The San Francisco call., 1904-03-11
5dhLein BuiLding
IS TULSfed by
Blast.
Large Structure
May Fail at
Hny Time.

The furious gale that swept the city
Yesterday morning did not even spare
the ponder0us Sahleiu building in
course Of construction al the corner
Cf Polk and Bush streets. This large
seven-story structure was so badly
twisted. shaken and battered bv the
storm that in all probability the FIVE
tor stories VIII have 10 be torn down
and rebuilt.
The structure was so shaky in ap-
pearsrce that the Fire and Police de-
psr-nerts cleared Polk and Bush
streets within a radius Of a block OF
rhe place and stopped all traffic along
the rhoro-Shfare- People were Or
dere5 out Of houses in the immediate
vicinity and many shops and stores
were closed.
The building. ~ II appears at the
present -ine. presents a woebegone
aspect and r. IS likely thar traffic in the
E- VIII be tied up for several
Cr~ Us walls are cracked and
cr large i-ou Eirders are bent
and -Erel and the I'VE top stories
E-e leaning to one side and appear %
- ready -o tumble down al any mo-
--er-
As 5e- broke the policemen on the
beats 5u the surrounding districts OBJ
served -har tho structure was 2 COM
Tz-e wreck. They Immediately COM
rr1r-.ate5 Fith the City Hall police
s---rr and The Fire Department Men
-r - once sent 20 the scene and
tfe streets for "a square block in The
~.l-r-.. were ar once cleared and ropes
we're stretched Sc as 10 prevent pas
s=rs- -rou coming roo near.
Tle POLK and I-arkin street car line
vzs stopped from Sutter street north
AZ Immense crowd corgregared
around -le corners and although the
re-- was coming down in torrents. The
C--ooEe-s s-iI fingered ard increased
as -hz moments went by.
Extra squads Of parrolueu were or
de-=E cl- from the North End and the
C--r Hail stations and the stricrest
guard was kept all along the streets.
80 one was allowed 70 pass and many
f-r les IN the vicinity were forced 70
fo-saze The shelter Of their homes and
seek lodgings elsewhere
Deputy Brandon OF the City Archi-
re--z cTce states that The building
would have probably withstood thu
f7rce 0f the gale but for the fact that
-1e ROOF was not yet Dut on This
open space OF top allowed the storm
unlimited play and the fierce gusts
t1at entered from The top Of the struc-
rure simply blew through the entire
building and forced the bricks and
t-or EtrEers 70 part Ike tow heated IN
e furnace
The Sahlei1 building was being con-
s-r1c-ed by Henry Sahlein. the well
known capitalist. az a cost OF about
s5O.ocC- Il vas commenced about
four months ago and rhe work % com
rle--E Il was rushed rapidly along.
e large gang Of workmen and me-
Charics being constantly employed on
r. i was the intention OF its owner
70 utilize the lower floors fo- stores
md -he six upper floors for rooms and
o@ces-
The cotsI loss VIII probably reach
between $4,000 and $4,000. as the
INSPECTORS OF the Board OF Public
works say that the FIVE top stories
utII have 70 be torn down The build
ing may remain intact Il the weather
keeps fue. bu- should another storm
break. i is likely that II viii become
e total wreck. and should Il fan the
chances are that many other struc-
rures and dwellings il the vicinity viii
suFe- 20 a. alarming extent
The building looks more demolished
than i q fire had visited i and eaten
away IFS inside walls and fixtures. The
walls are all cracked ard the huge
iron girders and props are twisted and
distorted. TIE first two stories ap-
pear u be intact, but the damage
done n that section of the building
VIII not be- known Till the inspectors
make a thorough Investigation.