Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1906-04-23
the union ferry depot was almost

Costly Structures in Ruins.
A portion of the new city hall
winch cost more than $1,000, 900, col
lapsed, the roof sliding into the court
yard and smaller towers tumbling
down, with the great dome being
moved but not falling.
The new postoffice, one of the finest
in the United States, was badly shat
tered.
The Valencia hotel, a four-story
wooden building, sank into the base
ment, a pile of splintered timbers, un-
der which were pinned many dead
and dying occupants of the house.
The basement was full of water and
some helpless victims drowned.
Flames on Heels of Shock.
Scarcely had the earth ceased to
shake when fires broke out simulta.
neously in many places. The fire de-
partment promptly responded to the
first calls for aid, but it was found
that the water mains were rendered
useless by underground movement.
The flames quickly spread and soon
many blocks were seen to be doomed.
Dynamite was resorted to and the
sound of frequent explosions added to
the terror of the people. All efforts
to stay the progress of the fire proved
futile. The south side of Market
street from Ninth street to the bay
was soon ablaze, the fire covering a
belt two blocks wide. On this
thoroughfare are located many of the
finest edifices, including the Grant,
Parrot, Flood, Call Examiner and
Monadnock buildings, the Palace and
Grand hotels and numerous whole
sale houses.
Like a City of Fire.
At the same time the commercial
establishments and banks north Of
Market street were burning. The
tended from Sansome street to the
water front and from Market street to
Broadway. Fires also broke out in
the Mission, and the entire city
seemed to be in flames.
The flames, famed by a rising
breeze, swept the main wholesale
business street. 1t was impossible to
reach the center of the city from the
bay without skirting the shore for a
long distance so as to get entirely
around the burning district. About 8
o'clock the Southern Pacific officials
refused to allow any more passengers
from trans-bay points TO land and
sent back those already on the boats.
To Shoot Robbers of Dead.
At 9 in the morning a thousand men
from the Presida arrived to patrol the
streets. The Thirteenth infantry,
900 strong, arrived from Angel
island a little later. The soldiers have
been ordered to shoot down thieves
caught in the act of robbing the dead,
and to guard with their lives the MIL
lions of dollars worth of property
which have been placed in the streets.
The First California infantry, 200
strong, has been detailed to patrol
duty on Ellis street Two more COM
panies are patrolling Broadway me
mayor appointed a committee OF safe
tv and ordered bakeries and milk
stations to harbor their food supply
for the homeless.
Impossible to Stop Fire.
The fire swept down the streets SO
ranidIy that it was practically impos-
sibIe to save anything in its way. II
reached the Grand opera mouse on
Mission street and in moment that
was a mass of flames. The Metro
nolitan opera company from New
York had just opened its season there
and all the expensive scenery ana
costumes were destroyed. Inc nre
swept on, leaping to building AFTER
building. The Call building went
with others and the flames leaped
across Stevenson street and attacked
the Claus Spreckels History stone
and iron structure. The struc-
ture, when hdo "i'i'N'
the forces of the earth, appeared
doomed to fall a prey to the hre'
After while. however, the flames, ma
ing nothing to consume, graduaiiy
went out. leaving the building stand
ing but completely Quilted
The Palace hotel, the rear OF when
was constantly threatened, was the
scene of much excitement, the guests
leaving in haste, many only with the
clothing they wore. Finding that the
hotel being surrounded on all SIDES
by streets, was likely to remain I'M
poediatelv immune, many returned
The PARROT building, In which were
located the chambers of the state SD
preme court, the lower floors by an
immense department store, was ruined
though its massive walls were not al
DESTROYED. Further down Marker
street the academy OF science ana the
Jennie Flood building and the history