Douglas daily dispatch., 1926-09-14

The accident occurred while Rivera
and his wife were returning from an
outing near the Hunsaker ranch. The
flood resulted from small cloudburst
that occurred above the Hunsaker
ranch during the late afternoon. No
rain had fallen in the canyon and other
picnickers who were along the creek
bank barely had time to escape to their
cars before the wall of water came
tumbling down the creek.
The accident occurred at the second
creek crossing Rivera and his wife,
who had left Douglas about o'clock
Sunday afternoon to take drive and
enjoy a. picnic supper, were returning
along the creek bank when they no.
ticed several eprsons running back
from the creek when Rivera reached
the crossing, he noticed that there was
about a foot of water in the streams.
When he started to cross the wheels
threw water onto to the hood of the
car. killing the engine Before he
could get the stalled motor in opera
tion again the main wall Of water
said to have been about IA feet in
height, struck the machine, sweeping
it downstream.
Woman Grabbed Fence
When the engine stopped. Mrs. Ri
vera stepped out of the car and onto
the running board. AS the main FLOOD
struck the machine, she was swept off
downstream strong wire fence ex-
tends across the creek just below the
crossing and Mrs. Rivera, although en-
quilted in the flood waters, clung to
this fence and managed to Chamber to
the bank The car crashed through the
fence and was carried downstream for
a distance of about $50 feet, where. Ri
vera's body was recovered from under
the car Monday morning.
Deputy Sheriff There
Deputy Sheriff Walter Morris was
almost an eye witness of the accident
and brought Mrs. Rivera to the city
after the death of her husband. Morris
had crossed the first creek ford and
was approaching the second when the
wall of water passed. Knowing that
he would be unable to cross the stream,
he stopped his machine to sreconnoiter
Just after stopping he heard a woman
scream and noticed Mrs. Rivera coming
toward him along the bank OF the
creek. She told him tnat her husband
had lust been washed down the creek.
Morris and a number of other men
from other picnickers along the creek
spent some time in searching for the
car, but by this time it had grown
officers recovered the body by digging
Mrs Rivera to the city and secure help.
Upon reaching the city, Morris noti-
fled Constable o. A. Ash and Howard
Ames of the Porter and Ames mortu-
ary. With Alphonso Villegas and H. j.
Krohn, who are employed by Rivera,
and Brown Martin, friend, the o1tl-
GERS drove back to the canyon They
the car about $50 feet below
the scene of the accident overturned,
and with Rivera's body beneath 1t. The
recover dthe body by digging
beneath the car and brought it to the
city.
Lived Here 20 Years
Rivera had lived in Douglas for the
past 20 years and was one of the most
highly respected business men in the
city He came to Douglas from Guada-
Iajara and engaged in the grocery busl-
ness from which he gradually built up
The extensive wholesale and retail gro
Gerry business at 361 Tenth street. INF
addition to his wife, he is survived by /
1ne son, Regula, and three daughters
aged 20; Bertha, aged II,
md Frances, aged IA.
Rivera and his wife did not take any
If the children with them Sunday after
loon because they had thought that IL
would be nice to make the trip alone.
When they failed to return Sunday
light, the son took a truck and started
,ut to look for them, but turned back
short distance from the city because
If engine trouble. Back in the city, ne
lotified H. ]. Krohm, salesman Tor
he company ,and he and Krohn were 4
ust starting to set out in Krohns car
when they learned of his fathers death.
Dangerous Road
The Leslie canyon road is considered
me of the most dangerous in this sec;
ion and repeatedly gives trouble be-
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