The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-04-25

showers Of falling buildings, bricks,
cornices and walls Many were in
stantly c7.,<.,el u death, while 9TH
ers were dreadfully mangled. Those
who remained indoors generally es-
capped with their lives, though scores
were hit by detached plaster, pictures
| and articles thrown to the floor, by
the shock. It is believed that more or
| less loss was sustained by nearly ev-
cry family in the city.
The tall steel frame structures stood
the strain better than brick buildings,
few Of them being badly damaged.
The History Monandoc Office buuilu-
ing. in course of construction, adjoln-
ing the Palace hotel was an exception,
however, it's rear wall collapsing and
many cracks being made across its
front. Some Of the docks and freight
sheds along the water front slid into
the bay. Deep assures opened in the
flled-in ground near the shore and the
Union Ferry depot was injured. Its
nigh tower still stands but will have
to be torn down.
A portion of the new city hall, which
cost over s7,0O0,OO0. collapsed. the
roof sliding into the court yard and
smaller towers tumbling down. The
great dome was moved but did not
fall.
The new postoffice, one Of the finest
in the United States, was badly shat
tered.
The Valencia Hotel, four-story
wooden building, sank into the base
ment a. pile of splintered timbers, un-
der 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 fire broke out simultan-
eously 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 render
ed useless by the underground move
ment. Famed by a light breeze, the
flames quickly spread and soon many
blocks were seen to be doomed. Then
dynamite was resorted to and the
sound of frequent explosions added to
the terror of the people. All efforts
to stay the progress of the fire, how
ever. 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. are
located many of the finest edifces in
the city, including the Grant. Parrott.
Flood, Call Examiner and
Monandoc buildings, the Pacific 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 Of the
city extended from Swanson streets
to the water front, and from Market
street to Broadway. Fires also broke
out in the Mission and the entire city
seemed to be in flames.
The flames. famed by the rising
breeze. swept down the main streets
until within few hundred feet of the
ferry depot. the high tower of which
stood at dangerous angle. The big
wholesale grocery establishment Of
Wheelman. Heck & Co.. was on fire
from cellar to roof. and the heat was
the ferry boats were obliged to keep
close to the waters edge in order to
impossible to reach the centre Of the
city from the bay without skirting the
entirely around the burning district.
At o'clock the Southern Pacific Of
ficals refused to allow any more pas
Sengers from trans-bay points to land
and sent back those already on the
boats. The ferry and train service Of
the Key route We're entirely abandon
ed owing to damage done 20 the pow
er house by the earthquake at Emery
vile.
Al o'clock this morning 1000 men
from the Preside arrived down town
to patrol the city streets. The Thir-
teenth infantry. 1000 strong men. ar
lived from Angel Island little later
and went on patrol duty. The soldiers
have been ordered to shoot down
thieves caught in the act of robbing
the dead and to guard With their lives