The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1906-04-21
Water Mains Burst and Unchecked
Flames Add to the Indescrib-
able Horror.
Destruction Worst in the Business Sec
tion-"South Of Market" En-
tirely Destroyed.

Oakland, CAL, April 18.-Earth-
quake and fire TODAY have caused the
greatest calamity California has ever
known. In San Francisco alone it is
estimated that one thousand persons
have persisted, while as many more are
suffering from injuries.
The entire business portion of the
city is in ruins, and the flames, which
owing to lack of water cannot be
checked except by blowing up with
dynamite of buildings in their path,
are still sweeping through the city.
Thousands of people are homeless
and many are huddled in the parks
and public squares beside the house
hold goods they we're able to save.
The city is under martial law and
all the downtown streets are patrolled
by cavalry and infantry. Details of
troops are also guarding the banks.
Most of the principal buildings have
already been destroyed. and others are
in imminent danger. Over all the
scene of desolation hangs dense pail
of smoke.
Communication Practically Cut Off.
Communication with outside towns
is almost entirely cut off, but the re-
port comes from Palo Alto that all but
one of the buildings of the Leland
Stanford university have been wrecked
and that the splendid memorial
church, one of the finest structures OF
its kind in the world, is mass OF
ruins. One student is known to have
lost his life.
In Oakland five persons were killed.
San Jose, Sacramento. Berkeley,
Alameda and other places suffered
severely, but report no loss of life.
The dreadful earthquake shock came
at 5:l3 o'clock this morning, its mo-
tion apparently being from east to
west At first the upheaval Of the
earth was gradual, but in few seconds
it increased in intensity. Chimneys
began to fall and buildings to crack,
f, tottering on their foundations.
People became panic-stricken and
rushed to the streets, most of them In
night attire. They were met by show.
bers of falling buildings, brick corni.
ces and-walls.
Those who remained in doors gener.
ally escaped with their lives, though
scores were hit with detached plaster,
pictures and articles thrown to the
floor by the shock. 1t is believed that
more or less loss was sustained by
nearly every family in the city.
The tall steel-frame structures stood
the earthquake better than the brick
buildings, few of them being badly
damaged. Some of the docks and
freight sheds along the water front slid
into the bay. Deep assures opened
in the filled-in ground near the shore,
and the Union ferry depot was badly
damaged. It's high tower still stands,
but will have to be torn down.
| A portion Of the city hall. which
cost more than 1000, 900, collapsed,
the roof sliding into the court yard
and the smaller towers tumbling down,
the great dome Icing moved, but not
falling.
| The new postofRce, one of the finest
in the United States, was badly shat.
tered.
Fire Breaks Out In Many Places.
| The Valencia hotel, four STORY
wooden building, sank into the base.
ment, pile Of splintered timbers, I'M.
der which were pinned many occu.
pants Of the house. The basement
was full Of water and some Of the help
less victims drowned. Scarcely had
the earth ceased to quake when fires
broke out simultaneously in many
places. The fire department promptly
responded to the first call, but it WA
found that the water mains had beer
rendered useless by the underground
| movement.
Famed By : light breeze, the flames
quickly spread. and soon many blocks
were seen to be doomed. Then dyna
mite was resorted to, and the sound