SUNDAY, APRIL aa, 1906". .
4 ' THE
MORNING ASTOlllAN. ASTORIA, OREGON.
! !
IS
hi i . i i j
EARTHQUAKE
NEWS
First Descriptive Letter
an Astorian.
From
R. L. FINLAYSON'S ACCOUNT
Interesting Epistle Direct From San
San Jose Particular Incidents and
Sensations Lively Details '
Cheerfully Chronicled.
The. firH letter to reach this city
from any of the Astoria people directly
involved in the awful cataclysm that
lias overtaken central California, was
received yesterday by Mr. .Tame Fin
layson, from his son. Robert L. Unlay
on, at San Jose, and the Morning As
torian ha been kindly permitted to
make the following extracts from the
very interesting document, towit:
"San Jose, Cal., April 18th 1905
"Dear Father: If I could. I would
telegraph you, but all lines are down
and there is no communication of any
nature front this place. By this time
you will know that at 5.13 this morning
we were visited by an extreme earth
quake shock, practically demolishing
the whole town; all the principal build
ings oeing knocked down. The town is
in complete excitement and fear; we
got out of it luckily, only losing our
dishes and pictures shaken from the
walls, our house stood it all right, but
onr next door neighbor was partily de
molished and stands askew "on its
jpinnings. All the brick buildings are
ruined, those which did not fall com
pletely will have to be torn down and
it is impossible to estimate the number
of deaths.
, "We are unable to get any news of
San Frencisco but it must be fearful
to realize the loss of life and property
there, as well as in Oakland. It is
said that Santa Cruz is entirely wiped
. out, and it is with much anxiety that
all are waiting to learn the worst. I
do sincerely hope that you were not vis
ited with this calamity.
, "California is a ruined state today :
(Q
FOR
Monday, Tuesdayp Wednesday
French Prunes, small Sizes, 10 lbs 50c
Pink Beans, 25 lbs for - - - $1.00
Water Witch Soap,' 12 boxes - 50c
Bananas, per dozen - - - 25c
Prepared Mustard, 6 oz Jars, 3 for 25c
THE
FOARD
ASTORIA'S GREATEST STORE,
It will take a 'quarter of a century to
vh out the effects of todays business
is totally suspended and the banks niv
afraid to open their doors; scenes of
devastation arc to Ik seen on all sides
and the reckoning will lw dreadful.
"I never thought that 1 would ever
live in an earthtiiike,-stricken plneej
and 1 can assure you I hope never to
witness a recurrence. The. sensations
are indescribable, and. fortunate for us.
we occupy n one story cottage and in
the suburbs nwav from high structure.
"I always imagined that an earth
quake was of such short duration Unit
one did not have time to realize the oc
curence until all was over, but we had
time to .wake up. realize, and get from
our beds to the outside of the house,
there to witness the shaking and swing
ing of building and trves and to hear
the awful noise from the tumbling
buildings up town; then to see the lire
start up in every direction. U i some
thing awful to describe, and the speed
with which one wn get out of a house
is not so fast, as it is1 almost impos
sible to keep one feet. In my attempt
to get Kmma and l.indcll to the door
I was thrown against the wall with
such violence that I fell, but fortunate
ly when I got to the door, the build
ing lurched so that the door opened
freely. We are having shocks at inter
vals but not so severe, yet alarming,
and tonight will be a wakeful one for
all in this section.
"I hope that Jim has escaped, but 1
did noc have any fear of harm as I think
he occupied a wooden house, and they
got off the best, of course all brick
flues fell down. I don't suppose there
are 100 standing in this town, our
came through the roof, and the sight,
after it is over, to see the condition
of thing as they have been moved
about is astonishing. Oregon with all
its rain is a welcome state I am think
ing, and you will certainly boom from
henceforward, for San Francisco will
be no longer San Francisco, as it wa
as far as our generation is concerned.
