HOW THE CITY WAS OVERTHROWN.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 94, 20 April 1906, Page 5

HOW THE CITY WAS OVERTHROWN.

The t olletrine am «v received earlier than ike ilin

WHOLE OF THE BUSINESS QUARTER IN RUINS.

FIRE SPREADS TO RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS.

THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE LEFT HOMELESS.

LONDON, April Iff. When the earthquake occurred most of the people were asleep. They left their beds in terror and rushed into the street in their night clothes. The buildings tottered, and many of them collapsed. The crashing of falling buildings, chimneys, cornices, aad walls created awful scenes. Many people were mangled by the falling debris when escaping into the streets. The terror and excitement of the people as they ran hither and thither to escape are beyond description. The latest telegrams say that after destroying the business districts, the fire is spreading to the residential quarters, where the buildings are of wood. Many of the buildings that had withstood the earthquake shocks succumbed to the fires. The whole of the business portion of the city is in ruins. Thousands of people are homeless, and are huddling in the parks and public squares. Many fires broke out in the wrecked buildings, and these were fanned by a brisk easterly wind. Some of the docks (piers) and freight sheds slid into the bay, and deep fissures opened near the shore. The buildings.in the business districts, between Market and Howard streets, from the bay as far west as City Hall, were completely wrecked. The earthquake caused crevices 6 feet wide to open in several of the streets. Entire sidewalks are torn up, and the tramway tracks are twisted into strange shapes. Two ships anchored in the bay sank. ~ Eye-witnesses state that the streets bulged and waved as if about to crack. The people were dumbfounded, and spoke incoherently. They threatened to shoot if pestered by interviewers. What is apparently a baseless report states that the American Pacific squadron sank while anchored in the bay. . Communication for a long time was limited to one wire. It is feared that many journalists were killed through the collapse of the "Examiner" and the "Call's" ten-storeyed buildings. The sections oi the city south of Market-street and Third and Ninth streets were, soon masses of flames. . No ferry boats are running, and all entry fa tbe bmriaßg city hae been stopped. .... ..j.-T '~-, ■ -.; T ... ~ Zi-'-'-i - ..""7"