1928 — March 12, St. Francis Dam Failure/Flood, Santa Clara River valley, CA[1] –370-431

–400->600  Harrison. California Retrospective: St. Francis Dam…” LA Times, 3-19-2016.

—       >600  Master, S. “St. Francis Dam disaster: Mulholland’s tragic mistake.” 3-22-2009.[2]

—  450-600  Pollack. “St. Francis Dam Disaster…” Heritage Junction Dispatch, Mar-Apr 2008.

—         500  Highland/Schuster. Significant Landslide Events in the [US].  USGS, 4-16-2003, 10.

—       <500  Olson, R. A. “The Policy Legacies of California’s Dam Act of 1929.” Beavers 2003.

—       ~500  Stephens, Kelita.  A Geotechnical Disaster:  St. Francis Dam.  December 1997.

—       >500  USC.edu.  “William Mulholland & the Collapse of St. Francis Dam.”

—       >500  Ventura County Star. “St. Francis Dam disaster: A tale of failure…” 3-12-2008.

—         470  Santa Clarita Valley History in Pictures. St. Francis Dam Floodpath.

—       >450  California Historical Landmark plaque at San Francisquito Power Plant No. 2.[3]

—       ~450  Los Angeles Department of Water and Power Memorial, dedicated March 13, 2003.[4]

—       >450  Rogers, J. D. “A Man, A Dam and a Disaster: Mulholland and the St. Francis Dam.”

—         450  Santa Ana Register, CA. “Week’s Resume of World News.” 3-25-1928, p. 1.[5]

—       >450  Santa Paula Memorial Plaque. (Stansell 2014, p. 107.)[6]

—       >450  Wikipedia. “St. Francis Dam.” 5-14-2012 modification.

— 370-431  Blanchard estimate.[7]

—       ~431  Wikipedia. “St. Francis Dam.” 12-8-2017 edit.[8]

—         426  Saxena and Sharma. Dams: Incidents and Accidents. Taylor & Francis, 2005, p. 19.

—       >425  Santa Clarita Valley Historical Society, 50th anniversary memorial plaque. (Stansell)

— 308-425  Stansell. Memorialization…California’s St. Francis Dam Disaster…. 2014, p. 1.[9]

—       >420  Rogers/Hasselmann. Reassessment of…St. Francis Dam Failure. 9-26-2003, slide 1.

—       ~420  US DHS. Dams Sector: Estimating Loss of Life for Dam Failure Scenarios. 2011, 68.

—       >400  Jones and Lubow. Disasters and Heroic Rescues…California.  2006, pp. xi and 85.

—         400  Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters. EM DAT Database.

—         400  UP. “400 Die When Los Angeles Dam Bursts.” Berkeley Daily Gazette, 3-13-1928, 1.

—         370  City of Los Angeles Death and Disability Claims Committee (in Stansell, p. 5).[10]

—       <300  UP. “Nearly 300 Lives Lost…Latest Estimate.” Santa Ana Register, 3-16-1928, 1.

—         278  AP. “L.A. Engineer Mulholland Tells Story…” Bakersfield Californian, 3-21-1928, 1.[11]

—         275  UP. “Dams of L.A. Aqueduct to be Inspected…” Bakersfield Californian, 3-19-1928, 1.[12]

—         273  INS. “10 More Bodies Found; Brings Total to 273.” Oxnard Daily Courier, 3-19-1928, 1.[13]

— 250-275  UP. “Dead Will Number 400, Belief.” Santa Ana Register,” 3-18-1928, p. 1.[14]

—         244  AP. “Mayor Plans Bond Issue for Damages.” Bakersfield Morning Echo, 3-18-1928, 1.

—         243  Recovered bodies. AP. “L.A. to Pay Victims of Dam Break.” Oakland Tribune, 3-17-1928, 1.[15]

—         236  Oxnard Daily Courier. “Dam Built on Sand Reports State.” 3-27-1928, p. 1.[16]

 

Narrative Information

 

California Historical Landmark Plaque: “St. Francis Dam Disaster Site

 

“The St. Francis Dam, part of the Los Angeles Aqueduct system, stood 1½ miles north of this site. On March 12, 1928, the 185-foot high concrete dam collapsed just before midnight, sending 12½ billion gallons of water roaring down the Santa Clara River Valley 54 miles to the Ocean. The was one of California’s greatest disasters; over 450 lives were lost.”

 

“California Registered Historical Landmark, No. 919. Plaque placed by the State Department of Parks and Recreation in cooperation with Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, U.S. Forest Service, and Santa Clarita Valley Historical Society. Dedicated March 12, 1978.” (In Stansell 2014, p. 97.)

 

Santa Clarita Valley Historical Society: “St. Francis Dam Site

 

“On this site in August of 1924 construction started on the St. Francis Dam, a unit of the Los Angeles Aqueduct. When it was completed in May of 1926, this concrete dam stood 185 feet about streambed, impounding a 610 surface-acre lake.

 

At 11:57½ P.M., March 12, 1928, the dam collapsed causing the second greatest disaster in the state of California. At least 425 lives were lost in the 3½ hours that it took the released water to travel 54 miles down the Santa Clara River Valley to the sea at Ventura.”

 

“This plaque placed by Sana Clarita Valley Historical Society March 12, 1928 J(State Historical Status Pending).” (Quoted in Stansell 2014, pp. 93-94.)

 

Stansell: “….On the night of March 12, 1928 approximately 2,100 to 3,000 individuals were living in the path of the flood (Porter 1928;[17] Dept. of Homeland Security 2011:67-68[18]). At least 1,240 homes were partially or totally destroyed, and over 7,900 acres of farmland (e.g. citrus, walnuts, apricots, beets, beans, hay, alfalfa, vegetables and grapes) were inundated and ruined by erosion (Teague 1944: 184, 189[19])….” [Stansell 2014, p. 36.]

 

“Only one body was found in the ocean, although others were found on snags near the mouth of the river or later floated back to the beaches of Oxnard and Hueneme directly south of the Santa Clara River outlet (Fillmore Herald, 23 March 1938:2[20])….” [Stansell 2014, p. 37.]

 

“Although a concerted effort was made to search for victims, burning of huge piles of debris on irreclaimable land in San Francisquito Canyon and throughout the Santa Clara River Valley likely served as funeral pyres for some (Spokesman Review, 20 March 1928:1[21])….”  [p. 38]

 

Newspapers

 

March 13: “(By Associated Press Leased Wire to The Oakland Tribune.) Newhall, March 13. — Bodies of more than 125 men, women and children, engulfed by the mighty wall of water that crashed through the ruptured buttress of St. Francis dam north of here early today had been recovered at noon with the known death toll mounting hourly. Of the estimated 500 persons who were in the narrow canyon and lowlands below at the time the dam gave way only a few more than a hundred had been accounted for at midday. Fifteen hundred Los Angeles peace officers, and ranchers and other dwellers in the rolling hill country north of Saugus varied on the work of recovering bodies and aiding refugees.

 

(By United Press Leased Wire to The Tribune.)

 

“Los Angeles, March 13. — The toll of the flood which swept Santa Cara river valley today will mount to more than 200 dead, relief workers believed at a late hour today as the death list steadily increased. More than 110 bodies have been either brought into morgues or sighted by searching parties and 350 persons are reported missing. Many of the missing are children.

