, who became his bride Jan. 1, 1928. The husband alleges she deserted him March 1, saying she would never return.

INDIANAPOLIS, TUESDAY. MARCH 13,1928

Where Flood Raged

BAKERSFIELD • ST. (FRANCIS DAM 1 NEAR NEWHALL otflM c ASTA|e *6AN FERNANDO pFLOOD liN - 7RAVUHG in \ LOS ANGELES ' [IRCCt-CM OF < j X. FILLWt RE\ \ I

Giant Dam Erected Two Years Ago for $1,250,000 ]',/ I niti (I Pri ss LOS ANCELES, March 13.—The St. Francisco dam had a water storage capacity of 38.000 acres feet, or 12,000.000,000 gallons. It was completed two years ago. The dam was a great arched wall of concrete rising 200 feet from the San Francisquito canyon in a narrow gorge. One hundred fifty feet wide at the base, the dam spread out fan wise between the walls of the canyon to a width of 1.250 feet at its crest. The St. Francisco dam was built at a cost of $1,250,000 and was the largest basin of the municipal water department on the south end of the Owens River aqueduct. Construction of the dam took a few days more than a year. Into it were poured 160,000 cubic yards of cement. The reservoir formed by the dam was used to store water di. verted from the main channel of the water carrier after it passed through the power bureaus San Francisquito power plant No. 1. The dam was between the municipal power bureau's hydroelectric generating plants Nos. 1 and 2, about forty-five miles north of Los Angeles.

ONE-EYED WAR HERO STARTS OCEAN DASH

BY CLIFFORD L. DAY L’nited Press Staff Correspondent LONDON, March 13.—Flying against terrific odds, Capt. Walter Hinchliffe, one-eyed British war hero, was believed today to be out over the Atlantic, trying to make the first westward flight in aviation history to North America. The Evening Standard today quoted Hinchliffe’s manager and agent as saying Hinchliffe had embarked on a trans-Atlantic flight. Hinchliffe left Cranwell airdrome, England, at 8:45 a. m., in a Stinson THIRD POISON MALADY SUFFERER NEAR DEATH Chances for Recovery of Michigan City Man 'Very Slight. By United Press MICHIGAN CITY, Ind., March 13.—The condition of William Sims grew worse today while authorities sought the source ot oxalic acid believed to have caused his illness and the deaths two weeks ago of his nephew and niece, Richard and Arvilla Bohle. Sims rallied slightly Monday morning but at night his condition took a turn for the worse. His physician, Dr. Frank R. Warren, said his chances for recovery were “very slight.” Investigation into the deaths of Richard, 4, and Arvilla. 2, awaited a complete report of the stomach of Richard by Dr. Ralph W. Webster, of Rush Medical College, Chicago. Dr. Webster reported he found traces of oxalic acid. Burglar Gets $l7B in Jewelry A burglar, who entered by unlocking the back door, stole $l7B worth of jewelry from the store of J. C. Updegraff, 5620 E. Washington St.

‘NOBODY’S GIRL BY ANNE AUSTIN

“Nobody’s Girl” is the story of a girl who leaves an orphanage to work on a farm and then is forced by circumstances to run away with the youth who has befriended her. They come upon a traveling carnival, where Sally Ford, the orphan, meets an old acquaintance. The next day Sally is a member of the carnival troupe, playing the strange role of Oriental crystal gazer. It is an effective way of hiding from the police, who are looking for two fugitives. From that point on things keep on happening. It is a story high in love interest, and Anne Austin has caught the true spirit of carnival life. There are strange characters in “Nobody’s Girl,” but they are real characters. It starts Thursday in The Times. ,

monoplane loaded with fuel sufficient for the 3,000-mile flight to North America. With him was one passenger, believed to be a man. He announced no destination. At 1:30 p. m. a plane believed to be Hinchliffe's was reported by the lighthouse keeper at Mizzenhead, at the extreme southwestern corner of Ireland, to have passed out to sea, flying westward. It was a mystery flight not only as regarded destination, but as regarded the passenger. A few days ago it was announced that Elsie Mackay—daughter of Lord Inchcape. millionaire shipowner—and Hinchliffe would start a trans-Atlantic flight. Lord Inchcape got into communication with Miss Mackay. She went to London hurriedly from Cranwell and there, after a reportedly heated family conference, denied she intended to make the attempt. Dublin Sees Plane By United Press DUBLIN, Ireland, March 13.—An airplane resembling Capt. Walter Hinchliffe’s passed out to sea, flying west, the duty officer at Baldonnel airdrome announced he had been advised today. The report came by telegraph from Mizzenhead, at the extreme southwestern corner of Ireland and gave rise to reports that Hinchliffe was starting a flight to the United States. SEEK NATURAL ¥EAUTY Wins $5,000 Prize if She Can Show No Cosmetics Are Used. By United Press NEW YORK. March 13.—The American Master Hairdressers’ Association has offered $5,000 to the girl who will prove she is surpassingly beautiful and at the same time prove that she got that way without benefit of cosmetics.

