Santa Cruz Sentinel from Santa Cruz, California • Page 8

SANTA CRUZ SENTINEL, SANTA CRUZ, CALIFORNIA Wednesday, February 28," 1940 bsven DBHdges Elairled 0Dc3i Iln Kagiiiig IFlood City Nearly Isolated By Closed Rocds; All Communications Suffer From Storm Remember The Floods dPi '27 Mere's Comparison With Today PAGE EIGHT Mr" ff Bv Pou Bald'vin The rampaging San Lorenro river and its tributaries yesterday caused damage that will rench at lenst one hundred thousand dollars in destruction of two city ard five county bridei in the 24-hour period that ended at 5 o'clock last night. 1 the swirling, muddy waters carried thousands of cords of driftwood oceanward, and debris piling up againrt bridge pi'ings created pressure that the structures were unable to withstand, The city lost two footbridges. Hie Cooper streot bridge went out shortly after 6 o'clock yesterday morning and the Ocean street footbridge Rave way Sidelights Old-timers yesterday differed as to whether this was the greatest flood since 1898 or IIW. But here are some pictures of flood and high tides in H27 which The Sentinel cameraman recorded for history. At lop left is shown the old chutes at Ihe beach, marooned by Ihc seas, and below a watery view of the esplanade.

At right are shown huge breakers crashing into the Casino much as Ihey did yesterday morning, and right below a closeup of driftwood littering the Capitola esplanade after the storm had passed. (Sentinel photos.) Thunder Of Water, Falling Trees Roars Through Valley Reporter Finds Paradise Park, Sycamore Grove Shambles From Racing stream; lor rent Smashes Holes In Brookdale Lodge 1 By Lowell Bready Thunder of tree trunks twisting in their sockets and ram pant streams roaring over bridges sounded through the San Old Man River Plays Sad, Strange Tricks On People But a few short days ago a tranquil stream, the San Lorenzo was yesterday catapulted into a torrent by cloudbursts deep in the Santa Cruz mountains. Fed by swollen streams and creeks, water gushed from once heavily forested mountain sides in a rush that was estimated in some places in excess of 20 miles per hour. The fury of the river reached its height between Paradise Park and the Southern Pacific railroad bridge at the beach. Not in the least bit particular as to cargo, Old Man River carried off houses, shacks from auto automobile trailers, poultry coops, mattresses, fully assembled beds, dressers and a varied assortment of diversified household effects.

Dozens of beachcombers gasped in amazement as this strange flotsam hurdled the bar into Santa Cruz bay. Interesting sidelights of the flood included the plight of a quartet of ancient Chinese who insisted upon remaining in a before the pressure of a hue I05 jam about 10 o'clock in the morning Both these bridges were nearly total losses. Heaviest lorer in the bridges wa the county. Two bridges of over 100 feet in length were in the I northern part of the county. They were the Trout gulch fprn near Aptos, a 100-foot ctructure, and the River Glen bridge, near Boulder Creek, which is 110 feet long.

This bridge went out at 3:30 yesterday. Little creek culvert, a 20 footer, was lost yesterday 'and a 60-foot bridge across Big creek also went out. A big log jam, which contain- 1 h. j. The Zayante bridge was also lost.

City Nearly Isolated The city was practically, isolated yesterday afternoon and early today. High water at Soquel forced highway patrolmen to route traffic out 41st avenue to the Capitola road, thence out to rejoin the Santa Cruz-Watsonville highway above Soquel. San Lorenzo drive, Coast road and Los Gatos highway were hopelessly blocked by slides yesterday and it was feared it might be noon today before transportation could be routed over these roads. The Meeker and Chittenden passes were closed early yesterday, but Hecker was reopened late in the afternoon. The Southern Pacific reported its mountain line was closed and trains were being routed on to the main line via Watsonville junction.

Soft roadbed was halting rail traffic over the mountains. Pacific Greyhound was routing all northbound passengers to Watsonville and Salinas. Only route out of the city when both Hecker and Chittenden passes were closed, was the old Dumbarton roa connwu with Hioh- way 101 near Hollister. This road was being kept open by doubled highway crews. Communications suffered some damage, although apparently Boulder Creek was the only town cut off from Santa Cruz yesterday.

Telegraph was uninterrupted during the day. Utilities Threatened Electric power and gas was threatened with a possible shut-off if the waters failed to abate. General Superintendent Al E. Strong of the Const Counties said a 22,000 volt line near Ben Lomond was giving trouble because of slides and one tree that hit the line. The sub-station at Blaine street was flooded but remained in operation.