 

(By United Press Leased Wire to The Tribune.)

 

“Los Angeles, March 13. — The great two-mile-wide torrent release by the collapse of St. Francis Dam during the night surged southwestward to the sea today, leaving in its wake a desolate mud-covered region of death and destruction. Rescue workers moved in to the head of the Santa Clara river valley as the water receded, attempting to recover bodies of the 200 reported drowned in California’s greatest flood disaster. Meantime, farther down the valley toward the Pacific, residents of town still in the path of the flood deserted homes, ranches and business in a hurried exodus to the foothills. The torrent was 75 feet deep at its peak….

 

“The cause of the collapse of the great St. Francis dam, which ushered in the thirteenth of March with a sweep of destruction shortly after midnight, had not been determined. It was believed, however, that cloudbursts in the mountains threw more water against the structure than it could withstand….

 

“Communication was paralyzed between Los Angeles and the scene of the great disaster thirty miles away.

 

“Fragmentary reports from rescue workers, indicating that the death list would exceed two hundred might possibly go far higher, were tabulated by the United Press at 11 a.m. Pacific time as follows:

 

Santa Paula (population 7500) — Twenty-one bodies recovered. [16 according to Stansell][22]

 

Newhall (population 800) — sixty-three bodies brought in from surrounding area.

 

Harry Carey Ranch (near Saugus) — three bodies recovered.

 

Fillmore (population 2000) — four bodies recovered.

 

Piru (population 7500) — four bodies recovered.

 

Saugus (population 3500) — twenty bodies reported brought if from a point one mile west.

 

[Piru, Fillmore and Bardsdale area — 71.][23]

 

[Southern CA Edison Co. temporary construction camp near Kemp RR siding — 85.][24]

 

(United Press. “200 Listed Dead, Towns Razed by L. A. Aqueduct Dam Collapse.” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-13-1928, p. 1.)

 

March 13: “By Martin Jensen, United Press Staff Correspondent…Ventura, March 13. — The horror of the St. Francis dam disaster, with helpless families being torn from their homes and swept down to the sea, is something I will never be able to forget. In the early hours today, Deputy Sheriff Ed Hearne of Ventura, and I sped toward Santa Paula with the sirens of our automobile screaming its shrill blast. Warning of the flood had come to the sheriff’s office at Ventura. We commandeered an automobile and sped toward the threatened district to warn the residents. Hearne kept the siren going every moment. It could be heard for miles in the still night air. When we reached Santa Paula the town was all unsuspecting of the peril which threatened. But the scream of the siren woke the residents. Santa Paula authorities had had a warning, but had thought it was a fire, not a flood. The people, curious at first, came to the windows of their homes. But others who had been told of the approaching waters stirred them to activity with screams of ‘flee for your lives, the dam has broken!’” (United Press. “Witness Describes Disaster’s Horror.” Berkeley Daily Gazette, CA, 3-13-1928, p. 1.)

 

March 13: “Newhall, Calif., 13. (AP) — Mrs. A. M. Ramsey, postmistress at Saugus, declared tonight that for the past 10 days ranchers living in the shadow of the St. Francis dam had ‘talked of nothing else’ but reported leaks in the structure and the possibility of the disaster that wrecked their homes and wiped out their families today. As the list of recovered bodies grew tonight until it reached 274 with upwards of 700 more reported missing, Mrs. Ramsey said that ranchers in San Francisquito Canyon had repeatedly told her it ‘would be the end of them’ if the dam ever gave way.

 

“This morning it gave way, the east and west wings collapsing, and down the beautiful valley [unclear] dotted with citrus groves, rushed a barrage of raging water 75 feet in height….” (AP. “Ten Days Warning of Dam Break.” Bakersfield Morning Echo, CA, 3-14-1928, p. 1.)

 

March 15: “List of Dead.”    [155]

Fillmore           70

Moorpark          9

Oxnard                        12

Santa Paula     52

Ventura           12  (Oxnard Daily Courier, CA. “List of Dead.” 3-15-1928, p. 1.)

 

March 16: “Los Angeles, March 16, (AP) — Because of a steady increase in looting among the ruined homes of the St. Francis dam flood district, rigid rules today were applied to keep the unauthorized out of the stricken area….” (Associated Press. “Looters Rob Wrecked Homes in Newhall Flood Area.” Bakersfield Morning Echo, CA, 3-17-1928, p. 1.)

 

March 21: “Los Angeles, March 21 [AP] — William Mulholland, who testified today at the coroner’s inquest over St. Francis dam victims, and who was engineer in charge of construction of the dam, said that leak conditions 11 hours before its collapse were ‘bad, very bad.’ Mulholland, veteran chief engineer of the Los Angeles bureau of water and power, with tears coursing down his cheeks moaned, ‘The only ones I envy are those who are dead. We certainly must have overlooked something.’….” (Associated Press. “L.A. Engineer Mulholland Tells Story of Disaster.” Bakersfield Californian, 3-21-1928, 1.)

 

March 27: “Sacramento. Mar. 27 [INS] — ‘The failure of the St. Francis dam was due to defective foundations.’ The state commission named by Governor C. C. Young, to investigate the great Los Angeles flood disaster so declared today in its report to the governor….

 

“This disaster emphasizes the fact that while benefits accrue to the builders of such projects the failures bring disaster to others who have no control over the design, construction, and maintenance of the work. ‘The police power of the state certainly should be extended to cover all sch structures impounding huge quantities of water.’

 

“The commission placed the known dead in the flood as 236 with 200 persons still missing while the property loss will total ‘many millions of dollars.’….” (Oxnard Daily Courier, CA. “Dam Built on Sand Reports State.” 3-27-1928, p. 1.)

 

Named Victims[25]

Location[26]

