Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1906-04-26
An Earthquake Followed by Fire Has De-
stroyed Large Part Of Beautiful
Metropolis of Pacific Coast.
FOUGHT FLAMES WITH DYNAMITE.
Water Mains Burst and Fremen Were Killed
and Wounded Can Only Be Enthusiastically Is
Under Martial Law and Troops Patrol the
Street..Other Points Affected.

Oakland, CAL, April l9.-EartnQuaK
and fire Wednesday have caused III
greatest calamity California has eve
known. In San Francisco alone II
estimated that 1000 persons have per
ashed, while as many more are suffer
ing from injuries. The entire bust
ness portion Of the city is in ruins an
the flames which, owing to the lack
water, cannot be checked except b.
the blowing up with dynamite Of build
Sings in their path, are still sweeping
through the city. II 10 utterly i'm
possible at present to estimate thu
property loss, for the extent Of thu
conhagration cannot be told until thu
IRE has burned itself out Thousands
Of people are homeless and many alt
huddled In the parks and public
squares, beside the household goods
they were able TO save The city |;
under martial law and all the down.
town streets are patrolled by cavalry
and infantry. Details Of troops are al
30 guarding the banks. Most Of the
principal buildings have already been
destroyed and others are In imminent
danger. Over al 1.-The scene Of desola-
don hangs dense pail of smoke.
Communication with outside towns is
almost entirely cut of. but the report
comes from Palo Alto that all but
one Of the buildings Of the Leland
Stanford. IT,, university have been
wrecked and that the splendid memo
rial church. one Of the finest struo.
lures Of Its kind In the world, is
mass Of ruins. One student Is known
20 have lost his life. In Oakland
I'VE persons were killed. San Jose and
Sacramento, Berkeley, Alameda and
other places heard from suffered Sc
Terely, but report no loss Of life.
The tall steel frame structures stood
the strain better than brick buildings,
lew Of them being badly damaged. The
big eleven-story Monadnock Office
building, In course Of construction
adjoining the Palace hotel. was an ex-
eeption, however, its rear wall collaps-
ing and many cracks being Hhde
across its 'front.' Some of the docks
and freight sheds along the water
'front.' slid into the bay. Deep assures
opened in the filled-in ground near
the shore and the Union ferry depot
vas damaged. Its high tower still
stands, but will have to be torn down.
A portion Of the new city hall which
cost more than 100000, collapsed,
The roof sliding into the courtyard
and the smaller towers tumbling
down, the great dome being moved but
not falling. ~. .~,s l.
The new postofics, one of the I'm
.est In the United States, was badly
1Aattered.
The Valencia hotel. a four-story
wooden building. sank into the base
ment, a pile Of splintered timbers,
under which were pinned many dead
and dying occupants Of the house.
The basement was full Of water and
some Of the helpless victims were
drowned
Scarcely had the earth ceased to
shake when fires broke out simultan-
nously In many places. The flre de- !
partment promptly responded to the
6rst calls for aid, but II was found
mat the water mains had been rem I
dered useless by the underground /
movement Famed by light breeze,
the flames quickly spread and soon !
many blocks were seen to be doomed. 4
Then dynamite was resorted to and d
the sounds Of frequent explosions add
"a to the terror Of the people. All
shorts to stay the progress Of the fire, 5
however, proved futile. The south '
side Of Market street from Ninth c
street to the bay was soon ablase. the '
IRE covering a belt two blocks wide. 1
On this, the main thoroughfare Of L
ne city, are located many Of the IN a
ept edihces in the city. Including the
Grant Parrott. Flood. "call," Exam b
her" and Monadnock buildings, the b
Palace and Grand hotels and numer- q
ous wholesale houses. v
From early morning the Offices Of
ne Western Union and Postal Tele- p
lTaph companies In Oakland have been a
llled with people in all walks Of life u
Hing messages Of inquiry as to the q
'onditions Of friends and interests In Al
,ther cities Of California which sui. 81
lsred from the earthquake shock. pI
The Ore swept down the streets 40 d
'apidly that II was practically impos- n
lole to save anything in its way. 81
I reached the Grand Opera house on d
nssion street and In q moment had u
lnrnad through the roof. The Metro. Is
'ontan opera company from new bi
lork had Just opened its season there
nd al the expensive scenery and COS a
1mes were soon reduced to ashes ID
rom the opera houss the Ore leaped II
ION building to building, quickly lev &C
ing them. The Call editorial and te
lechanical departments were totally "a
estroyed IN a few minutes ana the u
.mes leaped across Stevenson street Ok
ward the dne history stone ana iron b.
|1u1 6prockieg building which win n