Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-22
SANTA ROSA DISASTER
BUSINESS SECTION IN RUINS
100 BELIEVED DEAD.

SANTA ROSA, Cal, April 21.-The list Of
known dead now totals fifty-eight, and it
is believed that 100 is a conservative esti-
mate of the number of persons who lost
their lives in the awful catastrophe which
visited this city on Wednesday morning
Five bodies were recovered today from the
Wreckage, and the search has hardly begun
The entire business section Is In ruins
and practically every residence in town is
more or less damaged, fifteen or twenty
being badly wrecked. The damage to resi-
dences was caused principally by the sink
Ing of the foundations which let many
structures down onto the ground The
brick and stone business blocks together
with the public buildings were all thrown
nat. The court house. hall of records,
the Occidental and Santa Rosa hotels, the
Anthenaeum Theater, the new Masonic
Temple, Odd Fellows block, all the banks
everything went-and in all the city not
one brick or stone building is standing, ex-
cept the California Northwestern depot 1t
is almost impossible for an outsider to
realize the situation as IL ACTUALLY exists
here.
No such complete destruction Of a city's
business ever before resulted from an earth
quake In America The very completeness
OF the devastation is really the redeeming
feature. though, for it puts all upon ex-
acuy the same basis, commercially speak
ing. Bankers and millonaires are going
about with only the few dollars they hap
pened to have in their pockets when the
crash came and are little better off than
tho laborers who are digging through the
debris. Money has practically no value
mere now for there Is no place to spend
1T, and this phase of the situation presents
Its own remedy.
Many Sleeping Outdoors.
Almost every one here Is sleeping out of
hnfn
except for short while at time until
repairs have been made. There are plenty
Of provisions. Some have been supplied
by other towns and much has been brought
In from the surrounding country. Two en-
tire blocks of buildings also escaped being
swept by the flames, which Immediately
broke out In a dozen places at once as
soon as the shock was over, and from the
targled ruins of these buildings complete
stocks of groceries, clothing, ETC.. are being
Dug out and added to the common store.
Then before the fire gained headway several
81 ocery stores were emptied of their con-
tents in anticipation of what might follow.
The city is under full martial law. Com
pany of Petaluma having been called to
assist the local company In preserving or
der. Many deputy sheriffs and special po-
lice have also been sworn In, but no trouble
yet has occurred and none Is expected The
relief committee is active and well man
aged, and all In need of assistance receive It
promptly. The work now requiring the
principal attention of the authorities is the
removal of the wreckage In order to search
for the bodies of those missing and known
to have perished. Forty marines, under
command of Capt Holcombe, arrived today
from Mare Island and did splendid work
In assisting in the search. Forty-two bodies
were buried today.
Legal Holidays Declared.
SACRAMENTO. Cal. April 21.-Gov Par
dec todav issued n nroclarnation declaring