Imperial Valley press., 1922-06-28
HALF MILLION
LOSS LAST
NIGHT
Notorious Owl esOrt
Burns to Tune of Burst
ing Bottles
Ell CENTRIC TO RESCUE
Vice Cleanup by Flame Cure
Suspected in Incendiary
Operations
United Press Leased Wire


CALEXICO, Calf, June 2S.-Incen-
diary fires swept Mexicali for Sec
ond time within the week last night
and destroyed property valued at
100000.
The famous Owl Cafe, one of the
best known resorts on the border, and
the Stockade, resort occupied by 90
women, were destroyed.
Gaming was in full swing when the
Owl took fire about 9:30. Patrons of
the bar fled the building as it started
to fill with smoke. Within few
moments the sun parched boards were
a cracking mass of flames.
Almost simultaneously fire broke
out in the Stockade, on another block
in the town. The women occupants of
the resort, some wearing only night.
gowns, others clad in kimonas, ran
screaming into the streets.
Explosions Cause Panic
Low pressure of the water system
made futile the efforts of firemen to
check the blaze which was given even
wider range when exploding liquor
bottles caused panic on reports that
snipers were shooting into the crowd.
An oil station and several other
buildings were burned in addition,
but the. Mexicali hotel, which several
times took fire, was saved.
If there were casualties, none had
been reported early today.
Help from the FL Centre fire depart
ment was summoned by fire chiefs of
Calexico and Mexicali shortly after
o.. 10 CT fnbf eel
ed the emergency call, three blows re-
peated three times, and in short
time the members of the fire depart
ment were assembled at headquarters,
awaiting orders. Chief Ferguson de.
cided to take the large wagon with 10
men, leaving the smaller wagon and
crew of Is men to insure protection
for FL Centre.
Ell Centro Department Called
The run of - miles to Calexico was
made in less than half an hour, and
one hour from the time the first alarm
was given in Mexical; the FL Centro
boys We're playing streams of water on
the Owl resort, which was blazing
fiercely.
Chief Ferguson said this morning
that the crowd was extremely orderly,
and apparently willing to give the
fireman every assistance possible. In
shifting ladders and hose lines, the fire
men frequently had to call for volun.
teers from the crowd, and met with
eager response from Americans, Mexi.
cans and Chinese. The chief said the
fact that there was plenty of booze in
the Owl was not an incentive for this
willingness of the crowd to help, for
the blaze shut off all access to the
building.
AS the flames cracked and roared
through the buildings, continual pop
of exploding beer bottles gave rise
to rumor that rebels and looters were
shooting at the fireman. This is denied
by Chief Ferguson.
Flames Jump Across Street
When the flames crossed the street
to the Black Cat cafe, it was feared
that the entire block east of the Owl.
which is in Chinatown and contains
hundreds of ramshackle stores and
buildings. would be entirely destroyed,
but the firemen held the flames to the
Black Cat and Mexicali hotel.
Hundreds of Cinnamon stood around
the streets guarding their property
and chattering among themselves as
if calling on their gods to stop the
conflagration. There was no lootings
according to Chief Ferguson, and eiti-
zens cooperated with the police to keep
order.
This was the second big fire in
Mexicali this week The Lower Cali.
fornia Commercial Co. buildings burn
ed Sunday with loss of 100000. 1t is
estimated that last night loss will
reach 100000. In addition to these,
there was loss of $250,000 in Calexico
on June Q when the cotton compress
of the Calexico Compress Go. together
with thousands Of bales of cotton and
railroad equipment burned. This makes
total loss of $l,150,000 in the two
border cities in less than a month
which is believed to be a eonserva-
tive figure. All three fires are believ-