Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1906-04-24

started, and burned Fourth street
from one end to the other starting at
each end, and meeting in the middle
thus sweeping over the ruins and
burning the imprisoned people.
Il saw two arms protruding from
one part of the debris, and waving
There was so much noise,
however, that the screams could NOT
be heard. Just then, as 1 looked, the
flames swept over them and cruelty
finished the work started by the
earthquake. The sight sickened me
and l turned away"
Oakland, April 1S.-Earthquake and
fire today has caused the greatest ca
lamity California has ever known. In
San Francisco alone it is estimated
that a thousand persons have perish
ed, while as many or more are suffffer-
ing from injuries. The entire business
portion of the city is in ruins and the
flames, owing to the lack Of water,
cannot be checked except by the blow
ing up Of buildings.
1t is utterly impossible at present to
estimate the property loss, and the eX.
tent of the confiagration cannot be es-
timated until the fire has burned itself
out
Thousands of people are homeless
, and many are huddled in the parks
The city is under martial law and
ali the downtown streets are patrOll-
ed 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
scenes Of desolation hongs the dense
pail of smoke.
Communication with outside towns
is almost cut off, but the report comes
from Palo Alto that all but one Of the
buildings Of the Leland Stanford, Jr.
university have been wrecked and that
the splendid Memorial church, one
the finest structures Of it's kind in the
world, is a mass of ruins. One stud
ent is known to have lost his life.
In Oakland five persons We're killed.
San Jose and Sacrame Berkeley,
Alameda and other places headr from,
suffered severely but report no loss of
life
The dreadful earthquake shock came
without warning at precisely 5:1S
o'clock this morning, it's motion appar-
emily from east and west. At first
the upheaval of the earth was gradual
but in a few seconds it increased in
intensity.
Chimneys began to fall and build
ings to crack, tottering on their foun
dations. People became panic c-strick
en- and rushed into the streets most of
them in their night attire. They We're
Go
bricks cornices and walls. Many We're
instantly crushed to death, while 9TH
ers were dreadfully mangled. Those
who remained in doors generally es-
capped With their lives, though scores
We're hit by 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. The big II story Monadnock
office building, in course of construc-
ton. adjoining the Palace hotel, was
an exception, however, the rear wall
collapsing and many crooks being
made across it's front. Some of the
docks and freight sheds along the
water front slid into the bay. Deep
ffissures opened in the filled in ground
near the shore, and the shore and the
Union ferry depot was damaged. Its
high tower still stands but will have
to be torn down.
A portion of the new city hall, which
cost more than s7.0OO,OOO collapsed, the
roof sliding into the court yard and the
smaller towers coming down, the great
dome being moved, but not falling.
The new postoffice ,one of the finest
buildings, was badly shattered. The
Valencia hotel a four story wooden
building, sank into the basement, a
pile of splintered timbers under which
We're pinned many dead and dying oc-
cupants of the house. The base ment
was full of water and some of the
helpless victims We're drowned.
Scarcely had the earth ceased to
shake when fires broke out simultane-
ously in many places. The fire depart
ment promptly responded to the first
call for aid but it was found that the
water mains had been rendered use
less by the underground movement.
Famed by a light breeze, the flames
quickly spread and many blocks were
seen to be doomed. Then dynamite
was resorted to and the sound of re-
quent explosions added to the terror
of the people. All the efforts to stay
the fire. however. proved futile. The
south side of Market street from Ninth
street to the bay was soon ablaze. the
fire covering belt Of two blocks wide.
On this. the mai nthorofare of the city,
! are located many Of the finest edifics
. of the city. including the Grant, Par
rott. Flood. Call, Examiner. Monad-
mock buildings, the Palace and Grand
hotel 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 extends
from Sansome street to the water
front. and from Market street to
broadway. Fires also broke out IN
Mission and the entire city seemed t.
be inflames.
The flames, famed by the risins