News stories from Sunday August 1, 1976

Summaries of the stories the major media outlets considered to be of particular importance on this date:

At least 65 people were killed in a flash flood along the Big Thompson Canyon in Colorado, 50 miles north of Denver. Heavy rain turned the Big Thompson River into a torrent that swept through the canyon between Loveland and Estes Park, drowning motorists, fishermen, campers and people who lived along the river's banks. From 2,000 to 4,500 people were believed to have been in the canyon when the river overflowed, and many were stranded on what high ground they could find. [New York Times] The case against the three suspects taken into custody in the kidnapping of the schoolchildren in Chowchilla, Calif., is a strong one, authorities say. A high police official believes the case is "almost ironclad," but there are doubts, questions and contradictions when the motive for the kidnapping is discussed. Sheriff Edward Bates of Madera County, which includes Chowchilla, believes that the kidnappers may have had "some other motive" besides ransom. [New York Times] Allegations that the Mobil Oil Company set up an elaborate and secret chain of bogus companies to disguise the flow of gasoline and other oil products from South Africa to Rhodesia in violation of United States restrictions on trade with Rhodesia are being investigated by the United Nations, the United States Treasury and Mobil itself. The charges were made in June in a report issued by the United Church of Christ. The church's report also alleges that other oil companies were involved. [New York Times] A special state commission in Vermont has recommended the pardon of all the people arrested in 240 drug cases brought by Paul Lawrence, a detective hired by St. Albans, Vt., to crack down on drug users and traffickers. In addition, Gov. Thomas Salmon of Vermont has said that he would issue a pardon to anyone convicted on Mr. Lawrence's word alone. A special prosecutor has found that all but one of the 106 arrests made by Mr. Lawrence in the St. Albans area were fraudulent, and now Mr. Lawrence is in jail. [New York Times] All but a few of the Americans who had been trapped in Vietnam when Saigon fell to the Communists on April 30, 1975, have finally left the country after more than a year of waiting. Today, 49 United States citizens and dependents of Americans flew from Saigon to Bangkok in a flight arranged by the United Nations. It is believed that only four Americans are still left in Vietnam, but three are expected to leave within a week. Some who were on today's flight did not want to leave. [New York Times] Hospital physicians told four of the policemen who were seared in a battle with a man in a Harlem apartment who threw lye, ammonia, drain cleaners and gasoline at them when an attempt was made to arrest him on an assault charge that they might never return to duty again, They were also told that they would soon recover their eyesight, which some of the injured policemen had lost almost completely in the battle, but that their vision would be impaired, probably permanently. [New York Times] United States experts maintain that Iran is now so dependent on American personnel that it could not go to war "without U.S. support on a day-to-day basis," according to a Senate study. The study concluded that the Iranian armed forces lacked the skills to operate the sophisticated military systems they have purchased unless increasing numbers of Americans went to Iran in a support capacity. [New York Times] After Chinese authorities repeated their warning of further earthquakes and advised people to stay outdoors, hundreds of foreigners left Peking tonight on specially scheduled flights. Embassies were evacuating all their dependents and some staff personnel. American officials said wives and children of staff members of the United States liaison mission would be flown out soon. [New York Times]