SAN FRANCISCO DISASTER.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIX, Issue 8124, 23 April 1906, Page 5

SAN FRANCISCO DISASTER.

1 PROGRESS OF THE FiiiiMES LARGELY-STOPPED. QUARTEK OF A MILLION PEOPLE HOMELESS . AND FAMISHING-. HUNDREDS OF BODIES LITTER THE STREETS. FOREIGN ASSISTANCE DECLINED. [Press Association.] *•

Received April 21, 9.2 a.m. The General Manager, Paoifio Cable Board, has received the following telegram from Mr Storror, the Superintendent ot the Postal Telegraph and of the Commercial Paoiflo Companies' Olboes in San Franoisoo:— "The Are is still going on, and will probably consume the whole of the city except the streets situated between Golden Gate Park and Webster Street, where there is water, thus allowing the Fire Department a chance of success. Two hundred thousand refugees are struggling to leave the city. There is muoh suffering from laok of water." NEW YORK, April 20. Looting is rampant in San Francisco, despite the death penalties. A sailor baynotted one of the thieves. The rioh people are flying to the bay. The poor in the city still remain, as they are unable to meet the boatmen's exorbitant demands. General Funston telegraphs that a tidal wave destroyed the Terminal Island seaside resort. Many of the richest banking and commercial premises in Montgomery Street are burned. It is stated that one hundred million dollars' worth of securities were stored in the deposit vaults in the burnt-out banking quarter, and it is not known whether they are safe. The residences ot] Messrs Huntington, Flood, and Baldwin, and btjores of other millionaires, have been burnt. Mesdames Hermann, Oelriob, and W. K. Vanderbilt, it is feared, are ruined, owing to their being uninsured. Thirty-six Salvation Army buildings, with their provincial headquarters, public halls, and industrial quarters, have been burnt.

Energetic mpasures are being taken to assist 250,000 people who are homeless and famishing. Hundreds of bodies litter the streets, and citizens are compelled, by force to nasistat the burials. The soldiers, who are guarding the mint, have billed fourteen men for attempting robbery. WATER FAMINE A SERIOUS MATTER. THE PARKS PRESENT A PITEOUS ASPECT. Received April 23, 12.8 a.m. NEW YORK, April 21. Eleven clerks, apparently dead, have been found in the post office debris. They had been without food and water for three days. They are recovering. The police poured all the alcohol from the saloons and grocers' stores into the gutter, and seized all provisions, distributing them sparingly to the applicants. The water famine promises to be even more serious than the food famine. Furious flghting;took plaoe between a number of the refugees over some water until the military seizea and disposed of She water. Hundreds wandered to the hills in search of water, and drank anything they could get. The mains are nearly all repaired, and it is honed that ten million gallons of water per day will soon be available. The parks present a piteouß aspect pt night. All social distinctions have disappeared. Rich and poor, criminals, Chinese, foreigners, negroes, society belles and factory girls are all huddled together and yet dispoed to help one another. HOPED THAT ONE-FOURTH OF THE CITY WILL BE SAVED. GREAT GUNS BOMBARDING MILLIONAIRES' QUARTERS. A MENAGERIE BREAKS LOOSE. TRAINS WITH SUPPLIES BEGINNING TO ARRIVE. FORTY LOOTERS SHOT. Reoeived April 23, 12.30 a.m. NEW YORK, April 21. The Mayor of San Franoisoo states that there are hopes that onefourth of the city will be saved. Great guns bombarded the millionaires' quarters for hoars ' unspairingly. The destruction wrought eventually stopped the progress of the fire. The police and firemen worked until utterly exhausted, and the soldiers acted heroically in averting a pandemonium. Three warships, building in the Union Ironworks, are safe. A menagerie broke loose, and the. frantic animals, roaring terribly, created a panic until the soldiers shot them, or the animals perished in the flames.

