The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-05-02
THE LATE DISASTERS.
Very Interesting Account of the San
Francisco Horror BY. a Fargo
Woman.

Fhere was terrible noise like
thunder which awoke us all from sleep.
We thought the world must be COM
ing to an end. The house shook and
rocked: the walls cracked; all the
electric bulbs were broken; the piano
moved across the room: the clock on
the mantel fell down, narrowly miss
ing my sons head; we all rushed out
into the street just as we were with
out stopping to dress or anything
else"
Such is the vivid description which
Mrs. Andrew Thomaier, 7O2 First ave-
nue. south. gives of her experience dur
ing the terrible earthquake in San
Francisco. At the time the earth
quake occurred Mrs. Thomaier was
visiting her son. Andrew Thomaier,
who was conductor on the street
railway at San Francisco and resided
at 1902 HAYES street She passed
through all the narrowing experiences
which fell to the lot of residents of the
stricken city and witnessed many ter
rible sights. With her was her Agar
old daughter, Morton Minna Thomaier.
After recovering somewhat from
the surprise and alarm which natural
ly followed the first shock the entire
family went back into the house to
dress and gather up such articles as
they could. They found the dwelling
a wreck and could not remain in it.
For three nights Mrs. Phomaier and
her little daughter, her son and his
wife slept in Golden Gate park, as did
hundreds OF. other residents of the city
who had been rendered homeless.
I'VE had hard time to cook" said
Mrs. Thomaier. 1--WE could not build
: fires in the house as the stoves were
all damaged and all the gas and water
had been turned off, and when we tried
to build fire in the open the wind
frequently blew it out
There was no difficulty in securing
food as all the grocers and confection-
ers in the city gave away their entire
stocks and then locked up their places
of business. Everybody stood up in
row while the food was distributed.
"The first two nights after the earth
quake we slept out in the open with
only an umbrella to protect us from
the cinders which were falling in great
quantities. On the third night some
people who had tent let us sleep in
it,
Everybody had to work in the days
following the earthquake Even the
people who rode in automobiles and
who had never done any real work had
to turn out and help clear away the
debris on Market street. At the ferry
1t was the same. All who wished to
cross were obliged to assist in the
work of putting things to rights"
The people of San Francisco were
afraid of the militia who were doing
patrol duty, according to Mrs. Thorn
aier, and ardently desired the presence
of regulars. This was because the
militia used their rifles too freely and
shot people down without making any
very close inquiries.
saw one man shot," said Mrs.
SThomaier. "He had gone back to
where his own house had stood and
was digging among the ruins to find
some money which he had lost.
What are you doing?' asked mil
itiaman?.
"'None of your business, the man
replied.
"Then the soldier fired. killing him
instantly.
After leaving San Francisco on the
Saturday following the earthquake
Mrs. Thomaier's party went to Oakland
"AASAS SA0y toUlASCu " Eculdlu
two days and nights before they could
get away owing to the crowded con-
dition Of the trains. While there they
were cared for by relief committee
which met all the refugees as soonsas
they landed and provided for all their
wants, furnishing food, clothing and
shelter. From Oakland they went to
Portland where they were met at the
train and cared for by similar re-
lief committee. and they had the same
experience In Seattle.
Mrs. Thomaier praises the work OF
these relief committees highly both
on account of its effectiveness and the
spirit which actuated It. From Seattle
Mrs. Th0maier came directly home
Her son Andrew Thomaier, proposes
TO remain in Seattle and secure work
there.
Before the earthquake / though l
should like to live In San Francisco.
Il was such a beautiful city and the
climate iB 90 lovely, but since the
earthquake / have concluded that Far
80 is good enough for me-" said Mrs.
ThomAier. !5s.l