Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1906-04-21
TWO-TH,DDS ruined.
This Is the rrighifuI Fate 80 Far
OF san Francisco.
n
BLOW UP RESIDENCES
rLis Desperate but unayatling Man
ner OF Endea,oTsAGvlio theck
thr March "a grry kiny
Eesorted 10.


serious. Il seemed as II nothing
could save the comparatively small
portion Of the city yet unburned. The
entire business and wholesale district
Is now only a glowing furnace. while
the giant tongues OF fire have reached
to the westward far beyond vsnness
avenue and are wiping out buildings
and seeking more 20 deyour.
Al 4 O'Clock Mayor Schmitz and
Chief OF Police Oman. saw the only
hope OF saving the western addition
with lis forest OF frame dwellings and
the Richmond districts with its
thousands o. homes was % check the
cruel march of the wall OF fire at
Vanness avenue. which crosses the
city from north 10 south. where the
retail stores and fine apartment hous-
es end and where the residences be
gin. This avenue is ninety feet wide
and the possibilities Of checking the
march Of the flames here looked hope
full 20 those who were figuring ways
and means in the hour OF awful hor-
ror. The orders were given 20 concen-
trate every fire engine In the city at
this avenue. to marshall troops there
the police and al OF the army OF
workers and make one last stand 20
save the remainder OF the city.
The artillery was secured and huge
cannons were drawn by horses 10 the
avenue TO aid the dyuamiters In blow
| ing up the mansions OF the million
aires on the east side OF Nanness ave
nue. IN order TO prevent the flames
from leaping across the highway and
starting on their unrestrained sweep
across the western addition.
Every available pound of dynamite
was hauled 10 this point and the sight
was one of stupendous and appalling
havoc. as the cannon were trained
on the palaces and the shot tore into
the walls and toppled the buildings In
crushing ruins. At other points the
dynamite was used and house after
house, the dwellings Of millionaires
we're lifted into the air by the power
full believing blast and dropped 10 the
earth a mass OF dust and debris.
The work was necessarily danger
Gus and many OF the exhausted work.
ers who kept working through a long
stretch OF as hours without sleep and
scarcely any food. through force OF
instructive heroism alone. may have
been killed while making this last
desperate stand Many OF the work
ers In placing the blasts took chances
that spelled injury or death.
The fire line at s o'clock extends
mile along the east side OF Vanness
10 Pacific avenue All behind this. ex-
cepting the Russian Hill region and a
small district lying along the north
beach, has been swept clean by the
flames. and from the steel hulks OF
buildings and pipe and shafts and
spires have been dropped into the
molten mass OF debris like so much
melted wax.
The steady booming OF the artillery
and the roar OF the dynamite above
the howl and cracking OF the flames
continued with monotenous regular
lty. Such noises have been lombard
ing the ears Of the panic stricken
people since the earthquake OF IS
hours before. They have not ceased 20
heed the sound. and rush pellmell.
drowningt heir senses In bedlam
OF their own creation. There seemed
70 be an irresistible power behind the
flames that even the desperately he
role measures being taken az Nanness
avenue could not stay.
While the heroic firefighters were
making the last stand at the line OF
yanness avenue, panic feigned among
the survivors IN other parts OF the city.
The intense heat and absence OF water
ave been so terrible that scores have
become frantic and others have drop
ned from exhaustion In the streets.
The streets are still choked with re-
furees scramblIng wildly for an ave
nue. OF escape. Since early morning.
Thursday. when the great run OF
flames doomed the hotel and apar--
ment house district along Ellis, OFar'
rel and Cutter streets. men, women
and children have been rushing OF
staggering under heavy loads OF lug
rage. sonnet the ferries al the water
front in hope OF getting 20 Oakland
and the east side OF the bay. others 10
the hills. Golden Gate Park, 10 Ocean
3each. the Preside and San Mateo
bay.
The trip 10 the hills and to the
water front was one OF terrible hard
ship. Furnishing women and children
and exhausted men were compelled
TO walk seven miles around the north
shore In order 10 avoid the flames and
reach the ferries.
Many dropped 20 the streets under
the weight on their loads. and willing
fathers and husbands. their strength
almost gone. strove 10 pick up and
urge them forward again.
In the panic many mad things were
being done. Even soldiers were
Obliged IN many instances 20 prevent
men and women made insane from
misfortune that had engulfed them,
from rushing into doomed buildings
In the hope OF saving valuables from
the ruins In nearly every instance
such action has resulted In death 10
those who tried Il.
At Larllin and Suffer streets two
men and a women broke from the po- |
lice and rushed into a burning apart |
ment house. never 10 return.
Probably 2O0. 900 refugees struggled /
20 get out OF the city and hourly the |
task became more difficult as the
fire and heat cut off avenue after ave
nue. OF escape. The streets were filled |
with struggling people. some crying
and weeping and calling for missing