The Government has lost stores worth seven huudred thousand dollars. Ten thousand frantic Chinese and thousands of Italians, Spaniards, and Mexicans fought until the soldiers restored order. The latest news from San Franoisop states tnat' ; despite" the dyna"miting qf residenoej covering a mile on the east side of Vanness Avenue, the fire spread to the west, involving the whole of the millionaires' suburb. There is no definite news regarding the shipping. The members of the Confried Opera Company took refuse in the St.. Francis Hotel. Signer Carusi is safe. The earthquake shocks were felt at Los Angeles, Honolulu, Bosnia, and Manila. The shook in the Quinoy Mine at Calumet, in Michigan, killed a miner and injured four others, who were a mile belnw the surface. LONDON, .April 20. The London stock markets are weaK. ,• Insurance shares fell heavily, and investments in stocks are lower owing to the fear that insuranoe companies will be compelled to realise to pay claims. The Times states that the British offices bold risks for about twenty million pounds in San Francisco. The London banks have offered to assist the San Franoisoo banks. The English organisations are contributing liberally. : Received April 22, 1.23 p.m. NEW YORK, April 21. I The Sailors' Home is intaot. Relief stations have been established at Golden Gate Park, Presidio, San Bruno, and Roid. The abattoir has been destroyed by fire. Three hundred cattle, taking fright at the flames, rushed into the t streets, trampling and goring people. ■ The docks between Howard and Poison Streets were saved. Mount Cauplin, whioh was supposed to be extinct, is emitting smoke from a new fissure in the side of the mountain. The heat from the flesure is melting the snow at the summit. The Mayor of San Francisco has announced that the fire is under control. Herr Kubelik, the famous violinist, and family, left. San Franoisoo a week ago, and Collier's Theatrical Company, en route for Australia, are safe, but have not yet sailed. Cannon were used to assist the dynamiters in destroying Vanner's Avenue. The Hamburg-American Line Co. cabled a gift of £5,00u, but President Roosevelt doolined the donation, with warm thanks, stating that the Cabinet had decided that foreign assistance is not needed in view of the bountiful response from Americans. I he Times and Standard oity editors agree that the loss to British insurance companies in San Francisco itself has not exceeded £10,000,000. The Dominion House has voted 100,000 dollars iu aid of the San Francisco sufferers, while Mr Carnegie and the Standard Oil Trust have eaoh donated 100,000 dollars. Except between Nob Hill North and the eastern strip on the water front the fire haß been oheoked. The skilful use of fresh supplies of explosives saved the western section, i the flames being stopped in Vanner's Avenue and Ootavia Street. '

Trains with supplies of food and olotbing are beginning to arrive. Public kitohens have been opened in church vaults and tlbe basements of bouses The oonducfc of the people generally is exemplary. Forty looters have been shot. BANKERS AND MERCHANTS' CONFERRING. RESPECTING THE RE-BUILDING OF THE CITY. ON A GREATER SCALE THAN EVER. MANY REFUGEES DIE OF EXPOsURE. THOUSANDS LEAVE THE CITY. Received April 23, 12.32 a.m. NEW YORK, April 22. Groat efforts are being made to restore the sewer system in order to avert a pestilence. A nommittee of the bankers in San Francisco inspected the vaults of the various banks and report that everything is intact and seourely guarded. They are confident that depositors will bo paid in full. Banker? and merohants are conferring at. Oakland respecting the re-building of the city on a greater scale than ever and the prevention of a financial panic. Many refugees have died from exposure. Five babies were born in the parks. Many thousands of refugees have left the city. All the towns in the vicinity of San Francisco are threatened with a shortage of food.

PROGRESS OF THE FIRE STAYED. Received April 23, 12.39 a.m. NEW YORK, April 22. The latest reports confirm the statement that the progress] of the

flres haa been stayed, partioalarly on the water fronts. General Funston reports that the water supply is encouraging. THE SHOCKS RECORDED IN MELBOURNE. ; Reoaived April 23, 12.39 a.m. MELBOURNE, April 22. The peiamogr&ph at the Observatory was opened to-day. The films indicated that the shocks had ex tended over an hour and a half. The first wag at 11.40 o'clock on the night of the 18th, and the last at 2 o'olook on the morning of the 19th. The extent of the shook has not yet beeu measured by the astronomer. THE SIERRA. Received April 22, 5.1 p.m. SYDNEY, Apiil22. Great distress has heen occasioned amongst th<> shijus company and passengers on the Sierra. Many are anxiously awaiting replies and inquires about the safety of relatives. The chief stewardess has received a cable that her family is sale. Two passengers have received similar reassuring messages. THE SONOMA. A Press Association telegram from Nelson states that a cablegram has arrived there from an employee on the Sonoma stating (hat the vessel is safe. URGENT NEED FOR FOOD. Received April 22, 5 p.m. SYDNEY, April 22. The Lord Mayor has received a cablegram from the Aoting-Mayor , of San Francisco to the following hffeot:—"There is most urgent need for food. Vancouver is the nearest source if you are contributing. Wire contribution to the Vancouver Relief Committee, which will arrange for the expenditure of the money in food supplies and transportation to San Francisco." - ■ ' ">;>*"; THE COLONY'S MANIFESTATIONS OF SORROW GRATEFULLY APPRECIATED. '."''.' WELLINGTON, April 22. In reply to his private communication the Premier baa received the following telegram from Washington:— "R. J. Seddon, Premier, Wellington,—The President Is deeply touched by New Zealand's) manifestation of sorrow, and gratefully appreciates. your telegram of sympathy. Signed, Robert Bacon, Act-ing-Secretary of State." No reply has yet been reoelred to the official communication sent through His Excellency the Governor. - , . RELIEF FROM NEW ZEALAND. THE' GO VERNMENT OFFERS TO SEND £5,000. " The Premier, through the Governor and the Secretary of State for the Colonies, has communicated with President Roosevelt, expressing a desire, on behalf of the people of New Zealand, to show practical sympathy with the sufferers by the earthquake calamity in California, to the extent of 25,000 dollars, and has also expressed a hope 1 that a favourable reply will be received as to the acceptance of the offer. THEORIES REGARDING EARTHQUAKES. >£ PERTH, April 21. The (Jovernment astronomer states that the seismograph registered two shocks in oonneotion with the San Francisco earthquake. the' 'first shook was recorded at 9.38 on Wednesday evening, or twenty minutes (allowing for the difference iri'iime) after the shook reached its maximum at San. Franiosco.

