River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1906-04-26
EARTHQUAKE, FOLLOWED BY FIRE,
LAYS SAN FRANCISCO IN ASHES
LIVES AND PROPERTY DESTROYED
Twelve Square Miles Of the Finest
Portion Of the City Made Desc
late by Catastrophe.
FINANCIAL LOSS PUT AT THREE HUNDRED MILLIONS
One Thousand Persons Believed to Have
Perished-Millions of Dollars Col
lected Throughout the Coun-
try for Sufferers.
FINANCIAL LOSS PUT AT THREE HUNDRED
SAN FRANCISCO EARTHQUAKE AND FIRE

i
San Francisco, April "a series
of earthquake shocks, the first oc-
curing about 80 on the morning OF
April 10, has resulted in the practical
destruction of the city.
Following the shocks, which brought
to the earth the most substantial
buildings of which the city could boast,
fire broke out seemingly in hundreds
of places at once, and the destruction
Of the principal water mains, ruined
by the seismic disturbances, left the
city practically without means OF de-
| Tense, although many blocks OF the
| finest business and residence. buildings
were destroyed by dynamite, in the
effort to stay the progress OF the
| flames. Not until IL square miles OF
| the richest portion of the city had
been burned did the destruction cease
The homeless and weary people sought
refuge in the public parks and open
spaces in the outskirts of the city.
Oakland, CAL, April 23.-San Fran
cisco's heroic fire fighters have at last
triumphed, and the flames w--Ach have
| devastated three-fourths of the city
are finally under complete control.
The flames, following the earth
quake shocks which continued all day
April Is, had things practically their
own way. The first shocks destroyed
the water mains and left the firemen
powerless. Dynamite, guncotton and
even field guns, brought from the Pres
| lido by orders of Gen. Funston, in
command of the regular troops, had
all been used in the effort to stay the
progress of the fire, which for three
days defied the efforts of troops, fire
men and citizens.
The long and heroic struggle to sub
| due the flames reached it's successful
conclusion Saturday morning near the
| ferry-house, where thousands were
| trapped on the wharves, to which they
had been driven by the relentless adj
vance of the fire. Here the final
stand was made by firemen, soldiers,
sailors and citizens, aided by fire tugs
and a few engines. Victory rewarded
their efforts, and the entrapped peo-
| pie were saved.
Cheered at Victory Over Flames.
The effect of the victory, was in
spring. It gave cheer to everybody,
and to none more than the homeless
ones who had sought the water front
as the only place of refuge and avenue
of escape from the burning city.
1t relieved the nervous tension OF
thousands who were ready to succumb
| to the prolonged strain. 1t sent a
wave of optimism surging all over
| the city and made the skies look
bright even through the pail of smoke
| still lingering. It was in it's effect like
| that of powerful tonic administered
| to a fainting man. Three hundred
! thousand men, women and children
| Joined in singing the praises of the
men who stamped out the blaze.
Goods Piled IN the Open.
These tent cities, which are scat
| tered all over the city where the
flames failed to work their rage, are
the repositories for mountains of
household goods. Unfortunate, indeed.
was the man or woman who failed to
carry away from his blazing home
some of those household treasures
dear to the heart.
| Stern measures have saved the des-
olated city from disorder and law
lessness. The orders issued by Gen.
Funston to shoot anyone caught in the
act of footing the deserted and wrecked
buildings have been carried out by
both federal troops and the militia.
Vandals have been shot down without
hesitation by the soldiers. Ghouls
have been caught in their ghast-y
work, and retribution quickly fol-
lowed. AS near as could be estimated,
for no actual count has been kept of
these impromptu executions, at least
20 vandals and ghouls have been shot
down.
City Vast Ash Heap.
No better description can now be