Evening star., 1934-01-02
CALIFORNIA STORM
DEATH TOLL GROWS
81 Persons Drowned, II
Missing and Hundreds
Are Injured.
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north of Los Angeles, separated from
the metropolis by the low-lying Ver-
Fate apparently had prepared cir
cumStances well for the terror 1t was
to enact. Several weeks ago a disas-
trous fire, blaze subsequent to the one
in Griffith Park here which took 20
lives, had burned the La CreScenta La
Canada -Montrose area bare Of the
brush that protected surrounding
mountainsides.
Normally heavy growths OF mountain
slopes will counteract the possibility OF
floods resulting from heavy rains: Thus
with the hillsides bare, no resistance
was offered by nature to the excessive
rainfall.
Girl Tells Of Flood.
Raining constantly, beginning late
last Saturday. wafer accumulated until
wall 25 feet high was freed. Four
teen-old Jean Beauchamp told what it
sounded like-what it did.
Il was in the house alone when /
heard a roar like a windstorm ap-
preaching. The roar grew louder and
heard the rush of the water. I was
too scared to run,
Then suddenly the food struck our
thrown into the muddy water Rocks
struck me as I tumbled through the
water"
Jean lived because she could swim
and grasped the stout branch of an oak
tree. pulling herself to safety.
Another said that "aS the black de-
mon of roaring water hit. the building
quivered for a few minutes and then
the wall went out and we found our
selves tossing about. fighting rocks,
boulders and debris as we were
swept on"
Trapped by Waters.
So fast did the water flow in streets
one woman, stepping from the running
board of her husbands automobile and
attempting to ford the torrent. was
sucked beneath the machine to her
death.
Five died when their automobile
plunged through bridge wash-out and
was caught in the maelstrom of mud
and water, which had swept away the
crossing.
Three more automobiles similarly dis
appeared over another bridge. Several
men in them swan to safety. but two
women and another man disappeared.
Police expected to uncover their bodies
in the accumulation of silt. Some may
even have been washed as far as the
ocean. 80 miles distant
Automobiles we're buried up TO the
hoods and sometimes nearly to the tops
in debris. Homes fell into washes and
gullieS.
Danger Believed Passed.
Streets in all sections were paved by
silt from 6 inches and 2 feet deep. In
some areas the avalanche of water still
rumbled past today. although the prin-
cipal danger apparently had passed.
The Weather Bureau predicted unset
tied weather today and clearing wealth
er tomorrow
Schools here and in Glendale. which
adjoins the Montrose district, did not
open today. examination Of schools here
already was underway as a result OF
the March earthquake and 1t was
feared the floods may have further
weakened some structures.
Sheriff's deputies had retrived 10
bodies from the wreckage in the Mont
rose district. Most of the victims were
believed to have been in some rs houses
which were destroyed by the flood.
Twenty-Five other homes were damaged
extensively
While police and sheriff's officials
directed a search for victims and sought
identification Of the bodies recovered
other agencies organized quickly to pro-
vide relief for sufferers and repair the
damage done.
LegionnaireS aided in policing flooded
districts and helped supply first aid.
In sections of Venice. beach resort.
where 1900 homes we're flooded, life
guards manned rowboats and rescued
many of the stranded residents. some
of whom we're forced to seek shelter on
the second floor or in the attics of their
homes. until aid arrived.
Many Missing.
Henry Hesse. in the midst Of enter
tanning new year guests, opened the rear
door of his home and saw the back
porch swept away by wall of water.
Everybody get out!" he shouted, seiz-
ing his wife by the hand.
As they plunged into the swirling
water the house crumbled and most O.
it was swept away. Hesse said he be-
lieved none of their five guests, two
women and three men, escaped. He and
his wife caught floating tree trunk and
swan to safety.
Another dramatic story told today was
that of Chester Herrera, IL. who was
playing with Bobby Dungerson, l3, on a
raft they floated in the street The
raft overturned. plunging them both
into the water Bobby swan to safety
but Chester was sucked into a storm
drain and drowned
Wendell Farr. 1e, drove his motor car
into the Los Angeles River at Victory
Boulevard, apparently unable to see that
the bridge had been washed away, Two
girls and a boy who were with him
escaped from the swirling waters. but
FAR is missing.
Behind Farr came Richard Draper
who also drove into the river. He and
Larry Mcdonald escaped from the car
but Virginia Pulliam, II, and Phyllis
Brooks, II, have not been found.
1900 Homes Abandoned.
In the lowland area between Culver
City and Venice there was from to
7 feet of water, driving some $500 per-
sons from 1900 homes that were aban-
doned.
They were cared for in emergency
IeHI ldCAiieo Piofiuee VA oAe Va "
piers.
Mayor Joseph L. Bandino of Glendale
summoned the City Council in special
session to consider plans for relief OF
homeless victims in that area which he
estimated at between 1000 and l,5OO.
Tragic scenes were enacted IN the
boiling debris waters of the
Arroyos, on the sides of which homes
had been built in the dry seasons.
The body of 4-year -old Marylin Ghos-
lin, daughter of Ray F. Ghoslin, Glen
dale, was found in the Verdugo Wash
near Brand boulevard, the center boule-
ward Of that city.
Not far away was found the body OF