The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-03-13

OXnarQ. Rau communication prOba -
bly, cannot be re-established for
tWenty-four hours at least.
The wall of water was two miles
wide in places and was rolling down
the valley toward the Pacific Ocean
with such force that it was believed
everything would be carried before
it.
The first small rescue squads, sent
into the flooded regian before day
break, reported that the onrush of
water had caused great devastation.
The ST. Francis dam was COM
pleted a year ago and is the second
largest dam constructed by the Las
Angeles bureau Of power and light.
Southern California Edison Com
pany power lines, serving Los
Angeles, Santa Barbara and Ven-
tura counties, went down when the
water struck.
Power Lines Out
Santa Barbara newspapers were
unable to go to press because of lack
of power. Lines serving Los Angeles
partly were repaired, although GER
tain districts were without lights.
Red Cross chapters throughout the
State were rushing relief squads TO
the inundated sections.
D. G. McWatters, head of the local
chapter. ordered the equipment used
in the Santa Barbara earthquake
disaster made ready for immediate
service.
The huge dam collapsed shortly
before a. m. All wires in the sec
ton were torn away, leaving the
stricken cities in darkness.
After the dam broke, automobiles
raced to nearby towns to warn of the
approaching flood.
No word has been received for
hours from Santa Paula, town of
more than 1000 population.
Shortly before the flood reached
that section, the United Press cor
respondent at Santa Paula reported
by long-distance telephone that the
residents were fleeing to the hills.
They had been warned by fire
sirens.
. Many, it was believed, started too
late to reach high ground.
Piru and Saticoy, also in the path
OF the flood, had not been heard
from, and it was feared they
suffered heavy loss. San Fernando
Valley, one of southern California's S
garden spots, was saved from the
flood by a mountain ridge, which
diverted the water down the Santa
Clara River and Santa Paula
canyon.
Ridge Route Blocked
The famous Ridge Route leading
north to Bakersfield was completely
blocked and all highways in the
affected area were impossible.
Bodies of eight men were re-
covered and taken into Newhall
today.
At the Edison Company camp
below the dam, fifty men were en-
ployed. They may have been sleep
ing when the water swept upon
them. Half a mile farther down, at
a power bureau SUBJ station, 125
men were employed.
II talked to old residents of the
district" Captain Newsletter of
San Fernando police division said,
"and they believed that escape
from the waters must have been
impossible for many residents of
the valley. In some places there
must have been seventy-foot wall
of water"
Family Is Saved
Five members of the family of B.
w. Hunick, rancher, were saved
when they joined hands and f1oated
to the edge of the flood, but r.
year-old daughter and a baby of
the same family were swept away
in the darkness, it was reported.
Hunick was asleep in his ranch
home with his father Charles, an
other rancher named Halschau,
Mrs. Halschau and Halschau's ia
ther in a cabin a mile and a half
above Saugus. The names Of the
12-year-old girl and the baby were
not learned.
The Hunicks and Halschaus were
taken to the emergency hospital at
Newhall. An uncle and sister of
Hunick were missing and were be-
lieved to have periShed.
The ranch and Indian store owned
by Harry Carey, movie star, two
miles from Saugus, was swept away
by the flood. 1t was not known
whether any one on the ranch was
lost.
! Carey spent much of his time