The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-19


tina and offer suggestions. All the buile-
tins were taken directly to Col. cloyry,
the president Of the company. Directors
Of the company kept dropping in during
the day.
The first news to the Western Union
came from Sacramento. In less than an
hour Oakland. across the hay from San
Francisco, sent It's first message, Shortly
after noon the San Francisco Office was
heard from direct. Mr.. Barclay explained
that the 100 wires from the San Francisco
office In cables aoroas the bay to Oakland
had not been damaged. Interruption was
due to the breaking Of the wires inside
San Francisoo, between the main OH co
at Montgomery and Pine streets and the
ferry at the foot Of Market street, and
also to the breaking OF the wires out in
tho country.
The fire SO menaoed the main ofioo Of
| tho company early in the afternoon that
word was received that the ofico had been
| moved to the ferry houses, and that these
would not be burned because the wind
WIS blowing tho flames in the opposite
direction.
Half an hour later the Fan Francisco
office telegrapbed that some Of its foroe
had gone back to the main Office again.
| and that they were able to send some mes
sages from there. Later there came o
message saying that the building would
probably be dynamited. Then came de-
spatcheS saying that all the wholesale dis
triot had gone up and Mr.. Barclay gave
up expectation OF saving the main building.
He declared that the company would
be able to handle all necessary business
from the ferry houses aud from Oakland,
cross the bay, from which plaoe the ser.
vice would be ,~mimpeded. He said that
orders had been sent TO San Francisco
to stretch miles Of and cables In the streets
Of San Francisco from the main Off CO,
and had no doubt that this was done. Inas-
much as the fire bad destroyed the whole
sale district. Mr.. Barclay was inclined to
think that perhaps most OF the cables we're
put out Of business.
RAILROAD SINKS out or sIoHT.
This was the first despatch received at
II A. NJ. from Sacramento;
We had a heavy earthquake shock at
5l5 A. VI. All clocks stopped. There are
three miles Of the railroad bed sunk out Of
sight between Quisnan and Benicia. and all
wires were taken with it,. At P~leasanton
| UneTc WeTo scNcIdl ri ulucu oNCF Oh tuO
main line, blocking the trains. At Tracy
all the chimneys were thrown down.
Just had Pinole on SO and he says a big
fire is raging in Berkeley, and he thinks the
town is on fire. The railroad people are
going to send the 500 train out around
Vallejo. but they do not know how far
they will go. lam afraid it is rather serious
at San Francisco. Los Angeles says the
Southern Pacific people cannot reach be-
yond Bakersford. which reports everything
down owing to the earthquakes shaking
down water tanks on the line
At 1890 o'clock the Western Union re-
ceived this message from Oakland:
The lower part of the city between
Berry and Third and Townsend streets, as
far west as Eighteenth street, IL on fire
The water supply is cut on. They are
dynamiting buildings. Millions Of damage
and scores of lives lost"
Then came his message direct from San
Francisco, with the private Information
, that the city was under martial law n that
it was difficult to get messengers through
the lines to deliver or receive kilograms;
Damage in Berkeley and Oakland and
vicinity severe, but don't think many lives
lost on that side Of the bay. Trains running
slow; no train wires. The ground below
Kearney street sank about four feet. City
Hall is a total wreck. The disturbance lasted
from a minute and a half to two minutes,
Reported big damage around Valencia
street, which sank about ten feet in places;
also down in China Basin
A SUCCESSION OF sHocKs.
The news Of the second shock came at
4 o'clock whan this waH racaipad
"A second shock occurred at ais. 1t
was not nearly so severe as the first. It
lasted about a minute. People rushed into
the streets in terror"
At 24O o'clock the Western Union got
this messag &c telling of a repetition of shocks
" are having a succession Of slight
shocks, It looks as if the block imme-
diately south Of this building has begun to
burn. II that is the case there will be no
show for this building. A heavy southwest
wind has sprung up in the last half hour.
II thisb building goes I will go to the West
End and locate somewhere. They tell me
that San Jose has Jared badly and that the
poles are down. The rear Of Palace Hotel
lie on fire."
FIRE NET DRAWN CLOSER.
Twenty minutes later an operator sent
this message:
Fire has driven US out OF the Western
Union building, Pine aud Montgomery
streets. We are now in the Ferry build
ing. Fire all around us, but can't touch
this building. This place is safe from fire.
Will keep this wire going.
Il do not know about the Chron icle, but
the Cal building is gone and 40 is the EN-
porium. Fire raging all along Market
street.
At $50 o'clock Mr.. Barclay ga We out that
he had received a message saying that part
Of the force had gone back to the main
office. He said that all bis private messages
kept telling that the city WAS under martial
law.
At P. NJ. Mr.. Barclay said he had re-
ceived word that bis general manager out
in San Francisco had gone out OF the office
TO look around and see what he could learn
Of the, general situation. Half an hour
later there came this message from the main
Office:
Fire is raging ~diagonally from here b
Bush and Sansome streets and Pine and
Sansome. There are rImors Of blowing
up this building. The fire extends out on
Market street as far as. Fifth and even o
Etnhth ~, IN oz,,tA IL - N..l~t +-.-