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George Mateo “Georgie” Basolo

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George Mateo “Georgie” Basolo

Birth
Bardsdale, Ventura County, California, USA
Death
12 Mar 1928 (aged 21)
Bardsdale, Ventura County, California, USA
Burial
Fillmore, Ventura County, California, USA
Memorial ID
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Victim of the St. Francis Dam disaster. According to an account in the Oxnard Daily Courier, George Basolo was 21 years of age and was identified as one of the victims in the Bardsdale/Fillmore area: "He received the warning of the flood about 1:45 o'clock and in attempting to escape was struck by a timber and swept downstream. His body was found this morning and identified by a searching party. It laid about 75 feet down stream from where his house had been located. His wife escaped, also his brother, both of whom were living in the house with him." George Basolo was a passenger with Cliff Corwin of Fillmore who was attempting to flee in his Chrysler along Chambersberg Road when overtaken by rushing water. In an interview 50 years after the disaster, Mr. Corwin described the chaotic scene: "As I was making the turn onto the highway, crash goes the house, the barn and the windmill and----bing!----we were in it." He recounted how his passeger, George Basolo, got out of the car. "Georgie yelled to me 'I won't be caught like a rat in a trap! I'm going out!' That was the last I saw of him." George Basolo was hit by debis after stepping out of the car and killed instantly. When the St. Francis dam collapsed, the water and debris travelled 54 miles down the Santa Clara River bed, destroying nearly everything in its path. More than 450 people lost their lives that tragic day on March 12/13, 1928.


Victim of the St. Francis Dam disaster. According to an account in the Oxnard Daily Courier, George Basolo was 21 years of age and was identified as one of the victims in the Bardsdale/Fillmore area: "He received the warning of the flood about 1:45 o'clock and in attempting to escape was struck by a timber and swept downstream. His body was found this morning and identified by a searching party. It laid about 75 feet down stream from where his house had been located. His wife escaped, also his brother, both of whom were living in the house with him." George Basolo was a passenger with Cliff Corwin of Fillmore who was attempting to flee in his Chrysler along Chambersberg Road when overtaken by rushing water. In an interview 50 years after the disaster, Mr. Corwin described the chaotic scene: "As I was making the turn onto the highway, crash goes the house, the barn and the windmill and----bing!----we were in it." He recounted how his passeger, George Basolo, got out of the car. "Georgie yelled to me 'I won't be caught like a rat in a trap! I'm going out!' That was the last I saw of him." George Basolo was hit by debis after stepping out of the car and killed instantly. When the St. Francis dam collapsed, the water and debris travelled 54 miles down the Santa Clara River bed, destroying nearly everything in its path. More than 450 people lost their lives that tragic day on March 12/13, 1928.


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  • Created by: angelina b
  • Added: Jul 19, 2004
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/9122496/george_mateo-basolo: accessed ), memorial page for George Mateo “Georgie” Basolo (6 Mar 1907–12 Mar 1928), Find a Grave Memorial ID 9122496, citing Bardsdale Cemetery, Fillmore, Ventura County, California, USA; Maintained by angelina b (contributor 46625970).