Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1906-04-18
THE SAN FRANCISCO DISASTER

II is impossible ut this time to meas
ure the great catastrophe which san
Francisco has suffered. our inlorma-
ton is comparatively brief up to the
present moment but enough is known
to show that It is one of the greatest
disasters of the time, greater indeed
than the Charleston earthquake and
paling to iusignifcancc the memorable
San Francisco earthquake Of years ago.
Disaster In no city Of the world
could come home more kccnly to llo-
nolulu than the wreck of San Fran
cisco. II Is our home city so TO speak
Our avenues Of mainland commerce and
business all center there and good
portion OF our population have either
friends or relatives In or around the
city.
From all indications the greatest
amount OF damage has been done by
fire, the water mains for fire service
having apparently been destroyed and
thus made II impossible to check the
flames that followed In the wake Of the
shock did. In the early morning, the
loss of life In the business district Is
probably comparatively low, but there
is little doubt that there must have
been many deaths In the burning Of
the Palace and Grand hotels.
Apparently the destruction has been
confined almost exclusively to the bus
mess Section Of San Francisco, but even
this is shrOuded In more or less doubt.
The shock came in the early morning.
II demoralzed the land telegraph lincs
30 that no word could be obtained by
me outside world OF what had hap
Dened In San Francisco nor could that
city learn whether the earthquake had
spread disaster through the adjoining
cities and towns. Considering the hour
at which the earthquake came with
its panic and turmoil, Honolulu Is for
tunato to have obtained as full details
us II has.
Martial law having been declared and
the troops having been placed on pat
rol In the business section would indi-
cate that the people were able to re-
spond promptly to the demands of the
situation. This Is the reassuring feat
ure.
When the immediate losses of life
and property are reCkOned these Will
be but fraction Of the misfortune SUI
fered by our sister city. Many years
will be required to wipe from the pop
ular mind the fear of another vista
tion and consequent hesitation to Cs-
tablish homes in the city. Further
more the financial distress which may
grin concerns unable to meet such a
great misfortune will take long to re-
cover from, notwithstanding the bus
mess men of the city and of the cOun-
try generally will do their utmost TO
rally every resource in the interest OF
individual firms and the community
as whole.
Honolulu will experience an inCOn-
yonience that will be temporary at
best Our firms have their orders in
San Francisco and II Is probable that
their demands can be met immediate
ly. II necessary, however, these ord
ers can be filled by either Los Angeles
Portland or Seattle and special steam
ers dispatched, so that this Territory
will not suffer for want of supplies
though II may be put to expensive In
convenience for a period
The deep sympathy which goes on
to distressed friends Is extended
by Hawaii to San Francisco in full
measure We are long way from the
scene OF the disaster, but II Is certain
that our people will respond mos
heartily II there he any means by which
assistance can be rendered.