  1. Anderson, Clinton M., Edison Co. camp foreman. Piru/Fillmore area.
  2. Anderson, Keith. Fillmore morgue.
  3. Andrews, Tim. Fillmore morgue.
  4. Asher, Jessie (only recovered victim Stansell could not find burial location).[27]
  5. Badel, John. Newhall area.
  6. Barry, John. Buried in Hill Section at Bardsdale Cemetery. (Stansell 2014, p. 111)
  7. Bassolo, George[28] (body taken to Moorpark morgue).
  8. Bassolo ranch hand named Tony. (Moorpark morgue). Bardsdale
  9. Bassolo ranch, unidentified Mexican. (Moorpark morgue).
  10. Beardman, Mrs. G. R.
  11. Beeden, Mrs. G. K. (taken to Moorpark morgue).
  12. Bennett, Frederick (cenotaph in Santa Paula Cemetery). (Stansell 2014, 117.)
  13. Berez, Antonio. Santa Paula
  14. Berez, Jessie. Santa Paula
  15. Bernard, Nicholas. Piru/Fillmore area.
  16. Berry, Mr. Harvey S.
  17. Berry, Mrs. Harvey S.
  18. Bianchi, Frank, 33 of Bakersfield (Edison Co. employee).[29] Piru construct. camp.
  19. Bilyen, Enos (grave 68, Santa Paula Cemetery). (Stansell 2014, p. 117.)
  20. Blomers (or Blomers-Parker), Mrs. Ida Marie. Santa Paula
  21. Boardman, P. (body taken to Moorpark morgue). [30]
  22. Boardman, Mrs. G. P. (body taken to Moorpark morgue).
  23. Boddeman, Mrs. Grace.
  24. Bowsky, Max (a Maxie Brosky listed as at Newhall morgue).[31] Newhall?
  25. Brosky, E. Newhall area.
  26. Bryson, J. H. Fillmore morgue.
  27. Burns, Mr. Henry J.
  28. Burns, Mrs. Henry J.
  29. Burns, child of Mr. and Mrs. Henry J. Burns
  30. Burns, child #2 of Mr. and Mrs. Henry J. Burns
  31. Burns, Mr. Louis.
  32. Burns, Mrs. Louis (or Mrs. Louise Burns?)[32] Newhall area.
  33. Burns, child of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Burns
  34. Buerther, O. J. Piru/Fillmore area.
  35. Byrd, Solomon J. Newhall area.
  36. Capelo, Antone (body taken to Moorpark morgue).
  37. Carrillo, Mrs. J. (Carrillo bodies taken to Fillmore morgue). Piru.
  38. Carrillo, child 1 of 8. (Jose Carrillo, 12?)[33]
  39. Carrillo, child 2 of 8. (All eight buried in Bardsdale cemetery.)[34]
  40. Carrillo, child 3 of 8.
  41. Carrillo, child 4 of 8.
  42. Carrillo, child 5 of 8.
  43. Carrillo, child 6 of 8.
  44. Carrillo, child 7 of 8.
  45. Carrillo, child 8 of 8.
  46. Casper, Marvin. Newhall area.
  47. Casper, Pearl. Newhall area.
  48. Castamanga (girl).
  49. Cema, Florence (cenotaph, Santa Paula Cemetery). (Stansell 2014, 117.)
  50. Cema, Hipolita (grave 10, Santa Paula Cemetery). (Stansell 2014, 117.)
  51. Cervales, Mrs. Peter S. Santa Paula
  52. Cesena, Phillip (buried in unmarked grave). (Stansell 2014, p. 109).
  53. Chesney, A. V. (buried in grace 46, Santa Paula Cemetery).[35]
  54. Clayman, Bert. Newhall area.
  55. Cochem, Ethel (named on Saugus Community Club plaque).[36] Saugus.
  56. Cochrane, Ethel. Newhall area.
  57. Coe, Mr. Homer. Newhall area.
  58. Coe, Mrs. Coe (Nora). Newhall area.
  59. Coe, Kenneth, child of Mr. and Mrs. Homer Coe, aged 3. Newhall area.
  60. Coe, child #2 of Mr. and Mrs. Homer Coe. Newhall area.
  61. Coe, child #3 of Mr. and Mrs. Homer Coe. Newhall area.
  62. Coffer, Cintha. (Stansell 2014, p. 194.) Bardsdale cemetery.
  63. Colburn, Walter J., 48, of Bakersfield.[37] Santa Paula
  64. Costamagna, Matt (interred Calvary Catholic Cemetery, LA).[38]
  65. Cowden, Dee, 12. Piru/Fillmore area.
  66. Cowden, Dorothy.
  67. Cowden, Marguerite.
  68. Crosno, Ellen. (Stansell 2014, p. 194.) Bardsdale cemetery.
  69. Crowder, Earl (body taken to Moorpark morgue).
  70. Crumley, Ed. Santa Paula
  71. Cummings, Mr. Gordon (body taken to Moorpark morgue).
  72. Cummings, Mrs. Gordon. (Mavus) (Stansell 2014, 194.)
  73. Cummings, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Cummings.
  74. Curtis, Mr. Lyman Newhall area.
  75. Curtis, Mrs. Lyman Newhall area.
  76. Curtis, child #1 (Mazie, 7?) of Mr. & Mrs. Lyman Curtis. Newhall area.
  77. Curtis, child #2 of Mr. and Mrs. Lyman Curtis. Newhall area.
  78. Curtis, child #3 of Mr. and Mrs. Lyman Curtis. Newhall area.
  79. Deoram (unclear), Mrs. D.
  80. Deoram, child #1 of Mrs. D.
  81. Deoram, child #2 of Mrs. D.
  82. Deoram, child #3 of Mrs. D.
  83. Deoram, child #4 of Mrs. D.
  84. Doty, James (Los Angeles Edison employee).
  85. Doty, Oscar. Piru/Fillmore area.
  86. Duke, Van Wallace.             Santa Paula
  87. Dyment, Ray. Santa Paula
  88. Ely, Aaron J. (husband of Margaret, of Van Nuys).[39] Newhall area.
  89. Ely, Jack (son of A. J. Ely, missing as of March 23). Newhall area.
  90. Ely, Margaret (wife of Aaron J. Newhall morgue.
  91. Ely, Roy (son of Aaron and Margaret Ely, of Van Nuys
  92. English, C. W. of Santa Monica (indirect death; pilot). Olive View Mt.[40]
  93. Erreetchuo (or Erratchup), Rosie (or Rosa). Newhall area.
  94. Errarchuo, Roland, 14 months. Newhall morgue.
  95. Frazer, Eugene. Newhall area.
  96. Garcia, Eddie. Newhall area.
  97. Garcia, Francis. Newhall area.
  98. Garcia, Harry. Newhall area.
  99. Garcia, M. J. Newhall area.
  100. Garcia, Mrs. T. (Tootsie?)[41] Newhall area.
  101. Glenn, Charles Henry, 35, Chartiers Cemetery, PA (Stansell 2014, 126.)
  102. Godier (have also seen “Goocurrie”), Joe.[42] Santa Paula.
  103. Godier (child 1 of 4 of Joe).                                     Santa Paula.
  104. Godier (child 2 of 4 of Joe).                                                 Santa Paula.
  105. Godier (child 3 of 4 of Joe).                                                 Santa Paula.
  106. Godier (child 4 of 4 of Joe).[43]                                     Santa Paula.
  107. Good, M. (body taken to Moorpark morgue).
  108. Gottarda, Richard.
  109. Fillmore morgue.
  110. Gureber, Olive. Fillmore morgue.
  111. Gutierrrez, Andrew (grave C, Santa Paula Cemetery). (Stansell 2014, 117.)
  112. Halen, Kenneth (washed to sea; recovered Ventura beach). Saugus [44]
  113. Halen, Leon. Fillmore morgue.
  114. Halzelow, Corine. Newhall area.
  115. Hansen, Mrs. Nellie (or Nell). Newhall area.
  116. Harnschfeger, Tony (St. Francis dam “caretaker”).[45] San Francisquito.[46]
  117. Hewitt, Ines (Stansell 2014, p. 194) Bardsdale cemetery.
  118. Holt, Mr. H. E. Newhall area.
  119. Holt, Mrs. H. E. Newhall area.
  120. Holzcloth (or Holsclaw), infant son of H. J. Newhall area.
  121. Holzcloth, child #1, about 6 (perhaps Kreta, 7) Newhall area.
  122. Holzcloth, child #2, about 10. Newhall area.
  123. Hopp, Mr. Ferrell K.
  124. Hopp, Mrs. Ferrell K. (another paper notes Mrs. Ruth Hopp) Newhall area.
  125. Hopp, Donald, 10 (child of Mr. & Mrs. Ferrell K. Hopp?)[47] Newhall area.
  126. Hogue, Mrs., (body taken to Ventura morgue). Santa Paula.
  127. Hottie, Lad (body taken to Ventura morgue). Santa Paula.
  128. Howe, Francis R.
  129. Hughes, Mrs. Edith (unclear)
  130. Hughes, Mr. Griffith. Newhall area.
  131. Hughes, Mrs. Griffith O. Newhall area.
  132. Hughes, child of Mrs. Griffith Hughes. Newhall area.
  133. Hughes, child #2 of Mrs. Griffith Hughes. Newhall area.
  134. Hughes, Joy. (Age not given; possibly Hughes child.) Newhall area.
  135. Hunick, Jeff (body taken to Moorpark morgue). [48]
  136. Hunick, Jeff (daughter of, Moorpark morgue).
  137. Hunick, Mr. Newhall area.
  138. Hunick (female), 40 years old .[49] Newhall area.
  139. Inus, Mrs. Earl.                                                             Newhall area.
  140. Isaac (or Isaack), Alberta, 12. Newhall area.
  141. Isaaks, R. Fillmore morgue.
  142. Johnson, Mrs. Leona.[50] Newhall area.
  143. Jones, Bert L. (or J.), of San Diego.                         Fillmore morgue.
  144. Kearn, Raymond I. (body taken to Moorpark morgue).
  145. Kelley, Dolores, 4 (daughter of Ida Kelley). Bardsdale cemetery.
  146. Kelley, Everett, 3½ months (body not recovered) Bardsdale area.[51]
  147. Kelley, Harold (Stansell 2014, p. 194.) Bardsdale cemetery.
  148. Kelley, Mrs. Ida. (Stansell 2014, p. 194.) Bardsdale cemetery.
  149. Kelley, Phyllis, 7 (daughter of Ida Kelley). Bardsdale cemetery.
  150. Kennedy, Eugene, infant. Newhall area.
  151. Kennedy, Mrs. Reba (or Rita), 24.                                     Newhall area.
  152. Kern, Raymond I.
  153. Kingston, James.                                                 Piru/Fillmore area.
  154. Kingston. Edison Camp.
  155. Kliemann, Joachim (Stansell 2014, p. 120) Santa Clara Cemetery
  156. Koffer, Mrs. Piru/Fillmore area.
  157. Lagerman, George. Buried in Hill Section, Bardsdale Cemetery. (Stansell, 111.)
  158. Ledbetter, C. T. Fillmore morgue.
  159. Lee, Bruce (body taken to Moorpark morgue).
  160. Locke, Edward (body taken to Piru morgue). Piru/Fillmore area.