Company electricians were striving to prevenj a line that feeds the Mission Hill area from going out and as a precautionary measure were attempting to cut-in a line from the beach sub-station. If this measure is completed, full facilities will be on hand for company patrons. A danger spot in the system was the Soquel highway bridge area. Here the main transmission line bringing natural gas into Santa Cruz was threatened and one crew was station ed at the bridge at all times in an effort to prevent the loss. City bus lines maintained their scheduled runs throughout the day.

Between 15 and 20 feet of the Ocean Shore highway in the vicinity of Waddell creek was washed out Supervisor Charles Pinkham's automobile and a portion of his road equipment was left stranded at Swanton. Pinkham was able to reach his Davenport home. Read The Sentinel Classified Ads For Bargain nieville, in Sierra county, had an official 6.71 inches, and Middlctown, in Lake county, 6.48 inches in 24 hou IdateUs Assembly May Reconvene To Consider Action On Flood Damage San Francisco, Feb. 27 Waterways, turned to torrents by cloudbursts and melting snow, drove as homes today in a score or more ofl cities in northern California. The terrific rains, which brought almost nine inches in 24 hours at several points, had continued for three days.

River conditions were critical, "more rain was in prospect, and Hood conditions equalling the ravages of December, 1937, were predicted by the weather bureau. i In Sacramento, Governor L. Olson declared flood conditions had caused an emergency in Yolo County and he ordered national guardsmen to evacuate more than 70 families forced from their homes. Gordon Garland, speaker of the state assembly, said he was consid ering reconvening the legislature for the purpose of taking such ac tion as may be necessary under the Unusual conditions caused by devastating floods." The legislature recessed last Sunday after a special session which considered relief issues. In the rich Sacramento valley "the situation appears to be grave," the weather forecaster said.

"I would advise vitilance in patroling of the levees." In the town of Napa, 35 miles north of San Francisco, some 500 iiersons were rescued from, flooded homes by boats. The Napa river had hurdled its banks, flooding hundreds of acres, and the city was confronted with another danger a high tide tonight. At TTintrs, a town 15 miles southwest of Woodland, 300 persons in a federal njgrant camp were isolated and marooned after two feet of water swept through their temporary shelters. In another migratory camp near Marysville, 450 persons were evacuated to higher ground. Pescariero I'ndcr Water The 500 person in Pescadcro, 50 miles south of San Francisco, found half their town under water at the dawn of the wet, gray day.

Highways in the flood area were impassable in many instances because of water racing over the roadway, or because normally dry creek-beds, suddenly swollen beyond limit of the banks, had slashed great gorges in the pavement, or carried away bridges and culverts. Despite the grave danger to hundreds of persons, and the peril of the no loss of life had been reported. No one could count the damage or estimate the money loss, but great destruction to crops, and some livestock, was inevitable. Three Southern Pacific lines were blocked, temporarily cutting rail Service between California and the Pacific northwest, and crippling service to Santa Cruz. At 2:30 p.

m. nine trains were held up by a slide at Pollock. Four southbound trains were at Dunsmuir, and five northbound, at Gerber. As an example of the terrific rain, the weather bureau recorded officially a fall of 8.49 inches in 24 hours rt Stirling City, on the Siarra slope, In Butte county. Boulder Creek, near Santa Cruz, had an unofficial i i irouuiK oi o.i.i incnes irom a p.

yesterday to 10 a. m. today. Dow- i Lorenzo valley yesterday as the highest waters since vjvi pnea up thousands of dollars of damage to homes and summer cottages. Boulder Creek was isolated all day and all last night.

It was blocked off from Ben Lomond at the Blue Slide, from San Francisco by slides all along the Skyline boulevard. Telephone lines went down under tons of tree branches and rock. They are still down. From the submerged Sycamore Grove at the edge of Santa Cruz to the River Glen bridge in Boulder Creek water rose to new high levels. Sycamore Grove cwlT; logs and trees.

