Jan. 19 -20, 1916

Wed. Jan. 19, 1916

Collapsed bridge over the Santa Ana river from flood taken Jan. 19, 1916

Rainy in A.M. High wind and cool in P.M. No flood last nite and water has gone down quite a bit. I read most all A.M. in The Ne'er Do Well, which is a very good and gripping story. Near noon Pa and I drove down and got some groceries. In afternoon we 3 drove around in different directions to see the damage, but could not get very far toward Santa Ana or Placentia because of water and washed out bridges. No train, mail or telephone service to L.A. yet. 

In eve we 3 went to Mason [theatre] and saw pictures of "Death Valley Dodge" and they were fine. Then we went to Christian Science meeting and then home. I finished The Ne're Do Well before going to bed.

Author Note: This is the description of the film DEATH VALLEY DODGE: the nationally celebrated “Death Valley Dodge”. This unusual car has battled its way through every noted desert of the Southwest, has climbed inconceivably steep mountains and holds the unique double record of having been driven from below sea level to the highest point ever reached by an automobile on the Pacific Coast. It has conquered all sorts of obstructions, defying the laws of equilibrium and gravitation.In the motion pictures you will see a car actually turning corners on two wheels with passengers in its tonneau, racing the “Owl” a mile a minute, tearing up 35 percent grades with ease and speed, fighting its way through an inconceivably rough country where there are no roads, and climbing down rocky bluffs so steep and rough that a mountain goat would find difficulty in doing what “Death Valley Dodge” actually does before your eyes. It flashes its way through grease-wood, cactus and yucca growing to twice the height of the car, conclusively showing to what extreme limits of strength the master builders of this latest motor product have been able to install into a motor car.

Images from DEATH VALLEY DODGE 

Thurs. Jan. 20, 1916

Cold last night, but sunny and fine all day. Pa and I worked on the driveway all A.M. grading it up so the water would run off and got it fixed up fine. Then we washed the mud off the auto - it was covered from going thru water etc. Then I ran it up and down the driveway to harden it. Then Pa and I drove over to the packing house and found out that I would not have to work till next week. Then I taught Pa how to run the auto on Lennon St. for quite awhile. He can do it pretty good now. Then we worked around awhile. In the evening we went over to Root's. A Mr. and Mrs. Benedict are visiting there from Minneapolis and Mr. B., Mr Root, Pa and I played 500 and Mr. Root and I beat both games - I had the best luck ever. Home and to bed. Flood all over now and water all gone.