SUffDAY, ANHl ljofi.
THE MORNING ASTOllIAN, ASTORIA, OREGON,
ill'l " II I 111 "' -
EARTHQUAKE ITEMS
Astoria's Personal Interests in the
Shock and Fire.
LETTERS, INTERVIEWS AT HAND
Trenchant Descriptions of Events, Peo
ple and Incidents in the Stricken
Metropolis by Astorians
Descriptive Week.
Under date of April 23, the following
very interesting letter was received here
yesterday by Dr. A. A. finch from his
brother, Charles X. Finch, who is well
known in this city, now with the Nor
thern Pacific Steamship Company and
stationed at San Francisco, where he
has undergone his share of strange ex
periences and ha given a succinct rec
ord thereof, in the words and figures
following:
"Now that the firU excitement and
factories hut at 7 a. m mother wa so
anxious about the other boys that 1
started for town when I got to the
avenue there were no cars running so
I started U hike but ho J only gone a
few blocks when a ear came along and
.jumped it, under protect, it being a load
of dynnuiite but stayed with it as far
As it went, 11th and lUyant, and then
commenced the sights of terror.
"Went up Xinth t Market where
buildings had fallen in . nil directions
and could see the tire in the southern
part of the city working westward and
and it was coining in leaps with thous
ands of people tiering Wfore. it some
with bundles which they had collected
and other with nothing on but their
night shirts: gave a and when ever 1
could, but being anxious on account of
Will and Clara kept going towards them
as fa-t as 1 could; when 1 got to JUh
and Market and looked down the latter
street the sight was appaliug as far as
eye could reach nothing but tire and ruin
the seven story majestic building was
laying across !Uh street, the city hall
although the steel frame work stood
had peeled like an orange and up l.ark
in street to the Margareutr Hotel where
Will was living the buildings were the
same where they were of brick construc
tion when I reached my destination
found they had gone to Jefferson Squ
are the first thing along with the rest
of the guests of the hotel for the shock
must have been awful for them as they
asronv of our ereat calamitv is over
i muai lime wtu an nil mi mem s u j
and there is a breathing spell, I will j hld a suite in tlle thi,d storv, t )oou
try and give you a description of the a)1 through the park, but it wa like
vent from my own observations, and jookiug for a needle in a straw stack
outside of the regular officials I think a thousands were already then-, so went
I have seen as much as any one for to . out t0 Vie's place and all the way out
reach the city I have had to go right I founJ everyone in panic on account of
xnrougn tne districts which have sus- j the earthquake, but none were expect-
lamed tne great damage and where the
greatest loss of life oceured.
"How long the quake had been going
on when I woke up I cannot say. but
Veing a seafaring man I can tell you it
took quite a bit of rolling to disturb
me, and then as I had to get our par
ents being my first thought I lost track
of time, but knew afterwards that the
hock commenced at 5:15 a. m. as the
clock on the mantle stopped at that
time and have found out siace that it
was correct.
"Having got them down stairs, natu
rally the first thought was to look out
doors to see what damage had been
sustained in the neighborhood, and al
though no houses were down around us
11 the chimneys were but saw heavy
emoke in the direction of the city and
remarked to mother that I thought a
fire had broken out there, but conclud
ed later that it was smoke from the
ing the awful scenes which were to fol
low. "Even at the time I had reached
Vic's. 10 a. ni. the people had made their
camps in the streets, a majority were
afraid to go into their houses, he and
I went up Devisadero to California st,
and went down that street to the Stan
ford residence and could get a grand
view of the contlagation, all the south
side as far as Seventh and Market was
in flames and from the line of East st.
as far as Sansoine street.
"We saw the Call, Emporium, Hearst
and in fact all the big blocks on that
side of Market catch, and wonderful to
relate the earthquake did them practi
cally no damage and from that fact
'Frisco has learned her lesson thoroughly
as to the style of buildings to erect
4n the future, for let me tell you right
here that there are plans out now for a
grander and more beautiful city to re-
Thursday, Friday 8 Saturday
G
peci&Jls
Green Coffee, Our Regular 20 Cent Value
7 lbs $1.00
English Breakfast Tea
5 lb Boxes $1.50
Firelight Matches,
45 Cents Pkg.
Carnation Wheat Flakes Each Package Contain 1
Cup and Saucer Free,
25 Cent Pkg.
Hills Pickle Chips, Reg 20 Cents Value I5 Cents
Reg 15 Cents Value IO Cents.
Whole Alaska Cod Fish 7 1-2 Cents lb.
Our Liberal Money Back Guarantee Gives Ab
solute Protection to All Who Trade At Our Store
E FOARD ft STOKES GO.
ASTORIA'S GREATEST STORE.