Efforts of city crews were unavailing. Damage to this bridge was estimated at $500. Police sent out an S. O. S.

call early yesterday for rowboats to evacuate residents from flooded homes in the Garfield street region and the auto camp at the foot of Laurel street. Officers, completing a rescue on Garfield street, reported they had taken a drunk out of a cabin that was endangered. The rescued man told police that the flood "wasn't worrying him any." Although there are but 16 row-boats in Santa Cruz, all of which were pressed into service, an ambitious salesman was holding his skiff for $10, Another Shylock was offering to sell rides in his boat to marooned people on Garfield street Imitate Seagulls Cabins on Riverside avenue belonging to Alex Petitdidier and Rose Armstrong were moved from their foundations by the water with chickens in the yard bravely emu lating seagulls in flying to the roofs to await someone to rescue them. Mrs. Clarence Doane, her father.

C. S. Collins, and her brother, Gene Collins, were rescued from their homes at 172 Garfield street by po lice. The younger Collins had to be removed by the aid of a stretcher and ambulance crew, having been recently laid low by a paralytic stroke. Employes of the Coast Counties Gas Si Electric company were forced to use a boat to gain access to the sub-station at the foot of Blaine street.

Buildings were entirely surrounded by water. Water covered Sycamore Grove camp to a depth in some ptaoes where electric wires were barely above flood levels. The camp was partially destroyed. Orchards below the Odd Fellows cemetery were covered with 15 feet of water. A power house used to pump water into one orchard was lost Scores of acres of bulbous plants were lost along the border of the river within the city limits.

Garden and plant sections at the foot of Garfield street already in bloom for Easter, were a total loss. Bulb growers along the lowlands River street were inundated, homes in this section were severe- The Currier, Campbell and Wheel-ly buffeted by the flood. Boats, Boatnous Last Otto Jensen's boathouse along the Laurel street entension went out during the height of the flood. Sev- That Fearful Storm Of '07 Was Bad, But Old-timers were saying last night the storm of 1907 was worse. They were both right and wrong.

Fivs bridges in Boulder Creek were ripped from their foundations, and 29 in the entire county washed down' stream when a "fearful storm to contemplate" broke at 11 p. m. Friday, March 22, 1907. Yet the rainfall total in Boulder Creek then was only 60 42 about three inches short of what it. is today.

Only 3.91 inches fell during the 12-hour height of the storm in the Santa Cruz' mountains. Over six inches fell in lea than nine hours in Ben Lomond yesterday. "The river was a muddy, treacherous, irresistable torrent carrying everything before it," The Sentinel of March 24, 1907, said. "About 6:30 o'clock the first driftwood came in sight and from then until 11 o'clock the bosom of the river was loaded with saw-logs, up-rooted trees, wood, shingle bolts, dead animals, varied by an occasional 'bridge that floated stately away, reminding one of Mark Twain's steamboat days on the Mississippi." History Repeated Residents of Garfield street were the first who were forced to evacu ate then. The river's history repeat ed itself yesterday.

Chickens took to the trees' on the east side of the river; water stood a foot deep on Pacific avenue. ''Nevertheless, the hearts of Santa Cruzans were light" The Sentinel story continued. "Most of those who were forced to leave their homes temporarily chose to make light of their troubles." In Ben Lomond that dreary night the water swept' down the 'main street, IS feet or more above the ordinary level of the San Lorenzo river. era! boats were Some 60 feet of bulkhead crashed into the-stream near the sewer crossing on. the Laurel street extension.

Allen Rennie, resident on Beach Hill, who has witnessed the San Lorenzo in action since 1870, declared that the river reminded him of floods before the turn of the century. In those days, he said he had rowed a boat on Pacific avenue several times without scraping a keel. United Spanish War Veterans cancelled their meeting last night when seven feet of water flooded Veterans Memorial hall basement Custodian George Farmer lost most of his clothing which was stored in the basement Striking the city water depot on River street at 2 p. m. yesterday, flood waters invaded the premises, causing a suspension of operations in the plant Numerous pumps, coils and equipment were under two feet of water.

The fire department was called to pump the plant out Water at the foot of Pacific av enue, several blocks on River street. Garfnld street. Ocean and Barson streets, and Laurel street was too deep for navigation of automobiles at one time yesterday! Laurel street from Front to Leib-brandt and a portion of Riverside avenue was closed to traffic Elmer Coats of Rio auto camp declared that three cabins, tables, chairs and outdoor equipment were swept before the flood. The Water street gravel bunkers fell before jam of los and dehris. -l sible wa.

stoDDed at Rincon on the Lorenzo drjve by two trees which had crashed across the road and into the guard rail. Turning back to the Graham Hill road was the only way to reach Fclton. From Felton to Glen Arbor all whs clear, but there a giant redwood, well over 100 feet high, had broken loose, roots and all, and descended onto the drive. Its roots and debris around them stood 12 feet high and covered about 50 feet of the road. The shaky Glen Arbor bridge and road to Ben Lomond by way of Newell and Love creek bridges was the only alternate route.

