Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1906-05-09
San FRANCISCAN HORROR.
Terrible Destruction of the City
by Violent Earthquake
and Flames.
Fire Results in All Parts of Metrop-
olis-0eological Scientists Say No
Connection Between Quake and
Vesuvian Eruption.


1t was during the repose OF early
morning; the Spring-time sun was
casting its golden rays over the Sierra
Nevadas and striking down into the
peaceful, slumbering valley Of the
Sacramento. All the Western Hemi-
sphere was at peace with the elements.
Suddenly there came an awful growl-
ing and crashing beneath the very cen
tire Of San Francisco. and in a tenth OF
the space Of time required to describe
the event. falling walls and fire COM
bined to work on the metropolis Of the
Pacific the most appalling natural ca
lamity which has occurred on this
continent since the landing Of the Pill
grims. The destruction that has been
accomplished is almost incalculable.
The inferno OF flames which burst forth
simultaneously in various parts of the
city was rendered still more terrible
by the repeated Quakings of the earth.
by which the rescuers were in mo-
mentary danger of being buried with
the dead beneath the falling structures
The very earth itself-our own mother
earth-proved as treacherous as a
deadly snake, and the usual ocean
breeze by strange perversion of ma
ture. hauled around TO point where it
famed the flames to intensity and
became deadly agent of destruction.
The general dismay of the populace
was augmented by the constant roar
of dynamite explosions, made in a vain
effort to check the progress of the
flames. The vast pail Of smoke that
blotted out the sky did not tend TO allie
viate the general anxiety. Yet, in such
surroundings, calculated to inspire uni
versal panic and madness, there were
performed numberless feats of heroism
that will remain on the scroll of time
as illustrious proofs Of the nobility
which is hidden beneath the surface of
ordinary life. Cool heads and brave
hands, with stout hearts behind them,
performed their work of rescue in the
very face OF death, and even the indie
scribable horror OF the earthquake was
overcome.
San Francisco, a rich and proud city,
has been swept by fires before and
has, phoenix like, arisen from her
ashes. Moreover, she has more than
once experienced earthquake tremors
which were. to say the least, injurious
and menacing. But America is a
cemented nation. The disasters OF one
section bring together in one grand
sympathetic bond the inhabitants of
the others. all anxious and insistent
upon holding out the helping hand and
voicing words of sympathy to the af-
fiicted sister. States, cities and towns
throughout the entire Union have Of
fered unstinted assistance in the way
of money, food. clothing and medical
attendance, with which to relieve the
want, not only of San Francisco, but
also the other California cities
and towns which have suffered with
the metropolis OF the State.
No Connection With Vesuvius.
Coming as this disaster did, practi-
cally coincident with the Vesuvian ca
lamity in italy, many persons suppose
that there was a direct relation be-
tween the two. This idea. however,
is logically contradicted by Director
Charles ID. Walcott of the Geological
Survey. Mr.. Walcott holds that there
is no possibility of a connection be-
tween the earthquake and the Italian
volcano, for these two are entirely diff
ferent scientific phenomena respon-
sible for such earthquakes and vol
canic disturbances.
Great earthquakes, says Mr.. Walcott,