Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-04-26
STORY OF SAN JOSE
Was Destroyed Simultaneous
 ly With San Francisco.
NINETEEN DEAD; HUNDREDS INJURED
Whole City In Panic Rushed to the Streets = Building After Building Came Down-Business Places
 Completely Ruined.

SAN JOSE, Cal, April 26.-Simul- taneously with San Francisco at 5:12 on Wednesday morning the city of San Jose was practically destroyed in the business center, and more than one half of the homes in the residence sec tion were so damaged or destroyed that repairing will be beyond question.
 The property loss is more than $S,000,000, but the horror of it all is that nineteen persons were killed and more than POO injured. Five thousand persons were rendered homeless and destitute, and many rich and pros, porous mercantile firms were reduced to beggary. The destruction came without warning or premonition.
 Suddenly there was roaring in the air that came from nowhere in par ticular and seemed to fill all space A second afterward came a rocking of the earth that sent buildings swaying and crashing to the ground as if they were children's houses of sand, and an instant later this was followed by & shock, more severe than the first, which practically completed the de struction begun by the first shock.
 People rudely hurled from their beds ran into the streets in their night clothes. Men, women and children huddled on the streets in a rain of brick and stone. Building after build- ing came crashing to the ground under the successive tremors of the earth until three-fourths of the business blocks in the heart of the city were down or so badly wrenched that they have since had to be torn down. Fire added it's hoaror to the calamity and swept the Martin, Liberty, Black and Guppy buildings, four of the finest business offices in San Jose.
 Every street in the~city was by this time filled with screaming, crying peo- pie, who dashed from swaying and broken dwellings, rooming houses and hotels to escape, the almost certain death of remaining. Even the worst earthquake shock has it's end, and in few moments those who were calm enough to think realized that the shock was over and they were safe for the time being at least.
 Collecting their senses and mastering their courage, as many as could do so returned to their homes and clothed themselves and again sought the streets to try to estimate the disaster that had befallen the city.
 Martial law was declared. Directly all of the saloons were closed, and 200 special policemen and deputy sheriffs were sworn in to assist the regular police and military in preserving law and order.
 In the business part of the town the worst destruction was wrought. Even before one reached the main streets of the city the extent of the calamity be- gan to be realized. The handsome and brick building of the Roman Catholic Church of St. Patrick, costing more than S150,000. situated at Santa Clara and Ninth streets, was a ruin. The Martin, Liberty and Louise build ings were wrecked by the shock, and then the ruins were burned by fire starting from lights burning therein.
 In the wreck of the Hotel Costa, in street, five dead bodies were found, and seven guests were taken out seriously hurt.
 Two thousand dollars damage was sustained from the earthquake at the Soldiers home at Yountville, Cal.