Imperial Valley press., 1922-12-15
NICHTWATCHMA AN
KILLED in BIG
MEXICALI FIRE
Damage SlOO,OOU With
Little Covered by =
Insurance s..
Makes Total of Over
Million Loss in Six u
Months

Finding of the charred body of
Juan B. Rodriguez, nightwatchman,
in the ruins of the Cine theater,
Mexicali, which was destroyed in a
100000 fire at APO a. m. today,
and testimony that laughing was
heard in the rear of the building
before the fire, caused an announce.
ment by Mexican authorities that
the fire was undoubtedly incendiary.
Fumes of burning oil were deteet-
ed, it is said, when the fire started.
It is the belief that the nightwatch-,
man was killed before the fire was
started.
Six buildings completely Destroy
ed, with most of their contents.
The Cine theater, the German bar,
soft dring stand and pool hall, the
Three B store, National drug store
and Aldrate building were burned
to the ground.
Rodriguez had been night watch.
man for the theater for q number
of years and is known as faithful
guard. Reports were at first that
defective wiring caused the fire,
but Mexicai police are making an
investigation which is expected to
prove that the theater was set on
fire by gang which killed Rodri-
quez.
Started in Cine
The fire evidently started in the
Cine theater building. possibly on
the stage of the theater, and rapidly
spread, first to the Masonic Temple
building, then to the German Bar.
and finally to the three store rooms
to the west of the Cine
The alarm was first given by the
firing of pistols, which was closely
followed by the GamewelI alarm,
and in a few minutes later the fire
departments of both Calexico and
MeXlcali were on the scene Of the
conflagration, laying out hose and
getting water to those points which
would most quickly subhe the
flaWes and prevent the wiping out
of the entire block of buildings, in
which are located two printing Off.
ces, the Eden theater building, a gro,
Gerry store, Il tailoring establishments.
bank building, the Climax bar
and the Climax grill, and store house
to the rear of the National drug
store in which was stored LIQUORS
valued at S150,000.
In the Aldrate building, a two.
story structure located north of the
German bar, was housed the Masonic
lodge rooms on the second floor, and
a rooming house, where many people
roomed, most of whom lost all Of
their possessions. There were also
rooms on the ground floor, and the
court of the First Instance. In the
latter many valuable papers were
destroyed, though in all parts of the
building, by daring work, a consider.
able quantity of furniture and bed.
ding was saved.
Bar was Closed
The German bar, on the corner Of
Helgar and Madero streets, a two.
story building, was completely de-
stroyed, none of the contents being
saved. The saloon was not transact.
ing business, and has been closed for
some months, being in the hands Of
receivership, and the second floor,
used for storage, was unoccupied.
The Cine theater was modern
structure, well furnished and equip.
ped, with Il large stage and seat.
ing capacity of about 500. Nothing
was saved from the flames in this
building. ~
West of the Cine theater was the
Burela pool hall and soft drink par
Tor, which was completely destroyed,
but little salvage being taken from
this business room.
Griswold and Company, with
Billy Grieves the Mexicali repre-
sentative, carried insurance ON all
of these building and stock, which
amounted to about $4,000.
Praise Fire Chief
Praise must be gieen Chief
Young and his force for the strenu.
Gus and successful fight made to
save the warehouse at the rear Of
the drug store, in which was stored
liquors valued at $4,000, and ON
which there Was an insurance policy
of 100000. With the east wall Of
the store room burned away, and
of eases packed against
these walls exposed to the flames,
the fire fighters played several
streams of water on the exposed
liquors, and though the ends OF the
eases were charred and burned, none
of the stock was destroyed.