Durango semi-weekly herald., 1906-05-03
AN INTERESTING LETTER.


To be awakened as from a trance
by the shaking of the building, books
falling over one another, windows
crashing, and beds trying to stand
on one leg. is the experience | en-
countered during the recent earth.
quake which devastated the major
part of San Francisco, and surround.
ing towns.
The earthquake occurred at 5:15 a.
M. on April 18th
After the shock was over I hurried
ly dressed and ran out to see If any.
one in our house and adjoining
houses was safe. ! turned my atten-
ton toward the Palo Alto power
plant, which is but short distance
from Manzanita Hall prep. school
There | could see the steam issu.
ing forth in great quantities from ev-
cry crack and crevice in the bulfd-
ing.
Thinking that the engineer had
been killed, | ran over to the power
plant and found him safe though he
escaped from being crushed by fall
ing brick only by miracle
Several steam pipes were broken
including the main pipe leading TO a
small engine which rendered the en-
gine helpless, Though badly shaken
the plant was not seriously damaged
otherwise.
From the power house which is sit
uated in the eastern outskirts OF Palo
Alto | rode toward the business sec
tlon OF the town
Along the road everywhere were
to be seen the signs of the shock.
Chimneys down. houses wrecked.
streets blockaded ny fallen walls and
everything in great turmoil People.
some half-clad, were to be seen on
the streets, lawns and vacant lots.
fearing to venture near the houses.
on account of the frequent shocks.
which were felt after the main shock.
Going from Palo Alto to Stanford
university. which is mile from Palo
Alto, the first sight that met my eyes
was the main entrance to the cam
pus. Being built Of stone extending
across University avenue. it was
>''P'St''S uoNh anu NitChtu
AS | rode down University avenue
the first sight that met my eyes on
nearing the grounds was the wrecked
gymnasium and library buildings on
the left Encina Hall, the boys DOR
mitory, was also badly damaged, one
student killed and a number injured
To my right were the museum,
RnIta IaI1 ha nj. o. i
the chemistry building They were
damaged to some extent.
Facing me in front stood the main
buildings on the quadrangle, the me
mortal arch in the centre of the out
side quadrangle which, with all the
surrounding buildings. were badly
damaged.
On entering the arch to the me
mortal court leading to the inner
quad stands the statue of tae
Stanford family, which was unhurt.
The next object before me was
the memorial church. which was
without doubt the most elaborately
equipped chapel in our country All
was now lying in ruins upon the
ground.
Going back of the chapel came
upon the engineering buildings. com
pletely demolished
The university power plant was also
wrecked, one fireman being killed and
buried beneath the debris.
Climbing over this wreckage to the
left | entered the fraternity grounds
| found that many of them had been
badly shaken. but few We're wrecked
The Chi Psi lodge sustained tae
hardest blow and was nearly smash
ed to the ground.
Hundreds of students could be
seen gathering around the grounds
where the buildings were demolished,
mourning the loss of their dear uni
versity, the Pride of the West"
Returning from the campus TO the
Palo Alto, | boarded the first train
bound for San Jose.
That city was reported wrecked
and on fire.
Passing through the towns of May
field. Mountain View, Sunneyvllle,
Santa Clara and few smaller towns.
there could be seen everywhere signs
of calamity. caused by the earth
quake.
Arriving in San Jose ! could see
the fire from the depot. near Santa
Clara street. on San Antonio and
San Ferdinand streets.
Two books were on fire. but the
fire was under control, and by a few
hours work the fire was totally ex
tinguished.
The city was under martial law
and they allowed no one to approach
the fire beyond the boundary lines
set aside by ropes, which were drawn
across the streets. ANY person going
beyond these ropes was in danger OF
having a few buttonholes punched
through his clothes with the point OF
a bayonet in the hands of soldier.
Buildings were badly torn up In
San Jose and many were destroyed.
Buildings built of rock and brick
seem to have suffered the most, al
though an occasional frame house