Daily Kennebec journal., 1906-04-19
THE EARTHQUAKE.
(Continued from Page One.)

University have been wrecked ana 'h"e
the splendid memorial church one u
tive finest structures of its kind IN 'ne
world, Is q mass Of ruins one stuuen'
IA known to have lost his life. In OAK
land five persons were killed. San Iose
and sacramento, Berkeley, AiaI1iaua
and other places heard from sunereo
severely. but report no loss OF me-
The dreadful earthquake shock came
without warning at precisely o.iS ciocA
this morning, its motion apparently pc
ing froln east to west. Al nrst llie up
heaval Of the earth was gradual, Dul ~
n few seconds 1t increased In intensity.
r.hirnnevs began to fall and buildings
+ottSred on their foundations. The peo-
ME BECAME panic-stricken and rusned
into the streets, most of them IN their
night attire They were met py snow
ers Of falling buildings. bricks. cornices
and walls Many were instantly crushed
IN death, while others were dreadfuliy
mansled. Those who remained indoors
generally escaped with their lives,
though scores were hit by detached
plaster pictures and articles thrown
to the floor by the shock
It IN believed that more or less loss
vas sustained by nearly every family
In the city. The tall steel frame struc-
lures stood the strain better than the
brick buildings, few of them being bad
Iv damaged. The big eleven-story Mo-
nadnock office building, in course of
construction adjoining the Palace Ho-
tel. was an exception. however, its rear
wau collapsing and many cracks being
made across it's front. Some OF the
docks and freight sheds along the wat
er front slid into the bay Deep MS
eures opened in the filled-in ground
near the shore and the Union ferry de-
pot was injured. The high tower still
stands, but will have TO be torn down
A portion Of the New CITY hall.
which cost over s7.Oo0,O0O. collapsed. the
root sliding into the courtyard and
smaller towers tumbling down. The
great dome was moved but did not
fall.
The new post office, 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, un-
der which were pinned many dead ana
dying occupants of the houses. The
basement was full of water and some
of the helpless victims were drowned.
Scarcely had the earth ceased 10
shake when fires broke out smultane-
ously in many places The fire depart
ment Immediately responded to the
first calls for aid, but it was found that
the,water mains had been rendered
useless by the underground movement.
Famed by a light breeze, the flames
quickly spread, and soon many blocks
were seen to be- doomed. Then dyna-
mite was resorted to and the sound of
frequent explosions added to the terror
of the city. All efforts to stay the pro-
gress Of the fire. however, proved futile.
The south side of Market street, from
Ninth street to the bay was soon
ablaZe, the fire covering a belt two
blocks wide. On this, the main thor
Oughfare Of the city, are located many
of the finest edifices in the city. includ-
ing the Grand, Parrot, Flood. Call,
Examiner and Monadnock buildings
the Palace and Grand hotel, and num-
erous wholesale houses.
At the same time the commercial es-
tablishments and banks north of Mar
ket street were burning. The burning
district in this section of the city ex-
tended from Sansome street to the
water front and from Market street tc
Broadway. Fire also broke out in the
Mission and the entire city seemed tc
be in flames.
The flames. famed by the rising
breeze swept down the main streets un-
til within few hundred feet of the
ferry depot the high tower of which
stood at a dangerous angle. The bis
wholesale grocery establishment OF
Weelman, Peck & Co. was on fire from
cellar to roof and the heat was so op
pressive that passengers from the fer.
ry boats were obliged to keep clos.
to the waters edge in order to get pas
the burning structures.
1t was impossible to reach the cente
of the city from the bay withou
skirting the shore for a long distance
so as to get entirely around the burn
ing district
At about S o'clock the Southern Pa
cliffs officials refused to allow any NOR,
passengers from trans-bay points I,
land and sent back those already OF
the boat. The ferry and train servic,
Of the Key route was entirely aban
doned owing to damage to the powc,
house by the earthquake at Emery
VILE.
At 3 O'Clock this morning Thousand
men from the Preside arrived dowr
town to patrol the city streets. rh,
18th Infantry. 1000 strong, arrived from
Angel Island little later and wen
on patrol duty at once. The soldier.
nave been ordered to shoot dowr
thieves caught in the act of robbinr
tne dead and to guard with their live;
tne millions Of dollars worth of pro
perty which has been placed in III,
streets that it may escape the ravage
OF the flames.
Two companies Of the First Cal,for
MIA Artillery have been detailed to no
troi duty on Ellis street and Nv,
more companies are patrolling Rroad
way In the Italian section.
Mayor Schmitz sent out word IN IN
bakeries and milk stations tbrorsho,,
the city that their food supplies mns
De harbored for the homeless prov,
slons @ have already been made to plac
tents IN every park in the citv an