The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1906-05-31
AN OPERA STAIRS STORY.

AN OPERA STAIRS STORY.
Caruso's Thrilling Experience In
San Francisco Disaster.
Signor Caruso, the famous tenor sing
er and one Of the principals Of Herr
Conried's Metropolitan Opera COM
pany, Is one Of the refugees from San
Francisco who recently arrived in New
York.
Caruso had one of the most thrilling
experiences in the earthquake Of all the
troupe, says the New York World. He
and Rossi, who are inseparable COM
panions, occupied a suit on the sew
enth floor of the Palace hotel CarusO
had sung in Carmen" the night before.
He was awakened about 5 o'clock by
the terrific shaking of the building.
II thought they were rafting dishes
kept up guessed the city was being
bombarded. got up in hurry to close
the blinds so could keep the shots
out and found the floor shaky. could
not stand.
Looking out Of the window, I saw
buildings all around rocking like the
devil had hold Of them. l wondered
what was going on. Then l heard
Rossi come scampering into my room.
MY God, it's an earthquake! he yelled.
Get your things and run! l grabbed
my trousers and coat and raced like
mailman for the Office. On the way
down shouted as loud as l could so
the others would wake up.
when 1 got to the Office thought
of my costumes and sent my valet,
MARITIME, back after them. He packed
things up and carried the trunks down
on his back. helped him take them to
Union square. SAT on them for awhile
and then got nervous because the build
ings all around were catching fire.
II walked few feet away to see
how to get out, and when l came back
four Cinnamon were Juggling my trunks
away. l grabbed one Of them by the
ears, and, the others jumped on me.
took out my revolver and pointed it at
them. They spit at me. l was mad,
but hated to kill them, so l found
soldier, and he made them give up the
trunks.
"Ah. that soldier was fine fellow!
He went up to the Cinnamon and slap
ped them upon the face, once, twice,
three times. They all hOwled like the
devil and ran away. l put my re-
volver back into my pocket, and then
I thanked the soldier. He said: Don't
mention it. Them Chinks would steal
the money of dead mans eyes,
had a photograph of President Roose-
welt, with his name upon it, and this l
kept with me. Every place l went l
showed it to the soldiers and the po-
lice, and they were very kind. When
they saw the picture of the president
they would do anything for me.
II put my trunks in the cellar of the
Hotel st. Francis and thought they
would be safe. The hotel caught fire.
and my trunks were all burned up. To
think took so much trouble to save
themw 81
Meanwhile Rossi had gone back to
IuS uOISl duu ICSCuCu u Dull SoCCs WHICH,
be got to the sidewalk he found that
1t had nothing more in it than pair
of old shoes. He tossed the suit case
away and went back. As he was rum
maging around shower Of plaster
came down on him. Rossi made for
the door, catching up a toothbrush as
he went, and fed out into the street.
He walked around the neighborhOod
until midnight, but there was no sign
Of Caruso. Late the next night Rossi
came across his friend fast asleep on
q big bench in Golden Gate park. Be-
side Caruso, ON the same bench, were
two strangers. Rossi was so delighted
to find his friend that he leaped and
landed in the middle Of the tenor's
back. = Caruso let out a yell, and his
sleeping companions fed. thinking the
earthquake was at it again.