The San Francisco call., 1906-05-14


given: S.
II was standing peacefully in my
STALL We had just returned from
run to Fourth and Minna streets to
bring In a lacerated scalp and the ac-
eompanying Jag Baker, the driver,
quickly unhitched me and crawled into
his bunk to resume the sleep that the
run had broken 1 was tired, for l had
not been feeling well. Charlie Bucher
had been dosing me with some Of his
strange decoctions. l tell you that Ger
man is wonder at mixing up fierce
drinks. AS / was saying, / had just
returned to my stall. Bucher's dope
was still sticking half way between
the pylorus and transverse colon and
contributed but little to my personal
comfort.
IT dozed. The barn began to rock. I
blinked my eyes and 1 was just figur-
ing on a rapid run for some carbolic
case from Mason street when l heard
a terrific crash. The walls of the barn
creaked, nails snapped and everything
was confusion. 1 was frightened to
death 1 tried to arise to my feet and
was thrown heavily against the guard
rope. With a bound 1 cleared the OBJ
struction and made for the door. Adam
Baker, the driver, was tugging at the
door and seemed unable 70 open It.
couldn't wait. I felt the building
would crumble in at any moment
Baker succeeded in getting the
small door open. l did not want to
seem in hurry, but nearly trampled
the street. My mate inside whinnied
and stamped in her fright. would
have liked to have her with me, but
time to me was precious.
II shall never forget the sight that
greeted my eyes. The City Hall dome
was down, burying the Central Emer-
gency Hospital beneath tons Of debris.
Way down under those ruins ! could
hear the agonizing screams and cries
of the poor patients in the wards. Less
agonizing, but more terrifying, were
the shouts Of the ID. T.'s' and crazy
ones in the detention hospital.
Had I been a man / would have
gone to their rescue, but the work was
being nobly done by Ed Parquette,
the intrepid policeman, who dug and
dug until he had saved eighteen souls
from the mortar filled ruins of the
hospital.
Hardly knowing why / fed or where
to, / ran as fast as / could. / started
to go up Larkin street, but the street
was blocked by the huge pillars from
the Hall, so turned down City Hall
avenue. Everywhere people were
tumbling out of their houses in night
attire Women tainted, and as each
succeeding shake swayed the frail
domiciles gsnewed cries Of terror went
UP. On all sides Of me I saw huge
buildings reduced to heaps of brick and
stone and twisted iron. I had to pick
my way over fallen walls and masses
of broken steel
II turned over to Seventh street and
raced as fast as 1 could southwark
The fire was burning fercely. The poor
people were hurrying pellmell away
from the confagration, carrying ba-
bies, birds and what few household
treasures they could Women and
men wept as they saw the flames con-
sumo their homes. 1 turned corner
at Ninth and Bryant and a gas main
burst in front of me. Six persons were
hurled into the air. Torn and bleeding
they dropped to earth, and I hurried
on, sick at heart
"Blindly I fought my way, hardly
knowing where was going. Two men
tried to catch me. but beat them to
1. In the east side the flames and
smoke rose high. Everything was
madness. People raced up and down,
looking for lost ones. I felt that
should go back to the stable and take
my place in the ambulance harness,
knew they needed me to carry the
dead and dying to the Mechanics Pa
v!lion, but I was lost-lost completely
II found myself near Second street.
A crowd Of men were digging madly
at a wrecked building to rescue two
men who were buried there. could
hear the poor devils cry out for aid
The flames cremated them before the
rescuing party could reach them.
All that day / wandered. My fear
left me somewhat and 1 Just kept
moving enough to dodge the fire. / felt
myself grow weaker and weaker. The
night came on and 1 ate a little grass
from lawn in front of a California
street mansion. got no rest The sky
was burning red with the reflection of
the confiagration All night long
crowds of foot-sore people trudged
painfully away from the oncoming
fire.. dragging trunks and personal be-
longfngs. / saw a crippled woman
break bread with a hungry man
Everywhere manhood and womanhood
were exhibited
The Fairmont Hotel burned. 1t
was grand sight. / began to lose my
fear and viewed the scenes of disaster
and desolation with a mixed feeling of
awe and admiration. walked around
the grounds of the Flood mansion, |
eating the fresh green grass and drink
ing water from the marble bowls in
the garden.
Daylight dawned. The fire was
up the hill from the south |
T&