The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1906-04-25
cIrWs WATER WORKS WRECKED
The City Hall, Costing $1,000, 900
Is in Ruins.-Magnificent Palace
Hotel Burned.
FALLING WALLS KILL MANY
Frantic and Homeless People Throng
Streets and Parks While Many
Fled to Other Places.

Earthquake and fire have almost
destroyed the city of San Francisco
and a number of towns along the
Pacific Coast. The fire which broke
out in the ruins of San Francisco
got beyond control owing to the lack
of water and the flames spread over
three-fourths of the city. The num-
ber of lives lost cannot be accurately
stated, but will not exceed 500. The
property loss is estimated at from
5000, 900, 900 to $500, 100000.
1t was 5:13 O'Clock on the morn
ing OF the 18th when a terrific earth
shock rocked the whole city and sur
rounding country. One shock appar-
entity lasted two minutes and there
was almost immediate collapse OF
flimsy structures all over the city.
The water supply was cut off and
tions there was nothing to do but al
low the buildings to burn. Tele-
graph and telephone communication
was shut off for a time. The West
ern Union was put completely out
of business and the Postal was the
only company that managed to get
a wire out of the city About 10
o'clock the Postal was forced to sus-
pend.
Electric power was stopped and
street cars did not run. Railroads
and ferry beats also ceased opera
tions. Fires ragged all day and the
fire department was powerless to
do anything except dynamite build
ings
Following the first shock there was
another wiChin five minutes, but not
nearly so severe. Three hours later
there was slight quake.
Reports from districts outside of
San Francisco indicate widespread
damage. San Jose, 80 miles south,
lost many buildings and from Is to
20 persons were killed. The annex
of the Vendome hotel collapsed and
fires broke out. Stanford univer-
sity and Palo Alto suffered greatly.
A message sent April 20, 2 p. m.
says: The fire is now positively
stated to be under control with the
probability that one quarter of the
j. city lying west of Franklin street, and
known as the western addition, north
ward to the Preside, will be saved.
The stand made at VanNess avenue
was generally successful, the flames
crossing that avenue to the west in
only few places.
The following message was receiv-
ed at Washington from Gen. Funston.
IN command of the Federal troops at
San Francisco:
about 100000 people homeless.
Everything quiet Troops are CO.
operating with the police. Famine
seems inevitable. All large supply
stores have been burned The most
energetic efforts from outside can
only prevent frightful suffering. I
request that everything possible be
done in the way of food supplies,
tentage and blankets. No more
troops needed at present"
At Sanford many of the handsome
buildings were demolished and two
persons were killed. One of them
was Junius Robert Hanna, of Brad
ford, Pa, and the other was Otto
Curtis, "a fireman Six other students
are lying in the Palo Alto hospital
with bruises, cuts and internal in
juries, all California students.
The court house at Redwood City
and other buildings collapsed.
Menlo Park, Burlingame and other
fashionable places suffered greatly.
Thousands of people are homeless
and many are huddled in the parks
and public squares beside the house
hold goods they were able to save.
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.
Most of the principal buildings have
already been destroyed and others