The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1906-04-27
WOMAN Tells OF
C|TY'S DESTRUCTION
Mrs. Mary Longstreet Left Dia-
monds and Money, but
Saved Shoes.
ALL EXPECTING DEATH
Surprised When Grim Destroyer Did
Not Strike Them-Another Speaks
of the Utter Con-
fusion.


fusion.
Los Angeles. Cal. April 25.-Here is
a woman's experience in the San Fran
cisco disaster, told in womanly phrase
ology. Mrs. Maria A. Wilcox, Mrs.
and Alfred Wilcox have arrived here.
They have been guests on the eighth
floor of the st. Francis hotel and found
the hotel rocking like a ship. Mrs.
Longstreet told the story thus:
suddenly as we were standing there,
the entire city seemed to catch fire. In
all directions and as far as we could
see the great tongues of flame leaped
into the air. A building on Mission
street, across from the Grand opera
house, was the first to go. Terrified as
we were, we stood by the window, and
in less time than 1t takes to tell 1t the
entire part of the city between us and
the ferry was ablaZe. 1t was a beauti-
full yet terrible sight. We remained in
the hotel until 10 o'clock, and at that
time Mr.. Wilcox succeeded in getting
a carriage and an automobile. We
then left the hotel and drove to the
home of o. friend a mile away. When
we got there we found the house in
ruins. We then went to the home of
the Trevises and remained there until
we We're driven out by fire. Finally we
| found refuge at the residence of j. F..
WinsloW, on Mob hill.
Eat Hardtack and Sardines.
I'VE slept on the floor that night, but
they had no food and after securing
the city over my brother managed to
purchase ten hardtack biscuits and four
boxes of sardines, and after eating
these we made beds on the floor and
tried to sleep. We had Il little candle
in our room that we did not need. The
hundreds of fires made the city as light
as day, but it was a ghastly, sickening
glow that made one tremble with fear.
Words cannot describe human emo
tions as such a time as that and
wish I could shake off the feeling that
has cluns to me ever since the first
shock of that earthquake aroused me
from my slumber.
My valuables? o, yes, saved some
tlaings-three pairs of Shoes I believe.
! put the shoes in a grip and brought
them along. My diamonds and money
I left in the hotel But we all did that.
] No one at such times cares for thei1.
effects. We expected death at amy min
ute and We're surprised that it did not
come. Can you wonder that 1 saved
the shoes instead of my valuable
possessionso / have a lot in San
Francisco and was offered $4,000
for it the day before the earth
intended erecting a large office build
ing on it myself. Now. L suppose, it is
worthless. but that does not worry me.
I would be willing TO forget the lot and
all if l could only forget the terrible
scenes that was forced to witness
during our many attempts to escape to
a place of safety. That night was awful.
We could hear the cries of the suffer-
| ing people and the crash of falling
| buildings all night long
| Almost Died from Thirst.
Van Ness avenue was crowded from
side to side with people. Mothers car
rying babies, men and women packing
On their backs what few things they
had manage to save. Where all those
people found food and shelter cannot
/ imagine. We had no water and almost
| San Francisco now. 1t is nothing but
ruins. Did YOU ever see n child build a
house with blocks and then knock 1T
down? Well, that is the way the build
ings fell all over the city during the
earthquake
"I cannot describe it," said Mrs. Will
| cox, when asked for her experience. II
/ woke at the first tremble and O. what
a terrible sensation. Plaster fell from
the walls and l expected at any second
to see the st. Francis hotel crumble to
/ the earth. With the earthquake came
that horrible roar. 1t sounded like thou
| sands of violins being played on the
base strings and all at discord. 1t
was the most narrowing sound one
could imagine.
Worse Than Inferno.
"San Francisco after the earthquake
and during the fire? Did you ever see
.he picture of hell which hangs in the
Santa Barbara mission? 1t was some
thins; like that. only u thousand times
worse.
| I'VE lost everything we had, all our
clothing and jewellery, but we consid-
cred ourselves fortunate i'm getting
away with our lives. We had a hard
time getting to Oakland. where we
caught 4 train. The railroad people de-
serve great credit. Once on the train
we were shown every courtesy. II peo-
pie didn't have money they We're taken
along just the same. Money was no OBJ
ject at that time
Chinese Servant in Dramatic Scene.
AS Mrs. Wilcox finished talking the
door of the Drake home was thrown
open and STOPPING figure darted
across the room and fell at her feet.
| 1t was Lee Chong, her faithful old Chi
nese servant, who had been in her en-
plo,' for many years. Big tears rolled
down his face as he kissed the hem
of her skirts. but they were tears of
Joy. and the expression Of his face was
| 1nteSCrlOaDle. CnOng. during Mrs.
/ WillcoX's absence. had been frantic. He
feared his mistress had been killed and
his grief was inconsoable When he
learned tha; Mrs. Wilcox was at the
hone of her daughter and safe. like a
faithful animal! he rushed TO her side
and cast himself at her feet. Tears
stood in the eyes of every one.
Fr;ghtful Scenes.
Salt Lake City, Utah, April 23.-Nu-
merous refugees are coming TO Sal,
Lake and each has tale of horror.
A typical experience is that Sam
WOLF. who says:
My room was in the Grand hotel
shaken as a terrier would shake a rat
dressed ana made for the street
w.hich seemed to move like waves o
water. On my way down market stree,