THE FRISCO Earthquake

Hastings Standard, Volume IX, Issue 5177, 20 April 1906, Page 3

THE FRISCO Earthquake

DURATION OF SHOCKS. (Per United Press Assn.—Copyright;. Received April 19, 5.-12 p.m London. April 19 The San Francisco shock began at 16 minutes past 5 in tha morning, and lasted for several minutes, with a recurrence. A. wide area was affected. Most of tlic wires are down. Many lires occuuvd among the ruins. PLIGHT OF THE HOMELESS. Received April 19, 10.28 p.m London, April 19 Information is still fragmentary, owing to the burning of the telegraph ami newspaper offices. It is estimated that 1 "00 perished, and that 1000 were injured in San Francisco alone. The entire business portion of the city is in ruins. According to the latest information, the Hanies are unchecked, and are sweeping the city. Thousands of the homeless are huddled in the parks and public squares. Troops are guarding the banks. Cavalry and infantry patrol the streets, and are instructed to shoot thieves, who are already plundering. The moment of greatest disturbance •was u.IH on Wednesday morning. The tremor was sufficient to cause the seismograph peudulum to swing for nine minutes across the whole width of the photographic roll. It is beleved that tbe originating centre of the disturbance is out at, sea. THREE SEVERE UPHEAVALSReceived April 18, 10.3G p.m London, April 19 The tremors traversed the entire continent, and were recorded at Wash - ington, Ottawa, Vienna, and the isle of Wight. Three nevere shocks occurred on Wednesday morning at intervals of some hours. Slighter shocks occurred in the afternoon and early evening. When tbe first shock came most persons were asleep. They rushed out cf their beds in to the streets in their night attire. Buildings were tottering and crashing, and showers of falling chimneys, cornices and walls crushed and mangled many. The terror and excitement were indescribable. The modern tall steel frame structures stood better than the brick and wooden tenements. At some of the docks, freight sheds slid into the bay. Deep fissures opened near the shore The business district between Market and Howard streets', from the bay a- far as the West City Hall, is especially wrecked. COLLAPSE OF CITY HALL TOWERS. Received April 19, 10.18 p.m. London, April 19. The roof and small towers of the City Hall, which cost 7,000,000 dollars, collapsed. The Post-office is shattered. The Nalencia Hotel and Kingsley's Lodging house collapsed, each killing 80 persons. A great department store fell, burying the caretakers. Owing to the breaking of the gas and water mains, many fires, fanned by a brisk easterly wind, soon endanfaered the whole manufacturing and wholesale quarter. The firemen freely used dynamite to blast out pathways in the city blocks. The explosions were deafening, and added to the terror. Soon the section of the city south of Market-street and Third and Ninth streets, was a mass of dames. None of the ferries are running, and all entry into the burning city is stopped. The latest telegrams state that after destroying the business district the tire is spreading in the residential section. SQUARE MILES BURNED. Received April 19, 11.9 p.m London, April 19 Many buildings which withstood the shocks succumbed to the fires. Up to 8 o'clock last night, the fires had extended eight square miles, invclving several hundred city blocks. The damage is estimated as at lea it 1 (¥>,000.000 dollars. The district surrounded by Yallejo. Howard, East and Sansom streets. embracing almo-t the entire wholesale district, has been clean swept by the firp. The district bounded by Market. Eight- and Folsom streets, has been also The latter included th£ llajoritv of the finest aud moot ouftstantial buildings. l.'revices lift wide opened in several jtreetj. The entire sidewalks were torn up, and the tram tracks were strangely twisted. I he Palace Hotel W3a bnrned. Two ships anchored in the bay were sunk. The continuation of the shocks in the afteraoou caused a flight from the city. Thousands of buildings have been destroyed. The greatest loss of life occurred in the cheap tenements mar the water front. The gas and water supplier "ere wrecked, and the firemen were pow.rFss, the flame-.- leaping all barriers. Block after block in lower Market street, the main thoroughfare. wa» destroyed. Huge buildings in Eddy street collapsed. By the fall of one lodging-liou:e, 200 persons were killed. The chief of the lire Brigade was killed beneath the ruins of his offices. The Call, the Examiner, and the Chronicle newspaper offices were destroyed, aLo the Western Union, postal and telegraph offices, the Grand

CABLES.

