The Kemper herald. (Scooba, Miss.) 1875-1908, 1906-04-26

San F'ranclSco.-Sa francisco is
the city desolate. Earthquake and fire
have almost entirely destroyed the
Metropolis of the Golden West and
famine and destitution adds to the
horror of the death roll.
At 5:15 o'clock, April 18th, an
earthquake shook the whole city and
surrounding country. One shock APP
parently lasted two minutes and there
was almost immediate collapse OF
fimsy structures all over the city. The
water supply was cut off and when
fire boke out in the various sections
there was nothing to do but let it
burn. Telegraphie and telephone
communication was shut off, the
Western Union being one of the first
buildings to be destroyed. Electric
power was shut off and railroads and
ferry boats suspended operations.
The earthquake came without any
warning, its motion apparently being
from east to west. At first the up
heavall Of the earth was gradual, but
in few seconds it increased in in
tensity. Chimneys began to fall and
buildings to crack, tottering on their
foundations. People became panic
stricken and rushed into the streets
most of them In their night attire.
They were met by showers of falling
buildings, bricks, cornices and walls.
Many we're instantly crushed to death
while others were deradfully mangled.
Those who remained indoors generally
escaped with their lives, though scores
were struck by detached plaster, pic
lures and articles thrown to the floor
by the shock.
The tall steel frame structures stood
The strain better than brick buildings,
few of them being badly damaged.
The big eleven story Monadnock build
ing in course of construction, adjoin-
ing the Palace hotel, was an excep-
ton, however, its rear walls collaps-
ing and many cracks being ma-a
across its front.
Some of the docks and freight
sheds along the water front slid into
the bay. Deep fissures opened in the
filled in ground near the shore, and
the Union ferry depot was irreparably
injured. Its high tower still stands,
bat will have to be torn down.
A portion of the new city hall,
which cost more than $7,000,000 col
lapsed, the roof sliding into the court
yard and the smaller towers tumbl-
ing down with the great dome being
moved but not falling.
The postoffice, one of the finest in
the United States, was badly shat
tered.
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 simultane-
ously in many places. The fire de-
partment promptly responded to the
first calls for aid, but it was found
that the water mains had been rem
dered useless by the underground
movement. Famed by light breeze
the flames quickly spread and soon
many blocks were doomed. Then dy-
namiting was resorted to, and the
sound of frequent explosions added to
the terror of the people.
All efforts to stay the fire, howev-
er, proved futile. The south side of
Market street, from Ninth street to
the bay was soon ablaze, the fire COW
ering a belt two blocks wide. On this
the main thoroughfare of the city,
was located many of the finest edi-
fees in the city, including the Grant,
Parrott, Flood, Call, Examiner and
Monadnock buildings, the Palace and
Grand hotels, and numerous wholesale
houses.
At the same time the commercial
establishments and banks north of
Market street were burning. The
burning district in this section extend
ed from SanSome street to the water
front, and from Market street to the
bay. Fires also broke ke-out in the Mis-
sion, and the entire city was soon in
flames.
1000 soldiers from the Preside pa
troled the city streets. The Thirteenth
Infantry, 1000 strong, arrive from An
gel Island little later. and went on
New York. were passed
On three of the men convicted of for