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rent was so swift that even the fir1.-: Bernardino County, "
Flood Activity truck was eventually swept from this devastating "'~
the highway. After the dismal fail- reflects very hi .
(Continued from Page 6)
to the breaking of the dam which ure of another large truck and a
impounded the waters of Lake Fair- tractor, Sergeant Hastings made a
mount, an artificial lake, located to direct appeal to the U. S. Army for
the north of Mt. Rubidoux. When assistance. Two large, high-wheeled
the waters of this lake emptied into army trucks and a detachment of
the river, an additional volume and soldiers, under the command of
current was forced to flow across the Major Casseday, were immediately
west approach. This sudden on-rush dispatched from March Field to the
of water entrapped a number of cars scene of disaster. In the face of im-
along the half-mile stretch. With minent danger, Major Casseday and
his men drove through the mad
rushing waters where other motor
vehicles had foundered. They suc-
ceeded in pulling the stranded vic-
tims, together with the other rescu-
ers, onto their truck, and brought
them back to safety without one
motorist having lost his life.
The primary duty of the Cali-
fornia Highway Patrol is to safe-
guard the motoring public against
any hazard which might endanger SGT.GEO.PETERKIN
their safety on the highways. I be- California llighway Patrol
lieve that our officers very thor-
oughly fulfilled this obligation dur- the California Highway Patrol per-
ing this recent catastrophe. Work sonnel and the efficient manner in
SGT. A. R. HASTINGS was carried on even after the flood
California Highway Patrol had done its worst and the waters which they functioned during this
crisis.
had receded, when it became neces-
the exception of the occupants of sary to establish one-way shuttle
about ten cars stalled within 400 or
5 00 feet of the bridge, all of the Radio Saves Day
motorists were able to leave their
cars, some of them being carried to With all telephone lines ,ara-
safety by the State Highway crew lyzed by the floods and thousands
and others who were working from of frantic calls being received by
the west end of the inundated area. the Los Angeles headquarters and
The waters continued to rise and substations of the patrol from
Sergeant Hastings reasoned that the anxious relatives and from truck•
most expedient :method of rescue ing and other business concerns, _the
would be in the taking of a· life line radio was called upon to save the
to the marooned victims. About 600 day.
feet of rope was immediately secured Radio station KFI uflized its
and made ready, but this method special short-wave facilities and
proved futile because of the current contacted amateur operators in sur-
which was so swift that men were rounding counties to secure accurate
swept from their feet on every at- road information from the patrol
tempt. Darkness had fallen and offices. When this information was
people were desperately clinging to received by KFI, it was in turn re-
their cars, trees, or any substantial layed to the patrol headquarters and
object which they could find. calling given to scores of officers who
and pleading for help. worked ;it high speed answering
A State Division of Forestry :fire SGT. C. D. TRIPP phone c11ls and put in long, tiring
truck, heavily laden with a ballast California Highway Pntrol hours during the emergency. Each
of water, was then dispatched into of the three substations was kept
the raging waters, but it, too, be- controls over numerous sections of busy every minute and while the
came stalled before reaching its goal. highways. To insure absolute safety, water~ made use of motorcycles im-
On this fire truck was an officer of our officers remained on duty 24 possible, officers used their private
the California Highway Patrol. As- hours of the day. The work of re- cars in answering calls for assistance
sisted by the others, after the truck covering from the damage done is and in performing scores of heroic
had stalled, he rescued a number of still in progress. In many places deeds.
stranded victims by using a fire hose metal detectors are being employed Numerous trucks were marooned
for a life line, hauling them to the to locate cars and machinery which and as these were carrying needed
comparative safety of the fire truck, was left buried so deeply that not merchandise for the city, the patrol
In one instance an automobile con- even the tops are visible. did excellent duty throughout all
taining s~x passengers was emptied We are very fortunate in having the southern counties in getting
of its human cargo just before it was no loss of life by motorists using these vehicles through.
swept from the highway to deeper any of the highways under my ju• . Scores of commendatory · letters
water and ·oblivion below.-The- cur------dsdiction, in either Riverside or San have been received by Chief Cato.