Opera House, the Pacific States Telephone Exchange, the Kialto Store, the Mutual Life Office, the Anglo-Cali-fornian Bank, and the I*'i : h Market. OUTSIDE THE CITY. Received April 19. 11.HO p ru. London. April 19 Many of the principal buildings in Oakland, across the bay, were injured. The sea overflowed between Suisun and Benecia. A mile and a half of the track of the Southern Pacific railway disap peared under the water, and a crowded passenger train barely escaped. St. Ignace Cathedral is ablaze. The Lelaud Stanford Junior University is practically demolished. Salines suffered considerably. Much loss of life and damage is reported at Santa Rosa. The earthquake was severely felt at Nevada and Fresno. The telegraph companies were forced to open at Oakland. Half an inch mo\emenfc of the earth's surface is recorded on the Washington instruments. The shock was not felt northward of Santa Barbara. A DESPERATtTsiTUATION. Received April 19, 11.35 p.m London, April 19 , Late New York telegrams allowing for hysterical reports, it is 1 apparent that the situation in San Francisco is becoming desperate. The fire is burning furiously, in all quarters. Two regiments of regulars are on guard. Millions worth of property is placed in the streets to avoid the flames. The Mayor has appointed a committee of safety, and has ordered the bakeries and milk stations to supply the homeless. Eighty insurance companies havo resolved not to discriminate between fire and earthquake losses. The Conried Opera Company lost all their scenery and personal baggage. Many inmates in the asylum at San Jose were buried in the ruins, ESTIMATES OF FATALITIE3. Received April 20, 0.23 a.m London, April 19 General Funston has practically established martial law in San Francisco. The Federal authorities at Chicago have been advised that the killed number thousands. Another account says 2500. It is reported that the suburb of Berkeley has been destroyed. It contained the University of California and other State institutions. Eye witnesses state that the streets bulged and waved as if about to crack! The people are dumbfounded and incoherent, and have threatened to shoot if pestered by interviewers. An apparently 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 Examiuer and Call's ten storeyed buildings. CRUSHED LIKE EGGSHELLS. Received April 20, 8 3 a.m London, April 19 The Grand Opesa House and Claus Spreckels' office, the finest buildinff of its kind in the West, were crushed like eggshells. The Western Union Telegraph office was wrecked. Many millionaire's mansions were burnt. SUPPOSED CAUSE. Received April 20, 8.3 a.m London, April 19 Professor Milne, the seismic expert in the Isle of Wight, suggests that the earthquake was possibly caused by the earth's swinging a little off its ' axis, and the strain and struggle to get back breaking the earth's crust. OTHER PARTS AFFECTED. FATALITIES. 10,000 RENDERED HOMELESS. Received April 20, 10.2 a.m New York, April 19 Five were killed at Oakland. Many fatalities occurred at Santa Cruz. Thirty-six were killed at San Jose. Two hundred were killed and 10,000 rendered homeless at fcanta Rosa. Two hundred aud seventy perished at the Aguew Asylum, near San Jose. MESSAGES OF SYMPATHY. Per United rtess Assn.—Copyright). Received April 20, 1.9 a.m Sydney. April 19 I'etails of the San Francisco disaster treated a sensation here. A large 'number of cablegrams were sent making inquiries about the safety of relatives. Mr Carruther. and Mr Bent sent joint cablegrams of sympathy o (Per Press Association). Wellington, April 19 Mr Seddon has r-nt messages of condolence on behalf of tbe Government and people of New Zealand to the President of the United States and to the Mayor of San Francisco and Mr Stephenson Smith, the New Zealand Government agent.

SAN FRANCISCO LIABLE TO EARTHQUAKES.

Auckland, April 19 A. prominent New Zealander who ha.- Ltsided frequently in San Franci.- - co, and who knows the city and country wdl, state:- that from his observation; tuul experiences he fully believes that San Francisco is very liable to experience earthquakes. Last December twelve month" three shocks were experienced in San Francisco, two during one night, and the "third after an intii'val of jume ten days, though no serious damage was done.

CABLES.

< SHOCKS RECORDED IN NEW ZEALAND. Wellington, April 19 The first waves of the San Francisco earthquakes .were registered on the seismograph here at 1.2 this morn - ing. AN INTERESTING QUESTION. Auckland, April 19 As to the prospects of a tidal wave accompanying the Californian earthquakes, one well known gentleman, who has made soveral visits across the Pacific, said, upon being questioned : There are too many islands between Auckland and San Francisco for anything like a tidal wave to reach Auckland. These islands would act as a natural break to the strength of a tidal wave sweeping over the ocean towards New Zealand, and although some rise in tides may occur, I do not think that we need have any fear of any disaster."

INSURANCE COMPANIES.

Auckland, April 20 In connection w r ith the fires at San Francisco, it is stated that the South British retired from business there in 1890, and, in conjunction with the National and Standard, is not a participant in insurance business in any part of the United States. o

CITY DOOMED.

(service TKLEGRASI). The last bulletin from Ban Francisco says that the fire is still raging. The entire city is doomed, Every building and business in the district is destroyed. Nearly half the residential section is destroyed, and no large building is standing. The greatest loss of life is in South Market street, where six hundred bodies have been recovered. The St, Agnes Insane Asylum is destroyed, with the majority of the inmates. Reports from the interior are alarm-