I am afraid. I hope my house at
Fruitvale has not suffered greatly, for
if it is demolished I am exactly out
over $3000, but the consolation I have
is that all buildings must have gone if
mine did. A
"I am the only one at the factory,
that is among the officials, today, and
it has fallen upon me to make all re
ports, etc., and it is not a nice feeling
to be inside when shocks art frequent,
but I must, as well as getting off all
6 STOKES CO.
communications, get one to yon. If
the lines get up soon I will wire you,
for no train are moving from here,
their wires iIm Mug down. A large
insane asylum with ,800 occupant, a
lovely place, about three miles from
here, has Wen completely demolished
and it i estimated that 500 to 000
have perished, the superintendent as
well. ,
"The fact is, that it is impossible for
me. even though In its midst, to give
you any conception what the damage
is, foe it is simply desolation on every
side; and we feel verv grateful to be
among the spared and hop;, tilthough
our professor. are claimed to predict
further shocks, that the worst is over.
However, our professor do not worry
me in their beliefs, as they themselves
are only human, and did not give us
any warning of this llrst. Why. 1 feel
the rocking sensation yet. As I sit, the
wall ere strimied'of their plaster, and
our shipping warehouse is one mas of
pilled cans, but we number among the
most fortunate, as all our building are
standing, though showing the effects of
the shock.
'Young man, come to California.
NTT! Take n home in the cloudy skie
and have your turbulent feelings cooled
off with gentle devl(op! Lindell,
after all wa over, remarked, 'Papa, it
inisiht rain a lot in Oregon, but don t
vou think it is. better than this!' lie
happened to witness some bodies taken
from the ruins-, ami I guess he voiced
the sentiment of nearly all; however,
I do not feel any alarm myself, al
though it i not a comfortable situa
tion, but 1 realijw the los. commercial
lv, to this beautifully State, as far a
we, at our age, are concerned, for
things will depreciate beyond all argu
ment, for some time, until it is forgot
ten, and if many more shock like last
night's come, there won't be many left
to forget.
"Xow don't worry, for1 all I over,
for this time, and it is unlikely we will
not have another for a century, all I
hope is that the area of destruction did
not reach as far as your section."
In concluding his letter. Mr. Finlay-
son draws a series of curvey line
across the sheet, and lulels them the
line of the earthquake shock, declaring
that thev lasted, to his mind, about
nineteen hours but actual?, about one-
half minute and not to exceed one full
miuute.
From the tenor and number of tele
grams reaching this city from absent
Astorian known to be in San Fran
cisco and it immediate neighborhood,
it seems that fate i dealing most
kindly with the contingent from thi
citv and eveiv atom of the new i
nio-t gratefully received here. At 0
o'clock last evening O. C. Flavel re
ceived a wire frmn his sister, Mis
Nellie Flavel dated at San Francisco
on the 20th, saying: "All safe; stay
ing with Mr. Van Winkle at !.") Lake
street, San Franci-co. Leave Saturday
night for Portland. Condition awful."
James Finlay-on is in receipt of a
letter fin hi- -on Kobert, at San Jose,
announcing hi own safety, but bear
ing no information of his brother James,
at San Francisco. Hi letter bears date
of April lHth, and is given at length in
another column of thi is-no.
Martin Foard ,ha heard of the safety
of his brother Lawrence Foard at San
Francisco. Hi business pi-operty on
Stuart and Fast street in that city,
however, is wrecked beyond redemption.
Charles Wright and family, of the
Hotel Occident, lias been apprised of
the safety of hi on Prescott Wright,
who has been studying dentistry in that
metropolis.
Judge Taylor has confirmed the rum
ors of the safety of his family, by a
wire received yesterday by Messrs. No
lan & Smith.
F. A, Kearney is in posession of the
good news of the safety of James K.
Median, at Oakland: "Mrs. S. Davie
well and safe, by her brother, William
Harder, but her husband. T. R. Davie
is still unaccounted for."