  161. Locke, William (Los Angeles Edison employee, 1st to be found near camp).
  162. Loggerman, George. Fillmore morgue.
  163. Long, Mary (body taken to Moorpark morgue).
  164. Ludloff, George F., 22, of Bakersfield (Edison Co.) [52]
  165. Luna, Enrique (grave J, Santa Paula Cemetery) (Stansell 2014, 117.)
  166. Luna, Elvira, 3 (grave K, Santa Paula Cemetery). Santa Paula.
  167. Luna, Esther, 1 (grave L, Santa Paula Cemetery). Santa Paula.
  168. Luna, Henry, 4. Santa Paula.
  169. Luna, Lupe (Guadalupe?),[53]                                    Santa Paula.
  170. Medlock, Nicholas. Newhall area.
  171. Mann, George A. (Mann Cemetery, )[54] Newhall area.
  172. Martel, Annie (grave 31, Santa Paula Cemetery). (Stansell 2014, 117.)
  173. Martinez, Joe. Castale Junction.
  174. Massattei, Paul. (body taken to Santa Paula morgue). Santa Paula.
  175. Mathews, Carl J. Newhall area.
  176. Mathews, Mrs. Carl J.                                                 Newhall area.
  177. Mathews, Carl J. Jr., (2) Newhall area.
  178. Mathews, child #2 (Thelma?)[55] of Mr. & Mrs. Carl J. Newhall area.
  179. Mathews, child #3 of Mr. and Mrs. Carl J. Newhall area.
  180. Mathews, Mr. D. C.
  181. Mathews, Vida (interred Calvary Catholic Cemetery, LA).[56] Newhall area.
  182. Mathis, Fay (or May), 6. Newhall area.
  183. Mathis, Henry. Fillmore morgue.
  184. Matthews, Thelma (named on Saugus Community Club plaque).[57] Newhall area.
  185. Maus, John.
  186. McCarty, Bessie (grave 72, Santa Paula Cemetery). (Stansell 2014, 217.)
  187. McCarty, Charles (grave 70, Santa Paula Cemetery). (Stansell 2014, 217.)
  188. McCauley, Mr. M. L. (taken to Fillmore morgue). Santa Paula.
  189. McCauley, wife of Mr. M. L. Santa Paula.
  190. McCauley, Mildred, child 1 of 2 of Mr. & Mrs. M. L. Santa Paula.
  191. McCauley, child 2 of 2 of Mr. and Mrs. M. L. Santa Paula.
  192. McCawley, Helen (correct spelling of McCauley?). Bardsdale cemetery.[58]
  193. McCawley, Stanton (buried Bardsdale cemetery).[59]
  194. McIntyre, A. C., 50. Newhall area.
  195. McIntyre, Billy, 4. Newhall area.
  196. McIntyre, Joe, 16.                                                             Newhall area.
  197. Mizchi (or Mizachi, or Miyachi),[60] Fillmore.
  198. Mondlock, Bernard. Piru/Fillmore area.
  199. Mondolech, Nick. (or Nick Mondlock)[61] Fillmore morgue.
  200. Monorez, Teviarro. (Hill Section, Bardsdale Cemetery.) (Stansell 2014, 111.)
  201. Mures, John (body taken to Moorpark morgue).
  202. Myaya, M.
  203. Nassattell, Paul. Fillmore morgue.
  204. Neff, Alonzo J.
  205. Nelson, William (possibly William W. Nelson, Sr.) Newhall area.
  206. Neilson, Mr. William W.             Newhall area.
  207. Neilson, Mrs. William W. Newhall area.
  208. Neilson, William W. Jr. son of Mr. & Mrs. W.W. Neilson. Newhall area.
  209. Neilson, child #2 of Mr. and Mrs. William W. Neilson Newhall area.
  210. Neilson, child #3 of Mr. and Mrs. William W. Neilson Newhall area.
  211. Parker, Mrs. Ida, Los Angeles
  212. Parker, John, 60. Newhall area.
  213. Patterson, H. Fillmore morgue.
  214. Pegorare, Pete (grave 41, Santa Paula Cemetery). (Stansell 2014, 117.)
  215. Perez, Antona (Antonia?),[62] Santa Paula.
  216. Perez, Jesus (grave E, Santa Paula Cemetery) (Stansell 2014, 117.)
  217. Perez, Maria (grave B, Santa Paula Cemetery) (Stansell 2014, 117.)
  218. Perez, Jessie, 21. Santa Paula.
  219. Peterson, H. Piru/Fillmore area.
  220. Edison Camp
  221. Pike, Earl. Newhall area.
  222. Pike, Felda (named on Saugus Community Club plaque).[63] Saugus.
  223. Pike, Richard (or “Dick”). Newhall area.
  224. Porter, Frank, 5-months (body taken to Ventura funeral home).[64]
  225. Price, Eddie. Newhall area.
  226. Richesin, M. K. Ventura.
  227. Rising, Mrs. Ray. (Mary, 25?)[65] (Julia)[66] Newhall area.
  228. Rising, child of Mr. and Mrs. Ray Rising. Newhall area.
  229. Rising, child #2 of Mr. and Mrs. Ray Rising. Newhall area.
  230. Rising, child #3 of Mr. and Mrs. Ray Rising. Newhall area.
  231. Rivera, P. Fillmore morgue.
  232. Robertson, L. C. (or “G”). Santa Paula.
  233. Rogers, Charles (child 1 of 4) [67] Santa Paula.
  234. Rogers, Charles (child 2 of 4) Santa Paula.
  235. Rogers, Charles (child 3 of 4) Santa Paula.
  236. Rogers, Charles (child 4 of 4) Santa Paula.
  237. Romero, Juan (Romero family taken to Fillmore morgue). Santa Paula.
  238. Romero, Juan (family member #1)[68] Santa Paula.
  239. Romero, Juan (family member #2) Santa Paula.
  240. Ruis, Mr. (schoolteacher)
  241. Ruis, Mrs. (wife of schoolteacher)
  242. Ruis, child of Mr. and Mrs. Ruis.
  243. Ruiz, Henry. (Perhaps the Mr. Ruis above?)[69] Newhall area.
  244. Ruiz, Mrs. Rosari, 46. [70] Newhall area.
  245. Samaniego, Mildred (or Matilde).[71]                                     Santa Paula.
  246. Samaniego, Santana (grave H, Santa Paula Cemetery) (Stansell 2014, 117.)
  247. Sananejo, Matilda, 19. Santa Paula
  248. Saple, Henrietta. Newhall ranch.
  249. Sarrandee, Mrs. Mattilda. Santa Paula.
  250. Savala, Mrs. (Mrs. P. Savala at Santa Paula morgue?)
  251. Savala, Mrs.[72] Fillmore morgue.
  252. Seddon, Mrs. John. Newhall area.
  253. Sedgwick, M. Newhall area.
  254. Selaego, Mildred. Santa Paula
  255. Silva, Mr.
  256. Small, Cecelia (noted on Saugus Community Club Plaque). Saugus.[73]
  257. Smith, Felda. Newhall area.
  258. Stephens, Mr. D. (Dolphus of Bardsdale?)[74] Santa Paula.
  259. Stephens, Mrs. D. (Mrs. Dolphus Stephens, Moorpark morgue). Santa Paula.
  260. Stephens, Ray. Santa Paula
  261. Tatley, Mrs. Fillmore morgue.
  262. Taylor, Fred. Santa Paula
  263. Thomas, William (Grave 33, Santa Paula Cemetery). (Stansell 2014, 117.)
  264. Topley (or Tapley), Mrs. Piru/Fillmore area.
  265. Torres, Carmen (grave E, Santa Paula Cemetery). (Stansell 2014, 117.)
  266. Torres, Guadalupe (cenotaph, Santa Paula Cemetery) (Stansell 2014, 117.)
  267. Torres, Isabelle (grave 12, Santa Paula Cemetery).[75] Bardsdale?[76]
  268. Torres, Jose (cenotaph, Santa Paula Cemetery). (Stansell 2014, 117.)
  269. Torres, Luis (cenotaph, Santa Paula Cemetery). (Stansell 2014, 117.)
  270. Torres, Maria (grave 16, Santa Paula Cemetery). (Stansell 2014, 117.)
  271. Torres, Mercedes (grave 14, Santa Paula Cemetery). (Stansell 2014, 117.)
  272. Torres, Pilar (cenotaph, Santa Paula Cemetery). (Stansell 2014, 117.)
  273. Trasler, Mr. S. C. (missing as of March 24, from Merced).[77]
  274. Trasler, Mrs. C. (from Merced; body recovered March 23).[78]
  275. Trasler, son, 3, of Mr. and Mrs. S. C. Trasler.
  276. Velasco, Librado.[79] (died in Piru hospital). [80]
  277. Vinson, Mrs. Della Ella. Newhall area.
  278. Volker, Henry Joseph (nephew of Joachim Kliemann, both buried at Santa Clara.)[81]
  279. Watchman (unidentified)
  280. Wife of unidentified watchman
  281. Child #1 of unidentified watchman
  282. Child #2 of unidentified watchman
  283. Child #3 of unidentified watchman
  284. Weinland, William E. (or “Y.”) Newhall area.
  285. Weinland, Mrs. William E. Newhall area.
  286. Weinland, child of Mr. and Mrs. William E. Weinland.
  287. Westbrook, Orva R. Fillmore morgue.
  288. Whitehead, Mrs. S. A. Santa Paula.
  289. Whiteside, Sarah A., 12. Santa Paula
  290. Wilmot, Clara (noted on Saugus Community Club plaque).[82] Saugus.
  291. Wilmot, C. G. (body taken to Bakersfield morgue) Newhall area.
  292. Willmott, Mrs. C. G. Bakersfield
  293. Willmott, baby. Bakersfield
  294. Willmott, boy, 2. Bakersfield
  295. Wilson, E. W. (Bureau of Water and Power employee). San Francis valley.[83]
  296. Small child found in the arms of C. G. Wilmot. Newhall area.
  297. Unidentified family of four, 1st person, March 13.
  298. Unidentified family of four, 2nd person, March 13.
  299. Unidentified family of four, 3rd person, March 13.
  300. Unidentified family of four, 4th person, March 13.
  301. Unidentified family member (of two families who lived in a store)[84]
  302. Unidentified family member #2 of first family, living in a store
  303. Unidentified family member of second family, living in a store
  304. Unidentified family member #2 of second family, living in a store
  305. Unidentified man #1, March 13.
  306. Unidentified man #2. March 13.
  307. Unidentified body of man found in sand March 26 at Hollywood Beach.[85]
  308. Unidentified woman, March 13.
  309. Unidentified small girl (one of two at Newhall).
  310. Unidentified small girl (two of two at Newhall).
  311. Unidentified infant at Newhall morgue.
  312. Numerous Mexican families. Oxnard Daily Courier, 3-15-1928, p. 2.[86]

