The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1906-04-27
OF THE ][l WEEK
SAN FRANCISCO IN. RUINS.

SAN FRANCISCO IN. RUINS.
Earthquake and fire has PRACTICAL,
wiped out the city Of San Francisco
AT 5:13 o'clock on the morning O,
april is a series of severe shocks last
Ing three minutes destroyed or dam
aged thousands Of buildings in the
business section, causing loss. Of life
estimated at 500, hundreds of Others
sustaining serious injuries. Following
the earthquake fire broke out in the
ruins and owing to- the bursting of
the water mains it was impossible to
ngnt the flames except by blowing up
buildings in the path of the fire. This
method proved unsuccessful and by
the night of April 10 the entire bust.
ness section was in ruins and the fire
a spread to the residence section, a
large portion of which had been wiped
out by the morning of the goth. The
names then worked their way into the
western section of the city, which con-
tains the homes of San 1rancisco's
weather. class, and many palatial
residences have been destroyed. 1t is
estimated that over 100000 people are
homeless, an immense number having
left the city and sought refuge in
nearby towns. The property damage
~ placed at between $780, 0O, 900 and
100000. 900.
Reports from cities in the interior
of the state r most alarming. Santa
Rosa. in the prosperous county of So
mona, is a total wreck. There are
10000 homeless men, women and chill
dren huddled together. The loss of
life there is estimated at 500. Every
business house was destroyed by the
earthquake and fire completed the de-
struction of the city. At Salinas the
earthquake caused a loss of $4,000, 900,
but no lives were lost. Brawley, a
town 120 miles south of Los Angeles,
was practically wiped out, but so far
as known there were no fatalities. The
Agnews insane asylum near San Jose
O. uOA1AOA4O14Cu ny Il1C GIL Il1NldhO
and 100 persons killed and 100 injured.
the dead including II officers and en-
ployes of the institution. At San Jose
many buildings we're damaged and ten
persons killed. Reports also tell of the
destruction of Healdsburg, Geyserville.
~Cloverdale, Hopland and Ukiah, in
Mendocino and Lake counties. These
r frontier counties and have not as
large towns as farther south. In every
case the loss Of life and property is as
shocking as at San Francisco.
Throughout the great business dis
trict Of San Francisco, where the de-
vastation OF the flames was most COM
plete, walls are being RACED, buildings
that had not d~isintegrated before the
intense heat are being inspected with
the view OF reoccupancy and even
ground is being cleared for the imme-
date construction of some sort of
building in which to resume business
at the earliest possible tine.
The various projects for expressing,
in an organized public manner, Ger
man sympathy with the sufferers from
the San Francisco disaster and for
warding material aid have been aban-
doned owing to President Roosevelt's
dispatches saying that such contribu.
lions are not necessary. Several news
papers commented editorially and
rather bitterly on the refusal of Ger
man assistance.
Millions of dollars have been con-
tributed in various cities throughout
the country to assist the San Fran
cisco sufferers. Rockefeller, Carnegie,
the Standard Oil company and the
steel trust each contributed 100000.
The total for New York city is expect
ed to reach $4,000, 900.
H. G. Tilden, one of the most prom
inent members Of the San Francisco
general relief committee, was shot and
almost instantly killed while return
ing from Menlo park in his automo-
bile by members of the citizens patrol.
The latter declare Tilden did not stop
when challenged.
Inc JOWu OIL 1O11dlGS, SdA.s 10 q PAAS
of ruins, all of the large stores having
been destroyed by the recent earth
quake. The Catholic church, a new
stone structure, is also ruined. Many
ranch houses and barns in the vicinity
are down.
Eleven postal clerks were taken
from the debris of the San francisco
postofice three days after the disaster,
all alive. They had been all that time
without food or water. All the mail
was saved.
Secretary Metcalf Of the department
of and labor has gone to
San Francisco to represent the govern
ment in connection with relief work in
the stricken city.
A sharp earthquake shock was felt
at San Francisco at 1889 Monday
night. It lasted about three seconds
and was from east to west. No dam
age resulted.
New York city spontaneously re-
snonded to the appeal on behalf of the