The Oskaloosa herald., 1906-04-19
sorlpps.McRae Telegram.

ScflppS-McRae Telegram.
San Francisco, April lS.--The most
terrific and calamitous earthquake
shock in the history of the Pacific
coast visited this section of the state
at ten minutes past five this morning.
Hundreds of buildings we're destroyed
and the list of dead is estimated at
eleven hundred. Thousands of other
people are more or less injured.
The shock was the most severe be-
tween this city and Sacramento For
several hours Sacramento was entires
ly isolated from the world, all COM
munication by wire being cut by the
force of the shock and the destruc-
ton of buildings and cables.
Destruction Is Terrible.
Great buildings in this city toppled
and fell in every direction. Fire
broke out Immediately in the whole
sale district near the water front.
The water system had been entirely
disabled by the shock and the city Is
menaced by confiagration. Fires
are also raging in other quarters with
no water to fight them. The situa-
ton Is most critical.
Big Hotel Destroyed.
The Lack House is among the
buildings destroyed ami many OF the
guests are numbered among the dead.
The building in which were located
the Offices of the Postal Telegraph
and Cable company crumbled like an
egg shell and adjoining structures
were wrecked. Many operators were
buried in the debris.
Chimneys and light structures all
over that part of the city toppled
over and many Of the most substan-
tial and expensive buildings in the
city are rent with great cracks.
Palace Hotel in Danger.
At noon the raging fire was within
a block of the Palace Hotel, the larg-
est caravansary in tue world.
Neither the Palace Hotel nor the
st. Francis is gone, that is, so far as
the outside goes, but the inside,plas-
tering ETC., is greatly damaged. They
are both now menaced by fire.
All Power Cut OF.
All electric, gas and steam power
lines in the city were wreckeo, and
not a wheel could be turned for hours.
AS all telegraph and telephone COM
panies depended on electric plant for
power, communication was complete
ly tied up. The Pacific cable was not
damaged, but the loss Of power put
it out of commission. Operators are
afraid to return to their posts.
Great Loss Of Lire,
Alarming reports of loss of life
come from all sections o. the city
south of Mar6et street where the
shock was the most severe. The
estimates run as high as two thousand.
The police force, soldiers, ,marines,tire-
men and militia Of the city are serving
as relief forces and score upon score
of dead bodies and injured people are
being taken to improvised morgues
and hospitals. The fires raging in al.
most every block is making the work
of relief more dangerous and slower
The people are panic stricken.
Dead May Number 1000
Estimates of the number OF dead
vary. Reports are confusing and con
flicting, but at noon 1t was believed
at least two thousand are dead. Re
ports centering at the police headquar
ters are appalling and most all are
verified. Application has been made
to the United States government fol
transports to take bodies to We buried
at sea. So many are so mutilated that
it is impossible to care for then
ashore. The cities across the bay
suffered, being shaken severely. Sub
urban departments are lighting many
fires.
Fifty Blocks Destroyed.
New York, April 1s.-The Posta
Telegraph Company is advised tha
the area covered by the earthquake Il
about fifty city blocks, in which al
the buildings were practically destroy
ed. The greatest damage is east ant
south of Market street to the bay
Manufacturing enterprises in the dis
trict were demolished and train:
turned over on the rails.
Later Reports Are Alarming.
J Chicago, April 49, According t