The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1883-11-02

lost their interest in San Francisco,
They could not be again induced to 90
upon the pier. They contented them
selves with vaguely remarking that they
would wait and see" and with whoop-
ing up others who seemed disinclined
to go.
At last the boat made her appearance.
think it was the old erry-boat Louise,
long since disappeared from these wa
ters-under that name, at least. 1t was
not very large crowd that boarded her.
There was good deal o talk about tidal
waves and things, and the people looked
upon us very much, fancy. as the
Spaniards did on Columbus when he set
out upon his voyage into unknown seas.
Most Of us, as | have said, were San
Franciscans On the boat, remember
was Michael Reese. Michael was
drenched with woe. He feared that
where San Francisco had reared her
fair tower-crowned hill-tops to the sky,
there was nothing but ashes. dust, and
Michael Reese. He was a large, adipose
greasy mass of suffering, He eyen
wept. Tears ran down his fat cheeks,
and mingled with the imperfectly re-
moved remnants of his breakfast.
A group stood around him, attempt
to comfort him. | do not fancy they
felt anything but contempt for him, yet
they. respected his millions. And this
blubbering millionaire was being cod
died like a blubbering school boy.
Zach Got," sighed Michael, blowing
his nose with large red bandanna
handkerchief, "ich bin ruined. All
dose years vat shtruggle vas trown away
Who could dell noddlngs abou,l an erd-
kvake, like to know? Dot is not like
fire. Dose insurance companies dev
will not pay me noddlngs. Leber Gott
Berhaps dose insurance companies vos
gone up, too"
And a fresh burst of tears came to the
relief of the oyer-burdened million
aire.
John w. Dwinelle approached, and
satirically comforted the weeping Dives.
do not be 80 cast down, Mr.. Reese" :"
said he. Things are not so bad. i'm
"g ne, as they a,e represented. We
shall presently be in sight of the city,
excuse me, Mr.. Reese-you had eggs for
breakfast, fancy
And he Indicated to the weeper a
large mass Of egs-velk. upon his star
board jaw, partially mixed with tears.
Michael scrap,d it off and resumed his
weeping.
But soon we came where the fog-veil
was not so thick. and the top Of the
shot-toWer WAS seen piercing the haze.
remember that some enthusiastic spir-
its gaze three cheers for the safety of
the ctv And as we gradua lv ap-
preached the pier, it was seen that the
city WIS apparently all there. We did
not learn until later that the shock had
been lighter on the San Francisco side
than on the other.
We fastened up the streets. looking
TOR damaged houses, ruined walls, and
corpses. We did not see as many as we
had expected. Coming up Clay street
however, near Sansome. there was q
frightened boy who, surrounded by a
crowd OF people, was pointing at a mass
OF blood and brains on the sidewalk.
His jaws were working convulsively but
no sound came from them. bys,ander
told me That the boy bad witnessed the
death of the man who formerly used
the brains, and that the sight 80 horri-
fled him that he had remained in that
condition ever since the shock--a mat
ter ola couple Of hours. The man, it
seems, had run out of the building
when the first shock came, and had got
10 the side walk just in time to catch the
falling tire-wall npon the top of his head.
do not propose to weary my read
ers with an account ofthe earthquake
1t is ancient history. But these things
came into my head the other morning,
when l was awakened at one O'Clock bv
the familiar vibrating, twisting, grinding,
motion-the creaking of the groaning
bricks, the ominous rumble Of the shud-
dering metal roof. l said to myself:
Tie most severe shock since 49,"
And, so saying, these recollections came
to me, and jotted them down.
But | will indulge myselfin telling one
or two anecdotes which recall. There
was a gentleman here from the east at
the time, whs had been signing for an
earthquake. have met many like
him, by the way, but l never saw any
of them who wanted to feel two. do
not refer to temblors, but to good stiff
shocks. No one who has ever felt one
wants to eel another.
This pilgrim, then had been yearning
for an earthquake. Fortunately for
him, 1t came before he went away. He
went away as soon as he could get away,
! may add. He was living in Bre nham
Place, and Was AWAKENED by the shock.
He knew what it was. No ruan needs
an intro iuction to an earthquake. He
fled through the door. He nearly took
1t with him. He was clad only in a
short night-shirt, but despite that fact
he went into the centre of the Pluza.
and there he remained. He could not
be induced to re. enter the house. Fl
nally, he hired small boy to 90 and
get his clothes, and dressed himself be-
fore the populace.
Later in the dav he ventured out OF
the Plaza, and, accompanied by Tommy
Newcombe, went to Barry & Patterns to
get drink. The barkceper mixed the
drinks and place. than upsn the coun-
ter. Newcombe pushed his back, re.
questing the barkeeper to take the ice
out. The other did the same. 1t was
half past ten O'Clock. There w's a
and the bar leaned forward
and courtesied to the two friends in the
most familiar fashion. The barkeeper
was almost buried in vitreous ava
lanche. The eastern man knew, with
out Deing told, that this was another
earthquake. He made for the street
He got there before anybody else in the
house. This despite the fact that he
lacked experience. These Eastern men
are very quick to learn about some
things-particularly earthquakes. He
reached the street with such impetuosity
that he was on the other side before he
knew it. There was building there ba.
nnsing to Sam Brannan, the top oi
which was crowned with two long stones
meeting like a V. One Of these fell with
the second shock. just rs our Eastern
friend reached the sidewalk. The stone
came shooting down like q conical pro.
ject'le, struck the tagged sidewalk, made
u clean hole and disappeared in the
depths below. The hole was about six
nches away from the Eastern man. He
nearly fell into it.
He took the next steamer for home.
When this shock took place, ] hap.
pened to be in the Odd Fellows Bank.
then on Montgomery street, opposite
Il, hpre ba Sar,. l)pupSit bull1iDV nnW ,s