TH
We Don't Claim a Monopoly
On good fabrics and good making, other
stores can give you this, but .STYLE,
INDIVIDUALITY, That's another
matter altogether. Clothes Craft is exem.
plified in
Hart, Schaffner (& Marx
AND
Copyright 1906 by Hart Schaffner fc? Marx
Brandeg'ee, Rincaid $ Wood
Clothes
They're a true type of high art in men's apparel
because of the destinctive style they possess, and the
absolute consistency of perfection, which bear
the best of actual wear,
you will. vtf si
You can dress yourself if
vtf vtf
TP
a. otoe:
Public Confidence is Our Greatest Asset,
place the destroyed one. and 1 venture to
say in less than five years we will have
a city which will le a model for the
rest of the world, for Arthur I do not
know hut what I will give up plans of
going north and remain here and give
what little help I can in the rebuild
ing. "For the three days the fire raged I
was in the city during the day but a
it would have been cruel to have left
the old folks alone after dark, I would
get home about 7 p. m. for although I
could not do much for anyone still when
ever I could give a hand I did so a did
everyone ele and will say that after
what has been gone through I think
we have the most cheerful and hopeful
people in Frisco, I think in the univer-e
and although it is a case nf receiving
charity from the rest of our grand coun
try ju-t at present, still it would do you
good to observe the good heartedne-s
and kindness displayed one to another
for just now rich and poor are all
alike for it is practically impossible to
buy goods as all the busine-s district
is wiped out.
"Of course you will get details iu the
daily papers. I can not give you. but one
thing I want to say right here is that
although I have not here to fore bad
much use for Mayor Sehmitz I think he
was the man for the time along with
General Funston, and the city is a great
deal more orderly than one would ex
pect. "Yesterday I went up on Xob Hill,
again, what a change from Wednesday
as far as the eye could reach, from bay
line to Channel street and as far west
as Franklyn street all gone, no more
trouble on account of moving China
.town or the barbary coast as the great
element has done that in a thorough
manner.
"Now the problem is to get the peo
ple under shelter, as last night it rain
ed and it must have been very hard on
the women, children and nick who are
exposed."
Astoria is gathering in her own, day
by day, from the late perils ot tne
doubly devastated city of Kan Fran
cisco: Hardly a train or boat arrives
now, but brings one or more of the ab
sentees who are mixed up in the tur
moil and risks of, that awful week, and
she is glad to welcome them, and glad
repeat the cheering stories they bring,
of the quick salvation of the dispossess
ed host that fell under the dual ban of
earthquake and fire.
Among the. latest to arrive arc Judge
Frank J. Tavlor and bis wife arid two
daughters, after whom he went. He left
here on the 12th of the present month;
little thinking of the dreadful things in
store for them all before they should be
homeward bound.
He arrived in San Francisco on the
night of the 13th and went directly to
the boarding house where his family
was domiciled, at the corner of I'ine
and Taylor streets, high up on what is
known as "Nob Hill," and in the very
beart of the hill residence district. He
found them all well and overjoyed to see
him, and they prepared for and passed
the Easter season most happily.
work of early Wednesday given an As
torian reporter yesterday, by .lodge Tay
lor, the vital shock of the series, which
wrecked the city at 5:1.) on the fatal
morning, was preceded, during the night
by a very perceptible temblor which
awakened him and his wife but was not
serious enough to keep from sleep
ing. The awful force and duration of the
one that followed in the dawn, however
was ample to put the whole San Fran
cisco world on it mettle and the de
fensive, if any defense lies against such
an invasion of human peace and safety.
The judge says it lasted the better part
of an hour, at least, be had it llguivd
out that way, but long lief ore the llr-t
moment had missed after it ceased it-
action, he was doiiiL' all that laid in the contrary, a general, equable
power of man to assuage the fright and '"' I"'!1'1'1 "I1'1'1 ' -
dtvad of his own dear ones, and calm
the perturbation of the balance of
Jhe household. He in-i-tcd on all re
maining in the house, which was a low.
frame one. and much safer than the stiet
lined with towering brick edifices all
about them and lie had hi- way.
Then the word came that the tin
was sweeping the lower level-, and lie
and his party climbed the 'alifornian
street hills and took a long view of the
tremendous holocaust raging far below
them: The effect, flour their lofty point
of view, was sublime, while it was
tinctured with deep sadne-s for the home
that were being devoured Is-fore their
eves, and for those who were fleeing
bct'orv the great wall of lire that had
made them paupers on the instant. The
wind was blowing from the northeast,
directly again-t the advancing llanie,
and so kept the sight untrammelled
from smoke, and the ight was one to 1m
remembered to one's dying day. Step
by step, the long red wall of (lame en
croacheil shlwly but, simily iij now
territory until it had crossed the two
hundred foot barrier of Market street,
and then in the night, the warning was
brought them, by the police that the
fire lighters of the city were exhausted
and the flames were beyond control.
The family got together their hand
chattels, packed their trunks, dressed
carefully ami warmly, and with the
whole house-hold, began their migration
to the westward iu the early morning
light of Thursday. They went nut to
Webster street, and as Judge Taylor
had had the forethought to provide an
abundance of food-stuffs for just such
an emergency, all hands were fortified
against, undue want in that premise.
After putting the party in a safe place
at the new location, the judge went back
with an express wagon and got the
trunks of his family and of the whole
party at the house which was now seri
ously thu-atened by the advancing lire.
