The San Francisco call., 1899-07-30
NOT Frightened
IN the
Geast. but
Just
a ecHtie
5h .Tst0nished.

o'clock-and 1 had sat up so long that
l was beginning to feel pretty sleepy:
Minnie-that's my sister, Mrs. Lerca1
didn't want to go upstairs just lheH'
so she took me in her lap and sat rock
ing me back and forward as she talked
to the others in the store. joe my
bTOther-in-laW, was behind the COun-
ter; Joe LaVeroni, the clerk, was on the
outside of it. leaning on 1t with his TWO
arms; George Magini was sitting near
the middle Of the store; Jack RaVegno
was leaning on the center counter,
where the flour sacks are piled up, and
Charlie BignOtti was sitting over by
the chimney.
'They were all having a good time
talking together, and l thought 1 would
keep myself awake by eating some
candy, so l twisted myself around on
Minnie's lap to reach candy jar that
stood on the counter near US, and Just
then l saw two queer looking men
standing in the door. They both had
on white masks like people wear to
halls. and they both had on black
gloves and had pistols in their hands
I thought it was some of the folks that
live around there, trying TO play trick
on US just for fun, so jumped up ana
said % N.Y. and everybody stopped
talkirg and looked at them; and just
then they both spoke up together ana
said Bows, hold up your hands quick.
And lust as soon as they said TINS they
started right in shooting ana never
gave anybody a chance TO NINA tneih
at all.
1T was Just like the worst kind Of
Fourth of July in there all at once, for
il was all smoke and smell, ana so
noisy that it made me kind OF dear; l
wasn't so deaf, though, that l dldh
hear one of those bullets go 'Z-Z-z-z-z
right close past my head; and just as
I ducked so it wouldn't hit me, saw
poor Jack tumble over and knew ne
was shot and then l began 10 scream
for the police just as loud as L could
You see. [ knew If the police got there
thew would make those men behave ana
ston shooting at people; and though my
sister told me to keep still, WOulQn [.
Charley Bignotti fell down, too, and L
thought he was shot the same as JACK;
but he wasn't. He only tainted De
cause he was scared, and then came
to and hid behind a big pile Of brooms.
And the others all tried to get away
the best way they could. After Jack
and Charlie fell down the two men went
outside and my brOther-1n-laW MADE
Minnie and me go with him into the
barn: then they tried to get boy that
was there to go and telephone for help,
but he was so scared that he said his
skin was coming Off him, and Minnie
was so frightened she wouldn't let my
brOther-in-laW go, so l went instead
OF course [ was little bit afraid then
that the men might see me and shoot
me. too; but some one had to go, and
so I lust ran around a vacant lot, and
it wasn't so bad after all, though felt
a little chokey in my throat. And
then the police came and-that's ALL
THAT was "au'' indeed, little Dora, but
it was a good deal for so small girl
to accomplish in the face OF danger
So near and so deadly; and in years to
come you may realize, as you do not
now. how few there are even among
our men and women who had they been
in your place on that night Of terror
would have borne themselves more
nObly.