Questioned regarding Professor Milne's theory, the astronomer said that the theory that the earth does swing a little off its axis is not a new pronouncement, although it had only recently been advanced. Speaking off-hand he should say that the theory was capable of being tested. For that reason, it is rather fortunate that the international Geologic Association, whose headquarters are at Berlin, had established an observatory in this State. Dr Essin, a leading German scientist, has been at work since Christmas, endeavouring to find out reasons for what is technically known as variations of latitude. At first sight, perhaps, this has no connection with earthquakes. It has, however, because a variation of the latitude is caused by the displacement of the earth's axis, and the theory reoently advanced that the displacement is due to meteorological causes, suoh as a great ohange in masses of ioe and so on, which would cause a kink or twist in the earth's axis, which in turn must cause the earth a great strain and struggle to get back, it would, therefore, be extremely interesting to ascertain whether Dr. Easin's observations showed any sudden change on the evening of April 18. The theory might be tested in that way. ANOTHER OPINION. PERTH, April 21. Dr. Essin, interviewed, stated thai at eight o'clock on Wednesday evening his telescope showed a variation of two seconds in the arc. This caused him to oonolude tnat some disturbance of j an extraordinary character had occurred somewhere. Dr. Easin thinks that Professor Milne must have been misrepresented, as the theory stated is scientifically absurd. A variation of'latitude could be caused by an earthquake suoh as that at San Francisco, but suoh an earthquake could not be caused by a variation of latitude or u variation of the earth's axis. Observation similar to

• that reoorded by his telesoope level on Wednesday evening were reoorded , by the telescopic level in the Berlin Observatory in 1889, when the big earthquake occurred in Japan. If there had been any >ariation of the earth's axis it Would have been recorded on ujb instrument. INTERVIEW WITH DR COLERIDGE FARR. OHKISTCHURCH, April 21. Dr Coleridge F»rr, of the Übriatchuroh Observatory, in the course of a conversation with a reportc, said the San Francisco earthquake was not of such great dimensions as the ludian sbock a few years ago or of the Guatemala shook. The fact that a great and populous city had been struck made it appear as if the actual occurrence was greater than was really the case. Tho report submitted to the British Aasaoiation for the Advancement of Science showed that the Alaskan and Andean regions, which included the scene of disaster, were ranked fourth in regard to numbers among the s earthquake districts of the world, the Malay Archipelago, New Guinea, and Polynesia coming first, Japan second, and a large portion of Asia, between the north of India and the east of Europe, third. In the Alaskan district tbero was exceedingly deep water off the coast and a high ridge of mountains, which would teud to bring about a slipping and cause severe shooke. THE QUESTION OF SUPPLIES. AUCKLAND, April 21. Mr . Sproul, Manager of tne Oceanic Steamship Company here, formerly a resident in San Franoisoo, says there is no danger from famine. There are large grain stores at Port Costa, 32 miles northwards. As to the destruction of trade, Mr Sproulsays there are no good harbours nearer San Franoisoo than Seattle and Sbo Deigo, but he thinks there is no possibility of trade being diverted from San Franoisoo to any extent. He does not think the ocean mail service will suffer more than one week's interruption, and that it is not likely the through mails will be. RECENT EARTHQUAKES AND ERUPTIONS. RECORD FOR TWELVE MONTHS. During the past twelve months there have been several earthquake shooks and eruptions attended by great loss of life and property. Below is given a summary of the most important of them:— On April 4, 1905, an earthquake of considerable violence was experienced at Lahore and other daces in North India. Great loss of life and damage to public buildings resulted. Whole townships and villages were wiped out in a few seconds. In the villages around Dharmsala about 25 per cent, of the people perished. Lady Curzon and family found it necessary to leave Vice-Regal Lodge in consequence of its damaged condition. The loss of life was appalling. In Palampur Tahsil 3,000 people were killed, in Kangra Tahsil 10,000. There were 4,500 Ghoorkas killed at Dharmsala, with 850 other inhabitants. At Jowala Mukhi (Kangra) 22 natives and 200 pilgrims lost their lives, and 18,700 persons perished in that portion of the area most seriously affected. Dr t Davison pointed out that the region over which this destructive earthquake caused serious damage to buildings is about 520 miles iu length, with Dharmsala near the centre, and width not less than 360 miles; so that the total area of destruction must be about 150,000 square miles, whioh is about three times the area of Great Britain. At the middle of April MontPelee, Martinique, exhibited signs of renewed activity. Flashes of light and molten material were observed in the crater, and loud rumbling sounds were heard In the neighbourhood.

