The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1906-04-19

OANl4AND, tul, ApII ~ ~ san
Francisco devastated by an earth
quake aud swept by flames, is now un-
der military rule and completely cut
Off 10y telegraph from the east
Earthquake and hre have caused the
greutest calamity California has ever
known In Sau Francisco 1t Is estimated
that thousand persons have persisted
while Ms many more are suffering from
Injuries The entire business portion
OF the city is Ia ruins, and the flames.
which, owing to the lack Of water
through the breaking Of the water sys
tenn mains, cannot he checked except
by the blowing up with dynamite Of
buildings in their path are slill sweep
ing through tile city.
\ Denver special dispatch says that
The Pacific squadron which was at an
Choir ia san Francisco buy, was sunk
by the earthquake.
The pa,idc squadron, under COM
mand Of Admiral Goodrich, sailed on
Monday from San Diego FOR san Pedro
| UhA AhilfOi MA HF iOAA0iNtN
of the Chicago. Boston. Marblehead
and Princeton
1t is utterly impossible at present to
estimate the property loss, for the ex
tent of the conhsgration cannot be told
until the fire has burned itself out
Thousands of people are homeless, and
many are huddled in the parks aud
public squares beside the household
goods they were able to save
The city is under martial law, and all
the downtown streets are palrollcd 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 inn
mlnent danger over all the scene OF
desOatiOn hangs a dense pail of smoke
Communication with outside towns
is almost entirely cut OF bul the re-
port comes from Palo Alto that all but
one of the buildings OF the Leland
Stanford Jr university have been
rial church. one of the finest structures
of its kind Ia the world Is mass OF
ruins. one student Is known to have
lost his life In Oakland tiye persons
were killed. san lose aud Sacramento
Berkeley. Alameda and other places
heard from suffered severely, but re
port no loss of life.
The dreadful earthquake shock came
without warning 1T precisely 3.l3
o'clock in the morning its motion up
first the upheayal of The earth WAS
gradual, but in few seconds ii IN
creased in intensity. Chmneys began
A to fall and buildings TO crack. tottering
oil their foundations The people he
came panic stricken and rushed into
the streets, most of them in their night
attire. They were met 10y showers of
falling buildings bricks cornices and
walls.
Many were instantly crushed TO
death. while others were dreadfully
mangled Those who remained indoors
generally escaped with their lives.
4 though scores were hit by detached
plaster, pictures aud articles thrown to
the floor by the shock. 1t is believed
A that more or less loss was sustained by
4 nearly every family in the city.
The tall steel frame structures stood
4 the strain better than brick buildings.
& few Of them being badly damaged
& The big eleven story MonadnOck office
4 building in course Of construction. ad-
Joining the Palace hotel, was an eX-
cepti0n. however, Its rear wall col
lapsing and many cracks being made
across It's front. 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 in
a jured. Its high tower still stands. but
4 will have TO be torn down.
A portion of the new city hall. which
cost over $70000o0 collapsed, the roof
sliding into the courtyard and smaller
\ towers tumbling down The great
dome was moved. but did not fall.
The new postofiice. one OF the finest
in the United States, was badly shat
a tered.
i The Valencia hotel a four story
Il wooden building. sank into the base
4 ment, pile of splintered tmbers. UNI
4 der which were pinned many dead and
N dying occupants of the house. The
basement was full of water, and some
of the helpless victims were drowned.
Scarcely had the earth ceased ia
shake when fires broke out slmulta.
neously In many places. The fire de
partment promptly responded to the
first calls for aid but it was found that
the water mains had been rendered
useless by the underground movement
Famed by light breeze, the flames
quickly spread, and soon many blocks
were seen to be doomed.
Then dynamite was resorted to. ant
the sound Of frequent explosions adde,
to the terror of the people. All efforts
to stay the progress Of the fire. how
ever, proved futile. The south side o
Market street, from Ninth street to thu
bay, was soon ablsze, the fire covering
belt two blocks wide On this, III,
main thoroughfare of the city, are 10