La Junta tribune. (La Junta, Bent County, Colo.) 1881-1939, 1906-06-06


eastern branch Of the Southern Pa
cific railroad to Oakland The sun
was just peeping over the eastern
mountains. lighting up the dew-gem-
al orchards and meadows. turning
the flying fog wreaths on the noun
tain sidtS to silver. calling the inhab-
itants Of this favored valley 10 a day
of new activity.
Santa Clara valley, described by
travellers as '-one Of the three most
BEAUTIFUL valleys in the world" is
surrounded on three sides by noun
tain ranges four thousand feet in
height which gradually approach
San Francisco Bay on the north. and
drop down into the sand hills upon
which San Francisco Is built Lux
uriant orchards. meadows and gar
dens fill the level valley and cling TO
the sides of the foothills wherever
il is possible to run a plow Numer-
Gus small towns dot the valley. and
here the nabobs Of San Francisco
have their beautiful country homes.
There was nothing along the way to
show the work Of the recent earth
quake except traces Of ruined CHM
neys. and here and there a wrecked
building in the towns. As we neared
Oakland such ruins became more
frequent and noticeable.
At Oakland we took the ferry for
San Francisco. it being y three mile
trip across the bay. This was really
the most enjoyable part Of our jour
ney-our first ride on salt water.
and the first view that some Of our
party had ever had Of so much - a
ferry boat. The Bay was smooth.
the morning sunshine bright. numer-
Gus vessels Of all kinds were plying
upon the waters and continually
sounding their whistles in passing
one another. Goat Island was near
our course. Alcatraz. the site Of
the United States military prison.
lay in the distance near the Golden
Gate. while the burned city spread
for miles along the shore and over
the hills which we approached.
The great ferry building and the
docks were not touched by the fire.
The building lost part Of its tower
BY the earthquake. and the street in
front Of il was raised in some places
and sunk in others. making the side
walk and the cobble-stone pavement
Of the center street very uneven.
We spent some time wandering
along the docks. inspecting steamers,
iron-clads. ferries. tugs. merchant
vessels. and United States Army
transports. realizing the activities Of
this, one of the worlds greatest sea-
ports. Men Of many nationalities
jostled one another on the crowded
piers. Soldiers paced up and down.
Heavily laden wagons and drays
rumbled over the cobble-stone pave
ments and crowded street cars went
rushing by. All this was on one side
OF the street along the wharves. On
the other side tottering walls looked
down upon shapeless masses Of
ruins: crazy. twisted houses leaned
against one another for support;
remnants of the signs Of once pros
porous business houses hung for
lornly upon blackened walls that
stood as monuments over the graves
Of buried fortunes. Far a. the eye
could reach. up and down the valley.
up on to the hills. was IAN abomina-
ton Of desolation" equal to that
prophesied many times in the Scrip
tures for cities stepped in wicked
ness and forxetful Of God.
After lingering m hour at the
wharves We took . street car that
carried us through the heart Of the
burned city. We had seen numer-
Gus pictures Of the ruins. but oae
he's to look upon tie huge piles u
debris. the smoke-ba -baackened mafb1e.
brick and stone. the hare skeletoas
Of steel sky-scr1pefs. the twistsd
and burned ma0ss Of iron hars snd
machinery. the eharred trunks e
trees, tie tottefing walls and d.
still anoking ruins. to get even .
faint cuacsption of tie swfulnsD q
The destruction. do not see how .
soul escapsd. There = not . vuueiGD
a strvses In except, Il esurse.
where tAe highwsvs hive siace -