Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-05-02
The Ruins of San Francisco.

Bret Hartc's writings contain many
references to earthquakes IN the
Pacific coast metropolis, and one OF MS
short stories is devoted to a fanciful
account of the ingulfing of the city ana
It's discovery long afterWard. IL i
entitled "'Ihe Ruins of san Francisco
ana WAS intended as mt III INV
fashions and foibles of the DAY. III
view 81 tn" fact that the city Is 'oatS
actually in ruins as the result Oh az
earthquake 4 few extracts from th'S
stcry, written and published more 'iifh
thlrtv Years ago. may he OF ihici''''
Inc narrative begins: "ToWard ih'
close of the nineteenth century the city
Oh san Francisco was totally iiiEui'''
by an earthquake. Although thr Wiiol'
coast me must have b""n h''ith
shaken, the accident seems I" may"
bceh purely local. and even the CITY on
Oakland escaped. Historians disagree
as 10 the exact date of tho calamity.
Tulu i<rish, the well known New
Aeaiandcr, whose admirable spec
ulatlonS on the ruins Of 81. Paul as
sen from London bridge have won for
nm the attentive consideration of tn"
Scl"htii'c world. fixes the occurrence il:
"A. ID. lNS0. This. surprising the city /"
nav" h'en actually founded i'll 1850. as
asserted, would give but thirty years
for It to have assumed the size and
proportions it had evidently attained
a the time of it's destruction Ii is not
our purpose, however. To question the
conclusions of the justly famed
Maorian philosopher our present
htIc :, T., 4
are now being prosecuted by order Of
the Hawaiian government upon The site
of the lost city.
Every one is familiar with tn" story
of its discovery. For many years the
bay of San FranciSco had been famed
fol tie luscious character of its
oysters. 1t is stated that a drcdgcr
ore day raked up Il large ben. Which
proved to belong to the city hall. AMI
led to the discovery of the cupola of
that building. The attention of the
government WIS ii once directed to the
spot. The bay OF san Francisco WAS
speedily drained by II system of
siphons. and the city. deeply imbcdded
in mud, brought to light after a burial
of lnany centuries. The city hail, post
office. mint and custom house were
readily recognized by the fulfilled bar
nacles which adhered to their walls.
Fer many years California had been
subject to slight earthquakes, more or
less generally felt, but not of sufficient
importance to awaken anxiety or fear.
Perhaps the absorbing nature Of the
San FranciScanS' pursuit of gold
getting. which metal seems to have
IL 1. 4
actually used as a medium Of currency,
rendered the inhabitants reckless Of all
other matters. Everything tends to
show that the calamity was totally I'M
looked for.
"Thc morning of the tremendous
catastrophe daWncd upon the usual
restless crowd of eold-cctters intent
UpCn their several aVJc1tionS. III"
brokers had gathered at their r"spcc-
tive temples. Til" shopmcn were OK
hibtilE their goods. Til" oilers We're
lstlrssly regarding the pr"ncnaders
from the street corners or the doors "f
their bbulouS temples. \ slight pre-
mOntOry thrill runs through the city.
The busy life of this restless microcosm
is arrested. The shopkecpcr pauscs AS
he cIevatcs the. goods to bring them
into favorable light, and the glib pro-
feSSiDnal rccomme ndation sticks On
his tongue. In the drinking saloon the
glass is checked halfway to the lips
on the streets the promrnadcrS pause.
"Annthcr thrill and the city begins to
20 down, Il few of the more persistent
topers tossing or their liquor at TIL"
same moment. Beyond terrible
sensation Of nausea, the crowds who
now throng the streets do not realize
the extent of the catactrOphc. The
waters of the bay rccedc at first from
the extent Of the cHtaStroph". Til"
concavC shape the outer edge Of the
circle towering many thousand feet
above the city. Another CONFUSION
and the water instantly resumes its
level. The city is smoothly inGulfcd
5000 feet below and the regular SU ell
Of the Pacific calmly rolls over it,"