Rev. W. S. Gills-rt is rejoicing in the
good news that his wife and little ones
Jiad not reached the stricken city at
all, but were safe and well in San Joe,
with friends, and had escaped all dan
ger at that unhappy place. They delay
ed their departure for San Francisco
most opportunely.
Miss May Magee was put in posses
sion of the happy information that the
Misses' Anna and liellc Magee were safe
and well in Oakland, the information
having been sent her by Donald Ross,
of this city, now serving the Postal
Telegraph a an operator in Portland,
asked Manager Humphrey of the Postal
oflice here, to notify Miss 'Magee,
Gray will be the most popular col
oring for Spring. 150 varieties of gray
patterns, such as overplaids, diagonals
and plain weaves, as well as an im
mense assortment of of other tasty
colorings and a large range of black and
blue goods all of which will be worn
by good dressers this Spring. Can be
seen only at C. H, Cooper's on April
20th to 24th.
WATERFRONT ITEMS
Nortn Star and North King off tor
Alaska,
BAD ACCIDENT TO COLUMBIA
Revenue Cutter Perry leaves For Sn
Francisco This Morning With Pro
visions For SufferersNome
City's Mascot-Odd Notes
The srteamship Haiiiieouta did not ar
rive from San rranciseo yesterday
confirming the conclusion that she has
not left that port at all. It is under-
vstood by several of the local merchant
that no vessel bearing any supplies of
edibles have been permitted to depart
from San Francisco, and that all such
.cargoes have bevn eiuumandeenl by
the authorities for the lienellt of the
iieople threatened with famine, the Bar
racoota included.'
Fine Seamanship
The Simpson Lumber Company's live-mn-teil
schooner- "Louis." Captain lias-
kins, arrived oil Knnppton on Friday
night at 0 o'clock. Arriving at the lwir
,t about 7 o'clock and wind and time
Wing favorable, he divided to cmuc in,
so he sailed on up to an anchorage otl
the Kimppton dock. This is rather a
remarkable feat in sailing, as the chan
nel is none too w ide, tind the hills along
the Washington side would have a ten
dency to make the winds vary. The
.Louis will load about l.ooO.OOU feet for
San Francisco, or at least that is what
he was exjected to do la-fore the fire.
The lighthouse tender Heather has
returned from her twelve-day trip to
ind around the Puget Sound stations.
Captain McCregor report all well.
The bar pilot schooner Pulitz r was
sailed into port yc-lerday for the pur
pose of replenishing her tank- and lar
der with the necessaries of life.
The steamer Alliance is due to ar
rive from F.tircka at any hour, though
jio news has been received here of her
departure from the California port.
The Harvest ucen arrived down
ye-terd.iy moining with the fonr-mat-,cd
schooner Pidari- on her hawsers.
The Polaris is dm- to sail for Sen Pelro
at the earlie-t date.
The stiMin cannery-tender 'North
King, in the service of the Alaska
Portland Packers' Association, left out
estenlay morning for Niiskagak almost
simultaneously with the tender North
.Star.
The motor schooner Delia, sometimes
called the "pup" of the Astoria licet of
sea-goers, arrived in from Sih-t. yes
terday morning, snug and hearty, and
ready for another cargo for any port
on the globe.
The steamer Lurline got away for
Portland on schedule time last even
ing, with the following-named people
on her regi-ter: Captain A. L. Hub
bidge, H. 1). Cainc. W. 15. Cox, Mr-. J.
K. O'N'eil, W. W. Williams and J. V.
Kiiiiim .
The revenue steamer Perry wil be at
the Ros. Higgins & Company dock at ."
o'clock this morning, San Francisco
bound, and will take on board any and
all provisions or shipments destined for
the comfort of I lie wtiflVrers in the Hay
City. Captain Tut tie's anxiety will be
relieved onlv when lie has anchored in
the beautiful bay of San Francisco and
found his daughter and friends in safe
ty, ami all Astoria wishes him the best
of good foi tune in the quest.
