Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-02
DAMAGE IN QUAKES
TOTALS S2,9DO,0()O;
RUINS F|RE,SWEPT.
Martial Law Declared in
MexicaIi-CaIexico Loot
ers Ordered Shot.
HALF HUNDRED SHOCKS
ROCK BORDER TOWNS
Dozens Slightly Injured by Fall
ing Debris-Refugees Pour
Into Arizona.
BY the Associated Press.

CALEXICO, Calf, January l.
Earthquakes and fires today heralded
the arrival of the new year in the
lower Imperial Valley of California
and Northern Mexico, laying a de-
structive hand over a score of towns.
Buildings were tumbled and many
destroyed in the flames that followed
more than a half hundred temblors
that terrorized citizens celebra ting the
advent of 1927. and caused damage
estimated at s2,5oo,oo0 No deaths
were reported.
Shaking the towns and villages
over an area extending $50 miles
north of the Mexican border and SO
miles south. the earth vibrations cen
tered in intensity here and at Mexi-
cali, in Lower California, where mar
tial law was declared by Gov. Rodri-
guez. Gov. Rodriguez ordered all sa.
looms closed in Mexicali until future
notice.
Looters Ordered Shot.
Chief of Police Joe Hardwick of
Calexico, where damage was placed
at between 100000 and $750,o0o, pre-
pared late today to create a special
patrol of men to guard business places
against plundering. Orders were is.
sued to shoot to kill.
Members of the Calexico Chamber
of Commerce called a meeting this
afternoon to plan immediate rehabili.
tation of the damaged sections of the
city.
Dozens of persons were slightly cut
or bruised by falling debris in the af-
fected area.
Subterranean rumbIings were heard
almost constantly this afternoon in
Calexico, but earth shocks were of
diminishing intensity.
Fire added to the damage wrought
by the tremors in Mexicali The
stroyed, with an estimated loss of
$250,000. Dozens of adobe houses
crumbled to dust with the initial
shocks. A 81
Breakage Of Mexicali's water mains
frustrated attempts Of firemen and
volunteers to halt the spread of fire.
Cafe Crowds Stampede.
The first shocks in Mexicali, at 1918
am, turned terrorized merry makers
out of brightly lighted cafes and ca
sinos into the streets. The crash of
falling walls and the underground
rumblings silenced the gay music Of
the dance halls.
Reports that trickled into Imperial
Valley centers over crippled wires
north as Anaheim. Calf, nearly $50
miles distant, and as far east as
Yuma, Ariz.
" Nf TY1NA al
County, suffered little damage. Hun
dreds of windows were broken, but
walls of buildings withstood the re.
current shocks. The Barbara Worth
Hotel. Ell Centro's leading house, had
only a few windows broken.
Streets of the city just across the
international boundary line from
Calexico, also severely damaged by
the shocks, were ordered closed to
traffic. Movement of pedestrians,
however. was permitted.
All sidewalks of the Mexicali bust
ness district are reported choked with
debris, from fallen buildings.
The shocks shook down walls of
Calexico buildings and broke glass in
the buildings in the neighboring cities.
The Calexico Hotel was virtually de
stroyed when the walls bulged and
gave under the force of continued
vibrations.
Banks Badly Damaged.
The Central Bank and Anderson
buildings, largest Office buildings here
also were badly damaged. The
Southern Pacific Depot, new build
ing, was cracked. Virtually every
building in the city was damaged.
At Heber, community with popu-
lation of about 400, five buildings
were cracked.
Hundreds of windows were broken
at Ell Centre, but little damage of
more serious nature was reported
The Barbara Worth Hotel, FL Cen
tro's leading hostelry, had a few
windows broken.
Radioed news from Ensenda, so
miles below San Diego on the Mexican
coast. told of earth and sea disturb
ances there. Passengers from the
steamship Emma Alexander. who had
spent the night ashore, were unable
to return to the ship because of tre-
mendous swells that made the launch.
ing of small boats impossible. Those
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