And he says the man who moved bis
trunks absolutely refused any compen
sation for his services, saying that the
company he worked for had forbidden
him c charge any i. e a cent, but to do
all the good he conl i for those in need
of hauling; the judge was compelled to
force some money n the man, in the
guise of a contribution to those whom
the driver might find elsewhere, worse off
than he, and the man took it. gratefully
aird said he would do as he was bid.
The Taylors and their friends rest
ed in safety at this new (mint, although
all were out of doors, and the whole
street as far as the eye could ivnclt, one
long veritable camp. They campe.i
too, and out of their abundance, gave
what of comfort they could, t the
passing thousands who .ni:i within the
radius of their particular camp.
Judge Taylor says that one of the
happiest features of the whole terriM,'
season he spent there, was the const nil
evidence of fellow kiudcriess I hut mark
the the association of these tens o!
juUlsaild of st j a s, all beggared
by the one divadful disaster; then was
no bikering, no wailing, nor reproaches,
nor unseemly squabbling, but, on the
fiiendly
ninrkab
le as it was gral living. And there was
evrv cause conceivable presented for the
cerei-c of the giiisscr and more hit
ter feeling and contentions, but as far a
he could -ee, the universal id-'ii seem
ed to he that the hour wa- o'-p of tic
kind when I In' human -mil cannot stoop
to the pitiful things; tli.it nil hud to
be biave and generous and thoughtful,
each of the other, and he is glad he left
the great concourse of siiirerers with
just such a memory of their splendid
and chivalrie conduct.
n Friday morning, he managed to
scenic the service of an expressman and
had his family ami a ic-tilutc lady
friend, and all their luggage, removed
to the feiry dock, by a long ami cir
cuitous route, to Fort Mason on the
north shore of the waterfront, whence;
all were transported around to the
great feny house, and from there they
crossed to the Oakland side and went
on to l!erkeey from whence they took
passage to his home. The family
is well anil are quietly resting from the
tempestuous week they put iu, and will
soon be happily normal, but each with
a living memory of their e.(cricnces
that will never leave them iu this world
In conversation with a gentleman by
name of (!. T. Fllis, who arrived here
on the F. A. Kilhuni yesterday morn
ing, it was learned that the recent earth
quake shock was felt as far north as
Foil ISragg, in Mendocino county, and
an even hundred miles north of the
doomed metropolis, Mr. Kllis was in
lied there' at the time, and was thrown
to the floor; the drawers of bis bureau
slid on), and across the floor, and bowl
and pifchcr landed mi his bed.
The brick hotel iu which he was domi
ciled did not. fall down, but it leaned
over iu a fashion that, made it seem only
a matter of pushing it down, and was
burned to the ground an hour later
from fire caught from its own range. Mr.
Gilbert, left there for San Francisco on
the first steamer out, and the. first thing
that presented itself to his view when
he went, up through the Hlricken cily
was the caling of the dead by the starv
ing dogs of the city, Jtrit he noticed
that the dogs were being shot to death
on all sides, and it is said there arc no
dogs of uny sort to be found in the city
now.
Mr. Ellis was for some years in charge
Fancy Oregon
Rhubarb
Direct from the grower,
nice and fresh.
Its
Fancy Naval
Oranges
Sweet and Juicy, from
to 'i(c per dozen.
ASTORIA GROCERY
Fbon Main 881
623 Commercttl St
of the saws at the north shoi-e logging
camp on Deep llivcr. and left that em
ployment to enter the set vice of the Si
mon Saw Company, as a drummer, and
now lives in Fuicka and travels out of
San I' lancisi o. He has been ordered to
the Cortland branch for temporary du
ty. He ays there is not a county bridge
left of any of the county bridges in
Humboldt and Mendiciuo counties, Cali
fornia. Alexander Gilbert of this city, who
made a (lying trip to the center of Ca
citlc coast interest for the past ten das,
San Francisco, returned on the noon
train yesterday, and brings an alto
gether cheerful report of his journey,
which was made to ascertain the condi
tions confronting his daughter, Mrs. Mar
I ha Finch, ami bin grand (laughter, Miss
Watson, He had no trouble in enter
ing the city, secured his passes all
right, and found his people almost in
lantly, and though they were practi
cally homeless, they were in the hands of
friends and a in ply provided for. Satis
lied most happily on this score, he took
a hasty review of -general conditions
I here, and is unstinted in his praise,
of the mayor, the military and the
committees in charge, but he is parti
cularly frank and cordial iu his com
mendation of the splendid work of the
army ollicei and men detailed for duty
there under martial law: nothing, he
says, could surpass the perfect order
and (licipline that prevails everywhere.
and he is certain that without this
formidable and rigid conl nil, the nuthori
tics despite Mayor" Selimitz's firm and
orecful conl rot of things, would have
been over-ridden by the criminal ele
ment, and the record of I he disaster
made infinitely worse, lie left the city
satisfied that all would be well with his
people and the rest of mankind that
came within the purview of the regime
down there.
Along with there la-ing less danger in
being a heretic in these days, there Is
also considerably less advertising.
From the account of the dreadful
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