New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-06-24
System Watering 25O,OOO
Acres Threatened by
New Shocks.
S1,0OO,O00 DAMAGE
IN SINGLE NIGHT
Six Persons in MeXicali Dead
Scientists Link Trouble
with That Of 1906.

FL Centre, Cal, June 23.-Sherp
earthquake shocks to-day centred the
anxiety of Imperial Valley settlers on
the head gates of the great irrigation
system which has transformed nearly
25O,000 acres of desert.
Tonight the intakes Of the Colorado
River. near Yuma, and the headway
at Sharp's were reported safe, although
the Sharp's heading, from which
branches spread out Into the valley,
was shaken and sagged.
Engineers reported that another
shock as severe as the ono which last
night upset the little cluster Of towns
in the valley and cost half dozen or
more lives in the Mexican border town
Of Mexicali undoubtedly would wreck
the works.
A break reported in Alamitos Canal,
one of the waterways of the system,
can be repaired without great damage.
The shock last night caused damage
estimated at S1,00O,000 in the valleys
little cluster of towns. FL Certro suf-
fered more than any other town.
While scientists describe the shocks
as "the resultant of unknown forces"
they also agree that it lay along the
line of what Is known as the San An
dreas fault in the earth's formation,
which was involved in the North Cen
trail California earthquake of 1905.
Complete ruin of the irrigation sys-
tenn, it was stated, probably was avert
ed because Of the loose formation of
the earth in the valley and the great
depth of silt, which took up the shock.
More Shocks at Calcxico.
Further shocks were felt at Calexico
to-day. Several tremors after mid
night were followed by severe shock
at 10 o'clock this morning.
The Alamo wasteway, by which the
flow of water is controlled, was con-
siderably damaged, according to en-
gineers of the California Development
Company.
As far as can be learned. the shocks
were severest down at and below the
border 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-
IaI 81 H. -
duration of the first snock was about
thirty seconds. This was followed
half an hour later by second shock
almost as severe as the first.
Plate glass windowa, flimsy brick
walls and hollow tile structures were
more or less damaged. No one in I'm
perial Valley was killed.
Fifty deputies took stations about
the business district here and
patrolled the town. The fire truck
patrolled the streets, ready to extin-
guish any fires that might spring up.
On either side Of FL Centre busi-
ness streets are ruined buildings, some
completely razed. others opened by
gaping holes. Broken glass Of the
display windows covers the sidewalks.
In the gutter are the bricks and debris
fallen from above.
Residents Sleep on Lawns.
On the lawns In the residence dis
trict are the cots of residents, with
only the sky as the roof.
The first shock came at 8:05. II was
slow and prolonged. 4 moment later
came short and sharp tremble. An
ensuing explosion in the warehouse Of
the Delta Mercantile Company lighted
the entire countryside. A two story
structure caved into a drugstore filed
with people. All raced to the street.
Every building was disgorging SINH
larly. In the residences, dishes, cup
boards and all movable furniture was
tumbled about. Slight tremblers con-
tnued most OF the night.
In Mexicali panic prevailed. Gam
blers and the women who make up
considerable portion of the population
Of the place rushed into the streets
Piles Of gold were left on gambling
tables, to be rocked off and mixed up
with the debris of the buildings.
Martial law was declared. The per-
sons killed in Mexicali were caught in
falling walls.
After the first shock the stricken
towns were in darkness, except for the
light furnished by blazing buildings.
The greatest confusion reigned every
where. Ranchers and city residents
who had homes last night, found them
l.