The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-04-22
GRAPHIC STORY
GREAT CALAMITY
James E. Jennings Talks of Aw-
full Scenes Witnessed in
San Francisco.
FLED FROM COLONIAL
HOTEL AT FIRST SHOCK
Paid 81 for Three LOayeS of
Bread for His Wife
and Party.

James L. Jennings and wife. with Mrs
L. S. Terry arrived Saturday evening
from San Francisco and went direct to
their apartments at the Emery Holmes.
Though physically and mentally worn
out and u prey TO nervous feelings Mr..
Jennings received a Tribune representa-
tive, and told Of his experiences In
general way as follows.
1--WE were housed in the Colonial hotel
when the shock came. and the awful
roaring that accompanied 1t made II ter
The movements OF the floor seemed up
and down and sideways and was con-
tinuous for three minutes; Everything
loose was thrown down and We found II
hard TO stand ourselves.
Found Floor Concaved.
when we were partly dressed we found
the floor concaved in such a way as to
make 1t difficult to pass over 1t. and 1t
seemed the floor would fall away from
our feet When We got out In the street,
we saw chimneys falling and glass tumb-
ling from windows till the streets and
sidewalks were covered with debris,
Everything we looked at was just tho
same.
Second Shock at Breakfast.
"By this time we were Gained down
could not eat. Just then came another
shock, and terror mastered us oil. Then
We got out In hurry, and as l looked
down Pine street ! saw the first smoke,
and said TO our party, Lord, l hope we
do not have a fire with this trouble
then went over as far as California street
and saw smoke and fro in several direc-
tions and knew intultively that II WAS
all up,
Had Shock Come Later
We then all went over to my mothers
at Ellis and Van Ness avenue, and passed
through ruins every step Of the way, 1t
hnNr har r1 uFith hN
FIRE. Ii that shock had come three hours
later. l shuddcr to think OF the slaughter
that would have followed. IT would also
have made the greatest confagration ever
known. for there would have been fires
In all homes and tho result would have
been flre everywhere at once,
There were many business men at tho
Colonial. and when they returned at noon
they said, It's all up. We are ruined and
nothing can be saved
Many Pathetic Scenes.
About this time the great sea OF peo-
pie came struggling up the hill dragging
after them such things as they could
carry, and many pathetic scenes followed.
We packed our belongings, md then
heard the ferry was not running, so we
made no attempt.
Horrible Sights Of Death.
Then came tho horrible sights OF death
cannot tell It. Much OF II can never be
told, but load after load of crushed and
DleedlnS oooleS must leli tnolr own story
II Is all too true, and half tho truth has
not boon told at oil.
Dispair Seized All.
Eve then went to Mrs. DR.. Dalways
on Steiner street, leaving our trunks in
the hotel, and spent the night In her
homo. Nothing remained for US To do now
but TO get out 10 the PresIdio Through
the night the fires had gained headway
all around US, and despair seemed to takc
great sheets of flame leap out Ike great |
dragons tongues and lick up a whole
block OF buildings in a few minutes. One
never could believe the awful power of
hre TIL he saw this. could see now
there was no hope for the doomed city, |
and that VIC had TO get away.
Started Folks for Ferry.
After running all over town / got a |
coupe at last and put my people into IL.
giving them money and tickets and tell |
ing the driver to land them at tho ferry, |
FOR myself. ! took my grip and stnrt- |
Oh out to foot It to the ferry ! passed |
out to Van Ness avenue and on out TO |
tho Preside. taking Bay street which |
skirts tho city at Black point and Meigs |
wharf. and after seven miles walking 7 |
building was crowded with all sorts OF |
people In all sorts OF dress. ard very |
we'll behaved under the circumstances !
Three pretty hard-looking characters |
them; Gentlemen, there is plenty OF room |
for all here. let us not have any trou-
BILE and they subsidized at once We |
finally got over and caught the Limited
but thankful II WAS mo worse
Buoyed Up by Excitement
My heart is heavy ut thought OF what
ment buoyed the people UP for the first