The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-04-21
SHIFT OF THE WIND
Causes Fresh Outbreak of Flames and

Causes Fresh Outbreak of FIames and Renews Alarm.
 San Francisco. April 20.-10 D. m.)- The Postal Telegraph Company has abandoned its temporary offices in the Ferry building. The wind which is now blowing a gale has shifted to the northwest and the flames now threaten the Ferry building with destruction.
 San Francisco, April 20.-(10 p. m.)- A wind of high velocity is blowing en districts tonight and the fire at the water front Is threatening to cut off communication with Oakland and Berkeley.
 General Caster has ordered out squadron of men to endeavor to keep the flames which threaten the union ferry depot the only means of egress from the city, from being destroyed. The water front emergency hospital is endangered and the officials in charge are prepared to move from their quarters. The wind is of such velocity that brick and granite walls weakened by the earthquake and sub soquent fire. are falling into the streets Market Street, the principal avenue of escape from the city to the ferry building may be blocked off thus shut ting out the only means of communi- cation.
 San Francisco, April 20--From tie ruins of a three-story lodging house at Fifth and Main Street. seventy five corpses have been taken. At least fifty dead bodies are exposed. This building was one of the first to take fire on Fifth Street. At least 100 were lost in the Cosmopolitan on Fourth Street.
 The only building standing between Mission, Howard East and Stewart Streets is the San Pablo Hotel. which is occupied and running. The shot tower at First and Howard Streets is gone. This landmark was built forty years ago. The Risdon Iron Works is partially destroyed. The Great Vest ern Smelling and Refining Works es- capped damage, also the Mutual Electric Light Works, while only slight dam age to the American Rubber Company and Vietaga Gas Engine Company re- suited from the earthquake.
 Folger Brothers. coffee and spice house, is also uninjured and the firm is giving away large quantities of bread and milk. Many are dropping dead from the heat and from suffoca- tion. Over 150 persons are reported lost in the Brunswick Hotel. Seventh and Mission Streets.
 Eleven postal clerks were taken from the debris of the postofice today All were thought to be dead, but 1t was found that although they were buried in the stone, every one was alive. They had been for three days without food or water. All mail was saved.
 The delivery of telegraphic messages from outside points to people in San Francisco Is an impossibility, the mes senger service of both the big tele- graphic companies no longer existing. Even had the companies an army of messengers, they would be of little value for the reasons that the people are scattered far and wide and that a Journey from the ferry building to the Western Addition or to the refugee camps consumes many hours.
 The only wire running out of San Francisco-that of the Postal-was ac- cidentally cut this morning by a work man on the cable wharf and for hours the city was again cut off from outside points.
 At 2 D. m. it was positively stated that the fire was under control with the probability that one quarter of the city lying west of Franklin street and known as. the Western Addition, north ward to the Presidio will be saved. The stand made at Van Ness Avenue was generally successful flames crossing that Avenue to the west in but few places. The strongest fire at noon to- day was at North Beach, east of Van Ness Avenue, but will be controlled.