Newspaper Page Text
CORVA Vol. XLHI. Corvallis, Benton County, Oregon, Tuesday. April 24. ,108. i THE GREAT HORROR. Eye-Witnesses Tell Their Stories in the Oregonian. The first refugees from devas tate San Francisco arrived over the Southern Pacific delayed train last night. The four who wer- lucky enough to escape the horrible scenes which followed th reat earthquake told enough of tne disaster after the first shocks to turn one to horror. Henry Hahn, manager of Wad hains & Co., occupied a room on tLe second floor of the Palace. He was awakened by the first sho 'k and found himself covered with plaster and broken glass, but scaped without a scratch. ' I will never forget that hor ribl - grating sound when the building swayed and rocked like a tall tree in a storm. It was something awful, and I can hear it yet. I was awakened by the first shock and immediately the pi ster began to fall. The bureau and bed were shifted almost to the middle of the room, and : while I did not seem to realize that I was in great danger, I got out of the room when the second, I third and fourth shocks followed, although they were less severe. Everything was excitement in the corridors, and the darkness made it difficult to find the exits. "The damage in the building, however, was nothing compared to the scenes that met our eyes upon reaching the street. Great heaps of bricks and timbers were strewn about to the middle of the pavements, and it was impossible to get away except by taking the . middle of the, -streets. Th-firemen responded promptly and were in the midst of the business district almost as quickly as we got out ot the hotel, but it soon became apparent that they were helpless, the water-mains having burst from the sway of the ground. In some places the t streets had sunk te a depth of i a foot or more. Some water was j pumped from the bay, ' but it availed nothing against the many fires that were springing up everywhere. I am certain that within half an hour 20 01 the fallen structures were ablaze and that was only so tar as I could see. "I saw only two bodies, one was lying on the sidewalk and another under timbers in a fallen building. Many maimed and crippled were rushing about the streets, apparently dazed and not knowing in what direction to seek relief. "The most salient features have been told, but one thing proved was that the modern steel structures stood the strain well, and I do not believe the result would have been so terrible had it not been for the large number of small and old structures in the business district. They could not withstand the terrible rock ing and fell like so many card houses. The immense Monad nock building was rent in two from top to bottom, but it ie? mained standing. "I do not believe that the loss ot life will be so great as has been estimated, although they, may; have found many pinioned under! the debris after the flames got in their work. There were any number of dead horses on the streets when we tried to reach the ferry. They belonged to haw kers, who are out early in the mornings and they had been crushed by the crumbling walls. What became of their owners I do not know, but I suppose they saw the danger and escaped. "We had an awful time getting to the ferry;. The streets were soon blockaded and .the '..only way to reach .Washington-street pier was by -.taking "a circuitous ! route. ' T crosseS on the first.boat ..and the rush was not as frantic as later on. With no water on hand it soon become apparent that the firemen were incapable of checking: the fire and they resorted to dyna mite while we were waiting for the departure of the ferry boat The situation looked very gloomy, and I began to realize that San Francisco's great com mercial district was doomed." H. K. Dent, a traveling man from Seattle, formerly ot Port land, one fortunate enough to get out of San Francisco, occu pied a room in the now destroved Palace Hotel. He said last night; "I was awakened from a sound sleep by the most terrific shock that could be imagined. Plaster from the ceiling fell like rain and it seemed as it the entire building would collapse. Oh, the entire scene beggars description," he continued. "People rushed to the great corridor below, some scantily at tired, some in pajamas, and even others n jt that well clothed. In the lobby everything was confu sion. Women and children, who carried wearing apparel in their arms, commenced to clothe them selves, but hardly any attention was paid to any of them. It look ed like everyone for himself. Alter the first few minutes every one was apparently aware of what had happened and the wild est confusion fol'owed. . "Among the hundreds that were quartered in the Palace Hotel were tnen)bt3t of be Con reid Opera Company, all of whom seemed more panic-stricken than others. I could not understand exactly what was said, as they spoke in French, but if gesticu lations could speak I could come pretty near guessing every word that passed between them. The men and women of the company were rushing about the lobby in their night clothing, gesticulat ing wildly, rushing up to first one and the other, apparently not knowing which way to turn or what to do. ' "When I had soaal possessions got a few per together and reached the streets the sight was horrible. Several of the dead were stretched out on the streets, the