The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-05-04
EYEWITNfSSES GIVE
ACCOUNTS OF DISASTER
Stories OF People in San Francisco at the Time
the City's Buildings Came
Crashing Down.

Tie first refugees from devastated
San Francisco arrived over the South
ern Pacific delayed train last night
says the Portland OregoniaH OF Apri
%. The four who were lucky enough
TO escape the horrible scenes that fol
lowed the great earthquake told
enough Of the disaster after the first
shocks to turn one TO horror.
Henry Hahn, manager of wadhams 4
Co, occupied 4 room on the second
floor Of the Palace. He was awakened
by the first sfoek and found himself
covered with plaster and broken glass.
but escaped without scratch
= VIII never forget that horrible
grating sound when the building
swayed and rocked ike a tan tree IN a
storm It was something awful, and 1
can hear it yet. was awakened By the
first shock and Immediately the plaster
began TO fall The bureau ana bed
were shifted almost TO the middle o.
the room, and while I did not seem 10
realize that I was IN great danger, I
got out Of the roeEa when Jhe second,
third and fourth shocks followed, al
though they were less severe. Every
thing vas excitement II the corridors,
and the darkness made Il difficult to
find the exits.
The damage IN the building, how
ever, was nothing compared with the
scenes that met oar eyes upon reaching
L
timbeTs were stTewn about TO the mid
die OF the pavenents, and It was impos-
sible TO get away except BY taking the
middle of the streets The frensn re-
spoaded promptly and were In the
midst Of the bgEsiDass district almost
as quickly as we got ont 81 the hotel
but II soon became apparent that they
were helpless, tie v7ster-maIns having
burst from the sway OF the ground In
some places the streets had sunk to q
depth Of a foot or more Some water
was pumped from the bay, bat II avail
ed nothing against the many fires that
were springing up everywhere am.
certain that within half an hour 20 OF
the fallen structures were ablaze and
that was only 50 far as / could See
THE STEEL STRUCTURES
STOOD THE STRAIN
II saw only two bodies one was "
ing on the sidewalk and another under
tiuEers IN fallen building Many
manned and crippled Were rushing
about the streets. apparently dazed and
not knowing IN which direction TO seek
relief
.1The most salient features have been
told, but enc thing proved was that the
modern steel structures stood the strain
fso1s Ia
would have been so terrible lad II not
been for the large number Of small and
cid structures n the business district I
They could not Withstand the terrible /
rocking and fell Ike so many card /
houses. The immense Moaaanoek build /
ing was rent IN two from top 20 bot /
ton. hut II remained standing
Y do not believe that the loss 81 NE
viii he 50 great as hes been estimated, t
although they nay have found many /
,,in5nre9 under the debris after the
+{amas cot IN their work There were
anv number OF dead horses On the
streets when we tried 70 reach the
ferry They belonged TO havvkers, NHo /
are OFT early IN the mornings, ana ttsEs
had been crushed by the eraIn sllllz /
walls What became OF their owners l /
do net know. bit I suppose they saw
the danger and escaped {
I'VE had an awful time getting 70
the ferrv- The streets we're soon bIoeA-
AIDED and the only way To reach ASA
fnc1on-street pier was by taxing eH
,.r74a..s route / crossed On the hFSf
boa+ and the rush was not as Ir2n1lc
lw4rh no water at hand Il soon De-
came anpareut that the hrenen were
;,--.,,,FIs ~ checking the fire anG thex
resert4j 10 dynamite while we were
WAITING fer the departure q the LefIE
boat The situation looked very
gloomy and I began 10 reallze l4at
San F'raneisco's great commercial 01h
trict was doomed
BY THE
Dent a travelling man from
Sa,..ts formerly Of Portland, one 1or-
,,,na+a enough 70 get out Of san Ta---
-, ,.c4,r,ia5 a room II the noW de-
STOVES palace Hotel. He sald iaSt
-,ir-t,+- II was awakened from q sol1Eld
go, ny the most terrific shock AA-at
coE,ls sa Imagined Plaster from ~
ceiling fell Ike rain and II seemed =
i The entire building WOULD cora
on IRE entire scene besgaTs oSsso1
tor" he continued
People rushed down 10 the
below, some scantlty atIlfed' ,
some in paja1nas and others even Lot
- ,z-s1F clothed In the lobby every
ming was confusion Women ana en-
sren who carried wearing apf'aTel -
their arms. commenced 10 ciothe 1ils--i
selves bur hardly any ATTENTION N.1
Maid 70 any OF them II looked -
s,-e~x.ua for himself After the nTst
80 ,,5-,,,-as everyone was apparently :
- - What had happ enrd and the {
,r5lfezr confusion followed
:. x-,,C.7e the hundreds that were :
,,,e-ere5 IN the Palace Hotel were :
71erot4a-s Of the Conreid Opera con-
,any. all OF whom seemed more pane
stricken than others could not III
lerstand exactly what vas SAID q
rsx spoke II French, but Il gestlc-lia-
= ---.-.lE -.-.---a ---AL-N J >