 

Sources

 

Associated Press. “Blast Set Off at Dam’s Foot.” Bakersfield Californian, 3-28-1928, p. 1. Accessed 12-18-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/bakersfield-californian-mar-28-1928-p-1/

 

Associated Press, “Identified Dead, Missing Reported,” Bakersfield Morning Echo, 3-14-1928, p. 1. Accessed 12-16-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/bakersfield-morning-echo-mar-14-1928-p-1/

 

Associated Press. “L.A. Engineer Mulholland Tells Story of Disaster.” Bakersfield Californian, 3-21-1928, 1. Accessed 12-18-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/bakersfield-californian-mar-21-1928-p-1/

 

Associated Press. “L.A. to Pay Victims of Dam Break.” Oakland Tribune, 3-17-1928, p. 1. Accessed 12-17-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/oakland-tribune-mar-17-1928-p-1/

 

Associated Press. “List of Known Victims of Flood.” Oakland Tribune, 3-13-1928, p. 1. Accessed 12-16-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/oakland-tribune-mar-13-1928-p-1/

 

Associated Press. “Looters Rob Wrecked Homes in Newhall Flood Area.” Bakersfield Morning Echo, CA, 3-17-1928, p. 1. Accessed 12-17-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/bakersfield-morning-echo-mar-17-1928-p-1/

