New-York tribune., 1916-01-31
Otay Valley Armed Camp
PatrOlIed by u. S. Ma
rincs and Sailors.
VILLAGES DESERTED
WHEN DAM BURSTS
More Farm Lands Threatened
by New FIood-TWenty
Bodies Recovered.

San Diego. Cal. Jan. 30 (by rndio to
San Francisco. -Looting. described by
Rear Admiral Fullam, commanding the
Pacific reserve feet. as "the worst
have ever seen" broke out to-day In
the Otay Valley, food swept by the
breaking OF the Otay dam last Thurs
day. The lower valley was turned into
an armed camp, patrollcd by marines
and sailors from the battleship Oregon
and the cruisers Milwaukee and South
Dakota in San Diego Bay, with orders
to shoot lootcrs on sight.
The sailor, and marines toilcd hard
to recover the bodies OF those who lost
their lives in the disaster, and at sun
down twenty bodies, some OF which
were mutilated. had been gathered to
gether. Only six OF the bodies have
been identified. The loss OF life in the
Otav Valley now is estimated al nifty,
while reports that the cloudburst in
the San Luis Rey and San Pasqual
valleys cost no more than ten lives
brought tho probable death list In this
section 10 sixty.
A new food to-day poured down the
Tia Juana River. which has risen four
feet at its mouth, at the foot Of san
Diego Bay. Officials here said that this
undoubtedly indicated the bursting OF
the Norcna dam, sixty miles back IN
tho hills. Fearing that the fifteen
billion gallons of water impounded oy
the dam would tear a new channel for
the river across the Coronado strand
into the sea. residents Of Imperial
Beach. a hamlet on the strand, were
ordered 10 flee.
Faces Four-Foot Flood Wave.
First news of the reported collapse
of the Norena dam came through An
drew Eryast. city engineer OF corohauo'
Trying to-day 70 reach the MeN Nic"n
town Of Tia Juana, he saw iour-ioo1
wave coming down the Tia Juans RIVER;
lie turned his automobile and spresu
the warning.
Coronado strand, a long sandspit' OF
fering the only means OF ingress lhto
the Otay Valley. and turned BACK
would-be sightseers. The MARINES
camped in the valley, while the sailors
made headquarters in the httle pricN
schoolhousc at Otay City. Each man
carried twenty rounds or ammuhi'ioh.
The United States destroyer Law
renee acted as base ship, and a nos
pital squad from the Milwaukee opcr-
ated in conjunction with both forces.
Fifty Farmhouses Destroyed.
Fifty farmhouses. according 70 per
sons acouainted with the Otay Valley,
must have stood IN the path Of the
food. II was estimated that from four
To five persons occupied each, although
those housing Orientals held large
lumber. Many Of these are believed TO
have had time 10 escape. The estimate
of fifty dead is considered conserVa-
tive, however.
Lieutenant ". ". Bradley. command
inc the destroyer Hull, reported to-day
that he had been unable 70 find any
trace Of six persons said to have been
carried out TO sea on ranch house.
but IL was rumorcd that they had been
taken of in a small boat.
Reports that the town Of I IA Juana'
Lower California. had suffered heavy
damage seemed TO be confirmed to-day.
II was said that little was left Of the
new racetrack plant, which cost S2OU,-
600. A large force Of workmen con
tinues 70 reinforce the Sweetwater dam
in the little valley north Of the Oty
River.
The Mayor Of San Luis Rey headed
a committee Of toWnsmen and ranchers
engaged in relief work in their valley.
and it was indicated that military aid
would not be needed there.
Telephone reports we're received TO-
night from two sources that the Cuya-
maca dam. al the source Of the san
Diego River. had broken, releasing
three billion gallons OF water.
Wire communication With the out
side world. which has been cut of
since last Thursday, was restored to
night The authorities and citizens
are devoting every effort TO the relief
Of want and distress occasloned by the
foods
Three thousand are homeless. ac-
cording TO an estimate by Ernest l..
White, chairman Of the San Diego
relief committee OF these, 600 are
sheltered on the hillsides at Palm Sta
tion. the highest point near Otay City.
II now appears that but six persons
lost their lives in Otay City itselt,
but few of the refugees escaped with
more than their lives. A tent colony
OF 200 has been established at San
Ysidro.
ArhanSanS Desert Homes as