The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-06-09
PEDRO SAVED HER LIFE.
Mrs. Clapn,ans Dog Warned
Her of the Earthquake.

Mrs Thomas c. Chapman. of Buila'o'
n " wns visitor In San Francisco ut
the time of the earthquake. but, u' .i ~
:. the majority OF the others caught ~
5l1he disaster. she Jared very well. l,'e
nn,y thing that is worrying her is me
loss Of he. poodle. Mrs. Chapman sot
here last week from Oakland. ana
now with Mr.. Chapman at the iiote .1
Marie Antionette. where they VIII say
for few days before gong " hui,.''o ~,
s.When left for San Erancisco,' she
said ~ intended to stay there ABOUT
three weeks, ana took only valise
With me- also my dog Pedro, which had
hean nv constant companion for INC
last seven years. owe my lie. Dc
lievc TO Pedro. The dog slept under my
bed as was his usual custom at home,
and about an hour before the earthquake
occurred-whch. as you know, was ABOUT
O'clock in the norninS-Pedro juinpeo
into my bed and woke lnc with MS
paws. He gave one bark when opened
nv eyes, jumped onto the floor again,
and began running around the room eH-
citedly for a minute. Then he stopped IN
3 front Of the door, paved it several times
with his fore-teet. parked again. ana
looked around ut me III pleading way.
Ijtricd to quiet him. but 1t was no use.
Thinking that his extraordinary behavior
might really mean some approaching dam
ger. became nervous. got up ana mas
tily dressed. AS soon as l opened the
door, the dog almost went wild win
Joy. and scanpered down the stairs to
the front door, barking the while. OF
course, the noise woke up my hostess and
the other members of the family. It was
then just little before o'clock. l went
out ana sat down on the veranda, as |
felt almost certain that something was
about to happen. AN the others follow
ed me as soon as they could get into
their clothes. Pedro meanwhile was ms
restless ns ever and ran up and down
4 the; lawn barking fur!ously. Presently
we heard low. runlbling noise, and a
few minutes later the flooring under us
began to sway UP and down slightly, and
We felt as though. we were on the deck
&of an ocean liner. Suddenly the lights
lin the city itself. from which wc lived
some little distance. went out, and the
booming noise became louder. Just then
someone OH the veranda said oxcitedly.
It's an earthquake. sure enough!
Every one of us rushed back into the
house TO gather up what we could OF
our belongings Almost everything I pos
sessed was already In my valisc and
grabbed 1t up and ran out of the house
The others quickly followed. My hostess
had already requested her ccachman 10
hitch up the Two horse. IN tho stable
to doub!e-seated buggy. and It was
waiting for Us at the door. v all scrnm-
hled in with our valuables, ana made
Decline for the Oakland ferry, which
was about Two miles from tho house.
When we had got several hundred yards
from the house the lights IN ii went out.
MS did all the others around US. 1t was
not long after that rldt the, whole town
was In llames. * )"
1T was a really marvellous escape we
had. shall! never forget that ride to
the ferry Ind the awful things we wit
ness on the way. ! don't know what be-
came Of my faithful dog, He wasn't 10
be seen anywhere about when we drove
away. After the earthquake we returned
to the house. hui there was nothing but
ruins. "-New York Tribune.