The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-03-03
Mum Der or Dead M Floods Not Known
(Continued from Page D

other towns more distant were cut off from communication with the world except by short wave radio. Los Angeles was able to care for its own, but from smaller places the short wave band cracked with frantic appeals for help.
 Ten Reported Drowned
 Ten were reported drowned early today when the Santa Ana river went over its banks north of River side and reverted to the channel from which it was diverted in 1882. Riverside is 40 miles southeast of Los Angeles.
 The sheriff's office at Riverside broadcast an appeal by radio for doctors and medical supplies. The broadcast spoke vaguely of "cas- ualties" at a school house where, presumably, flood refugees had been assembled.
 In Los Angeles water ran in tor rents through the streets. The col lapse of pedestrian bridges and landslides in the hills that buried homes under tons of dirt, contrib uted to the increasing death toll.
 It was estimated that from 5000 to 10000 families were homeless refugees; that property damage would be between $l5,000,000 and $30,0oo,000.
 United Press Circuit
 Communications into Los Angeles and environs had failed intermit- tently during the night, and went out finally at 80 a. m. (4:30 a. m. EST) the United Press established a radio telephone circuit between its Los Angeles and San Francisco bureau when it's news wires went out, and news was transmitted both ways after only a short interrup- tion in service.
 Flood control experts estimated that the crest was passing through Los Angeles at 4 a. m. q a. m. EST) and rushing on to the ocean. and that the waters would begin re- ceding later in the morning.
 Back in the hills, mountain streams had filled flood control res- ervoirs to overhowing and there was a peril that any one of several dams might crumble and cause a worse disaster.
 Rains abated early this morning and only light showers were fore caGt for the day, which was heart CT ng news to the thousands of refugees crowded into army camps, police stations, theaters and public buildings.
 Some Unheard From
 Many communities remained to be heard from, but 1t appeared that Los Angeles, Riverside and Long Beach had been hardest hit.
 Mayor William Evans of Riverside reporting on the Santa Ana river flood, said that no bodies were re- covered but undoubtedly a half dozen were drowned in this vicinity and the sheriff's office says the toll may go as high as dozen"
 Resources of both the army and navy were made available. Soldiers gathered in refugees, pitched tents for them and bedded down others in the armories. Navy and coast guard boats lay offshore, their crews aiding in rescue work wherever pos sible.
 The list of reported dead reached p early today. Some were hurled into the Los Angeles river when pedestrian bridges gave way. Others died in their homes, crushed by landslides. Many others were miss ing.
 Bridge COllapses
 At Long Beach, 8 foot bridge col lap5ed while from 12 to IS persons stood on it watching the turbulent Los Angeles river disgorge itself into the Pacific. Seven or eight were lost and believed drowned. Crews from navy surf boats saw the mis- hap and sped in to rescue three others.
 A few hours later another bridge spanning the same river at Ram dolph street near Haywood Collapsed with splintering crash and two or three of the 20 persons standing on it were hurled into the water and lost. The others scampered to safety.
 The movie colony was partly flooded and isolated. Two police men and student were reported drowned when rowboat overturned near the North Hollywood high school. The disaster relief council was informed that at the time 600 children were marooned in the school.
 Only Boats in Use
 The low, fiat suburbs were