The Republican journal., 1906-05-17
Earthquake Experiences.
Letter From Sufferer by the Earthquake
and Fire in San Francisco.


and Fire in San Francisco.
Relatives in this city received the
following letter from Geo F. McDon
aid, nephew of Rev. VIM. Mcdonald
of Auburndale, Mass, dated South Sar
Francisco, April 21st. The personal
narrative of the awful disaster will be
read with interest:
NV Dear Cousin: Your letter came
to hand a few days ago and L was SO
glad to hear from you and to hear you
were enjoying good health. l have de,
layed answering until had some news
to write. Now l think | have some
Well, Ida, l suppose you have read IN
the papers of the awful disaster that
has befallen California, more partlcu-
larly San Francisco. The fearful coll
dition of that city cannot be told. You
would have to see with your own eyes
TO be convinced OF the truth OF aHalrs.
On the morning of April 10Th, at 5;l5
O'Clock, we We're visited by one OF the
heaviest earthquakes that has ever
been felt in the State. All brlcK ana
stone buildings are completely wrecked
and more than 1000 people killed. III
the city, besides scores that were IN
jured. A fire started at the water front
and as all the water pipes had oeen
broken by the shock it was Impossible
to Get water to check the progress of
the fire. Building after building was
blown down by dynamite to prevent
the spread of the flames; but to no
avail A strong wind sprang up and
the fire was soon beyond control. The
city was doomed, and people fled for
their lives. We lived at the corner OF
llth and Mission streets, and our place
was buried. A few clothes was all that
was saved The marble yard OF my
friend Mr.. Plymie was also destroyed.
We had just bought a nice two story
house on goth street and had packed
most of our household goods ready to
move as soon as the people who were IN
the house got out. The fire ragged so
hercely that all hopes OF saving this
home was abandoned and on the 20th
it also went up in smoke. lost every
thing except the clothes l had here
where | am working. | made my home
in the city and went i'll every saturday
evening. My friends lost everything
they had and the prospects are we VIII
get no insurance. | was up when the
Shock came and had my pants on and
one shoe and one sock when the house
began to dancea jig. made up my mlnd
that it would go TO tie ground mass OF
ruins and that we would be either Kill
ed outright or badly injured. The fam
lily where l room, consisting OF the hus-
band and wife and sister and myself,
were all that occupied the flat, two
story wooden building. The ladies were
frantic. | took one and he took the
other and we carried them down stairs.
1t will give YOU some idea of the force
of the shock when l tell you that the
heavy so pound car rails were bent up
like a horse shoe and cut off as clean as
if it had been done with a cutter. The
tracks were raised four or five feet in
many places and the rails bent and
broken The new post office, recently
completed at cost of S7,OO0,oOo, Is a
total wreck. The rear part sank feet.
One billion dollars Will not cover the
loss. The entire city OF san Frasclseo
from the ferry to goth street looks ike
a piece of burned land. Thousands of
people are camping and sleeping on the
hills ANA iii the parks, and the city Is
under martial law Soldiers are sta
toned around the city; 10 one Is allow
ed H. but thousands are gong out. My
friends are ali here IN South san Fran
cisco, and | am going to get house
and we will all start anew here. The
Western Meat Company that am EN-
pioyed by has the only place Where
meat can be had. They have !, 500 head
of cattle that VIII be killed as needed
to supply the demands. The Govern
ment Will establish relief stations IN
different places to relieve ard supply
the needy. and relief is coming in from
the W hole country. While san Fran
cisco is badly crippled she is still alive
and another city will soon spring up.
Well, Ida, | have given you fair state
ment of the awful affair. | am thank
full that | am alive and able to write
you about it. With love and best
wishes to mother and father and hop
ing to hear from you soon.
GEO. F. MCDONALD.