The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-06-20

Leu gave them food, and FASTENED
to the Park through the gathering twi-
light. My husband and son had spread
mattress under the protecting
branches Of some bushes. with a great
eucalyptus-tree towering over US. We
craWled in sleeping crosswise of the
mattress. and my long coat kept me
snug and warm. The immense fires
started by the earthquake now made
such a rudy glow that it was easy to
see everything. although the flames
were two miles away. No lights We're
allowed in the Park. and all was soon
quiet except the wall of a baby the
clang of an ambulance. and the in
cessant roll of wheels and tramp of
feet as the people constantly sought
the refuge of safety People were all
about US in huddled groups. sleeping
the sleep Of exhaustion on the lawns
and under the shrubbery.
Late in the night | heard a cry.
Bakers wanted Bakers wanted!'
over and over-the first cry of strick-
en- people for bread. Later came an
other through the silent night-'.Un-
ion telegraphers wanted"-to tell the
world our awful plight. Morning
came, and my husband was detailed TO
at the entrance to the Park Water
was now more precious than gold and
not a drop must be wasted. Many of
the mains were broken. and no one
knew how the reservoirs were A large
iron caldron was secured from the en-
gineer of the Park, and two stone
masons volunteered their aid Stone
was hauled from the fallen chimneys
of the Park Lodge. and the caldron
soon set, and a fire roaring under it to
boil water for tea or coffee. Do you
imagine the post of water-distributer
to be an easy one?
The day came on dusty and hot. The !
wind had changed showering US with |
ashes and singing our eyes with
smoke from the ever-increasing fire. |
The line formed for cold water. Each
had his turn. a man would argue for |
drink for his wife. and look down the !
long line of Americans, japanese. ne |
groes Chinese, and all sorts and de- I
grees of men. women, and children.
Just one cupful. 1t only takes a !
moment. and she's almost famished." |
Yes; but that moment belongs to /
some one else replied my husband, !
with that fierce look from his old mill
tary days that knew covered the soft
est heart in the world. And the man
went to the foot of the line. and it was
just an hour and a half before he came
to the faucet for his pitcherful.
All day long the procession rolled
past. Everything that could be used
as a conveyance was pressed into serv
ice, young men acting as motor power
to buggies and carriages. Trunks were
hauled along the smooth park walks
crammed with everything but what
they advertised, wheelbarrows piled
mountain high, people with packs on
their backs, carrying parrots and ban
jos and thousand and one treasures,
and all so good-natured and ready for
1 smile! 1 never saw one person cry
ing.
Two young men went by. carrying a
roll of bedding suspended from a pole.
One end had sagged and a fine blanket Il
was dragging on the earth. 1 said:
Look! your bedding is getting
dirty
Whats the difference" responded
one Of them. with a quizzical look
mo difference at ALL cried l. and
We all laughed heartily
Men met, We're introduced, exchanged .
business cards of places consumed by
he flames, appreciated the joke and ,
vent their way 8
AS night drew on, the fire was only a ,
lalf-mile away, and coming toward US. 3
Wy son and I went to our fiat and took ,
he most useful and valuable things we !
lad. and tied them up in sheets and 2
trapped them in baskets to take to the g
park. We removed part of them: the
est were deposited on the landing of I
--sHzs-----.A~~s. 7