The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1906-04-25
MRS. HAGGART WROTE
OF HER EXPERIENC NCES

Mrs. Gilbert Haggart wrote her hus-
band from Frisco and Oakland as fol-
lows: 49,, c.,-.,<}s !. T. - s s. Sf5 es. s
+ Here Mrs. Miller, Arleigh and ! are;
at 1910 Post street. ION Mob Hill. with
the fire coming UP the hill on two sides.
| just three blocks away; We expect any!
moment to pick UP our hand satchels, a
blanket each and a few crackers and Or
anges to make for the Preside, a long
ways = off. The business section, both
wholesale and retail of the city has
gone, including the best hotels ETC., etc.
Every effort is being made to stop the
fire at this point, because if this goes,
everything here will.
| To start with the beginning, / was.
awakened about Sis yesterday morr17s
ing by the hotel rocking and plastering
FALLING all over me. The first thought
| that flashed through my mind was, that
the building was twelve stories high,
narrow and was probably tumbling in
on account of faulty construction. In
another second /. knew itfWas a much
to be feared earthquake, having exper-
fenced just slight shock down at San
Diego. l. grabbed my bag with tickets
home 1--WE had sleeping car reservations
for last night1 my. .wrappst, and slippsts,
rushed down into the lobby. There.
were only about six persons there. be-
sides myself, men mostly in their might
robes. People say the shock lasted or3fy
l27 seconds. and / was down, stairs be-
Ifore it stopped. You see my room was;
on THE second: floor, second door from
staifWay.er Being asssured there3 was, .R4
danger from fire in our building, [ went
back and dressed and packed my satcfS,
having packed my trunk the night be-
lfore, with the exception Of the night
dress wore. ~>.-..+ = IA >x,S1o >.xS% ,>-
We three were, out&on Market stfest
lin less than half. an hours and made
straight for the Palace and Western
Union Telegraph Office to Send messages
home. only to find that the wires were,
down and no knowing when rlessagey
could Be sent The offices were not OPP;
| en-, But the watchman told:us. Going
back to the hotel, we noticed fire start,
ling in several places south Of Market.
| The streets already were full of people,
and lots of drays and automobiles car-
lrying the injured, wrapped in quilts,
| and anything. to hospitals We finally
got a cup Of coffee and toast, the last
coffee to be had in that part of town.
| By that time the wholesale district. and.
buildings south Of Market were in
Flames. There was no water to fight
FIRE with, because tfe earthquake had.
cracked the mains which bring Watert
here from Spring Valley, Finally we
got an express company to take our
trunks out twenty blocks to- their ware4..
houses. Probably will never see them
again. Over $4,000 for me, besides all
| the presents / have gotten to take to-
you people at home. Then we struck
out for Mob Hill, where we could watch
developments. Met lots of soldiers
coming in with dynamite, also others
to- keep order, al saloons and drug
stores have been kept closed. We
Icamped near the new Fairmont hotel.
and Hopkins art institute. Got graham
Icrackers, apples, oranges for lunch and
enough for supper and breakfast this
morning, a little left for this noon. !
After being around until "a swc found.
tiieses two rooms, where we have made.
tour headquarters since About s yes
lterday, after Mrs. Miller and / went
back to the Hamilton and learned that,
the warehouse with trunks was not,
burned, then the fire had not crossed
Market and from appearances looked
| as II it would not but later it did and
| has been coming this waW ever since
The streets in all directions are fill
of people with a few Of their belongings.
We did not sleep at s'all last night. but
lwere thankful for a roof over oifr4
heads. One Of our chief objects iss fos
igst word home. We are going to- try,
and make Oakland now. 4 4.
Later. We have reached latter place
| We went down to the ferry station BY
| a round about way, reaching there about
lnine. Found trains were runhing out
lot Oakland and that trunks were be-
ling checked Simply grabbed an old
lDntchman with one horse and. a wagon
land Mrs Miller and / piled Iii and
Estarted him off to see if the warehouse
lWith our trunks had burned. After a
ltllree mile ride around The. edge of the
Ibay we found the place and joy, otirS
trunks. Piled them in too and started
lfor ferry station Our sleeping cat re-
lsefvations for last night have been
Iehanged to best available accommodate
itions for tonight, SO we will get our
isonle way. Had the first square meal
land first face7wash III two days and
feel better wired you Just .as soon
las reached here, but do not know
when ii VIII reach you. The Western
4 Union is simply swafllped with dispatch-
Ies. Will send another from tle first
lstation i can, after leaving here