The handsome little cannery-tender
North Star, of this port, and belonging
to the Alaska Fishermen's Packing
Company, left yesterday morning at
10:1)0 for Nushagak, Alaska, with the
following group of odicers and men on
board: Captain, Sander Pedersen;
First Mate, A. Paulsen; Chief engineer
,S. V. Leabo; First Assistant Engineer
W. C. Reed; Oilers, 1). A. Young, Oscar
.Johnson and Charles J. Olsen; Firemen,
J. C. O. Knberg, M. M, Khrnien; first
took, W. (i. King; assistant cook, Win.
Anderson; waiters, Mons Johnson and
Albert Abrahauison; watchman, P. A
Rergland; sailor and fishermen, John
K. Olsen, C. Markland, L, Christiansen,
Oscar Lidbcrg, Harry Phistnr, and Jens
Hansen.
The steamer Nome City came down
from Portland yesterday morning and
left out for Rcdondo with her 830,000
No home is ComploteVithou
The model-finish for Floors, Furniture, Ktc. Easily
applied, quickly dricd,Jwcnrs like iron.
Watch Our Show Window
...
B. F. Allen S
feet of good Or-gon lumber. She has a
Hue mascot on board, a big black pussy
cat that Answer to the name of "Nig
ger" and is the spoiled pet of the whole
bunch, fore and aft. She wears a hand-
ome black leather collar, uluded with
plate-glass emeralds and locked on with
a glittering bras padlock, and I as
independent as an Astorian ncwslioy
with a bunch of extras. They wont
load or unload the Nome unless "Nig
ger" superintendent the job. and the
immunitv of the ithlo from diust.r W
attributed to the presence of the black
t-at, and foi' this reason she l never al
lowed to go ashore; in fact, she has
jiever shown any desire to mingle with
the common shore-going folk of this or
any other port on the eoa-t, There
will la- several of her when the steamer
returns from the suuth.
Notice to Marlneri.
The folowlng affects the List of
Light, Hnoy and Paymarks, l'aeifle
Coast, l!N)0..
Washington. Coast of Washington,
,i.ae OX. About Muv 'iX l'.Htfl. Swift-
ure Hank Whistling Hnoy, PS., with
"S. H." iu white, will la- established, in
about MM feet of water, approximately
thirtern miles WM. i , from t ape
Flattery Light Houe, a a guide for
vessels entering Juan L- Fuca Strait
Puget Sound, page "H. Steiloeoom
(Toliva Shoal) Htmy, u IIS. eeondciss
can. found missing, April I.J, wa re-
.phi I the same iTay.
Itosario Strait, page H.V )avidoii
Rock Huov, No. 1. a black, first class
0111, found out of position, April 10.
wu replaced the same day.
J!y order of the Light Hons. Hoard.
V. J. Wi-rlich, Commander, I'. S. V,
Light -House IllsJM'ftor.
It was repoiteil in this city la-1
night that the San Francisco-Poll land
Sti-ainship Company's ollici-rs in Port
land, bad been apprised I tin the
stenmhip Columbia, lying at the re
pair docks "I I Im- Ciiioii Iron Work-, at
San Francisco, waiting her turn for re
pairs to her entire enginery, hud tinn
ed I ui-tle" at her moorings on the
moorings on the morning of the earth
quake. The report reach -d tile Atnr-
ian ullice too Lite for continuation or
liproval.
BASEBALL BASEBALL
Today at a 130 P, M.
A. F. C. Grounds
ASTORIA
va.
PORTLAND.
0
CHILD LABOR LAW.
Enforcement of an Excellent Statute is
Sorely Needed.
Without departing from the text of
the editorial olliided to, the Astorian
readily concedes the main isMie raised
in tin.' following letter, which is entirely
telf-explanatory mid wholly interesting:
" Portland. April 1,
"To the Editor:
" My attention has been called to tin
editorial in your pnicr under date of
M in-h 21st, lowing on the child labor
situation in this state.
