One hundred years ago today, Utahns were deeply shaken by the San Francisco earthquake. They responded swiftly to the disaster, Deseret Morning News archives show.

Relying on telegraph reports, the newspaper rushed out an "Extra" edition about the disaster on April 18, 1906, the day the quake struck. "Salt Lakers on the Coast: Hundreds of them in Stricken City and Relatives are Much Concerned: Probably No Utahns Hurt," read some of a stack of headlines above one article that day.

The April 19 "Extra" included the article, "San Francisco Abandoned." A short story noted that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was donating $10,000 to the relief effort.

On April 21, the paper launched a fund drive to help residents of the devastated city. Meanwhile, thousands of the homeless were headed to Ogden and others were expected in Salt Lake City.

James Edward Talmage, geology professor at the University of Utah, wrote an article for the newspaper in which he warned that eventually a catastrophic earthquake could hit Utah.

The experiences of Albert McCormick, Salt Lake City, were related in an April 21 article. "He woke up again at 11 o'clock amid shouts of 'Fire!' Then the Salt Laker got up and saw scenes on the street he felt entirely unable to describe. Buildings appeared to be crumbling on all sides, filling the air with dust and debris; and fires were breaking out in many places, and sending the flames up into the sky."

The Deseret News opened a registration bureau in San Francisco, asking Utahns to sign up so people at home would know they were alive.

"Utah students are all safe," the paper reported on April 23, referring to those attending San Francisco Medical College. "Same is true of 'Mormon' missionaries and all other (Utah) citizens, so far as known."

When the J.J. Daly family returned to Utah, they told of the destruction of the hotel where they had stayed. "The building was shattered, and the crash was bewildering. Half-dressed women and men were rushing around the halls, helpless, praying and weeping."

Dr. George V. Schramm arrived back in Salt Lake City on April 22, having survived San Francisco's devastation. He had attended to the wounded for several days. "On Wednesday night he slept in Golden Gate Park where thousands of others stayed. Every one seemed ready to share what little food he had with others who were unable to get anything."

A Deseret News team set up an office in Oakland to cover the disaster.

With San Francisco under martial law, any man who did not obey orders was simply shot, the team reported on April 24. "If anyone is seen by the military among the ruins (possibly looting) he is told to advance within six paces and halt. If he starts to run he is a dead man.