Evening star., 1933-03-12
a promise that water would be trans
ported to the town.
FEAR GRIPS LONG BEACH.
Recurring Shocks Keep Thousands In
State Of Panic.

Recurring Shocks Keep Thousands I'm
State Of Panic.
LONG BEACH. Calf, March II Up.
-Recurrent earth shocks, many OF
them SO severe they rocked the remain
ing buildings, made Long Beach city
of fear today as the death toll was
officially reported at 68 and the in
jured at approximately $500.
Crowds wandered the streets aim
lessly, gazing awe-stricken at the tre-
mendous damage done to this once
beautiful seaside community. City Of
f1cials placed the damage conservatively
at S25, ,000.0 900.
The armory was converted into a
temporary morgue and was besieged by
thousands of relatives Of the dead and
missing. There was no martial law,
although 1000 sailors, soldiers and
Marines kept the crowds moving and
would not allow them on the sidewalks,
keeping them In the middle Of the
streets.
At least rs per cent Of the build
ings and residences in the city were
damaged, possibly IS per cent Of that
number beyond repair.
Most residents of the city refused to
return to their homes as shock after
shock, some severe and others less in
tense, rocked the buildings.
|, The fire department was kept busy
answering alarms in various portions OF
the city, Ambulances were called into
service asssseveral persons venturing
too near to partially DESTROYED build
ings were injured ~ falling debris
loosened by later shocks.
Spend Night in Open. i.
Bonfires were kept burning in vacant
lots and residents planned to spend a
second night in the open, with seemingly
no let up in the earth's convulsions.
Although the streets were crowded
with thousands Of persons, there had
been no looting and Chief Of Police
]. S. Yancey said he anticipated none.
A soldier, Marine OF sailor guarded the
open buildings every few feet.
Anaheim boulevard, one OF the main
thoroughfares of the city, suffered the
main brunt Of the damage. Practically
every building on the street was dam
aged in the business area. The larger
buildings seem to have withstood the
shocks better than the smaller ones,
although many Of the 13-story buildings
were cracked.
Until thorough check Of the Pacific
Coast Club Building and the city hall
| could be made, all persons were barred
from the structures. Engineers were to
inspect the buildings before allowing
them to be occupied.
Most of those killed in Long Beach
were caught by falling masonry or
bricks as they rushed from buildings in
the business district just as offices and
stores were closing last evening.
Very few business establishments were
open today. The few restaurants which
were not damaged seriously did a land
office business. There was no evidence
of profiteering.
All Roads Blockaded.
One business enterprise upon which
the people depended most for their
Telegram, operated under difficulties.
Its reporters were stationed in Long
Beach and their copy sent to Pasadena,
80 miles away, and printed in the plant
Of the Pasadena Star News, associated
in ownership with the Press-Telegram.
The newspapers were then brought back
to Long Beach and distributed.
Hundreds of special police officers
b!ockaded all roads to Long Beach, pre-
venting thousands of sightseers and
others who had no urgent business In
the stricken city from entering.
Relief plans were placed into effect
when the City Council gave E. S. Dobbin,
city manager, blanket power to take
whatever steps he deemed necessary for
the welfare of life and property. The
council announced it would meet twice
daily to serve as an advisory body to
Dobbin.
The Chamber Of Commerce i'm
mediately formed a Citizens Rehabi1ita-
ton Committee to meet tomorrow to
plan cooperative movement for fhe
removal Of debris and to start recon-
struction.
I'VE hope to make this disaster q
stepping stone to more beautiful city,"
said Bruce Mason, president of the
Chamber of Commerce
Mason announced selection Of e. F.
MacDonough, consultant employed by
the City of Santa Barbara following
| the devastating earthquake in that city
several years ago, to work out a
harmonious plan of architecture to re-
place damaged buildings.
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