sidewalks were torn up in places, the streets seemed to be barricaded with huge piles of de bris, and live electric wires were hanging down everywhere. "A regular panic seemed to have taken hold of every one, and men and women were wandering around, disregarding the tailing stones, in a dazed manner. The greatest amount of damage at that time appeared to be in the downtown districts and along the water front. I believe that hundreds of people lost their lives, especially those who lived in the tenement district. These buildings collapsed like eggshells. I noticed one woman apparently more than 80 years old, crawling along the sidewalk with blood streaming from her head and her clothing almost torn trom her body. This is only one of the numerous scenes that I observed while on my way to the ferry. "Policemen, however, worked like beavers. Automobiles could be seen on every hand, convey ing injured persons to the hos pitals. Every sort of vehicle was pressed into service to carry the dead and injured away. At many places I had to pick my way over heaps of rubbish, over uprooted poles and around live wires, in order to get to the ferry. I reached - the ferry when the inira ana last load ot passengers was crossing to Oakland. I learned that the first boat crossed contained more than 50 persons, the second not more than 200, but the third and last boat tha' was allowed by the authorities to leave for Oakland was loaded U the rails. ; When the extent ot the catastrophe was realized, peo ple by the hundreds tried to get out of the city, but their escapt was shut off. "Before I left the city I believe that I could have counted more than a score of fires, which seem ed to break out in every direction. A small blaze, not larger than a hat, would apDear in the lower floor of a frame building, and in an instant the structure would be a mass of fire. Everything appeared tQ burn like tinder and I am not surprised to learn that fire devastated the entire city. Fred A. Krib?,' the well-known lumberman, was in San Francisco the night befoie the earthquake, but went up to Sacramento, aud was there when the series of shocks occurred that wrought such havoc. He caught the northbound train at Davisville, and reached here last night. "I was at the Capital Hotel in Sacramento," said Mr. Kribs, in" describing the matter after his arrival, "and was aroused from my slumbers by the awful din and confusion incident to the shocks. Of course it was no comparison to wnat tnev ex perienced in San Francisco, but it was certaiuly bad enough. "The Federal building, at Seventh and K streets, in which are located the post-office, land office and internal revenue office, was badly damaged, and other structures throughout the city were more or less injured. The dome of the Catholic Cathe dral, which looms up above that of the State Capital building, swayed and shook like a reed, and everybody expected it to fall atany raomentr-. .. "The reports from San Fran cisco aroused intense excitement in Sacramento, the two places being closely identified by com mercial and social ties. When I left in the afternoon of Wed nesday they were already discus sing the feasibility of circulating a regular petition, and I know they will come through all light in that respect. I feel , proud of Portland for what she has done in this direction, and you can count on me for a good sub scription. "On the train coming up I met several persons who were in the midst of the earthquake in San Francisco, all of whom gave graphic accounts of their exper iences. A traveling: man named Wilkinson told me that looking up Market street from the ferry building it seemed as if the car tracks had been twisted by some gigantic human process, and practically every building on each side ot thoroughfare as far as the eve could reach was out of plumb in some way. ' "Along Kearney street, he said the ground appeared sunken in spots, indicating that it must have settled badly, although far- removed from the filled-ia dis trict" "I am sure the building rock ed several feet," said John Bentley, who with his wife and two children were staying in the Winchester Hotel, on Third near Market street. "We were almost thrown out of our beds, and then there came a shower of plaster and window glass. We rushed out after having dressed hurriedly and found things in a terrible condition. Debris everywhere. Dead horses here and corpses of men there. The police called every passing vehicle into service and we saw wagon loads of dead being hanled away. One auto mobile had bodies piled up like cord wood. "We were on the last ferry to leave the city, and it nearly ca reened on account of. the throng. In reaching the other side of the bay, some - women were pushed into I the water, but , I . ..believe the jr were rescued. . - The excitement-was terrible. We arrived in San Francisco the uiaht before trom Iowa,' and knew little about the city. "Hundreds upon hundreds must have ; been killed in San Francisco by the tailing buildings nd I do not think the report fhat full 2000 persons lost their lives is exaggerated." Such was the statement by E- S. Bravman arrived at the Ho tel Portland and when it became known that be 1 had passed through part of the ; terrible catastroDhe which has befallen the unfortunate city he was im mediately surrounded by a large crowd of San