The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1906-05-10
Some Tansyites In tho Quake.
Oakland, Calf, April y, 1906

Inc nome paper rcacnCu us tuis
morning full as ever OF bright, newsy
interest. have just read c. p. And
erson's letter from the beautiful San
Joaquin valley, and wonder il he thinks
the same OF California he did when he
wrote that letter
OF course you have read all about
that dreadful disaster, April 18th, at
5:l3 a. m, there was n great rumbling,
such as often precedes a Thunderstorm.
er In the east: then the windows be
gan to rattle and the house to creak
and sway back and forth in most
terrifying manner.
was awake when the shock came,
and was trying to find the floor to go to
the children who were being thrown
from ono side OF the bed TO the other.
But the floor would not stay in one
place long enough at time for me to
find ii, and was knocked about some
thing like a football. Mr., Spore found
the floor all right he was thrown
bodily from his bed, We are still won.
der!ng how we were so fortunate as
none of us to get scratch,
Many around us were killed or in.
jured, and buildings were wrecked in a
terrifying manner. Scarcely chin.
ney in Oakland escaped. Our neigh.
boris chimney is lying in our upstairs
east window, just missing three people
who were coming down the stairs when
it fell.
The beautiful city OF San Francisco
is almost completely wiped from the
face Of the earth. Many of the large
buildings were wrecked by the earth
quake, and then the fire broke out and
finished the work of destruction. Not
until the fourth day did they get the
fire under control and about onc.fourth
of the city was saved. Owing to the
wrecking Of the water system by tho
shocks there was no way OF fighting tn,
fire, and the terrible suffering the
flames left in their wake is too awful tC
mention.
Thousands upon thousands Of people
have been shipped from Ssn Francisco
to this place, and the people of Oak
land are doing all in their power to Car,
for the wounded, feed the hungry ant
fouse the homeless.
One just coming here does not thinl
the people of California very friendl,
people, but the way they have com,
forward in this hour OF awful need will
cause them to be remembered Us tn,
very salt of the earth,
Help in the way of food, clothing
tents and bedding, has been sent from
all parts OF the world and is bcinl
carefully distributed. Free transpOr
tation was given fort time to those VIII,
wanted TO go east TO friends, but tha
was soon discontinued, rs IL is desire,
that all able.bodied men remain an,
help To rebuild San Francisco.
The work of rebuilding was quickl
begun, and it is believed the new Sa
Francisco will be far greater tow
than the old. crossed the bay Apri
26 to view the ruins before the work G
reconstruction began, and the sigh
was too awful TO observation-disclosures,
walls, twisted iron, and piles of bricl
and debris still burning. We spen
about three hours in the city, be
licve three Of the most disagreoabl'
hours Of my life, destruction and dcs
olation all around, the wind blowing
perfect hurricane, the air full of san
and ashes, the heat intense, and tn
lack of water dreadful. The streets |
many places were sunken four feet, an
some houses were sunken to depth {
twenty feet, the second floor bein
where the first floor had been.
wish | was expert with the pei
that might describe to the people
the east the awful destruction of tf
once beautiful city. Much has bee
ably written, but no tongue Or pen wi
ever picture il as 1t is.
With best wishes to YOU and o,
/ many friends in Taney county, am,
, Yours very truly,