The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1906-04-28
LETTER FROM CALIFORNIA
Mr.. Il. [. Beach, Formerly Of Stafford, Writes Ct
the Destruction al Oakland.

Oakland, Cal. April p, 1906.
To The Free Lance.
! was awakened by violent tremor
aud "a terrific rocking. accompanied 10y a
dull roar as of heavy wind. My fist
thoughts were that Nc were having %
storm. but Just then everything began
10 tall and break ChImneys came down,
window glas. smashed dishes breaking.
and the house cracking and everything
falling and being streWn about the room.
On spriuging from my bed was immrdl-
ately thrown from my feet, ! staggered
10 "A couch where / sat down. for hl this
time / had begun 90 grow sea SICK.
Those few moments SEEMED hours. pro
plp wera running into The STREETS with
their night clothes. women screaming
and children crying. for everyone was
filed with terror ltwas awiul. hope
10 viii never be- nay experience ~ witness
such again The earth seemed 90 lnv"
no foundation and rocked and shook like
a lrai in the brrcze. Then followed q
shower of rain in drops M big a- dimes
without cloud 10 he seen, which alter
cooperating presented the appearance oi
salt
There was scarcely a chimney dt
standing In the city, destruction ou
every hand. All the brick buildings w'rr
either torn down or damaged % such au
extent that they viii boz condemned.
streets We're strewn with debris, plan"
glass windows were smashed to iug-
meuts. brick and mortar piled mp every
where. telegraph and electric wires Were
"a tangled mass. and to add ID the c0n-
fusion, fires began To- break ont in
all sections OF the city, hut ioriunat- ly
the water works were not damaged and
hy the heroic efforts of the iremen what
looked ike another danger was averted.
Then began searches for the dead and
wounded. From the ruias oi the Em-
pire Theatre five were taken ont dead. a
score were rescued with broken limbs
and bruises. The business section Ci the
city il built chiefly OF brick. and II the
disaster had occurred two hours later
thousands of people would have been
killed Every place is strcwn with brick.
Some buildings are being propped up 90
keep them from TOPPING over and sol
dicrs are ON guard TO keep people out of
danger The street car tracks Were
warped and TWISTED Ike pipe stem.
What was called yesterday the Athens
oi America today is a mass 81 ruins
san Francisco our neighbOring city. i Do
ruins. What the earthquake lett the
flames consumed: no words can describe
tie horriiying sights there. Men, wO-
men and children were roasted alive
while pinioned beneath falling buildings
aud walls. There is no way 10 estimate
the true number OF lives lost That sec-
ton of the city adjoining the business
district was first 10 go, which Is known
as the Italian quarters and Chinatown.
Every train brings thousands fleeing IN
terrOr-peOple in every station OF lille.
Business men who could write their
checks Tor a million today are penniless.
Great strong men were weeping as
children. mothers with babes in their
arms. old men and women were tutter-
ing along looking for some place OF safe
" and place 10 lay their head Many
a heart-rending sight was presented.
People from foreign countries without
money or shelter and among strangers.
At this writing the fire is still raging
aud presents a picture or horrOr-the
very elements seem to be afame
Great detonations are heard as they
are blasting house after house. This
seems the only thing that can be done a.
there can't be a drop Of water gotten in
the city. the quake having destroyed the
water works and left the people helpless.
Ii YOU can imagine everything you
possess IN the world being destroyed aud
YOU stand 10y and can't raise IA finger,
You can imagine some OF our feelings
Reports are coming in from all nearby
ci' les with news of destruction aud death.
Very sincerely.
H. L. Beach,
2O16 Market St
Oakland. Cal.
Mr.. Beach formerly resided in Stafford
county and will be remembered by many
Of our readers. He sent number 81
photographs showing the terrible dis