The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1915-06-25

CaleXlcO buildings doSLrOyou, OtnerS
damaged by fire.
Heber destroyed by fire.
Imperial damaged.
Shock felt from San Diego, on coast,
to Yuma, Ariz.
High school at Brawley wrecked.
Los Angeles-Reports of three se-
we're earthquake shocks, which result
ed in the death and injury of at least
15 persons and considerable property
loss by fire in several cities in the
Imperial Valley covering several hun
dred square miles, were received here
Wednesday.
Telephone and telegraphic commun-
tion from the stricken district is
meager.-
The greatest damage was at Calex-
leo on the Mexican border line, where
the loss of life occurred. Early re-
ports from there said that the town
had been destroyed by fire, but tele-
phone employees at Ell Centro, who
talked over wire to lineman later,
reported that fires were confined to
three buildings, which the fire depart
ment succeeded in getting under con-
troll.
Many buildings in Calexico were
shaken down. The operators In the
telephone building fled after the first
shock.
The first shock occurred at 1920
P. M, and was followed by two others
at $40 P. M. and 9:2O P. M. These
fol IN thn IiCfr tnt
Ell Centre and Calexico.
Two shocks were reported from
Yuma at the same time. Two slight
shocks were felt at San Bernardino,
several miles north of the Mexican
line, at 9 o'clock. San Diego also was
visited by two slight shocks.
Heber, a railroad town five miles
west Of Ell Centre, was reported en-.
tirely destroyed by fire. At Imperial
several buildings were cracked and
the wall Of one fell in, but no injuries
resulted. The telephone operators
there also fled from their building.
A repair crew Of the Pacific Tele-
phone company was sent at midnight
to Ell Centre.
Martial law was declared in Calexi-
CO, Cal, and in Mexicali, just across
the border, following a reign Of terror
in both towns. Three severe earth
quakes were felt, which caused thou
sands Of dollars Of damage to property
and resulted IN The loss of at least IL
lives and many injured.
United States cavalry troops are
patrolling the streets Of Calexico to
prevent looting. Villa troops are
guarding Mexicali. One man caught
iooting in Mexicali is reported to have
been shot.
Information from the Mexican town
is meager, but the first of the refu-
gees to arrive at Calexico, across the
border, says that at least 12 persons
were killed and many injured.
All brick buildings in Calexico were
deserted and most Of them are badly
cracked or in ruins. Two houses were
destroyed by fire. One business build
ing was gutted. The electric lights
failed after the first shock.
The rumbling Of the earthquake
could be plainly heard in Calexico, in
dicating that the center Of the disturb
ance was nearby. The shocks. which
were accompanied by tremendous out
bursts of dust, did not follow any par
ticular direction, but came from every
angle. 1t was difficult at times fol
pedestrians to keep their footing.
Later reports from the Imperial Val
lev are that two distinct shocks were
felt at Brawley and as far east al
Yuma Ariz., on the Mexican border
The first shock occurred at P. M. ant
continued about minute. The sec
ond shock, which occurred an houl
later, lasted As seconds.
The wrecking of the high school a
Brawley, which was the finest build
ing in the valley, is reported.