New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1915-06-23
EARTHQUAKE ROCKS
IMPERIAL VALLEY
Five Persons Killed Damage
Estimated at 100000
IRRIGATION SYSTEM SPARED
Ell Centre suffers More Than Any
Other TOWN. Telegraph and TeIe-.
phone Services stopped Shocks
Extend Up to Yuma, Arizona.

4 x ( -
Ell Centre, Cal, June 23.-An earth
quake shock up the Imperial Valley
Of California last night, killed five
persons, caused damage estimated at
5000, 0O0 in the valleys little clus-
ter OF towns, and left almost un-
damaged the great irrigation, system
which transf cErned the valley from a
desert to aHelfiie farming country.
Ell Centrda Bnfrered more than any
other town The five killed were
caught in falling walls at Mexicali,
just across the border. Martial law
was proclaimed there
Severest Around Border.
AS far as can be learned, the shocks
were severest at and below the DOR
Ger The towns OF Calipatria and
inland appear to have been injured
less than the towns in the south end
Of the valley. The earthquake ex-
tended all the way to yuma, Ariz.
The duration of the first shock was
about thirty seconds. This was fol-
loved half an hour later by second
shock almost as severe as the first.
3 Plate glass windows, prick walls
and hollow tile structures were more
or less damaged. No one in Inn
n 2
Deputies Patrol Town.
Fifty deputies took stations about
the business district here ] and pa
tfolled the town
The fire trucks patroiled the streets
ready to extinguish any fires that
might spring up.
Services immediately stopped.
Telegraph and telephone services
We're immediately stopped. The tele-
phone Co. sect up service board
in the vacant lot back of building
and messages were sent to Yuma and
there relayed to other points.
In the Barbara Worth hotel here,
decorative work of the interior fell
to the lobby, but not a person was
injured. The elevator kept running
until everybody was out. ssssf
.,4ass Rusiness Streets Ruined s$E~1zs
on either side of Ell Centre bus
mess streets,are ruined buildings some
completely RACED, others opened gy
gaping holes. Broken glass of the
display windows covers the sidewalks
tn the gutter are the bricks and debris
fallen from above The streets are
closed To automobiles and pedestrians
are warned to keep in the center Of
tho street.
On the lawns in the residence dis
trict are the cots OF residents with
only the sky as the roof. In the
Industrial district the firemen are still
fighting q ire. M III s
Irrigation System Spared.
The great irrigation system which
transformed the desert into an i'm 3
mense farming region, was spared. No
reports have been received Of dam
age anywhere along the leyee system
which protects the lands lying below
sea level from the encroachment Of
the Colorado river
Thee first shock came at sos. 1t
was slow and prolonged. moment
later came a short and sharp trem-
bier. An ensuing explosion in the
warehouse of the Delta Mercantile
company lighted the entire country
side. "A two-stofN stru ciure caved
into a drug store filled with people.
All raced to the street. Every build
ing was disgorged similarly.
Every Window in Town Broken.
Slight trembIers continued most Of
the night In Capexico the Daum
building collapsed and every window
) eSt{
At Heber, the First National bank
and the Heber Hotel building were
badly cracked moving picturs
house was wrecked.
In Mexicaii a panic prevailed
Gamblers and the women who make
up considerable portion Of the pop
ulation OF the place, rushed into the.
streets. Piles or gold were left OIL
gambling tables to be rocked off and
mixed with the debris of the build
ings
Martial law was declared there
Further Shocks Felt.
Calexico, Cal, June 23.-Further
earthquake shocks were felt here to-
day. Several tremors after midnight
were followed by a severe shock at
10 o'clock this morning.