The San Francisco call., 1910-01-03
LIFE SAVING CREW
RESCUES II PEOPLE
Heavy Surf Boat Used to Reach
Submerged Islet in Raging
Santa Ana River
Floods Cause Great Damage
and Few Trains Able to
Reach Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES, JAN. 2.-Twelve per-
soEs who had been marooned on
narrow strip of land between two
branches of the Santa Ana river near
Downey all night, when the river cut
them OF from escape. were rescued
early this morning by members of the
Venice life saving crew, Sheriff Ham,
mel of Los Angeles county. Deputy
Sheriff Matthewson and Chief of Po-
lice Dishman of this city The per-
sons rescued are:
Mrs. Bertha Armstrong and Mrs.
Sarah Wells, widows and sisters, and
son of Mrs Wells. who lived to-
and Mrs. William Paxton and their
two sons; Mr.. and Mrs. Henry Moul
ton and their three children.
LIFE SAVERS sEkT FOR
Early this morning, after vain eff
forts had been made to reach the
homes of these people during the night
Hammel, Chief Dishman and some
deputies from this city a call was sent
to Vesffce and the life saving crew re-
sponded. bringing their heavy surf
boat on fatcar. The boat was
launched before daylight and after an
bulent stream and reaching the ma
rooned people.
Already their homes We're partially
submerged and they were in imminent
danger of being swept away in the
raging flood. They were safely landed
at Downey. One of those who dis
tinguished themselves during the
night while efforts were being made
to reach the endangered people was
Mrs. Henry T. Gage, wife of the newly
appointed minister to Portugal, who
braved the storm and waded through
mud almost knee deep TO direct the
rescuers from the Gage ranch, which
is near the banks of the river.
COMMUNICATION RE-ESTABLISHED
After being isolated for 4S hours
partial communication is again es-
tablished between Los Angeles and
the outside world, although it will
be many days before the damage
wrought by the transforms of the last
four days is repaired and all lines of
communication are restored to their
normal conditions.
At 6:45 tonight the Golden State
limited train of the Southern Pacific
for two days, arrived here. Trains
and 10 were sent east late today via
Eel Paso with prospects of getting
through unless further damage occurs.
Some of the belated trains on the
Southern Pacific and Salt Lake roads
are expected to arrive here tomorrow.
The Southern Pacific coast route is.
however, the only one to this city over
which trains are running on schedule
time.
REPAIR GANGS AT WORK
>All of last night and today wrecking
engines and gangs of men have been
out in the storm attempting to make
temporary repairs so that belated
trains may reach the city, and tonight
there is still much concern felt by the
officials of all three of the transconti-
mental roads reaching this city. Two
long stretches of roadbed are washed
away between Los Angeles and San
Bernardino on the route used jointly
by the Salt Lake and Santa Fe. Salt
Lake westbound trains are now being
held at Victorville. Barstow and Otis.
and it is hoped TO bring them here
Wednesday. On the Santa Fe condi-
tions are particularly bad on both
main lines. Near Anaheim, on the San
Diego route, two bridges are out and
all traffic is stopped for seveval days.
On the main line between this city and
San Bernardino new tracks will have
to be laid for a considerable distance
before trains can be moved. The large
cement bridge at Olive station has set
tied and is declared unsafe.
MANY TRAINS STALLED
The second section of the California
limited is held at Cajon. 1t was due
here Friday. Trains and 1, both due
here Saturday, are stalled at Barstow
and train 3 is at Needles. They will
probably arrive here Wednesday.
Trains and 1, due here today, are
held at Ash Fork, Ariz.
rom ol
Santa Fe line has gone down east of
Barstow and the full extent of the
damage to tracks and bridges is not
known. Two bridges over the San
Gabriel between this city and San Ber-
nardino are out and an attempt to
build temporary structures will be be-
gun at once.
Floods DemOraIize Traffic
Z i Ill