From Deseret News archives:

Quake affected Utahns deeply

News and aid were on the move quickly

Published: Tuesday, April 18, 2006 9:32 a.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
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.

Story continues below
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.

Comments

You can be the first to comment on this story.

previousnext

Latest comments

Hopefully, more and more people from big movies will come and visit the fans...

Letters: Utah not all rosy

Approximately 26 years ago I moved to Utah from the midwest, returning to my...

TCU creams U.

The better team beat up on the entire state this year. TCU is the best team...

Bennett represents the future of the Republican party because he's shown the...

Congrats to the George family, and to the larger Cougar family as well. ...

Watched the game with other RSL fans here in DC. I'm still reeling from this...

When I was going to college in the mid 70s I really enjoyed listening to...

It sounds like Boyd Peterson is keeping his father-in-law's memory alive....

Letters: Don Gale wrote truth

I am an old man, a conservative and life-long resident of Utah. For years I...

TCU creams U.

Can't we just say good job Utah and leave it at that. Does putting people...

Advertisements
Advertisement