Los Angeles herald., 1910-01-02

in their homes until this morning.
Watch Party Remain
It was agreed that a party of watch
ers remain during the night to signal
those in distress, although it was
thought that unless it started raining
again the occupants of the marooned
homes were In no immediate danger
or in such dire need as to cause the
risk of life to make the attempt.
The wire fences, the deep eddies and
uncertain lay of the land was such
as to defy human effort, and although
there were many who volunteered to
make the attempt, wiser counsel pre-
vailed, and this morning, If the request
made last night to the Santa Monica
life station for assistance is granted,
I 1t is thought the trip can be made in
safety.
BY the use of the life saving guns
it is thought ropes can be shot to
the houses, which will be of great
value in guiding a boat.
Colonel Gordon stated that he would
be on hand early this morning to lend
his assistance. Sheriff Hammel. with
extra equipments and force of dep
uties, will be on the scene early.
Generous Offers Made
A. e. Foster, whose home is near
the station of the watchers, offered to
provide food and warmth during the
night vigil. Former Governor Gage.
whose beautiful home adjoins the
flooded district, also offered his as
sistance and whatever supplies might
be needed.
BY means of telescopes it could be
seen that the house of the Armstrong
and Wells sister was in the most dan
| ger, and it was estimated that four
| feet of water was in the building. 1t
| was the only house from which no
{ light was visible last night, which
gave rise to fear that the women and
boy might have attempted to effect
| landing.
At the Moulton and Paxton houses
dim lights could be discerned in the
darkness. The three houses are about
half a mile apart, and the only hu-
morous feature of what may be a
tragedy was seen during the day when
COW broke from the inundated Moul-
ton barn and struggled half mile,
swimming to safety in the barn ad-
joining the Widows home.
Loss of Cattle Heavy
The inundated land had been used
for raising alfalfa and pasture land,
and cows and hogs were raised, and it
is supposed that the loss to cattle may
be extensive. 1t was impossible to
estimate the property loss until clos
er investigation is made, but old ranch
hands stated that it would not exceed
$4,000.
There is a fourth house in the flood
ed district, which is believed to be un-
| occupied. All the buildings were of
the usual California ranch house
STYLE without cellars or substantial
foundations, and the greatest fear is
that the frail structures will not be
able to Withstand the velocity of the
current
Nearly the entire population Of
Downey was gathered about the place
where attempts had been made to
launch the raft yesterday, and there
was no lack of volunteers.
The path of the flood is through
what is known as the old San Gabriel
river basin, formerly the course of the
main stream.
New River Bed Formed
In 1874 terrific rain storm and snow
slide swept through the valley with
such force that a new path of the
river three miles south of Downey,
was formed by the rushing water.
When the flood subsided the new ba-
sin formed was deeper than the old,
thus forming the New San Gabriel
branch. In summer little water is in
the old basin, but yesterdays flood
was of such force that the main vol
ume of the water was turned into
the old basin, thus flooding ranch land
that was thought to be safely out OF
any storms pathway
| Old inhabitants have come to realize
what is meant when the San Gabriel
goes on a rampage, and agreed that
! Yesterdays flood was the most eX-
! tensive since 1891. At that time the
house now occupied by the Armstrong 3
and Wells widows was used by James
| Grider, cattle rancher, and with MS
| family escaped death from drowning
by cutting a hole in the roof of ms
| home. where the family remained un-
| til the waters had subsided. A num-
her of his cattle sought refuge on top
| of a long hay stack and escaped
death.
| With more rain tonight, the rescue
| efforts will be more hazardous
y Heavy Damage at Whittier
! Renorts from Whittier late last night
! indicate that the storm did incalculabla
! damage to the surrounding country
| The entire strip adjacent to the San
| Gabriel river is inundated, all telephone
| and telegraph lines but the Sunset are
| out of commission, both the Paclne
| Electric and Southern Pacific bridges
are down and the trestle used by the
| Santa Fe railroad threatens to give
| way to the turbulent stream at any
| minute.
supplies for the Whittier market are
taken from Los Angeles on the early
morning Sunday and Monday cars, ana
while there is no danger of famine
shortage of meat and some lack OF
| groceries will result unless the stu
pendous task of replacing the bridges
! is completed at once. Wagon roads are
washed out in every direction, anu
while communication with the south,
Puente and other towns to the north
! east is still possible it is by no means
an easy task.
The storm hit Whittier early In the
! morning, and by o'clock the word