On April 23, between half-past one and Jtwo a.m., a somewhat violent earthquake shook was experienced in the Midland countries of England. The disturbance moved in a N.W.. direction between Tamworth and Scarborough, and many towns in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire were affected. Deep subterranean rumblings were heard at many places. There was no serious damage either to people or property. Two violent shocks visited Hull just before two a.m., but beyond terrifying the inhabitants no barm was effected. Fortunately the earthquake wa3 one of the normal, mild types which usually visit England. Professor, Milne writes: "When you realise that in the course of a single year there are probably 30,000 earthquakes in the world, and that only six or seven of these occur in Great Britain,you will understand that we regard this country as enjoying almost an immunity from shocks." On April 27-29 a series of earthquakes visited parts of Switzerland and Franoe, and created able alarm if they did not cause serious damage. The centre of the disturbance was in the region of Lake Geneva, or possibly further east, in the canton of Va'ais, under the Bernese, Pennine and Lepontine Alps. At the same time the volcano in Stromboli, one of the Lipari islands in the Mediterranean, exhibited signs of great activity. Professor Sohultz, who was observing the crater, was injured by an explosion of gas, and several other spectators were wounded by stones ejected from the volcano. On May 26 Vesuvius showed marked indications of disturbance. The northern cone collapsed and ' streams of lava burst forth, whioh in an hour's time reached the base < of the great cone at A trio Cavallo, one kilometre distant. The spec- < taole at night was magnificent. At J about the same period a telegram from Mexico oouveyed the intelligence that the towa of Temazoula ', had been almost entirely destroyed by an earthquake. Large fissures i were formed in the earth, and dense olouds of vapour were forcibly : expelled from them. Ou the morning of June 1 a ■ violent shook of earthquake oo- J

