The Somerset reporter., 1906-04-19

leTuAY W 6uDesudJ J Cdustu lut greatest
calamity California has ever known. In
San Francisco alone 1t is estimated that
1000 persons have persisted while as
many more are suffering from injuries.
The entire business portion OF the city is
in ruins and the flames which, owing to
the lack OF water, cannot be checked ex-
cept by the blowing up with dynamite
of buildings In their path, are still sweep
ing through the city. 1t is utterly i'm
possible at present to estimate the prop
erty loss, for the extent of conf4gration
cannot be told until the fire has burned
itself out.
Thousands of people are homeless and
many are huddled In the parks and the
public squares. The city Is under mar
tial law and all the downtown streets are
patroled by cavalry and infantry. De-
tails of troops are also guarding the
banks. Most of the principal buildings
have largely been destroyed and others
are In imminent danger. Over all the
scene of desolation hangs dense pail of
smoke. Communication with outside
towns is almost entirely cut Of but the
report comes from Paio Alto that all but
one of the buildings of the Leland Stan
ford University have teen wrecked and
that the splendid memorial church, one
of the finest structures of its kind in the
world, is a mass of ruins Ole student
is known to have lost his life In Oak
land five persons were killed. San Jose,
Sacramento, Berkeley, Alameda and
other places heard from suffered severe
ly, but report no loss Of life.
The dreadful earthquake shock came
without warning at precisely b IL O'Clock
Yesterday morning, its motion apparent
ly being from east to west. At first the
upheaval of the earth WAS gradual, but
in few seconds 1t increased in intensity.
Chmneys oegan t. fall and buildings
tottered on their foundations The peo-
pie became panic stricken AMI rushed
into the streets, most of them in their
night attire. They were met by show
ers of falling buildings. bricks, cornices
and walls. Many were instantly crush
ed to death, while others were dread
fully mangled. Those who remained
indoors generally escaped with their
lives, though scores were bit by detach-
ed plaster, pictures and articles thrown
to the floor by the shock.
Some of the docks and freight sheds
along the water front slid into the bay.
Deep assures opened In the .tiIled-in
ground near the shore and the Union
ferry depot WAS injured. The high tow
er still stands, but will have to be torn
down.
A portion of the new City hall, which
cost over 81 100000, collapsed, the roof
sliding into the courtyard and smaller
towers tumbing down. The great dome
was moved but did not fall.
The new postoffice, one of the finest IN
the United States, was badly shattered.
The Valencia hotel, four story wood
en- building, sapE into the basement, a
pile of splintered timbers, under which
were pinned many dead and dying occu-
pants Of the houses. The basement WAS
full OF water aud some of the helpless
victims were drowned.
Scarcely had the earth ceased to shake
when fires broke out simultaneously in
many places. The fire department i'm
medately responded TO the first calls for
aid, but 1t WAS found that the water
mains had been rendered useless by the
underground movement. Famed by a
light breeza, the a ,mes quickly spread,
and soon many blocks were seen to be
doomed. Then dynamite was resorted
TO and the sound of frequent explosions
added % the terror of the city. All eff
forts to stay the progress of the fire,
however proved futile. The south side
of Market street, from Ninth street to
the bay was soon ablaZa, the fire cover
ing belt two blocks wide. 90 this, the
main thoroughfare of the city, are locat-
ed many of the finest edifices in the city,
including the Grand, Parrot, Flood, Call,
Examiner, and Monadlock buildings,
the Palace and Grand hotel, and numer-
Gus wholesale houses.
At the same time the commercial es-
adjustments and banks north OF Market
street we're burning. The burning dis
trict Ia this section of the city extended
from Sansome street to the water front
and from Market street TO Broadway.
Fire also broke out In the Mission and
the entire city seemed to be In fame.
The n mes, famed by the rising
breeze swept down the main streets IN
nj within a few hundred feet of the
ferry depot, the high tower of which
stood at a dangerous angle. The whole
sale grocery establishment OF Weelman,
Peek & Co. was on fire from cellar to
roof and the heat was so oppres We thai
passengers from the ferry boats were
obliged to keep close to the waters edge
in order to get past the burning struc-
lures
l. was impossible to reach the center
Of the city from the bay without skirting
the shore for q long distance so as to get
entirely around the burning district.
At about S O'clock the Southern Pa
cfic officials refused to allow any more
passengers from trans-bay points TO land
and sent baek those already on the boat.
The ferry ard train service of the Key
route was entirely abandoned owing 20
damage to tho power house by the earth.
quake at EmeryYille.
THE LATEST BULLETINS.
AT 10 p. m. last night 1t looked as
though the entire city would be burned.
The Associated Press men are trying
TO get matter to oakland by boat, The
government is furnishing tugs, but the
confusion is go great that they cannot be
relied upon. Il will be impo ,sble to
send full details for several days.
From the Chfl House comes word that
the great pleasure resort and show place
of the city, which stood upon founda-
ton of solid rock, has been swept into
the sea. Nothing remained to tell where
the monster stone building ouce stood.
/ has been leveled to the foundations
and only the rocks lining the sescoast
remain intact.