The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-05-04


San Francisco. The town of San Ra-
fael. despite its own troubles, dispatch
ed fire fighting apparatus to San. Fran
cisco.
From early morning the offices of the
Western Union and Postal Telegraph
companies In Oakland have been filed
with people in all walks of life filing
messages of inquiry as to the condition
Of friends and interests to other cities
in California which suffered from the
earthquake.
The fire swept down the streets so
rapidly that it was practically impos~
eible to save anything in it's way. 1t
reached the Grand Opera House on Mis-
sion street and in a moment had burned
through the roof. The Metropolitan
Opera Company from New York had
Just opened its season there and all the
expensive scenery and costumes were
soon reduced TO ashes. From the opera
house the fire Ieaped from building to
building, quickly lev ling them. The
Call editorial and mechanical depart
ments were totally destroyed in few
minutes and the flames leaped across
Stevenson street toward the fine fifteen
story stone and iron Clans Spreckels
building which, with its lofty dome, is
the most notable edifice in San Fran
cisco.
Two small wooden buildings furnish
ed fuel to ignite the splendid pile.
Thousands of people watched the hun
g.y tongues of fame licking the stone
walls At first no impression was made
but suddenly there was a cracking of
glass and an entrance was effected.
The interior furnishings of the fourth
floor were the first to go. Then, as
though by magic, smoke issued from the
top of the dome.
SPLENDID SPECTACLE
PRESENTED BY FIRE.
This was followed by most spec
tacular illumination The round win
dows of the dome showed like so many
full moons; they burst and gave vent
to long. waving streams of flame. The
great structure which had withstood
forces of earth, appeared to be doomed
to fall prey to fire. After a while,
however. the light grew less intense
and the flames, finding nothing more
to consume, gradually went out, leav-
ing the building standing, but complete
ly Quilted.
The Palace Hotel, which was con
stantly threatened, was the scene of
much excitement, the guests having in
haste, many with only the clothing they
wore, escaped. Finding that the hotel,
being surrounded on all sides by
streets, was likely to remain immune,
many returned and made arrangements
for the removal of their belongings,
though little could be taken away. ow
ing to the utter absence of transporta
tion facilities.
The ParrOtt building, in which were
located the chambers of the state SUI
preme court, the lower floors being de-
voted to an immense department store,
was ruined, though its massive walls
were not all destroyed. A little further
down Market street the Academy of
Sciences, the Flood building and the
History building burned like so much
finder. Sparks carried across the wide
street lighted the Phelan building and
the army headquarters of the Depart
ment of California were burned. Still
nearing the bay, the waters of which
did the firemen good service along the
docks, the fire took the Rialto building,
4 handsome skyscrapper and converted
scores of solid business blocks into
smouldering piles of bricks.
BUILDINGS
LITERALLY MELTED.
Banks and commercial houses sup
posed to be freproof though not of
modern build, burned quickly and the
oar of the flames could be heard even
IN the hills which were out of the dan
ger zone. Here many thousands of peo-
Die congregated and witnessed the aw-
'ul scene. Great masses of flame rose
Ugh in the heavens or rushed down
ome narrow street, joining midway be-
ween the sidewalks and making hori
ontal chimney of the former passage
Ways.
The dense smoke that arose from the
ntire business district spread like an
immense funnel and could have been
cen for miles out at sea. Occasionally,
S some drug store or place stored with
hemicals was reached, most fantastic
fleets were produced by the colored ,
lanes and smoke which rolled out
gainst the darker background.
All efforts to prevent the fire from
eaching the Palace and Grand Hotels
we're unsuccessful, and both We're com !
letely destroyed, together with all i,
heir contents.
All of San Francisco best play 4
ouseS, including the majestic, Column
ia, Orpheum and Grand Opera House, d
re mass of ruins. The earthquake
emolished them for all practical pur-
'oses and the fire completed the work I
f destruction. The handsome Rialto 4
nd Casserly buildings were burned to u
he ground, as was everything in that |
district.
>EWSPAPER EMPLOYEES n
AT RESCUE WORK. t
The scene at the Mechanics pavilion V
urlng the early hours of the morning i
nd up to noon, when all the injured d
nd dead were removed because of the I
threatened destruction of the building 7
" fire, was one of indescribable sad c
ess. Sisters, brothers, wives and sweet I
carts searched eagerly for some miss
ny dear one. Thousands of persons hur-
iedly went through the building, in .
pectIng the cots on which the sufferers :
ny. in hope they would find some loved q
ne that was missing The dead were Z
laced in one portion of the building,