 

Associated Press. “Mayor Plans Bond Issue for Damages.” Bakersfield Morning Echo, 3-18-1928, p. 1. Accessed 12-18-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/bakersfield-morning-echo-mar-18-1928-p-1/

 

Associated Press. “Ten Days Warning of Dam Break.” Bakersfield Morning Echo, CA, 3-14-1928, p. 1. Accessed 12-16-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/bakersfield-morning-echo-mar-14-1928-p-1/

 

Bakersfield Californian, “Bodies of More Victims of Dam Disaster Being Brought to City,” 3-17-1928, p. 1, local section. Accessed 12-17-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/bakersfield-californian-mar-17-1928-p-11/

 

Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters. EM DAT Database. Louvain, Belgium:  Universite Catholique do Louvain. Accessed at: http://www.emdat.be/

 

Harrison, Scott. California Retrospective: St. Francis Dam collapse left a trail of death and destruction.” Los Angeles Times, 3-19-2016. Accessed 12-15-2017 at: http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-stfrancis-dam-retrospective-20160319-story.html

 

Highland, Lynn M. and Robert L. Schuster. Significant Landslide Events in the United States.  USGS, 4-16-2003. Accessed 12-15-2017 at: http://digitallibrary.utah.gov/awweb/awarchive?type=file&item=63561

 

International News Service. “10 More Bodies Found; Brings Total to 273.” Oxnard Daily Courier, 3-19-1928, p. 1. Accessed 12-18-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/oxnard-daily-courier-mar-19-1928-p-1/

 

Jones, Ray and Joe Lubow. Disasters and Heroic Rescues of California: True Stories of Tragedy and Survival. Guilford CT: Insiders Guide, an imprint of Globe Pequot Press, 2006.

 

Master, Shannon. “St. Francis Dam disaster: Mulholland’s tragic mistake.” Santa Clarita Valley Signal. 3-22-2009. Accessed 6-3-2012 at: http://www.the-signal.com/archives/10939/

 

Oakland Tribune. “Baby Victim of Dam Identified as Merced Child.” 3-25-1928, p. 1. Accessed 12-18-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/oakland-tribune-mar-25-1928-p-25/

 

Oakland Tribune. “Morgues List Names of Dead.” 3-14-1928, p. 1. Accessed 12-16-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/oakland-tribune-mar-14-1928-p-1/

 

Olson, Robert A.  “The Policy Legacies of California’s Dam Act of 1929.”  In Advancing Mitigation Technologies and Disaster Response For Lifeline Systems, James E. Beavers (Ed.), Technical Council on Lifeline Earthquake Engineering, Monograph No. 25, Aug 2003.  At:  http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=9_3w19oUO6YC&oi=fnd&pg=PA1&dq=St.+Francis+Dam+Disaster&ots=WAx4hHBAKc&sig=ovMgEsKykcPkpFO28gNzLXr8ZzE#PPP1,M1

 

Oxnard Daily Courier, CA. “Dam Built on Sand Reports State.” 3-27-1928, p. 1. Accessed 12-18-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/oxnard-daily-courier-mar-27-1928-p-1/

 

Oxnard Daily Courier, CA. “Find 1st Body in Sea…Is Washed 65 Miles from Saugas to Sea.” 3-17-1928, p. 1. Accessed 12-17-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/oxnard-daily-courier-mar-17-1928-p-1/

 

Oxnard Daily Courier, CA. “Find Body at Hollywood Bch.” 3-26-1928, p. 1. Accessed 12-18-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/oxnard-daily-courier-mar-26-1928-p-1/

 

Oxnard Daily Courier, CA. “Funerals for Flood Victims are Held Today,” 3-20-1928, p. 1. Accessed 12-18-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/oxnard-daily-courier-mar-20-1928-p-1/

 

Oxnard Daily Courier, CA. “List of Dead.” 3-15-1928, p. 1. Accessed 12-17-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/oxnard-daily-courier-mar-15-1928-p-1/

 

Pollack, Alan. “St. Francis Dam Disaster: Victims and Heroes.” Heritage Junction Dispatch, Mar-Apr 2008. Accessed 12-15-2017 at: http://www.scvhistory.com/scvhistory/pollack0308victims.htm

 

Rogers, J. David. “A Man, A Dam and a Disaster: Mulholland and the St. Francis Dam.” In:  The St. Francis Dam Disaster Revisited, Doyce B. Nunis, Jr., Ed.  Historical Society of  Southern California, Los Angeles Ventura County Museum of History & Art. Accessed 12-15-2017 at:  http://www.owensvalleyhistory.com/ov_aqueduct1/st_francis_disaster.html

 

Rogers, J. David, and Karl F. Hasselmann. Reassessment of the St. Francis Dam Failure (slide presentation). 9-26-2003. Accessed 12-15-2017 at: http://web.mst.edu/~rogersda/st_francis_dam/reassessment_of_st_francis_dam_failure.pdf

 

Santa Ana Register, CA. “Week’s Resume of World News.” 3-25-1928, p. 1. Accessed 12-18-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/santa-ana-register-mar-25-1928-p-1/

 

Santa Clarita Valley History in Pictures. St. Francis Dam Floodpath. Accessed 9-28-2008 at:  http://www.scvhistory.com/scvhistory/gr0840.htm

 

Saxina, K. R. and V. M. Sharma. Dams: Incidents and Accidents. London and New York: Taylor & Francis, 2005.

 

Stansell, Ann C. Memorialization and Memory of Southern California’s St. Francis Dam Disaster of 1928. Thesis, Master of Arts in Anthropology, Public Archaeology, California State University, Northridge, August 2014. Accessed 12-18-2017 at: https://www.academia.edu/11242671/Memorialization_and_Memory_of_Southern_Californias_St._Francis_Dam_Disaster_of_1928

 

Stephens, Kelita. A Geotechnical Disaster: St. Francis Dam. December 1997. Accessed 12-15-2017 at: http://www.ejge.com/iGEM/Articles/5-kelita.htm

 

United Press. “200 Listed Dead, Towns Razed by L. A. Aqueduct Dam Collapse.” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-13-1928, p. 1. Accessed 12-16-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/oakland-tribune-mar-13-1928-p-1/

 

United Press. “400 Die When Los Angeles Dam Bursts.” Berkeley Daily Gazette, CA. 3-13-1928, 1. Accessed 12-16-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/berkeley-daily-gazette-mar-13-1928-p-1/

 

United Press. “Dams of L.A. Aqueduct to be Inspected by Engineers.” Bakersfield Californian, 3-19-1928, p. 1. Accessed 12-18-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/bakersfield-californian-mar-19-1928-p-1/

 

United Press. “Dead Will Number 400, Belief.” Santa Ana Register,” 3-18-1928, p. 1. Accessed 12-18-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/santa-ana-register-mar-18-1928-p-1/

 

United Press. “Known Dead in Disaster,” Berkeley Daily Gazette, CA, 3-13-1928, p. 1. Accessed 12-16-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/berkeley-daily-gazette-mar-13-1928-p-1/

 

United Press. “Nearly 300 Lives Lost in St. Francis Dam’s Flood Waters, Latest Estimate.” Santa Ana Register, CA, 3-16-1928, p. 1. Accessed 12-17-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/santa-ana-register-mar-16-1928-p-1/

 

