The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1906-04-20

'"PShb anu many cracks being mnde
across its front. Some of the docks
and freight sheds along the water
front slid into the bay. Deem assures
opened In the filled in ground near tho
shore and the Union ferry depot was
damaged. Its high tower still stands
but VIII have to be torn down.
A portion OF the new city hail.
which cost more than $1,000 90. col.
lapsed. the roof sliding into the court.
yard and the smaller towers tumbling
down, the great dome being moved,
but not falling, The new postofice,
was badly shattered.
The VALENCIA hotel, four.story
wooden building, sank into the base,
mont, II pile of splintored timbcrs. un.
der which were pinned many dead ana
dying occupants of the house The
basemenl was lull of water and some
of the helpless victims were drowned.
Scarcely had the earth ceased to
shake when fires broke out simultanc.
ously in many places. The fire depart.
ment promptly responded to the first
calls for aid, but II was found that
the water mans had been rendered
useless by the underground move.
mcnt Famed by II light breeze, the
flames quickly spread and soon many
blocks We're seen to be doomed. Then
dynamite was resurted to and the
sound OF frequent explosions added to
the terror OF the people.
Progress OF the Flames.
The ilamus, famed by the rising
breeze, swept down the main whole.
sale business streets to within 100
feet OF the Union ferry depot, the
high tower OF which stood AT dan.
gerous angle. The big wholesale
grocery establishment or Wellman,
Peck a. Co. was on fire from cellar to
roof and the heat was 50 oppressive
that passengers from the ferry boats
were obliged to keep close to the
waters edge in order to get past tho
burning structure. 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. AT about
8 O'Clock the Southern Pacific officials
refused to allow any more passengers
from trans-bay points to lana, and
sent back those already on the boats.
The ferry and train service Of the
Key route was entirely abandoned
owing to damage done to the power
house by the earthquake at Emery.
Vile
Grand Opera House Destroyed.
The IRE swept down the streets so
rapidly that ii was practically mpOs
sible TO save anything in its way. 1t
reached the Grand opera house. on
Mission street, and in moment had
burned through the roof. The " ntro.
politan Opera company from New
York had just opened its season there
and all the expensive scenery and cos.
tunes were soon reduced 10 ashes
From the opera house the fire leaped
from building ~ building, quickly
leveiling them. The Call ed .toriai
and mechanical departments were to-
tally destroyed in "A few minutes. and
the flames leaped across Stevenson
street toward the fine fifteen story
stone and iron Claus Spreckcls build.
ing, which, with It's lofty dome, is the
most notable edifiCe In San Francisco.
TWO small wooden buildings furnished
fuel TO ignite the splendid pile.
Thousands of people watched the hun.
CRY tongues OF flame licking the stone
MOI He
made, but suddenly there was a crack.
ling OF glass, and an entrance was ef.
fected, The interior furnishings OF
the fourth floor We're the first to go.
Then, as If by magic, smoke issued
from the top of the dome. This was
followed by most spectacular illu.
mination. The round windows of the
dome shone like SO many full moons;
they burst and gave vent to long, wa.
Ing streamers of fame The great
structure, which had withstood the
forces of the earthquake, appeared
doomed to fall prey to fire. After
q while the light grew less intense.
and the flames having nothing more TO
consume, w~nt out, leaving the build.
ing standing, but completely gutted.
Buildings Burn Like finder.
The Parrott building, in which were
located the chambers OF the state su.
preme court, the lower floors being de.
voted to an immense department
store, was ruined, but its massive
walls were not all destroyed A little
farther down Market street the Acad.
emy Of Sciences and the Jennie Flood
buildings. and the History building
barned like SO much tinder. Sparks
carried across the wide street, ignited
the Phelan building and the army
headquarters of the Department OF
California were burned.
Still nearing the bay, the waters OF
which did the firemen good service,
along the docks, the fire took the
Rialto building, a handsome sky.
scraper, and converted scores OF solid