"You are correct as to the hi-tory of
tiie present Law but there are some
points about which there H-ems to be
some confusion. Section 4 of the law
provides as follows.
"'Attendance at school shall be com
pulsory upon nil children between the
ages of eight and fourteen years in all
cities towns ami villages of the State of
Oregon during the whole of the school
term in the city town or village in which
the child resides and upon all children
iu such city, town and village between
the ages of fourteen 'and sixteen years
who are not employed in some lawful
work.'
"This covers exactly the point re
ferred to in your editorial and if taken
advantage of by those interested in the
protection of our boys would do much
towards solving the. problem,
"What yon say aa to the enforce
ment of the law i not altogether true
its' operation has been crippled on nc
count! of the ftiilurc to provide1 for
even the postage of the Commission
new store
Son, j-jjj- st
-J
April Showers
Bring May
Flowers
And quality of. tb weds you oW d
ptndi upon the Bloom. y
Every ont who bit u4 our !
know they ire d-pendabla.
We Can Furnish
You All Kinds Of
Seeds.
ASTORIA GROCERY
Phono Main 881
823 Commercial 8t
In spite of this the meuilr of tlu
Commission have worked faithfully In
so far a they could to apply the law.
If It were not for the compulsory edu
cation clause of the child labor law the
juvenile law court of Multnomah
county would lie without if strongest
ally.
".While the effort to enforce the law
Im liei-n confined chiefly la Portland
and Oregon City still an effort ha
Irt-cn made, as some 300 or more i-ertl-licaie
will testify;
"In addition to the Conniiis-lon. tho
school authorities and the police ar
responsible for Its enforeeineiito that
even if the Commission never saw As
toria, the school authorities and the mi
Jice run act nudci1 the law.
" In closing, 1 desire to thank you for
the cillloiial-criticisms of this charac
ter serve their purpose, and demon-
Irate to those who are winking in the
Held that there are interest and ie-
ponsibiljly idst-where.
" While the most ardent supporter of
liilil hilsir legislation does nut bclico
that the evil can be cured through lesji
tit ion, we IIUI.-4 look to that source for
its restriction and regulation. Those
who are fond of saying that Oiegou is
fr e from the sconige ale not fully ad-vi-cd
- though It is not developed in
the fearful strength found in tho
Eastern States, we have the beginning
mid our legislation was secured none
too soon. That tln-re has grown in cer
tain" ipinrter a well-defined opposition
to the law, which may lend to an eilort
to repeal it at the next session. ! nn- f
oher bit of proof that It i being env
forced. We have emu of he best child
labor laws iu the United State-let
us see to it that it be kept on our
statute books the only opposition thu
far bus come from the employer who
can hire cUihlrn cheaper than him
mid women. The ultimate cost to so
ciety of this exploitation of it children
is not hist concern.
"Trust that you will find apace to
publish this letter, I beg to remain,
most respectfully yours,
" MILLIE R. THUMB ALL."
A special representative from Strati
Eros., Chicago, master tailor, will be
at C. IT. Cooper's on Friday, Saturday,
Monday, and Tuesday, April 20th, 21st,
23rd and 24th. Now is the time to
order your new suit; you can't help
but find a pattern to please you per
fectly In this line of woolens conceded
to bej the largest) and finest in
America.
MONEY SENT TO FRISCO.
NFAV YORK, April 21. Several largo
bunks of this city yesterday assisted
their San Francisco correspondents
either by direct transfers of cash to
that city or by importing gold from
Europe. Of the amount transferred to
San Francisco yestorclay $1,450,000 was
sent by telegraph in draft on the San
Francisco mint in accordance with ar
rnngementsrmado by the treasury oflle
inls at Washington, In addition several
large amounts in gold coins were ship
ped! y ty'1' '"chiding jil, 000,000 t(f
Los Angeles and $1,000,000 to 'San
Francisco,