The Destruction of 'Frisco.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8192, 18 May 1906, Page 5

The Destruction of 'Frisco.

flews By Mail. Story of an Eye Witness A Thrilling Experience. Per Press. Association. AUCKLAND, This day. Among the passengers by the Moana from Vancouver are Mr and Mrs Shipman. They arrived in San Francisco the night before the earthquake, and had compartments on the eleventh floor of St. Francis Hotel. Mr Shipman says he was awakened by the earthquake at 5.13 a.m. As soon as'the hotel became stationary he went to the window and saw the stairs

crowded with guests—men and women— frantically rushing into the streets in their night clothes. "It was the nearest to a stampede I had ever seen," says Mr Shipman. "Getting dressed, Mrs Shipman and I went do wnstairs, and met a man in pyjamas. He was pale and breathless, and informed us that tlie city was inflames in at least twenty different places, and that the city was doomed to destruction. We found the square opposite the hotel crowded with

people sitting on their household goods, their homes haying collapsed or were being burned.

"Standing on Market-street, and looking down Third-street we could see the flames rapidly eating their way to Market-street.

".About 8.30 a.m. the militia marched down Market street, stationing soldiers at intervals. The city was plaaed under martial law. The crowd moved morbidly down Market street, silent and dazed, watching the spread and approach of the devastating flames. None seemed to want to speak. " The street presented an odd aspect, husbands and wives carrying bundles suspended from their shoulders. Everything propellable by human motive power was pressed into service and piled .up with household effects, from trunks to green parrots. All were travelling m the same direction—away from the flames.

"At two o'clock the flames had covered apparently half the centre of the city. They progressed in crescent shape. At six o'clock the Missionstreet end of the crescent had burned itselfj out. and carried the fire to the wholesale district and the water front north of Market-street. At nine o'clock the fire was near St. Francis Hotel from both ends of the crescent. Bell boys, more dead than alive, were requisitioned to carry trunks and valises

from the hotel. We left the building hastily, the buildings on both sides of the hotel being on fire. Twice we were ordered to leave our things and get out of danger by the soldiers, who M ere dynamiting the buildings to stop the progress of the fire. Everybody seemed to be dragging trunks and goods into the streets., which were crowded with refugees.

" Next morning we got our effects and removed to the Alta Praza. We camped there for three nights. The first night we slept on our trunks, the second on a mattrass, and the third in a tent with steamer blankets. For two days we lived on biscuits and water, and on the third day relief parties brought us provisions.

" i and others were pressed into service by the soldiers in making the park sanitary, digging trenches, and cleaning up refuse.

" There were perhaps a hundred families in the Alta Plaza."