The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-04-19
jTREET SMASHED
la IN THE FACE
MIR. Thomas a. Barry Was in
San francisco in 1860 When
First Earthquake Occurred.
MEN MEN AND NO WOMEN FLED
Disturbance Occurred at Seven
O'clock and Many Rushed to
Street in Night Clothes.

Afr. Thomas a. Barry, of this city, gives
the following very interesting account
| oil the first earthquake, which occurred
| IN San Francisco in the year 1869, At
| which time he was guest ut the Lick
House one OF the wrecked buildings on
Montgomery Street The earthquake oc.
Cured about seven o'clock In the morn.
ing.
AIr. Barry said: II had just written
letter home ana was going down to the
pcstoiiicc on Jackson Street, near the San
Francisco market, To post IT. when the
awful earthquake occurred The air was
really sickcning. 1t seemed to choke and
stiflo every one, then all at once the
uphenval came and the street lifted up
in front Of me like a great wave.
II stumbled Zip against It nnd fell down
flat Oil Montgomery Street. / was only
about two s1uarcs from the market and
the horses That they mad brought there
all started on n wild runaway, rushing
down the street. snorting with terror.
II just had time to get UP and jump
into the recess or Il doorway to give them
room to pass After they passed I camo
out and saw the multitude running for
Telegraph Hill. Il very high point right
over the Golden Gate.
The people were all nfraid that n
tidal wave was coming from the Pa
cific Ocean. There were men, women and
children who had just gotten out Of bed
and were In their night clothes.
Damage Millions in Extent.
The stfflcning mir lasted for an hour
or two and the shock lasted about two
minutes. There were two shocks, first q
little one and after half a minute great
shock came with d ronr and q roll. II
saw chimney on the Bay Sugar Re-
fnery topple over and drop down right
down through tho buildings. There was
mr. opening In. Market Street ut the head
or Montgomery street two feet wide. Tho
damage occasloned By the earthquake
amounted TO upwards OF several million
dollars, and so great was the wreck that
a man could Euy a piece OF property for
anything he cl.oosed to give. II you would
Iuy him railroad ticket the owner would
give you nll the property he had.
stayed there about Il week after the
shock. and within that time everything
had quoted down and business had been
People Greatly Excited.
Ny recollection is that the earthquake
Of 60 took place some time in Scptcmbcr,
/ remember Governor Booth came down
~ tIiI HlaOa boclhttot
latham. They made speeches in San
Francisco 10 quiet the people and to reg
ulatc affairs. Senator Latham ut that
time represented the state In the United
Statcs Senate.
The city ut that time had just located
in what is known az the sand pits the
stc for tho s6,COO,OHD City Hall which
was destroyed By tho earthquake to-day.
There were no telegraph or telephone
wires. nor fire alarms to be ruined by
The earthquake Of 1869. We contractors
carried the first communication to tho
state over the private telegraph wires OF
tho Southern Pacific and Union Pacific
railroads.
Telegraph Hill. where all tho people
collected during the earthquake, got its
lame on account of beng used for Sig
la station many years prior to the In
reduction Of the telegraph. On account
II It's height above tile surrounding
the place was used to signal to
he outlying districts by means OF torches
md lights and to communicate with YES
els entering Golden Gate harbor