Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-04-28
TELLS OF FLIGHT.
Mrs. Ada Schwa tka Writes of
Experience of Self and Oaugh.
ter at Frisco.
NOW SAFE AT FORT BAKER
Spent Nearly Two Days Carrying More
Valuable Personal Effects from
Place to Place.

MIS-. Cora l.. Eastman THIS morning
received a letter from her sister, Mrs
Ada Schwatka, who is a resident of
this city, announcing the safety of
herself and daughter Miss Frederi-
ka. at Fort Baker. which is i'll com
mand of Colonel Patterson, il friend of
the family. They lost most of their
| personal effects. The letter was writ
ten Sunday and tells most graphically
of the scenes attending the earthquake
and the flight during the greater part
of two days before the flames Their
experience is typical of that gone
through by thousands, although they
We're more fortunate than the vast
majority. their military connections
standing them in good stead.
Mrs. Schwatka and daughter were
making their home with the widow OF
the late French consul 1442 Sacramen-
to avenue. being near the business dis
trict in the area that was swept by
fire. After recounting the experiences
during the early morning after the
quake. Mrs. Schwatka's letter con
! tinueS:
| Saw District Burn.
I'VE got breakfast in a hotel and
staid down town and saw all the whole
sale district burn and the retail. also.
And such Il sight 50 awful. The high
steel frame buildings stood it best.
MOI sign of the earthquake But the
brick buildings fell in. All the brick
hotels collapsed and killed many Our
house was wood and not even the plas-
| ter fell.
! AL all night we watched the city
burn from my windows. when not out
going about. We saw it creep up the
high hills and Freda packed our two
hand valises and the handbook full.
You could not get a conveyance for
/ love or money. People all night in
! hundreds with their bundles on their
backs walking ont 10 the park and Pre-
Sid;o. We hoped not 10 go but when
morning came at 4 O'Clock after feeding
a lot of fleeing people with little chill
dren and getting a cup of coffee on an
oil stove Freda took up the first bun
dies and started for an acquaintance's
house on Russian hill about a mile
away. Up one steep hill and down an
other and up again. carrying two bags.
and then back again. This she did
six times, carrying bundles in sheets
and on her back up those hills. and
/ too but | went only once as ] could
not endure more. for had been watch
ing and walking for p hours. We
saved great deal in this way.
Flames Crept Around Hill.
Eve all. party of u. got lunch and
Il then found the flames far down in the
business part were eating around the
hill. so | thought of Fort Mason or
Black Point. at foot of Vanness avenue.
and again we all took up our line of
march with less things for another
! steep hill had TO be climbed and
| walk of another mile. We were now
all tired out but we took what we could
and moved things to a point. then left
one to watch. returned for more and
| in that way by evening reached Fort
Mason in a long stream of people, chok-
| ing up broad Vanness avenue. They
| had turned a part of the post outside
of the great gates into camp for peo-
pie and | did not care to stay with the
multitude. so | went up to the gates
ahead of the party. told the guards |
wanted to see General Funston. went !
to his office and introduced myself to
him and told him | had a party and |
wanted to be inside of the gates in the |
grounds inside of the post till he could |
give me a special boat TO Fort Baker !
where Colonel Patterson was in com
mand. He was glad TO do this for me |
and | marshaled party of over doz-
en- in. and we spread ont on the lawn !
with the officers families that had |
escape to this refuge The general |
l. .; Il hut
said the boat would be at my service |
at the earliest opportunity as all gov !
eminent boats were pressed into ser
vice TO carry refugees to the ferries. |
We slept on the lawn all night with |
the others who had permission to be |
inside and were very comfortable. the |
soldiers giving us coffee.
Boat Furnished.
Next forenoon one of the lighthouse |
tenders was given me to come here and |
brought several people who had no |
place to one of the officers quarters. |
Frederika and / are at the Patterson's |
with just a few things. All else burn |
ed Saved all valuable papers and |
enough to wear That's all. But Freda |
carried more things. She walked over |
20 miles. 1t does not seem possible to |
do as much as she did. The horror |
could not be understood by one who |
had not been through ii"
Writes of the Terror.
Friends of George DARN, a former |
employe in the head Office of the Mo
dern Woodmen of America, will be |
glad to know of his escape, as he re-
sided in the district that was both t
shocked and burned and was employed /
in the Emporium, which was one of the
department stores that was wrecked.
The letter from him that is at hand is