At Ben Lomond all electric clocks read 1 p. m. There was no electricity and little hope for it by night. The Blue Slide was the next stop There I gave up trying to drive and began walking to Boulder Creek. Like a war torn landscape, the Blue Slide sector was strewn with torn trees and poles, crossed with wires and a crazy pattern of branches.

The road was knee deep in silt. For a mile the unbelievable tangle continued. Owners of a truck and several cars, waiting at the slide when I began walking to Boulder Creek, were still struggling when I returned three hours later. A steam shovel cleared their way in front of the slide itself. But a few hundred yards further on they were balked when one slide dropped in front of them, another behind.

They were still grunting vainly when I slushed away from them at dusk, and they were fearful lest their cars be engulfed by a slide di rectly above. They finally walked. it was reported later, to Boulder Creek. Bus passengers, riding to ward Boulder Creek with Clyde Larsen, driver, in his private car, were finally forced to walk too. A stream which had never been a stream before broke through at Gordon's Hill (where the San Lorenzo drive enters Boulder Creek) and deposited 18 inches to three feet of rock and silt over the drive.

Cars were not getting through. Sightseeing For Reporters I saw most of Boulder Creek and Brookdale through a sightseeing tour provided for reporters by Jim Stin- nett, George Cress and Henry Lieb- enberg. No one I talked to believed there had been any fatalities, and the one log house and a boat house from Blake Hammond Manor were the only structures definitely seen goipg 1 down the river in the region above, Paradise park. Scores of places, however, were ruined. Some of them were water sonkrd to the ceiling.

Others IotI I 1 Flood Records Are Wanted U.S. Army Engineers To Submit Report pn San Lorenzo The possibility that even a flood may have its brighter side was seen yesterday when James Blackburn, S. army engineer, arrived in the rity yesterday merning to make observations relative to Ihe proposed federal Jelly and flood control project. Blackburn told M. C.

Hall, chamber of commerce manager, that photographs and detailed reports from property owners injured by Ihe flood, could be used in connection with the report which will go to Washington. Accordingly, property owners are asked to deliver such photographs and records of damage to the chamber of commerce. 10 Paradise Park Homes Lost In Flood Ten houses were completely de molished yesterday and 37 others damaged causing an estimated 009 worth of damage in Paradise park, the Masonic summer resort just north of Santa Cruz, by the flooding San Lorenzo river. Five families were forced to evacuate when the river started flowing through their houses. Most drtmatic evacuation was made early yesterday morning when George Shervey, a paralytic, was removed from his house which was rapidly becoming a part of the river.

One man, J. R. Wade, stood help lessly as the San Lorenzo slowly took his house and carried it down to sea. When last seen the furni ture was still in place as the house rocked down the liver. Houses that were destroyed were owned by Raymond Mylius.

Ida Wilson, Fred Namanec, Helen Hors-ford, M. F. Joycl, Selma Jensen, J. R. Wade, Wayne B.

Elliot, E. A. McLean, H. A. Johnson.

Namanee had just built his house after it had been badly damaged by the high water early in 1938. Among those who were forced to evacuate their homes were: S. A. Pomranning, W. T.

Skotland and Adolph Ljunggren. Water knocked one house from its foundation and threw it against the house next door, completely wrecking both. Several small footbridges were destroyed along with hundreds of alder trees near the river bed. a icnce, a uwr, mi i i a 1 1 Celeste Madison and Joan, her tiny daughter, and Harriet de Jarnette, all of San Francisco, were routed from their sleep in a Felton Grove cabin by H. V.

Witham, grove own- at 6 a. m. Water was swirling around their door, The San Lorenzo knocked several cabins over on their sides, partially smashed others. From Felton, where the county's biggest lake was formed near the old covered bridge, to Blake Ham- frnond Manor the rive rose three feet from noon to p. m.

went under and the River Glen bridge went out. Paradise Park was a shambles along the San Lorenzo river's edge. "The Brook Runs Thru It" sign was still intact at Dr. F. K.

CHmp's famous Brookdale Lodge, but the brook had grown into a speeding torrent and had smashed gaping holes in the rear and front of the dining room by mid-day. Water streamed through six inches to a foot deep on the top terrace. Rest Moment Save Life The life of J. D. Whitener of Boulder Creek was saved by a miracle.