Entered as Second-Class Matter at Pcs toss ice, Indianapolis

SCORES SWEPT TO DEATH WITHOUT WARNING WHEN FLOOD SMASHES TOWNS

Train Dispatcher Reports Recovery of 63 Bodies to Newhall. 20 OTHERS ARE SIGHTED River Many Feet Deep as It Boils Through City Streets. By I’nitrd prr 9* NEWHALL, Cal., March 13. —The Southern Pacific dispatcher reported to authorities here today that sixty-three bodies have beerr recovered in the wake of the Santa Clara River basin flood. Four bodies were at Piru, four at Fillmore and two at Santa Paula, reports reaching here said. Captain William Bright, heading a squad of deputy sheriffs reported to headquarters here that his men had sighted twenty bodies between here and Saugus. They could not be recovered until the waters receded, he said. Many Men Missing I'y United Press VENTURA. Cal., March 13.—Only seventy-five of the 175 men in the Southern California Edison Company camp near Piru have-been accounted for, reports reaching here from the flooded Santa Clara River basin said today. The Santa Clara River was turned into a swirling torrent, carrying houses and all manner of debris with it. All roads leading into the stricken section were wiped out and it will be hours before communications can be re-established. All power was off in Ventura County and business was at a standstill. The Southern California Edison Company had furnished power to Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties through its Saugus substation, which was wiped out. The Santa Clara River was half a mile wwide at Fillmore and Piru. The Fillmore telephone exchange reported many persons were believed to have been drowned in that vicinity. Water was six feet deep on High St., in Santa Paula. The north end of the State highway bridge at Montalvo near the mouth of the river was washed out and the only means of road travel between Ventura and Los Angeles was the county bridge at Satticoy. The Satticoy bridge was reported to be the only one left over the Santa Clara River. All work was stopped in the Montebello oil fields, across the Santa Clara River from Fillmore, and in the South Mountain oil fields, across the Santa Clara from Santa Paula. Flood waters washed out all power lines and water lines to the two fields, it was understood. Halt All Transportation By United Press MONTALVO. Cal., March 13Flood waters from the broken St. Francis dam, in the Santa Clara river valley, have forced suspension of coastwise transportation between Saugus and Montalvo. All trains are being held between these points and the Southern Pacific tracks were wiped out between Saugus and Santa Paula. The water has subsided in that territory and the main tide of the flood is sweeping toward the coast, down the Santa Clara river bed. ‘IF I WERE GOVERNOR' Dailey Would Remove AH Traces of Jackson, Even Picture. By Times Special BLUFFTON, Ind„ March 13.—1f Frank C. Dailey, Democratic candidate for the gubernatorial nomination ever fills the office he covets, he would remove every vestige of the Jackson administration, he declared here in a campaign talk. His first official act he said, would be to remove the portrait of Ed Jackson which hangs in the Governor’s office and in its place would restore that of Thomas A. Hendricks, a former governor. Hendricks’ picture was removed to the> anteroom to give place to that of Jackson. Twenty-one Killed in Wreck By United Press COLOMBO. Ceylon, March 13.-Twenty-one persons were killed today when two trains collided, headon. between Colombo and Galle. The trains were running speedily on the single track coast railroad.

No Quake By l nitrd Press ' DENVER, March 13.--The seismograph at Regis College did not report an earth disturbance in California last night or early today, Father Forstall told the United Press.

