Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-06-23
EARTHQUAKE ROCKS
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Continued from Page One
Calexico. although no disorder has oc-
CURED up to this hour.
"All business was suspended in Calexico
and Mexicali Telegrams have been sent
to Washington urging the Government
to declare a bank holiday"
Two fires started in CaeXico after the
earthquake had leveled several buildings,
Martial law was proclaimed there early
| today TO prevent looting, Similar action
was taken In tho town of MeXicaIi just
across the Mexican border. American
troopers are patroling the streets of Cal
eXcp.
The earthquake extended over the
period from S02 p, m, to $40 p, m, Some
light tremors were also felt early this
morning, but they are believed to have
caused no material damage.
The water system which formed the
| chief asset of the Imperial valley, ia said
to have suffered no damage by the earth
| quake, which IL believed to have orig
| mated In Lower California and Ia de-
soPibed as having twisting movement.
narly reports had stated that the loss
of lives from the quake probably would
range from 10 to 80. Later advlces indl-
Gated that this estimate was greatly ex-
aggerpted, According to latest reports a
number Of buildings In HI Centre, the
largest tawn in the valley and the county
seat of Imperial County, including the
four-story Barbara Worth Hotel, were
more or less wrecked, and several per-
sons were injured In the wreckage,
GAMBLERS DIE IN RUINS.
1t was reported from Calexico that
many gambling places in Mexioal had
collapsed and that there were from 10 to
Is Victims several of them killed This
was later denied. Heher, a small town
a few miles from El Centre, Is said to
have sustained heavy damage from both
shock and fire.
Tho greatest property damage, aeeord-
Ing to reports, was In El Centre, The de-
tails Of losses there, as furnished by tele-
phone messages from B Centre and
Brswley, are as follows'
HOTEL IN RUINS.
The tour-story concrete and brick Bar, |
bara Worth Hotel collapsed and ls In |
ruins. One man sustained fracture OF |
the leg The Holton Power company's
Ice and cold storage plant. the gas plant
and the Delta Mercantile Company pFon-
erty, owned by W. II. Holt and associates, /
were damaged The Mercantile Company, |
a wholesale grocery concern with $1,000
stock, was burned
"The Masonic Temple, built a year
ago, is paved In on one side, The PFlR-
cess Hotel was badly damaged and mas
onry from the top OF the structure was
dislodged and hurled to the street, three
stories below, The Valley Press and The
Progress, the two newspapers In III
Centre are out of commission, with heavy
timbers and masonry scattered over their
plants
TROOPS PATROL STREETS
The streets Of III Centre are being pa
tralIed to prevent laotng, although good
order prevails, The walls OF many OF the
brick buildings were erReked'
Several shocks were felt In Calexieo, the
most severe occurring al sl5i o'clock. The
Southern Pacific water tank was ever
turned. walls tumbled and two fires were
started, but they were under control at
midnight
In HebsF the hank building was
cracked, a great assure almost dividing L
Late reports from the valley stated
"Heher Is wiped out" but L y pRasF,
stood that iFs accomplished most OF the
Considerable damage was done in Holt
vile.
The BALDWIN, PaFkins and I'll centro
garages In ri Centre were wrecked, The
ruin OF the Barbara Worth Hotel was
probably the most spectacular episode OF
"At the first quake" said Operator
Gay, "the mezEsRlne floor and column !
IN the lobby gave way fhe second
shock, fellowlhs about an hosf latsf sent
the up sr stories crashing down.
The high school al lmnef4al vac
slightly damaged The Mqiienry The
atFe m this town alss was damaged
The last heavy shock Was felt about
ai40 o'clock, BetWeen the first and last
were many slighteF qaakes, some lasting
only a few seconds,