The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1906-04-18

| Chief Of Fire Department Sullivan is ly-
| ing I'm very precarious condition.
New York. April lS--A report reaches
! here that n severe earthquake wrecked
many buildings and caused loss OF life I'm
San Francisco this morning. The shock
was felt al 5l3 San Francisco time.
BRIEF COMMUNICATION.
About $40 the Postal Telegraph COM
pany had communication with their San
Francisco office but lost the connection
again almost Immediately.
In the brief period that the wire was
working the san Francisco office reported
that number Of buildings had collapsed
and that the dead and injured were being
taken from the ruins as rapidly as posi-
BILE.
At the time the message came through
the principal danger was from the fires.
a number of which had started and were
making great headway owing TO lack OF
water
FIRE SPREADING
The Postal Telegraph company learned
that the fire is eating It's way along Mar
ket street. The water mains were purst
by the earthquake so that there is no
means at hand for fighting the confiagra,
tion. The electric lighting plant OF tho
city has failed and gas mains are dis
rupted. The damage extends throughout
the entire city.
The Postal building was badly wrecked
and the operating room cannot be used
PREVIOUS EARTHQUAKES
Tho last earthquake that occurred In
San Francisco was about the middle OF
January. 1900
Several distinct shocks were felt early
In the morning, causing the vibration OF
buildings all over the city. The chief
building affected was the st. Nicholas
hotel, which was severely shaken. The
walls collapsed I'm certain parts OF the
structure, patrons were thrown out OF
their beds and furniture was destroyed.
In 1904 there was a severe seismic dis
turbance in Los Angeles, which was felt
throughout the city and for a radius OF
several miles all around. No actual dam
age was done. but this was the most Sc
we're shock that has ever been felt in
southern California.
RAILROAD SINKS OUT OF SIGHT.
A telegram from Sacramento 10 the
Western Union Telegraph company re-
ports that three miles of railroad sank out
OF sight as result OF the earthquake be-
tween Suisuan and Benelea and all wires
were taken with t. At Pleasanton several
cars were burned on the main line. block
Up TO the time OF receiving this de-
spatch the Western Union had been un-
able TO get into communication with San
Francisco.
DYNAMITING BUILDINGS.
At 1910 o'clock this morning the Pos
tai Telegraph company received the fol-
lowing telegram: "At 5l3 thi morning a
terrific earthquake shock occurred I'm San
Francisco. doing particular damage I'm the
district east and south OF Market street.
practically destroying six or eight blocks
In the manufacturing and wholesale
districts.
The banking district was not seriously
a.
been done over the whole town. Many
persons have been killed and wounded ana
a portion OF the town is on fire. the
water supply being shut off At This mo-
ment they are dynamitlng several OF the
buildings.
The Associated Press office was also
badly damaged.
1000 LIVES LOST
Kansas City April 1s.-At s:3S this
morning the Postal Telegraph company
here stated that tho only information OBJ
tainable from the west was that their
operators at San Francisco had left their
building in that city and reported that
many new buildings were collapsing and
many fires breaking out with no water
available. 10 fight the flames.
People were fleeing from the affected
districts. -e
At 9:15 a. m the Postal Telegraph
company here had received the following
information from Los Angeles: II is re-
ported that 1000 lives have been lost IN
the earthquake at San FRANCISCO
Both the Postal and Western Union
buildings in that city pave been de-
stroyed.
A disastrous fire Is eating its way up
the south side Of Market street and at
last accounts was within three blocks OF
the Palace hotel.
ORDERED TO GIVE AID.
Washington, April 1S.--Upon hearing
the news of the San Francisco earth
quake Assistant Secretary of War oil
yer. in the absence OF Secretary Taft
who is not at the capital tele-
graphed ajor-General Greedy, COM
manding the Pacific coast division,
headquarters at San Francisco. I'm
structng him to cooperate with the
local authorities and use all resources
at his command To assist In alleV lat
Ing the situation there.
TELEGRAPHERS HAVE TO FLEE
New York. April 1s--At II o'clock In
the morning. San Francisco time. o'clock
New York time. the employees of the
Postal Telegraph company had 10 leave
their office on account OF the fire.
Al the time they left the Palace hotel
and the Grand hotel were not vet on
ire, but were in immediate danger. The
militia is in charge Of the town,