New-York tribune., 1906-04-20
FOUGHT TO LEAVE CITY.
Cro1cds Struggled around Ferry
Gates While Fire RACED.

Los Angeles, April 19-Albert H Gould, of
| Chicago, was one of three persons 10 arrive in
Los Angeles on the first train from San Fran
cisco, which reached here at II o'clock to-day.
He said:
i was asleep on the seventh floor OF the Palace
Eotel at the time of the first quake. l was
Eirown out OF bed and half way across the room.
immediately realizing the import of the occur
e ehEe ano fearing that the building was about 10
S.oliapse made my way down six flights of
stairs STAIRS and into the main corridor. / the first
euest 10 appear. Clerks and hotel employees
Were running about like madnlan Within two
minutes after had reached the corridor. other
suests began TO flock into the court. Almost all
Sn %ore night clothing only. Men. women and chill
uLeL Stooc as though fixed, Children and women
0lIeu. Ihe men were hardly less affected.
-, ietuTled 10 my room and got my cloth1ng;
a. sieL walked TO the offices Of the Western Union
IN IA ny paJahlas and bare feet 10 Telegraph To
my wife in Los Angeles. 1 found the telegraphers
on duty but all the wires We're down. I sat down
on the sidewalk, piCkel the broken glass out OF
the soles OF my feet and put on my clothes. All
THIS, / suppose, took twenty minutes Within
that time. below the Palace Hote! buildings for
more Ihan three blocks q OF flames,
which quickly spread 10 other buildings. The
scene was terrible. Billows of fire seemed to
roll from half-cOnsumed blocks to other blocks.
The Spreckels Building. at Sd and Market
Streels, looked out of plumb. l remained IN san
francisco until O'Clock and then took ferry
LOT oakland, but returned TO the burning city
an hour and a half later. At that time the city
seemed doomed. remained a few minutes
lhen mace my way back TO the ferry station.
People bs the thousands were crowded around
the ferry station. They clawed at the iron gates
ike so many maniacs. They sought TO break
the bars and failing in that turned on each
other After maddenin.y delay we got aboard
the boat ana crossed the bay.
J. r. Ritter, of Houston. Tex. said:
in the Golden West Hotel when the first
shock came When l awoke the hotel was rock
ing like cradle. While I dressing the
rear wal! of tbs hotel fell into the dining room.
L was dressed by the time the second shock
came. and was going TO rush out of the build
ing, but the appeals of the women the same
floor stopped me: With some of the other men
guests on the fourth floor got the women
out. Most of the women were hysterical
Many naked and half-dressed persons were
IN the streets, running about crying, screeching.
wild with fear, while buildings toppled over and
chOked up the streets.
r A. Cole. horseman, was at the Palace
Hotel when the quake came
Il never saw anything like it," said Cole. Il
was in the St. Louis cyclone and the BaltI-
more fire. They nothing. I all San
Francisco staggering and rocking and then in
flames"
Mrs. Agnes link said:
staying al No. 80 9th street, San Fran
cisco The of the house collapsed and the
landlady and about thirty rooners were killed.
lapsed in the rear. out in the street il was i'm
possible to ind a clear pathway. l saw another
lodging house near ours collapse. I think it
at No 80 9TH street and all the inmates were
killed. In a few minutes the entire block
in flames