Amador ledger., 1906-04-20
The Great Calamity.

The Great Calamity.
Wednesday was the saddest day in
the annals of California. 1t will go
down in history as the black Wednes-
day of the Pacific coast, and especial
Iy of San Francisco. Almost in the
twiukIing of an eye, by one of those
commissions of nature known as earth
quakes, the proud city of the Pacific
has been transformed from the gayest
of metropolitan centers to city of
ashes and mourning Her proudest
buildings have been IeveIed in the
dust; her streets have been strewn
with the dead and dying; her com
merce has been palzied for the time
being, and her financial condition has
been shaken as never before. Between
the quaking earth and the toppling
of buildings consequent thereon, and
the ravages of fire, more dreadful far
than natures convulsion-the busi-
ness part of the city is laid in ruins.
The extent of this calamity is not
fully known. Further reports may
reduce or increase the tragedy.
Timid ones are predicting that she
Will never recover the set back; that
her prestige as the queen of the
Pacific will be permanently lost. We
do not in the least share in such
views. Her geographical advantages
are unimpaired, and the enterprise
of her people is equally to that of
residents of any city under the sun.
San Francisco will rise from the
ashes of today, more beautiful, more
prosperous than before. Thousands
of men heretofore cIassed as rich have
been ruined. Scarcely a hamlet or
village in the state Will escape
financial loss in the crash of securities
in San Francisco enterprises. The
loss will run up into hundreds of
millions. Still the spirit of her
people will rise above the wreck of
today, and set manfully to the task
of obliterating every trace of the work
of the demon of ruin.
No direct communication with San
francisco could be had at the time
of going to press. 1t is impossible
therefore to gauge the situation with
any degree of accuracy. The news
that filters through comes from out
side sources, and by roundabout
ways. 1t is evident however, from
the scraps of news that filter through,
that the destruction of the city is
complete. By Wednesday night, after
twelve hours of fires work, it was
estimated that the entire retail and
wholesale portion was reduced to
ruins. The space covered was given
as fully eight square miles, embrac-
ing the south side of Market street,
fromthe ferry to Fifteenth street, and
extending south to the water front.
The wholesale district from Kearney
to Battery, and as far as Washington
was wiped out.
Since then the fire has continued
almost unopposed, in the face of tons
of dynmite used to level buildings in
the hope of stopping its march. 1t
has taken in the whole western
addition as far as Golden Gate Park.
Also the resident section out in the
Mission. The Mint is reported as
standing, also the Chronicle build
ing, and Ferry depot. At last ac-
counts the flames we're still raging,
the iremen being exhausted with
long continued labor.
The loss of lives is variously placed
at from 500 to 1000. The loss of pro-
perty on Wednesday night was placed
at two hundred million dollars. 1t
will probably far exceed those figures
before the end is reached. Martial
law prevails; no one is allowed to
enter or leave without permit. Fully
twenty persons have been shot in
attempts to pillage. For the time
being San Francisco is practically
blotted from the map. The residents
in tens of thousands are swarming Oh
the outside hills, beyond the fire
limits, gazing at the awful scene,
panic stricken, destitute and hope
less. Golden Gate Park has been
converted into city of tents for the
shelter of the homeless. Refugees
are being sent out of the city of ashes,
as fast as the trains and boats can
carry them.
1t looks now that the calamity, in
the completeness of its destruction of
city of half million inhabitants,
will eclipse anything recorded in
authentic history.
The latest bulletin is reassuring,
and indicates that confidence is being
restored; that the flames are either
under control, or have died from
exhaustion of fuel, and that orders
for rebuilding have in some cases
been given.
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