Imperial Valley press., 1922-04-06
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3 TODAY'S BORROWED g
3 EDITORIAL g
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Calipatria Herald: While the entire
community was shocked by the
deaths of two men in our city Jail, last
Saturday night, all right-thinking pco
pie resent the tone Of the articles which
were printed in two of the valley
papers and in 4 San Diego publication,
which attempt to show Il carelessucss
and callousness on the part of Cali
patria firemen and citizens, which were
far from being evident
In the first place, the fire truck had
been brought TO the scene of the earn
ival and backed in, facing Main street,
in preparation for any emergency. This
saved many minutes, which would 9th
erwise have been consumed in reaching
the fire house.
| In direct contradiction to the state
| ments of one George Hamilton, q BraA-
| ley fireman, are the statements of a
| dozen or more witnesses that man,
| presumably Hamilton stepped to the
fire truck and gave the bell few light
taps. Two Officers noticed the act and
started, from different points, to take
the man off the truck, as his foolish
| expression seemed to indicate that he
thought he was playing an "April
Fool' joke. However, before they
reached him, L. II. Wilmoth, Il fireman
who had charge of nearby booth, had
started the motor and rung the bell
-iolently and one of the officers, Dep
lty Constable James Starritt, arrived
Just as the truck pulled away. The
vhole procedure did not consume more
han one minute, instead OF Mr.. Ham
lton s ten.
Arriving at the jail Mr.. Starritt um-
Ocked the door, A. p. Waibel being
light beside him with the chemical
hose. There is no denying that the
eat within the building was intense,
but hundred foot flames from twelve
~ twcnty-four inch ventilatOrs in the
ide walls were an absolute impossible
itv.
The flames were Immediately driven
Sack by the chemical and Mr.. Waibel
md II. NJ. Beale removed the body of
Mr. Cox which was Ming about the
enter of the floor. Silcr S body was in
the northwest corner, under sink. To
reach him, Hamilton stepped inside
the door and behind the barred door,
which is Just three feet wide, and
'idSSt'l lHt boNN dEbulu Iil5 barred
door, from where it was taken by II.
M. Bcale.
Hamilton, seeing crowd about,
collapsed in the arms of Deputy
Starritt, who carried him away from
the door. Thinking that he had been
overcome, bystanders rushed Hamilton
to the office of Doctor Lyon, who cx-
amined him and found pulse .and res
pirati0n normal, no signs of smoke in
1is lungs, and hair and brows unsingcd.
He was given a drink of water and,
IS 10 one had remained to admire his
''heroism hc left the office, disap-
oointrd. In his intense self-admiration.
Hamilton then went out aud invented
his fauciful tale which was printed bv
Tie newspapers, without investigation
thereby giving the Brawlcy cher" !"
much notoricty.
The fire itself was quickly exiting.
Gislled and a detail of firelhen and AN
officer left to guard the bodies Of the
two unfortunate men.
The latencss in discovering the fire
was due TO the location of the iail.
which IS five and One-half blocks from
the Poppy theatre, where the carnival
was in progress, with the Southern
Pacific depot, Globe Mills warehouse.
| Balf0ur-Guthrie warehouses, and large
bunk house Of Water Co. No. 3 inter
yCuinp