Franciscans, wbc listened several hours to his nar ration of the frightful scenes that were enacted. I saw only two bodies, but I saw on my way to the ferry acres of frame tenement ; buildiDgs which had collapsed, undoubtedly killing hundieds of persons," said he. "The horror l of j the scene is indescrible. I was in Sn Francisco less than an hour after the first shook, but I must have seen a hundred or more fires which were raging in t iy of the city. "I had a room on the fourth floor of the Occidental Hotel, and was lying in bed awake when the first shock came. When I felt the building tremble I jump ed from mv bed and opened the door of the room. I stood in th open door, where I was shelterei from the tailing plaster. The shock lasted fully two minutes, and I only managed to remain on my feet by holding on with ail my strength to the sides of thf doorway. Later other guests told me that they were thrown to the floor feveral times during the shock, and that it was ab solutely impossible for them to re main on their teet without hold San Francisco. Apnl 20 - Fourteen men were killed last niht while attempting to rob the Vi-u.t.Nof the Mirt. The ruins of th treasure house were beim guarded by soldiers. A mob tried to reach the vaults contain ing millions of dollars, and were shot down by the soldiers. In the midst of the battle, which drew up soldiers and policemen. Officer Joseph Myers was run through the body with a bayonet. Before the fire Wednesday was half a dozen hours old Mayor Schmitz gave explicit intsruc tions to every person doing guard or patrol duty to shoot without warning whoever they might set robbing or looting. Prior to last night's bloody work, fouT men had been shot down in their tracks. The attempt last evening to rob the Mint was well planned; beforehand. ,The building is a mass of wreckage, and the mon ster vaults stood out in bold re lief in the mass of debris. The knowledge that the steel strong boxes contained millions in coin and bullion was the incen tive of the mob to try and rob them, but the soldiers were true to their duty, and shot down the would-be robbers without mercy. Dixie Jubilee Concert. This company is backed by the four leading Lyceum bureaus of the U. S- and is without doubt the leadmp; colored concert com pany of America. Hon. W. J. Bryan says cf them: "They are fine singers, besides they are splendid enter tainers." Hear them this evening at 8 p m. at the Presbyterian churcl Tickets on sale at Graham Kfl ppnhc .. , Fine enrly Dert seed corn at Zit roifa. 35tf Foley's ICidneyCuri 4micem . j1 SOME POINTS ABOUT SCARF PINS won't hurt you, if you intend to buy, and get the points of me. "A SCARF PIN POINT" you get at my jewelry establishment is of genuine value. Convince yourself by looking over that lot of new 1906 scarf pins just received. I have them "fruity," and of "simple elegance." Price in each instance is extremely low. Albert J. Metzger WATCHMAKER Occidental Building, - - - Oorvallis Figure any way you will. The man or woman who makes a purchase at our store actually saves money. We do not claim that all our goods are sold at cost, but we do claim that our customers are not deceived That our goods are sold only at a profit consistent with the times, and that marking some goods AWAY UP and some AWAY DOWN is not allowed in our store. A SQUARE DEAL to everybody is our motto. - Before commencing house our prices (all m plain hgures) and see what we have in FURNITURE, CARPETS, MATTING, WALL PAPER, LINOLEUM, ETC. LARGE LINE OF COUCHES. GRANITE and.. TINWARE HDtLENBERG 8 CADY. A Specialty We are making a specialty in the form of the latest and most up-to-date eye glass mounting, ever offered to the public. J This eye glass mounting is "The Heard'' guaranteed to stay on where others absolutely fail. If you care to investigate call at my store any time. . - E. W. S. PRATT, Jeweler and Optician.! SEEING IS BELIEVING Then come in and see my line of Sporting Goods and be con vinced that it is the best and most complete line ever brought to your city, consisting of Guns and Ammunition, Fishing Tackle, Base-ball Goods, Bicycles and Sundries, Pocket Knives, Razors, Sewing Machine Supplies, etc Gasoline and Dry Cells for sale. Agent for the Olds Gasoline Engines and Automobiles : Guns and Bicycles For Rent. First-class Repair Shop. XI. M. LONG, Ind. Phone 1 CORVALLIS, Ind. Phone 126 O. C. Hlomtand. GQRVALUS STEAM LAUNDRY. Patronize Homo industry Outside Order Solicited. AH Work Guaranteed. j Take. The Gazette for all the ! I Just Becaure. Your rough is only in the throat and rii-es not trouble yon now, don't think that it aeeda no attention. When it has not had much of a start is - the time to check- it. The elightesf. cough easily lead pneumonia, - bronchitis, and eoniumption. A bottle of Ballard's Bartheaada 9 tap will core that congb. Tea prie earn it withia - reach of all. BM a MRia SPENCER'S Hair Invigorates And Dandruff Eradfcator 3 5e 3.5- C9 Trail Dark Bagisterei!, Price, - jFitty Cents; Manufactured by The Vegetable Compound Company Corvallis, Oregon ?t ESS cleaning drop in look over NEW LINE OF GO-CARTS. STOVES and . RANGES Residence 324 OREGON. I Chas. Btakel, ,t ICORVALLiS, OREGON. CASTORIA For Infants and Children. The Kind You Have- Always Bought' Bears the Signature of l fee - IT yy a Mft mfm, mmre- -a mmlmUfS