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Newspaper
Washington Evening Journal
Location
Washington, Iowa, United States of America
Date
Apr 20, 1906
Page
1
San Francisco endures a vast fire disaster with vast loss estimates. Officials warn life losses of 1 000 to 5 000 and property losses near 300 million dollars as Knob Hill homes burn. Congress and presidents move to aid while Rockefeller and others pledge funds.
A Western Union telegraph from San Francisco states the city is largely destroyed south of Market Street to Twenty third, with only the mint spared. The message warns the remainder faces doom as the catastrophe unfolds.
An extended dispatch details a massive disaster as fire sweeps Nob Hill and the California street corridor, destroying landmarks from the Stanford and Hopkins homes to the Fairmount Hotel. The city is largely abandoned, with shortages, rising prices, and no water in the ruined areas.
Mayor Schmitz authorizes federal troops and police to kill looters and crimes while halting gas and electric services until order returns. Citizens urged to stay home from darkness until daylight. President Harriman of the Southern continues remarks.
Pacific company routes freight depots to municipal authorities to aid mass evacuation. The Southern Pacific hospital on Fourteenth and Mission is dynamited with patients moved to safety. Linda Vista and Pleasonton hotels blown up to halt the blaze as Mayor Schmitz appeals for bread tents and bedding in Golden Gate park to aid the desperate. The Call Chronicle and The Examiner join forces in an Oakland Tribune edition.
J P Anthony of Pacific Grove arrived by auto from San Francisco with a graphic account of the earthquake. He slept at the Ramona hotel on Ellis street when the 5 23 a m tremor struck lifting the six story building and caving in the roof. Dozens were killed and panic spread as debris rained down and crowds gathered. Police took control by 9 a m warning people away from danger.
A vast postquake exodus fills the streets south of Market as flames engulf downtown. Residents flee toward Market to Eighth Town send and Third streets, while the municipal halls and other landmarks burn. Hospitals overflow and bodies are carried away as fear and chaos grip the city.
The famous painting Golgotha valued at 25000 was sold for 1000 to Special Agent Thomas H. Keefe at the exhibition building 1451 Michigan avenue. Keefe will pay 500 short of the duty demanded by the government. The work, imported from Russia for the St Louis fair, arrived too late. It measures 195 feet long and 46 feet wide and is by Polish artist John Styka.
Frank O'Brien of Brandywine township hid his cash in an old lounge inside his house rather than a bank. Sparks from an open fireplace blew into the lounge, ignited the furniture, and the lounge burned, destroying $310 in cash.
In Vienna on April 19 Bellamy Storer the retiring American ambassador and Mrs Storer departed for France. Secretary George E Rives acting as charge d affaires has resumed direct contact with the Austrian foreign office.
Anthony moved along Market Street toward The Call building where flames issued from every window and the blaze shot from the roof. A similar fire raged in The Examiner building across the street as he headed to the railway station at Third and Townsend streets.
Emperor William directs Foreign Secretary Tschirsky to telegraph U S government his sorrow and sympathy over the California earthquake disaster from Schlitz in the Grand Duchy of Hess dated April 20.
West ern Union dispatch from San Francisco reports the residence district fire stopped at Octavia street and confined to Telegraph hill. The burned area separates the fire from west city. officials estimate life loss at about one fourth of a port.
The Evening Journal reports 21 000 messages on file in Chicago ready for transmission to San Francisco. Local officials note the volume reflects ongoing communication links between city operations and the West Coast.
Reports from San Francisco mention Washington group there with no word yet. Late this afternoon the tone is increasingly hopeful and the sentiment rests on the prospect that the news will prove to be favorable.
The WRO will not hold its meeting tomorrow because of ongoing building repairs. Members are advised to reschedule and await further notice from the organization.
The service scheduled for tonight has been postponed with no new date announced. Officials say attendees should watch for updates as details are confirmed.
Yellow seed corn for sale by J. Emmons of Washington Iowa. The Presbyterian church choir is asked to meet at the church promptly this evening at 7 45. I will be away briefly and Nate Jones will act as assistant tire chief during my absence. C W Davis.
Market report from Chicago shows cattle steady hogs strong and sheep steady with receipts around 10000 cattle 16219 hogs and 5000 sheep. Prices list ranges for light mixed heavy and rough hogs and cattle including bees cows and yearlings with named firms Beach Wickham Co and McCall Bros as agents.
Fire described as spreading from midnight toward Fort Mason and Fontana warehouse with cannery districts at risk. Flames threaten Golden Gate Park and Pan Handle areas while fleeing residents abandon vehicles along roads to the ferry.
San Francisco April 20 Special to The Evening Journal says reports that the Cliff House toppled into the sea cannot be verified and are probably untrue as access to the site is blocked by confusion.
Washington dispatch reports a Western Union message to the war department describing a fire around Telegraph Hill. The blaze has consumed many houses and threatens Van Ness to the water, Octavia Street, and the area toward Golden Gate Park with shrubbery near the beach at risk.
The Navy Department received a telegram from Rear Admiral McCalla at Mare Island Navy Yard saying the warships under construction were uninjured and that reports of loss of life had been greatly exaggerated.
The President has detailed Secretary Metcalf to go to San Francisco and represent the national government. The secretary starts this afternoon.
The fire is checked at Van Ness and Mission streets while raging on North Russian hill toward the bay. About a quarter of the city is reported safe with relief measures for the destitute being organized.
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