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Finger Prints Identify 13 of 15 Bodies Recovered from Devastating California Flood (The following historic article is reprinted from the May 1933 issue of Finger Print and Identification Magazine.) by W.A. SNARE The following story sent to us by Superintendent Snare of the Sheriff's Office, Bakersfield, California, should have the serious consideration of everyone — and particularly those interested in seeing National Finger Printing become a reality ... please read and weigh every word. “The sole purpose of this article is to lend Technical Aid to the movement that is on foot towards NATIONAL FINGER PRINTING. “While I have always been a staunch advocator of Universal Finger Printing, I had the value of such a move firmly imbedded in my mind thru the tremendous and hostile forces of nature. On the night of September 30, 1932, at approximately 8 p.m. the phones carried the first report, almost simultaneously, to the offices of the Sheriff, Chief of Police, Coroner and the Identification Bureau, of a devastating cloudburst and flood in the Woodford District of the Tehachapi Mountains, California. “This report revealed that numerous people had lost their lives when an itinerant ladened freight train had been almost completely swept from its tracks; houses were reduced to pulp before this torrent and the highways rendered impassable. “Some idea of the magnitude of this catastrophe is set forth by the fact the two 225--ton locomotives were washed from their tracks, box cars were reduced to kindling wood and rails twisted like “pretzels.” One of these mountain mail--compound type locomotives was washed 40 feet, buried under tons of silt and completely lost for several days. With such impounding force a human body had little chance. “Searching parties were immediately organized, who covered the pathway of the flood, in which fifteen bodies were recovered from the twenty mile channel cut by the torrent. The establishment of the identity of these bodies rested upon finger prints. With but three exceptions there was no clothing remaining on the bodies. Only four were intact enough for the morticians to embalm. In several instances limbs were broken off and left hanging by shreds of skin, skulls mutilated and facial characteristics destroyed. Due to the hot weather and climatic conditions several of the bodies were in a bad state of decomposition when recovered, necessitating immediate burial, after being finger printed. Many of the bodies were located by searching parties who followed the pathway of the flood, and detected the foul odor of decomposition which lead to their recovery. “The condition of the bodies made it difficult to obtain legible prints, the skin being extremely wrinkled and in many instances being loose from the flesh. “Of the fifteen bodies recovered, to date all but two have been positively identified. Some with service records; others with records in the National and the California State Bureaus. In one instance a body was claimed by relatives and shipped East, in which case the finger print files in Washington verified his identity. “Had UNIVERSAL FINGER PRINTING been in operation these two remaining individuals, who are now in our Potter's plot, would at least have some plates at the head of their graves.” (Editor--—The first historical article (provided from the CHP magazine) reminded me of several 1933--1934 issues of Finger Print and Identification Magazine I recently acquired. The second article reflects the 1930's desire and effort of many fingerprint experts to promote “Compulsory National Finger Printing” or as many described it “Universal Finger Printing.” I have not been able to ascertain when the earliest efforts began, but it is obvious they persisted through the 30's and 40's. What a shame that the stigma wasn't overcome for the benefits it could have produced. If you overlooked the author's name of the this article, take note--—it is the late William “Bill” Snare, one of SCAFO and CSDIAI's past icons. While Bill moved on to more important tasks and assignments, his memory will continue to live on in California Fingerprint History.)
This article was reprinted in “THE PRINT” |