United Press. “Witness Describes Disaster’s Horror.” Berkeley Daily Gazette, CA, 3-13-1928, p. 1. Accessed 12-16-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/berkeley-daily-gazette-mar-13-1928-p-1/

 

United States Department of Homeland Security. Dams Sector: Estimating Loss of Life for Dam Failure Scenarios. September 2011, 94 pages. Accessed 12-2-2017 at: https://www.hsdl.org/?view&did=726315

 

USC.edu. “William Mulholland & the Collapse of St. Francis Dam.” Accessed 6-3-2012 at:  http://www.usc.edu/libraries/archives/la/scandals/st_francis_dam.html

 

Van Nuys News, CA. “Resolutions Tell Esteem Hold for Elys.” 3-23-1928, p. 2. Accessed 12-18-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/van-nuys-news-mar-23-1928-p-2/

 

Ventura County Star. “St. Francis Dam disaster: A tale of failure, tragedy and heroism.” 3-12-2008. Accessed 6-3-2012: http://www.vcstar.com/news/2008/mar/12/the-st-francis-dam-disaster-80th-anniversary-a/

 

Wikipedia. “St. Francis Dam.” 5-14-2012 modification. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Francis_Dam

 

Wikipedia. “St. Francis Dam.” 12-8-2017 edit. Accessed 12-19-2017 at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Francis_Dam

 

Worden, Leon. “Roster of St. Francis Dam Victims — Compiled by Ann Stansell, California State University, Northridge, October 2011-February 2014.” SCVHistory.com (Santa Clarita, CA — Online Archives & Repository of the SCV Historical Society, City of Santa Clarita, Friends of Mentryville, Old Town Newhall, More), 3-12-2014. Accessed 12-19-2017 at: https://scvhistory.com/scvhistory/annstansell_damvictims022214.htm

[1] Dam failure occurred just before midnight of the 12th. Floodwater began reaching Pacific Ocean at 5:24 a.m., March 13. (Stansell 2014, p. 36.)

[2] “No one knows the true cost in lives lost, but it is estimated that more than 600 people were drowned, mangled by debris or impaled by trees when the concrete dam failed…”

[3] Cited in Stansell 2014, p. 97.

[4] Narrative text, in timeline format, is reproduced in Stansell 2014, pp. 99-100. Stansell notes that ten years later the memorial was painted over because it had become “dilapidated” and difficult to read.

[5] Dead and missing.

[6] Stansell includes a photo of the plaque which reads, in part, “….No one knows the exact death toll but more than 450 people perished in the disaster.”

[7] The most definitive accounting of lives lost we have seen is the 2014 Masters Thesis of Ann C. Stansell. She lists 308 identified and unidentified victims who are buried or were cremated. She also notes “as many as 117 individuals remain missing. By adding 308 and 117 we derive the high-end of our range (425). Everything else appears too speculative and thus not used herein — shown in order to indicate we are aware of the figures. We can only speculate that such figures feed off early press accounts which were based on the number of lives feared to have been lost. We use 370 for the low-end of our range in that this is the number of individuals for whom claims were paid by the City of Los Angeles. We are willing to accept that even though this must include on the order of 62 missing people, we speculate that the City of LA must have had reason to pay a death claim.

[8] Cites Stansell 2014 and Leon Worden 3-12-2014 “Roster of St. Francis Dam Victims — Compiled by Ann Stansell, California State University, Northridge, October 2011-February 2014. Worden recreates the Stansell list in horizontal format which is easier to use than the vertical format in the web version of her thesis. Worden writes “her list of victims includes 306 recovered bodies, of which 240 were identified; plus 125 missing persons, including 79 for whom death claims were made and paid out. It’s a grand total of 431 individuals…” The list is not numbered, so we counted and came to 431 listings.

[9] “Dispersed throughout the flood zone, 173 victims are interred in six cemeteries; half of these graves remain unmarked. Another 135 victims are buried in 58 cemeteries around Southern California and across the United States. As many as 117 individuals remain missing to this day.” (We combined 173 and 135 for low end of range  [308] and added 117 missing to derive the high end 425].) A list of the cemeteries, location and number of flood-related burials there can be found on pages 85-86. “The burial locations of 305 of the 308 recovered victims of the disaster were documented in this research.” (p. 108)

[10] “In July 1929, the Death and Disability Claims Committee, under the direction of the Citizens’ Restoration Committee, published the most conclusive report compiled by the City of Los Angeles reporting on the number of dead (Allen 1929). The report states 370 individuals (i.e. 306 identified and missing and 64 unidentified were killed in the failure; however, no comprehensive list of victims is provided therein. What is provided in the report are lists of claimants and settlement amounts associated with death and injury directly resulting from the failure.”

[11] An additional 172 people still reported missing.

[12] “The official death list hovers around 275 and 177 others are reported missing and believed to have perished. A final check is expected to reveal 450 dead in the flood.”

[13] “…recovery of 10 bodies yesterday brought the number of known dead to 273, 227 of which have been identified. The number officially missing is 177, making the total dead 450.”

[14] “Although the total number of dead still is indefinite, officials place the number at between 250 and 275 persons, with almost 200 more missing. It now is believed that a final checkup will reveal that between 350 and 400 persons lost their lives.”

[15] Notes all but 34 had been identified.

[16] In reference to the State Commission appointed by CA Governor C. C. Young to investigate St. Frances Dam failure, it is noted: “The commission place the known dead in the flood as 236 with 200 persons still missing….” Note that this figure is fewer than the 243 bodies reported as recovered on March 17.

[17] Elmer Porter. Telegraph to City Attorney Jess Stephens. St. Francis Dam Claims Records, City of Los Angeles.

[18] U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Dam Sector: Estimating Loss of Life for Dam Failure Scenarios. Washington, DC: DHS, 2011.

[19] Charles C. Teague. Fifty Years a Rancher: The Recollections of Half a Century Devoted to the Citrus and Walnut Industries of California and to Furthering the Cooperative Movement in Agriculture. Los Angeles: Anderson and Ritchie Printers, 1944.

[20] Fillmore Herald, CA. “Search Sea for Bodies Believed Carried There.” 3-23-1928.

[21] Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA. “Funeral Pyres to Dot Valley.” 3-20-1928, p. 1.

[22] Stansell 2014, p. 35. Notes on p. 115 that “fifty-seven flood victims were buried at Santa Paula Cemetery, eighteen of which were individuals interred without having been identified.” Explains that “many upstream victims were recovered in the vicinity…”

[23] Stansell 2014, p. 34. At pages 114-115 Stansell notes that nineteen flood victims are buried at Piru Cemetery: six members of the Gottardi family, five members of the Rogers/Topley family, seven members of the Savala family, and a single man, Librado Velasco.

[24] Stansell 2014, p. 34.

[25] Primary Sources: AP. “List of Known Victims of Flood.” Oakland Tribune, 3-13-1928, p. 1; UP. “Known Dead in Disaster,” Berkeley Daily Gazette, CA, 3-13-1928, p. 1; AP, “Identified Dead, Missing Reported,” Bakersfield Morning Echo, 3-14-1928, p. 1; Oakland Tribune. “Morgues List Names of Dead.” 3-14-1928, p. 1; Oxnard Daily Courier, CA. “List of Dead.” 3-15-1928, p. 1. For a “complete list of casualties, and their ages, ethnicities, and burial locations” see Stansell 2014, Appendix B, pp. 184-192.

