Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-25

A TELEGRAM AND LETTER
MOST MELANCHOLY SIGHT

Mr.. c. G. Yale. special agent Of the United
States geological survey. charged with the
collection Of mineral statistics in California
has telegraphed Mr.. Waldemar Lindgren,
who supsrvtses tho survey reports on the
production OF gold and silver published by
the division OF mineral resources and min
Ing, az follows:
OAKLAND. Cal. April "a. 1908
"Ofice force and all documents ~afe
Building one Of few not destroyed Been
there all day.
rat first the building was occupied as
military headquarters. it being in ons of
the divisions Of the city that Ii under mar
tai law. Soldiers live In the building and
have charge OF all the rooms. They are
detailed to prevent fire and to guard the
custom house. Dynamiting and insantary
conditions make It impossible to use the
building regularly for q week or more
There 10 no water and the streets are four
feet deep In tangle OF bricks. debris and
fallen wires. They are almost impossible
and very dangerous. both owing to the
wires and the tottering walls and CHM
neys. It is hard to get a pass from the
governor or any OF the state officials to 60
to San Francisco. Results will be delayed
(referring to his work. owing to the de-
struction OF big mining company's Of
nee with all the records. Have arranged
with the mint to get their list Of California
del1nQuents. This will save time.
Letters are again being received. Let
tor from Dunlop today states that he Is
all right, but cannot reach the Office build
ing from his location. Conditions here are
disheartening and impossible to describe.
Teiegrams are delayed. VIII use all efforts
TO finish work properly without endangerine
life or health. Ofaee force has food. water
have"
MIR. John Dunlop. mentioned In Mr. Yale's
telegram. Is one Of the surveys field as
sfstants. He was married here In WASH
fngton about four years ago to Miss Elisa
street northwest.
Mr.. Yale lives In Oakland, but the survey
Offices are in San Francisco.
An Eyewitness Account
In this mornings mall there was also a
letter from Mr.. Yale. dated April Is, and
giving one OF the first mall accounts OF the
disaster that has been received. It Is as
follows:
OAKLAND. Cal. April Is. 1908.
My Dear LdndGren:
1T is most melancholy sight to be sit
ting here in the sun on the sidewalk in
front OF my house (for we are afraid to
stay fndoorO and watching San Francisco
burn up-what Is left Of it-and hearing
the ofL-repeated boom OF dynamite where
tney are blowing up the buildings.
"a column Of smoke rises in the still air
5000 or 5000 feet and OF width of some
two miles. Only occasionally flashes of
flame may be seen
II did not go to the city. having to
stay with my frightened family and clean
up the wreck Of glass, bric-a-brac. china
lamps, pictures. etc. In fact, no one was
carried to the city on the ferries after o
am. the boats being used only to carry
refugees back here from San Francisco
there being thousands hurriedly leaving the
nj for DOL md To-
My chimney went down, of course, as did
all In Oakland. but got all my family out
Of the house safely I was more lucky
than my neighbors. whose chimneys fell
In, crushing through bed rooms, down to
the basement. Mine fell out, fortunately
We assembled on the sidewalk with our
neighbors In our nightgowns. Fortunately
we have gas stove and can do cooking
without chimneys The inside of the house
looks like wreck. the shades even, turned
over and upside down: tables, desks, chairs
and the furniture; all Of the bookcases
capsized. as well as the china closets. glass
cases, etc. l have not touched a thing up
stairs, but have cleaned up the wreckage
down stairs. Hundreds of fine buildings
In Oakland are wrecked. The soldiers are
in charge Of the streets, but walked
through them an hour ago. 1t was q won
derful sight, but nothing to San Francisco,
of course.
The fire has gone out Market street, we
hear. as far as the Emporium; the Palace
buildings all gone, and thousands Of lesser
structures.
A neighbor just back from San Francisco
says that he IS sure the Appraisers build
ing Is destroyed, as he saw the flames pass
Ing up Sacramento and Clay streets. There
was no water to stop the fire with
You VIII doubtless see the particulars in
the papers. We cannot phone or telegraph
anywhere. our lines being down II can
get to the city tomorrow / will 60 and see
IL the Appraisers building is down. Will
OF course. wire you details Cannot GET
word to Dunlop nor can get across the
bay.
Duration About Thirty Seconds.
This Is a cataclysm-one of modern times
do not think the shock lasted over thirty
seconds. although 1t is estimated I'D to
three minutes. 1t was so severe while last
ing that it was difficult to stand nm or
gather ones senses. had my wife two
daughters and grandchild to get out from
upstairs to the street, and the house was
stfH shaking as we jumped off the front
steps and felt comparatively safe.
We will not dare to sleep nm
stairs tonight, but will take the han and
parior, and leave the front door open. We
nave had many shocks today but no Sc
we're ones but that keeps us in a state OF
nervous excitement as We are in a resi-
oence neighborhood, no house having
fallen down. all abeing wooden structures
me people are all on the sidewalks or
'front.' porches, being afraid to go indoors.
we near all sorts of rumors of the number
killed In San Francisco but get no direct
news on the subject.
All electric lights are turned off for fear
OF nre. and there are no street cars or ferry
lines Martial law declared in San Fran
cisco. ana soldiers In the streets here, help
ha mol nn