Working directly below his 25,000 gallon water tank during the morning, he decided to relax for a minute. He walked around and above the tank, ncard a deafening roar, saw the tank crack and crumble into the gulch he had been working in. Boulder Creek's River Glen bridge pulled out in a hurry. At about 2 p. m.

a crew dynamited a log jam away from it. They left the bridge in sound condition. At 3:30 they returned. There was no bridge there. Other outstanding storm incidents through the valley included: Loss of all steelhead (500) from the traps of Brookdale fish hatchery.

Complete demolition of the Rainbow Trout Farm dam in front of Our Ranch. Evacuation of two San Francisoo women and a baby girl from a Fel-ton Grove cabin at 6 a. m. Evacuation of the E. E.

Newell family from their home 'near the confluence of Zayante creek and the San Lorenzo river. Evacuation of five Paradise Park families. The spectacular sight of the side-walls and part of the roof of an unidentified log summer home bounding down stream from above Boulder Creek. Love creek, a torrent where it poured into the San Lorenzo at Ben Lomond, backed up and inundated Stacey's Cottage Court. Nearby Newell creek flowed over the bridge at Hatfield's camp until it began to subside about 3:30.

Lompico and Zayante were cut off early in the morning, and the old i Zayante bridge was closed to traf- fic. The Zayante home of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Bean, 90 feet above the bed of Zayante creek, was endangered when a 24-inch culvert became clogged. Water backing up from the culvert threatened to wipe out the home and the Southern Pacific railroad tracks below.

Roads Badly Gashed Motor travel was slow and hazardous, even where il was at all pos- 1 fragile board structure situated on- the lowland below Chinatown proper. The Chinese locked themselves in the Gee Kong Tong joss house, and us water flowed into their kitchen to gradually cover the lower floor, they retreated upstairs, where they refused to heed the frantic calls of police who attempted to rescue them by rowboat. They simply smiled and continued to watch the river. Lee Family Evacuated The large Lee family, containing seven youngsters, was evacuated from the end of Chinatown as foundations of their home crumbled. They succeeded in saving most of their belongings.

Otto Lam moved his machine from this area as water gained a depth of five feet. The safety of his chickens was the chief concern of a negro residing in Chinatown. Stuffing the chickens in a sack, the dusky citizen removed the protesting hens to high ground before returning to retrieve the fur niture. Completely inundating the Booth Auto Camp ground on the east side of the Water street flood waters carried away a majority of the cabins. However, much of the furnishings were said to have been saved.

Benches and tables likewise were torn away. Section of land between River street and the river from the gas plant to the city water works was one vast lake with houses haH buried in water, orchards displaying nothing but tree tops and sheds and barns floating aimlessly on the fringe of the torrent Several milk cows and a horse were drowned before owners could rescue them. Two dogs met a watery death, reluctant to leave their surroundings in absence of their masters. A flock of tame mallard ducks were seen paddling at the juncture of Quintans and Potrero streets, undismayed by the antics of 'nature. Lumber on the west side of the yard of the Santa Cruz Lumber company was afloat, being kept in the yard only by a high fence.

Many small pieces joined the flood. Fart Of Bridge Saved At an early hour yesterday morning the Cooper street bridge was washed out and came to a final mooring on the shoreline in front of casino. Seaside company crews under the direction of More-land Gillen salvaged the structure for the city. Timber in the bridge was said to be worth $200. Although anchored by heavy piles, the Ocean street footbridge sue- cumbed to the heavy boating of drift I of er (CdPILJIWY Ht AHNFAIL1L 24 Hours Season (to p.

Sanla Cruz I.G2 3307 Boulder Creek 11.42 63.17 Ben Lomoncl 11.57 03.65 Soquel l.aa 32.37 HOW OTHIOIS FARED Rainfall figures for the 24 hours ending at 4:39 p. as reported by the weather bureau included: 24 Hrs- Season Normal Ist Yr. "is 28.41 23.07 3M 39.35 231 16.20 Sacramento 2.rtf) 12.75 um sis Sanla Bmi 3.76 22i4 21.62 Son Fraacisro 22 19.62 16J1 KM Slockloa) 1.16 12.14 9JW 7JS SsJinas .66 15.S6 9.37 7.75 Fresno 10.19 jo 5.15 San Luis Obisps 03 186 132 7.99.