Kern County Obituaries

Howard H. Knott

Submitted by Don Stowell; 13 Feb 2008

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Source Unknown; 11 Oct 1945

Flash Floods Cause Many Accidents; Four Deaths
100 CARS MARROONED BY STORM SUNDAY NIGHT
Official Kern county was saddened to learn on Sunday of the death of Howard H. Knott, 
who for a number of years past has. been chief civil deputy sheriff in Sheriff Loustalot's office 
in Bakersfield. Mr. Knott died in the line of line of duty for it was in trying to prevent the 
deaths of several people at Keene, Saturday where the first of flash floods hit that place, that 
Mr. Knott became a victim of that same flood, being swept away when a wall of water hit the 
cafe and service station there at which were a number of cars with their occupants parked
Mr. Knott had gone to Keene on a matter concerning his office with another deputy and was 
eating in the cafe when the flood struck. His body was recovered Sunday some distance below 
the place where he was swept in.
Wash Claims Baby
In trying to negotiate the wash 10 miles northwest of Mojave on the Tehachapi road Sunday, an 
automobile in which Elmer Coffman, his wife Ruth, and three children were riding, was swept, 
into the torrent at that place and his daughter, Thelma was lost, the body being recovered on 
Monday by Walter Sloter, a member of a rescue party in which were a company of Marines from 
the local base. Search had been kept up all night and it was with the greatest difficulty that the 
auto and rest of the family were saved.
Indian Wells Couple Perish
A man and wife, who for a number of years back have lived in the hills near Indian Wells, were 
caught in the flood in that district and swept away by the torrent. The bodies were recovered on 
Monday by workers repairing the washed out section of the aqueduct at the foot of Whiskey hill, 
and were removed to the mortuary of the O'Donnell Funeral Home in Mojave, later being taken 
to Barstow to the main O'Donnell Funeral Home for preparation for burial.
Mrs. Joy Kelley Injured
On Sunday afternoon Mrs. Joy Kelley of Mojave, left for Tehachapi on business connected with , 
her office here and her automobile was caught in another flood which raced down the wash 
mentioned above overturning it her right hand being severely crushed. She was returned here , I 
to the Mojave Hospita1 by her husband, Joy Kelley, who was driving the car, and two soldiers, , 
none of whom were injured, and given first aid treatment. It has been found necessary to 
amputate two fingers of the crushed member and heroic efforts are being made to save the rest of 
her hand. Mrs. Kelley suffered severly from shock but is recovering nicely at the present time. 
Her friends are praying for her complete recovery.
Rain Soaks Mojave
Fully two and one-half inches of rain fell in about an hour here but outside of a decided 
wetting the storm did no damage in the town.