The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-04-20
SAW EARTHQUAKE
FROM OAKLAND
Continued from 20 1.

minute 20 see them tOpple over into the
street. Many smaller buildings did
tumble in great heaps OF debris but
the Cali building. that great tower 81
stone and mortar that was the pride
san tr5ll--SGtlllS, was SEddez
HEeneEed back. into 8osI -fou,@6efore :
fell The seveuteeu-story Chronicle
building that was not yet completed
but which had its brick walls closed
around the ste-- framework. was given
q mighty wrench. but withstood the
terrible tremOr, and did not see 1t
move again
Other buildings shook and swayed
and treU5led until they fairly danced
before my eyes. until imagined L was
ON a whirliSig and became faint and
sick.
Then the fire broke out in different
sections of the doomed city and blazed
up into the early morning atmosphere,
presenting a spectacle that I can
describe only in one way. and that is
by calling il terribly grand.
Great Scott The thoughts that
arose i'm my mind in those few mo-
ments are still with me"
AS he recalled the awful scene that
spread before mis- eyes that beautiful
but fatal morning, Mr.. Williams face
bIaucEed and he covered his eyes with
his hand as though he would blot out
of his mind what had been imprinted
there to remain until he goes TO his
grave. With an effort he threw off his
emotion and then resumed has story.
Continuing, he said:
The shock vas terrific II Oakland.
and many houses were thrown down in
plain view n- my wife and myself We
did not know but that we would be
killed by falling debris. but it was soon
over ana we felt safe. We watched
the fires bursting forth in San Francis
co. and saw the terrified people rush
ing from their homes on the hills and
realized that the confusion and fright
had suddenly taken possession of the
people who had been so rudelv awaL-
eued and thrown out of their beGs
must have been indescribabIe
The smoke began to roll uD from
the burning buildings and formed great
clouds that moved skyWard in giant
masses of black, through which ran
req and varl-cOlOred glints of fire that
caused ones mind to conjure uD yfs-
ions OF the internal regions Then the
great clouds of fire and smoke iOinnd
III one great blanket Of black and red
ana hung over the city like a huge ma n
Inc wind finally came up and in
rev hours II was blowing gale Nov
and then the black pail would be blown
aside and we could get q glimpse of
| the burning, Seething furnace in. The
| nedFL OF the city We could see mas
SINe flames shooting out of the win
/ doWS of buildings as their tinnbers
cracked in the fierce heat and then
floors would fall. sending up columns
! of sparks and cinders, and the Zia0-
would again be closed in black while
/ the fires gained renewed Roadway from
1 the additional fuel in the shape of de-
/ bris that had been dumped into the
many furnaces
| Il could go on for hours dcscri5ir
/ the awful sight, but 1t would be a repaS
/ titlon of what have already told. Su
/ flee II to say in conclusion that my wifi
/ and L left the scene as quickly as posI
! sl5Ie, thankful that we were fortunate.
! in being out OF the city and Tres
/ continue our Journey h0meWard. Sc
! up a. silent prayer to heaven in
/ knowledgment of the kfud-fate [
/ permitted US to. escape uninjured." :