(ourred in Montenegro. In some of the towns houses were shaken to l their foundatiouo, and several fell : in ruins. One person was killed and a few injured. The Bjeloasstya i mountain, in Trumnitza, exhibited signs of activity for the first time. Considerable damage was wrought at Scutari, Albania, were 500 houaos collapsed, and 200 persons wore killed or injured in the falling debris. The rivers and drinking water at Antivari turned of a reddish brown colour. 'lhore was also a a severe earthquake in the central par'; of Japan, from Hiroshima, to Shimonoseki. At the former place and at Ujina six persons were billed and 80 injured, while 33 souses were destroyed. In othor parts of the country thß shock was also felt, but little damage resulted. On June 3 Moat Pelea again exhibited a violent disposition. Flames and ashes of light played about the mouth of the crater; a volume of smoke rose aud spread out towards the sea, carrying cinders which fell in the villages of Le Precheur, forming tbe limit of the district devastated in the great outburst of May, 1902. On June 11 the dome of Mont Pelee collapsed, and a stream of mud desoended into the valley below. The volcano became calm afterwards. ! On July 17, at two p.m , a violent earthquake, attended with subterranean rumblings, visited Scutari, in Albania. Two hours later a sue cession of four shocks occurred, but the resulting damage was not of serious extent. , On July 23 an earthquake lasting two minutes took plaoe at Chita, Eastern Siberia. At Marunek, in the Government of Tomsk, Western Siberia, a shock was experienced. Professor Milne's instruments in the Isle of Wight recorded a great earthquake on the same morning at five minutes to three a.m. The disturbance was also recorded at Birmingham by Dr. Davison, and the latter estimates that the area of greatest disturbance was really distant about 4,000 miles. On September 9 ooourred the great earthquake shooks in Calabria, Italy, which destroyed several villages and small town, oaused a great loss of life, and rendered thousands of people homeless. February 15: A great earthquake, attended by a stupendous tidal wave, had ooourred along the ooast of Colombia, South Amerioa". The tidal wave had done immense damage, and caused the loss of 2,000 lives. March 9: A great earthquake ooourred Jn Formosa, doing damage estimated at £7,000,000, and causing the loss of thousands of lives. Finally the great eruption of Vesuvius began on April 8, and lasted several days, lava streams flowing for great distances and overwhelming villages and vineyards. Many lives were lost, and it is estimated 100,000 people were affected. NOTABLE EARTHQUAKES. ■ • i The bconrrence of an earthquake in ancient times was usually attributed to the punishment of sinful men by an offended deity, and down to this day something of the same cause is assigned to the phenomenon when a town is destroyed and liv.es lost. The Portuguese attributed the Lisbon catastrophe of 1775 to the harbouring of a few Protestants, and at the same time some English clergymen met in London, and in solemn assembly ascribed - the erathquake to papistical praotices in the realms of the "most faithful and Christian" monarch. Some of the most notable earthquakes are given hereunder:— 1731-Pekin, Ohina,;i3B,ooo live 3 lost. 1775—Lisbon, Malaga, and Moroooo, 62,000 fatalities. 1797—Santate and Panama* 40,000 1805—At Frosolone, Naples, 6,000 lives lost, August 11th. n 1812—At Caracas, South America, nearly 12,000 lives lost, Maroh 26th. j 1822—Aleppo (Italy), destroyed, above 20,000 perished, shocks on: August 10th and 13tb, and September sth. 1829—1n Spain, Muroia and numerous villages devastated, 6,000 perished, March 21st. 1830—Canton and neighbourhood, above 6,000 perished, March 26th and 27tb. 1851—In South Italy, Melfl almost laid in ruins, 14,000 lives lost, August 14tb. 1856—1n Calabria, Mqntemurro, and other Italian towns, about 10,000 lives lost, December 16th. 1860—At Mendoza, South America, about 7,000 lives lost, March

20th. 1863—Manila 1000 persons killed. 1868—Cities, small towns in Peru and Ecuador destroyed, about 25,000 lives lost, August 13th-15th, 1875—1n Columbia, South America, about 14,000 said to ba lost, May 16th-18tb. 1875—San i- Jose, Spain, 14,000 lives lost. 1881—Soio destroyed, 4,000 deaths. ; 1881—Casamicoiola, jLtaly, 2,000 deaths. 1884—Severe shock in Eaat Angila, great destruction of property, but few lives lost. , . 1884—Granada, Spain, 1,000 killed. . 1885—Srinagar, Kasbmere, 3,081 deaths reported. 1887—Shocks in Nice, extend ing to Milan, Geneva, Marseilles, etc, 2,000 killed in French territory, and 300 in Italy. King Edward, then Prince of Wales, was at Nice at this time, and slept through the earthquake. 1887—Charleston, United States,' America, 100 lives lost, oity ruined. 1888—Severe shocks in New Zealand, no fatalities. 1888—Yunnan, China, 4,000 killed 1891-San Salvador, heavy mortality. 1893—Kusohan, Persia, 12,000 deaths. 1896—Kamaiahi, Japan, almost completely destroyed, 1,000 lives last. About 20,000 persons drowned by a tidal wave. 1902—Mont Pelee eruption, St. Pierre destroyed in ten minutes, ( whale population of 30,000 perishing. ...'-,' 1902—At Anidijan, Turkestan, 10,000 people kiled, December 16th. On November Ist, 1755, there was a great earthquake at Lisbon, Portugal. In about eight minutes

f moat of the nouses and upwards of j 50.000 inhabitants were swallowed ap I and whole streets buried. The oitiea I of Coimbra, Oporto, and Braga ( suffered dreadfully and St. Urbes was wholly overturned. One half of Fez in Moroooo was destroyed, and more than 12,000 Araba perished there. Tbia fearful earthquake extended 5000 miles, even to Scotland.