Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-02
WHEN THE SHOCK CAME
ENGINEER WOODS EXPERIENCE
AT SAN FRANCISCO.
Modern Steel Structures Little DAM
aged-Swift Advance OF the
Flames.

One of the most interesting letters yet
received from San Francisco since the
earthquake and fire came to Chief Engineer
C. A. McAllister of the revenue cutter serv-
ice today from his assistant, H. N. Wood,
who was a guest of the California Hotel
when the disaster overlook the city.
Engineer Woods letter is written In the
form of a diary, after the introduction
which is of a personal nature and contains
no information of public interest Plunging
right into his story, Mr.. Wood writes as
follows:
April IS, BIB a.m--Occupying room To-
seventh floor of California Hotel Awaken
ed by violent shaking of building; remained
in bed until shock ceased; arose, looked on,
of window, listened for screams; hearu
none; dressed quickly for street QncIuolhs
collar and tiel started down stairs: one
flight down gave hat away 10 a pa 's
scared gentleman with a hysterical wlfei
went back upstairs after another started
down again; helped carry fat lady. WHO
had collapsed in foom ana put on peu ,,, ,'0 70
uounder no small job; continued GOWN ~
office: found most people properly cIotheu.
a few decidedly otherwise: remained ABOUT
Office and front Of hotel about hI'eeh HIM
utes talking over the situation.
% 80 arn-Find friend and walk up Bush
street to Grant, down 10 Market along
Market TO Battery. out Battery 10 bIGau
WAY down Broadway to water 'front.' aiohs
water front past ferry to Howard, up How
ard to "a. up 2d across Market to Post up
post to Kearney, back on kearney TO BUSH
and to hotel
Steel Structures Damaged Little.
During walk noted effects of earthquake
on buildings: modern steel structures very
little damaged, windows not being broken ;
light masonry structures collapsed Wfiohy
or in part; ornamental masonry cornices
shaken off to the sidewalk everywhere;
wrecked; all masonry chimneys gone; SUD-
stantIaI frame structures appeared little m
tIred except In plaStering and chimneys;
welI-built masonry structures, walls IN sooo
nrder except ornamental cornices, towers
stss-ples etc.-(the vanity feature). The
pavements In the low fiat part or city
cracked. sunken or heaved In many places,
due to settling OF eartni street car rams
buckled and broken in places, IN others
pulled apart. Noted three small fires start
ing during the walk u am, entering
hotel was told by an acquaintance that
man had been pinned under falling chin-
ney on the eighth floor; hurried upstairs
and worked with all possible haste Tor Two
hours in digging away bricks, mortar ana
tinbers to get man out; found him on ms
bed under about two and half feet or
bricks and debris; had apparently been
killed while he slept. although the body was
not much dlStigured; help lay Douy Out III
another room; returned TO my own room
soaked with perspiration. dead tired out,
changed clothes and took bath; returned
to eighth floor and stayed Dy dean Douy "
accommodate lady cousin of dead man (only
relative in buIlding). occupying an easy
chair: was so exhausted that had serious
doubts about being able to take care or
my1elf, revived. however, and 1elt much
better after an hours rest.
Rapid Spread of Flames.
'1Oam-walked out to Market street and
back to see the fires, which were spreading
rapidly south of Market and east of San
other direction In q
buggy with a friend, did not think that
there was any danger of fire reaching the
section about the hotel
40 m-Walked out to southwest to OBJ
serve the fire. which was spreading very
rapidly south of Market street; condition
very serious, but sign of fire north of
Market or west of SanSome street; re-
turned to hotel to rest packed part or
baggage.
Il 80 p.m.-Walked down to appraisers
building and watched fire, which was in
next block building apparently safe; walk
ed up Telegraph and Mob hills to look over
city saw fires breaking out above Mont
gomery street near Kearney, concluded
that 1t was time to dust returned to the
hotel and finished packing baggage consult
ed others In house. decided 20 try to make
North Beach with baggage. tried it In q
one-horse express wagon with two friends.
were cut off by the guards at the hose
lines leading up the hill, found ii impossi-
BILE to get up the hill with the load, re-
turned to hotel and unloaded the trunks,
two friends started out with the light bag
gage over hills for North Beach. l remain
ed at house with baggage, still some hopes
that fire would not go above Kearney
street"
Engineer Wood then describes how ID
tiled to sleep in the launch of the revenue
cutter Bear but was unable to rest on ac-
count of the cold. Early the next morning.
April 10, he assisted some refugees to move
their baggage out OF the zone of danger,
and at o'clock in the afternoon ate the
first food that he had had since leaving the
hotel the day before. His narrative then
continues:
'315 p.m-Left friends and started for
North Beach, crossed small park; so tired
and sleepy lay down on grass and tried
to sleep; began to get cold and stin, decided
TO go on to Megg's wharf and to try to
find vessel where 1 could go to bed on
way assisted several distressed women ur
hills with baggage and furniture; at pier
% found ferry boat taking passengers for
Oakland; noted cracks in pavement a foot
wide assures several feet deep, depression
IN one place about five feet; reached main
ferry and took boat at 100: made way
70 Bodies dock and TO the Bear: got supper
and good nights rest
Fire on the Water Front.
Engineer Wood returned to San Fran
cisco the next morning. The narrative
continues;
40 pm. April 20-Passng pier % heard
cry OF fire on wharf from refugee hur-
Tied inside gate. found small fire from
spark on dock; same time saw another on
root pier o. more fires started police Of
fCcr left me In charge of fire fighters COM