The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-05-16

and the flames, finding nothing to con-
sumo, gradually went out, leaving the
building standing, but completely
At California and Sansome streets
stood the Mutual Life Building, a mod
ern structure Of architectural beauty,
to which the flames were soon COM
municated. An attempt was made to
save it, but the fire was irrepressiDle.
The flames gained, and in a few mo-
ments the big building was beyond
hope. The Anglo California Bank was
swept by the flames and came down
in asrush.
Time and again attempts were made
with dynamite to clear a space which
should prevent the flames from spread
ing to other buildings, but freely as the
explosive was used the fire crept and
climbed from n structure to another.
An unusually loud report showed that
a gas house at Eighteenth and Market
streets had blown up. The fire caused
by the explosion quickly communicated
in various directions. AS the gas house
exploded a feeling Of despair overcame
the men who were performing. the
rescue work.
The Parrot Building, in which was
located the chambers Of the State Su-
preme Court, the lower floors being de-
voted to an immense department store.
was ruined, though it's massive walls
were not all destroyed,
A little further down Market street,
the Academy Of Sciences and the Jen-
ME Flood Building and the History
Building kindled and burned like so
much finder. Sparks carried across
the wide street ignited the Phelan
Building, and the army headquarters
of California, General Funston com
handing, were burned.
Still nearing the bay, the waters OF
which did the fremen good service
along the docks, the fire took the Rialto
Building, q handsome skyscraper, and
converted scores Of solid business
blocks into smoldering piles of bricks.
Banks and commercial houses, sup
posed to be fireproof, though not of
modern build, burned quickly, n the
roar Of the flames could be heard even
on the hills, which were out OF the
danger zone. Here many thousands OF
people c"ongregated and viewed the aW-
full scene.
One of the first orders issued by
Chief of Police Oman was for the clos
ing of every saloon in the city. This
step is taken to prevent drink-crazed
men from rioting in the streets.
Mayor Schmitz sent out word to the
bakeries and milk stations throughout
the city that their food supplies must
be harbored for the homeless. Proy1s-
ions were made to place tents in every
park in the city, and those who have
lost all will be given food and shelter.
Early in the morning the prisoners
confined in the city prison on the nth
floor of the Hall of Justice were trans
ferred in irons to the basement Of the
structure. Later they were removed 10
the Broadway Jail.
The Mayor also established a base
of rescue, and soon had forces OUT
where they could accomplish most.
Many men were sent down to the lodg-
ing house district near Market street.
There it was found that many frame
buildings, packed with people, had col
lapsed, burying their occupants in the
ruins.
The rescuers jumped into the wrecks
and pulled out the dead, the dying and
the Injured. Practically every physi-
clan in the city Immediately yolun-
teered his assistance, and soon there
was a we'll equipped medical corps Or
ganized which began ministering to
the injured.
For hours bodies were taken out in
the lodging house district, and hun
dreds Of men volunteered TO go into
the ruins to get more.
The %pretentious City Hall, costing
1000, 900, bounded by Larkin and Nc
Allister streets and City Hall avenue,
was badly shattered by the earthquake,
and the ruins later were burned. 1t
took twenty years to build the City
Hall, the pride of the coast. An alarm
was turned in and the fremen respond
ed. Chief Sullivan, awakened by the
shock at his quarters in a frehouse,
fastened to put on his clothes. AS ne
reached for them the tower OF the Cali
fornia Hotel dropped upon his building
and crushing through the roof killed
him.
Z The fremen arrived at the City Hall,
but were helpless. They hitched their
hose to the fire plugs, but there was no
water supply.
Every possible precaution has been
taken to guard property. Immediately
after the destructive shocks the police
turned out on guard, and the Governor
and General Funston, commanding the
Pacific Division of the United States
Army, were asked to send troops.
A thousand men from the Preside,
sent by General Funston, arrived down
town at 9 o'clock to patrol the streets.
The Thirteenth Infantry, 1000 strong,
arrived from Angel Island a little later
and went on patrol duty at once.
The soldiers were ordered to shoot
down vandals caught robbing the dead
and to guard with their lives the mill
ions of dollars worth Of property placed
in the streets to escape the flames.
The city is under martial law, and all
the downtown streets are patrolled by
cavalry and infantry. Details of troops
are also guarding the banks.
On Portsmouth square the panic was
beyond description. This, the old Plaza
about which the early city was built,
is bordered now by Chinatown, by the
Italian district and by the "Barbary
Coast" a lower Tenderloin. A spur of
the quake ran up the hill upon which
Chinatown is situated and shook down
part Of the crazy little buildings on the
I-1 L~& nNTl -