Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-01-31
Committees Formed in San
Diego, CAL, for the AIIevia-
tion of Distress.
ARMY AND NAVY FURNISH
GUARD AGAINST LOOTING
Floods Are Reported as Subsiding
and the Endangered Dams Are
Still Holding. r;

carry relief work on in every part
of San Diego county devastated
by the floods OF the last week. and
clearing weather to assist them,
the task OF alleviating distress
and restoring conditions to- some
thing like normal. is being pushed
today with energy.
All floods are reported subsid-
ing. The Morena, Guayamaca
and Sweetwater dams are report
ed holding.
A great amount of clothing and
supplies for several days have
been gathered by the chamber OF
commerce, which is leading the
relief movement, and these will be
distributed Immediately among
food sufferers. Telegraph COM
munication has been restored to
many distant points, and as the
roads are now passable it is be-
lieved majority of the refugees
can be given aid at once.
San Diego County Death List.
The known death list early today b
this section stood at thirty-fou The
receding of flood waters in the Otay,
Tia Juana. San Diego. San Luis Rey
and San Pasoual valleys is expected to
expedite relief work today. The force
Of service men which have been working
for two days under the personal dirsc-
tion of Rear Admiral Fullam of the Pa
ciflc reserve feet was recalled last
night and a new detachment will -
sent out today. - Z :
The men of the United States Army
and Navy have supplied guards against
looting, which Admiral Fullam de-
nounced as the worst he had even seen.
Rescue parties have been sent out 70
rescue survivors and to recover the
dead.
Reports made to the chamber of conn
merce relief committee show 5000 per-
sons were made homeless in San Diego
county.
Guayamaca Lake Dixie Safe.
Telephone advices today from Cuya-
maca lake, where IT was reported last
night the dam went out, state that the
dixie is safe and that unless further
heavy rains occur the valley below II
is in no danger. Word was sent
throughout the San Diego river valley
early last night that the dam had
broken and the residents were advised
to flee to high ground. and although
most of them were reassured later, few
returned to their homes until day
break.
With the safety of the great Morena
dam confirmed and the escape of wa
ter from a break in the Sweetwater
dam ecreasing. authorities declare the
city has enough water stored to supply
all needs indefinitely.
Railway Bed Swept Away.
The San Diego and Arizona railroad
bed has been swept away for thou
sands of feet in San Diego county, and
San Diego bay is covered with wreck
age Of every kind.
First news of the Otay valley dis-
aster was brought to San Diego late
Friday by Col. Max Fleischmann of
Cincinnati. who flew over the flood
stricken region in an aeroplane His
report was taken to Los Angeles by the
yacht of Col. ID. c. Jackling of Salt
Lake City. the copper mining maRnate.
When debris began first to foat into
San Diego bay, Mr.. Fleischmann, ac-
companied by an aviation instructor.
flew inland to investigate They skim,
med the flooded valley, made one land
ing and learned the first meager de-
tails of the bursting of the .ower Otav
dam.
One of the freaks of the flood WA.
the carrying away of a ponderous
Santa Fe locomotive. which was swent
out to sea.
Twenty-nine bodies have been recov.
cred from the Otay valley flood. In the
San Louis Rey valley it was believed to-
day that the death toll would not be mora
than ten. instead of fifty. as FIRST re-
ported.
The sailors and marines toiIed hard
to recover the bodies of those who lost
their lives i'm the disaster. The loss OF
life in the Otay valley now is Estimated
at fifty. while reports that the cloud
burst in San Luis Rey and San Pas
lives brought the probable death list
in that section to sixty.
or the twenty-nine bodies recovered
in the Otay valley only six have been
identified.
Federal Troops on Patrol Duty.
Federal troops patrolled the Core
nado strand. a long sand spit Offering
the only means of ingress into the Otay
valley, and turned back would be slGht-
seers. The marines under Capt. Charles
T. Westcott, jr.. camped in the valley.
while the sailors under Ensign Hamii-
ton OBrien of the Milwaukee made
headquarters in the little brick school
house at Otay city. t-.
Each man carried twenty rounds Of
The United States destroyer Lawrepcs
4 cted as base ship and hospital SQUAD
from the Milwaukee operated in con.
junction with both forces.
Fifty farmhouses. according to per-
sons acquainted with the Otay valley.
must have stood In the path Of the
hood 1t was estimated that from four
% Ave persons occupied each, aithough
hose housing orientals held q large
number.
Many of these are believed to have
aad time to escape, although Il has
Deen impossible to check in any way
lgainst the known residents OF that
valley. The estimate Of nifty deaA n +.
considered conservative.
Lieut.. W.. w. Bradley, commanding
fhe deatroySr Hull. reported to-day thar