DOUBTS DAM WAS BLASTED Engineer Says Structure Was in Good Shape. By I nitrd Press SACRAMENTO. Cal.. March 13. State Engineer Edward Hyatt, Jr., left for Los Angeles today to investigate the collapse of the St. Francis dam. “According to our records, the dam was in perfect condition,” he said. “It had been inspected regularly under State supervision. "It does not seem likely it could have been dynamited.” HOOSIERS ARE SAFE No Indianans Reported in Flood Zone. No reports that Indianapolis persons were caught in the avalanche of water that swept the Santa Clara River valley were received today. Sylvester Johnson Jr., president of H. R. Heinecke, Inc., of 3668 Central Ave., a frequent visitor in California ar.d who has traversed the stricken region, said he knew of no Indianapolis persons there. The region, he said, was in the foothills north of Los Angeles and attracted few winter sojourners. The towns reported swept by the flood are not regarded as resorts, he said, and tourists from here would not likely visit them. Local railroad passenger agents knew of no one from this city in the towns afflicted. NAB ‘AMBUSH’ NEGRO Claims Companion Fired at Car; Denies Plot. A Negro under arrest in connection with shots fired at an automobile in which Patrolmen Martin Fahey and Murl R. Pollock were riding early Sunday on E. Minnesota St. has admitted he was at the scene of the shooting, Detective Chief Jerry Kinney announced today. A Negro companion fired the shots, one of which wounded Harry Trumble, 34, of the Emily Apts., Senate Ave. and Vermont St., the man held said. Trumble was riding in the back seat of the auto with Fahey and Pollock. The Negro denied that he and his companion had been in ambush for the policemen. The machine nearly struck them as they were crossing the street and his companion pulled his gun and shot in anger, the Negro under arrest said. Police are searching for his companion. RELIGION PARLEY (DPENS Classes Will Be Part of Marion County Lessons. The early part of each session of the convention of District No. 12 of the Mai ion County Council of Religious Education opening tonight at the Wallace St. Presbyterian church will be taken up with classes General meetings will be held at 8 o’clock. The convention ivas previously scheduled to open Monday night. CINCINNATI BiDS RACES Wants National Balloon Tourney Held There. By United Press WASHINGTON, March 13.—Cincinnati has made a bid for the national balloon races, the National Aeronautic Association announced today. The races will be held this summer as an eliminating contest for the Gordon Bennett International cup races to be held in Detroit this fall.

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Morgues Filled as Crews of Searchers Range Stricken District. TENT CITY DESTROYED. Farmers and Oil Men Lose Fortunes When Torrent Hits Valley. By United Press SANTA PAULA, Cal., March 13.—Twenty-one bodies were in morgues here and at Fillmore and Piru today as this section of the Santa Clara valley emerged from the flood which swept down upon it last night from the St. Francis reservoir. Reports reaching here indicated the damage would total many millions of dollars. No accurate estimate of the number of dead could be made. The entire southern section of Santa Paula virtually was swept away. With the flood receding, rescuers probed the debris on the south side of the city along the Santa Clara River bank, where it. was reported bodies were being recovered as fast as ambulances could carry them away. f Although police sirens gave warning of impending destruction early today as the huge wall of water swept down the valley, many resi. dents in the poorer section of the city were unable to escape. Die Without Warning Only forty of 170 men at the Southern California Edison camp at Castiac had been accounted for, officials said. No warning was received at the camp, and the tent city directly in the path of the torrent was swept away. Less damage was done at Fillmore and Piru, but all highways and communications were swept away. Five miles of the Piru highway were ripped out and debris was piled high along the river's edge The Bardvale bridge, a heavy steel structure, collapsed under the rush of the floodwaters. Not a single beam of the span was left standing. The Southern Counties Gas line was broken and torn out five miles east of Piru. The line supplied gas to Los Angeles. Oil lines in the eastern section ol Ventura County were torn up and much petroleum was lost before the pipes could be closed. Thousands of dollars’ loss resulted to farmers and fruit growers when the flood destroyed 2,000 acres of orchards. Citrus and walnut trees were torn up by the roots in the swirling current, which hurled driftwood and trees about. Flood Is Decreasing SAN FRANCISCO, March 13— The Southern Pacific operator at Montalvo, where flood waters from the St. Francis dam poured into the Pacific, informed company officials here that a marked decrease in flow of the water could be noticed at 10 a. m. today. The operator reported bodies were beginning to be washed down to the sea. Several were recovered and taken to the company station, he said. The American Red Cross of the San Francisco region prepared today to send supplies to the flooded district. Headquarters of the Red Cross at 8 a. m. had received no reports from its representatives in the stricken areas as to the number of dead. Governor on Way SAN DIEGO, Cal., March 13— Governor C. C. Young announced today he would go to Los Angeles to aid in relief work for the stricken Santa Clara river district. Plans for a celebration here; for Governor Young and Governor Abelardo Rodrisuez, of Baja. Cal., were cancelled when word of the disaster was received. AVIATRIX LEAVES ROME Hops Off for Naples on England to South Africa Flight. By United Press ROME. March- 13.—Lady Bailey, flying alone to South Africa from England, arrived here at 2:35 p. m, today and left for Naples at 3:15.