[26] We use the word “area” in that not all the fatalities with the identification of say Fillmore, Newhall or Piru, lived “in town” but in the surrounding area.

[27] Stansell (2014, p. 124.

[28] Stansell (2014, p. 114), shows photo of grave marker of Georgie Basolo in the Bardsdale Cemetery.

[29] Bakersfield Californian, “Bodies of More Victims of Dam Disaster Being Brought to City,” 3-17-1928, p. 1, local.

[30] Stansell (2014, p. 194) shows two people by name of Boardman buried in Bardsdale — Grace and Florence.

[31] Oxnard Daily Courier, 3-15-1928, p. 2.

[32] Oxnard Daily Courier, 3-15-1928, p. 2, lists “Mrs. Louise Burns” at Newhall morgue.

[33] Stansell (2014, p. 194) lists eight people with name of Carrillo buried at Bardsdale — Jose, Maria, Matilde, Senona, Adolfo, Anacleto, Isavel and Marcela.

[34] Stansell 2014, p. 110.

[35] Stansell 2014, p. 117.

[36] Stansell 2014, p. 128.

[37] Bakersfield and age identification from Bakersfield Californian, “Bodies of More Victims of Dam Disaster Being Brought to City,” 3-17-1928, p. 1, local section. An Edison Co., employee at destroyed Piru construction camp.

[38] Stansell 2014, p. 123.

[39] Van Nuys News, CA. “Flood Relief Work on Van Nuys Contingent Gains Praise from Officials: Bardsdale Grateful, 3-23-1928, p. 1. Writes: “At noon today there had been no word of the discovery of either the body of A. J. Ely, Van Nuys victim of the St. Francis dam disaster, or his small son, Roy, both still missing.” Another paper wrote: “Expressing grief at the untimely passing of Aaron J. Ely and his wife, Margaret Ely, who gave their lives along with their two children in the St. Francis dam disaster, Van Nuys post of the American Legion and local Legion auxiliary issued resolutions in memoriam yesterday.” (Van Nuys News, CA. “Resolutions Tell Esteem Hold for Elys.” 3-23-1928, p. 2.)

[40] Associated Press. “L.A. to Pay Victims of Dam Break.” Oakland Tribune, 3-17-1928, p. 1. Notes Mr. English was flying a plane surveying the damage when it crashed on March 13 ten miles from Newhall.

[41] Oxnard Daily Courier, 3-15-1928, p. 2, lists death of Tootsie Garcia.

[42] The Godier/Goocurrie/Gottarda names could be references to the six members of Gottardi family who died.

[43] Have seen earlier reference to the loss of life of seven “Joe Goocurrie” children.

[44] Oxnard Daily Courier, CA. “Find 1st Body in Sea…Is Washed 65 Miles from Saugas to Sea.” 3-17-1928, p. 1.

[45] Referred to by Stansell (2014, 123) as the “dam keeper.”

[46] Associated Press. “Blast Set Off at Dam’s Foot.” Bakersfield Californian, 3-28-1928, p. 1.

[47] Have seen note on death of Donald Hopp (perhaps the child noted here). If not, then would be an unlisted death.

[48] Stansell notes that Jefferson Hunick is buries in the Hill Section at Bardsdale Cemetery. (p. 111).

[49] Stansell notes that Ellen (Hunick) Crosno was buried in Hill Section, Bardsdale Cemetery near Jefferson Hunick.

[50] Stansell (2014, p. 123), notes that Leona Johnson, “girlfriend of dam keeper Tony Harnischfeger” was buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale in an unmarked grave.

[51] Stansell writes: “Hezikiah Kelly lost his wife and four children in the flood…All were recovered, with the exception of 3 ½ month old Everett.” (p. 111.)

[52] Bakersfield Californian, “Bodies of More Victims of Dam Disaster Being Brought to City,” 3-17-1928, p. 1, local section. Notes he was stationed at the Piru construction camp, “which was wiped away…”

[53] Stansell 2014, p. 117, notes Guadalupe Luna is buried in Grave M, Santa Paula Cemetery.

[54] Stansell 2014, p. 126.

[55] Oxnard Daily Courier, 3-15-1928, p. 2, lists death of Thelma Mathews, above listing of Mrs. C. J. Mathews. No age is given, nor relationship to Mrs. Mathews. We speculate that Thelma was one of three Mathews child deaths.

[56] Stansell (2014, p. 123) notes she was visiting her uncle at the Power Plant No. 2 community on March 12.

[57] Stansell 2014, p. 128.

[58] Name and cemetery from Stansell 2014, p. 194.

[59] Burial information is from Stansell 2014, p. 194.

[60] This spelling is from Oxnard Daily Courier, 3-15-1928, p. 2, which notes victim was Japanese.

[61] Oxnard Daily Courier, 3-15-1928, p. 2.

[62] Stansell (2014, p. 117) notes that Antonia Perez is buried in Grave D, Santa Paula Cemetery.

[63] Stansell 2014, p. 128.

[64] Oxnard Daily Courier, CA. “Funerals for Flood Victims are Held Today,” 3-20-1928, p. 1.

[65] Husband survived. Family home was in a San Francisquito Canyon just above the power house. Stansell, p. 32. Stansell adds that “At least thirty-seven were killed in this section of the canyon.”

[66] Stansell 2014, p. 41.

[67] Oxnard Daily Courier of March 15 notes “Four Rogers children, Piru” at Fillmore Morgue — two boys, two girls.

[68] The notation of “Juan Romero and family.” We make assumption that there were probably at least three family members in that the notation is not “Juan Romero and wife” or “Juan Romero and child.”

[69] Oxnard Daily Courier of March 15 notes body of Henry Ruiz of St. Francis Canyon, was in Ventura morgue.

[70] Stansell writes that eight members of the Ruiz family were floodwater fatalities (p. 109).

[71] Stansell 2014, p. 117, notes Matilde Samaniego burial in Grave I, Santa Paula Cemetery.

[72] Oxnard Daily Courier, 3-15-1928, p. 2. Since two morgues are mentioned, it may well be two victims.

[73] Stansell 2014, p. 128.

[74] Oxnard Daily Courier of March 15 notes body of Dolphus Stephens of Bardsdale take to Moorpark morgue.

[75] Stansell 2014, p. 117.

[76] Oxnard Daily Courier of March 15 notes the body of Mrs. Torres of Bardsdale was in Ventura morgue.

[77] Oakland Tribune. “Baby Victim of Dam Identified as Merced Child.” 3-25-1928, p. 1.

[78] Oakland Tribune of 3-25-1928, p. 1. notes mother’s body found 20 miles from where body of son was found.

[79] Stansell 2014, p. 115.

[80] Int. News Service. “10 More Bodies Found; Brings Total to 273.” Oxnard Daily Courier, 3-19-1928, p. 1.

[81] Stansell 2014, p. 120. Notes that both were working and living on a ranch near Castaic.

[82] Stansell 214, p. 128.

[83] Oxnard Daily Courier, CA. “Funerals for Flood Victims are Held Today,” 3-20-1928, p. 1.

[84] For purposes of producing a tally we assume each of these two families consisted of two people.

[85] Oxnard Daily Courier, CA. “Find Body at Hollywood Bch.” 3-26-1928, p. 1.

[86] This is article naming abut 200 fatalities.