The theocrat. [volume] (Zion City [i.e. Zion], Ill.) 1914-1949, 1916-03-11
LOCAL NEWS
THE SAN FRANCISCO
EARTHQUAKE AND FIRE

|
Lords Day, the General Overseer, be-
fore the largest audience that has yet
attended the services there, called special
attention to the stereopticon lecture, on
the San Francisco Earthquake and Fire,
which was to be given in the evening,
by Elder w. D. Taylor, who, with his
family, was living in San Francisco at
the time of it's occurrence, and who
passed safely through the experiences of
that terrible catastrophe
A good sized audience assembled at
eight o'clock p. M, and listened atten-
lively to the lecture, which was instruc-
tive and intensely interesting. At the
opening of the meeting, the General
Overseer read from the oath chapter of
ST. Matthew, which contains prophecies
of famines and earthquakes that are to
take place in divers places in the "latter
days., as prelude to the great earth
quake, when every mountain and is
land will be moved out of it's place, and
which will occurr at the opening of the
"sixth seal"- "-Revelation 6:12-17.
At 5:13 on the morning of April 18,
1906, Elder Taylor was awakened by the
rumbling preceding the great earth
quake. His first thoughts were that
milk wagons were rumbling over the
cobble stones of the street, next, that
heavy wind was rushing over the city.
This was quickly followed by terrific
shock, lasting but forty-eight seconds,
but which, in that brief space of time,
rocked and shook the city as if it had
been toy. Vast edifces, which it had
! taken years to construct, were shattered
and demolished, and not only business
blocks, but residences throughout the
city, were laid in ruins.
Immediately fire broke out in all parts
of the city. adding to the terror of the
people, and the destruction of property
1t has been said that the San Francisco
fire was the hottest and most destructive
in history. The number of lives lost
will never be known. Hundreds of men,
women and children were pinned under
the debris, and latter consumed by the
fire.
Strict orders were issued by the
Mayor, against striking a match or
lighting a fire. The confagration how
ever, which did the greatest damage, and
consumed the larger part of the city,
was started by a woman, in direct dis
obedience of these orders, who built a
fire in her cook stove The chimney
fue being cracked by the earthquake, her
house was soon in flames, and con-
fagration was started which DESTROYED
millions of dollars worth of property,
and many hundreds of lives.
By noon of the first day, nearly every
Zion family in San Francisco had been
burned out, ,~and had gathered at the
home of Elder Taylor, who was in charge
i of the branch there. The fire was
sweeping toward them from three sides,
and people for blocks around them, had
hastily gathered their belongings to-
gether, and moved on to escape. The
Zion people, however, remained where
they were, trusting in God for protection
and deliverance.
Although the fire was raging close
around, the children were that night put
to bed, and all rested quietly in God,
trusting in the promise that "When thou
passeth through the waters, I will be
with thee; and through the rivers, they
shall not overflow thee: when thou walk
est through the fire, thou shalt not be
burned; neither shall the flame kindle
upon thee" Isaiah 1872.
The neighbors came and said, "Why.
you're foolish; aren't you going to get
out of here?" But Mrs. Taylor replied.
'If l can't trust God at time like this,
won't trust Him at ALL"
The fire came within half a block on
one side of them, and then suddenly went
out after having burned half a house.
On another side the fire came within
about three blocks, and on another with
in about five blocks. In each of the
three instances the wind suddenly veered
around, and drove the flames in the op-
posite direction. There can be no doubt
but what this was in direct answer TO
prayer.
70 IF