The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-04-20
TALES OF REFUGEES.
People Fought Like NIaniacs to Escape
From Danger.

From Danger.
Los Angeles, Cal, April 20.-Survivors
Of the San Francisco earthquake have
arrived in this city on a train over the
Valley line of the Southern Pacific.
Many Of them were in pitiable condi-
ton as a result OF their experience. They
related stories graphic in detail and al
most unbelievable.
Egbert H. Gould, president of the Chi
cago Car Heating company Of Chicago,
was one of the three persons to arrive
in. Los Angeles on the first train from
San Francisco, which reached here at IL
o'clock today
Il was asleep on the seventh floor of
the Palace Fotel," he said. ''at the time
Of the earthquake. I was thrown out
Of my bed and half way across the
room Immediately realizing the i'm
port of the occurrence and fearing that
the building was about to collapse, I
made my way down the six flights Of
stairs and into the main corridor. I was
the first guest to appear. The clerks
and hotel employees were running about
as II they were mad.
within two minutes after I had ap-
peared, other guests began to flock into
the corridors Few if any of them
Men, women and children, with blanch-
ed faces, stood as If dazed The children
and women cried, the men were hardly
less affected. returned to my room
anu SOL luGi walked To
the Office Of the Western Union in my
pajamas and bare feet to telegraph to
my wife in Los Angeles. I found the
telegraphers there, but all wires were
down. I sat down on the sidewalk,
picked the broken glass out Of the soles
Of my feet and put my clothing on. All
this, I suppose, took little more than
20 minutes. Within that time, below
the Palace, the buildings for more than
four blocks were mass of flames, which
quickly communicated to other build
ings. The scene was a terrible one. Bill
lows Of fire seemed to roll from the
business blocks, soon half consumed, to
other blocks in the vicinity, only to
climb and loom again.
THE Call building, at the corner OF
Third and Market, as passed, I saw
to be more than a foot out Of plumb
and hanging over the street like the
leaning tower of Pisa. I remained in
San Francisco until o'clock, then
took the ferry for Oakland, but re-
turned to the burning city an. hour and
half later. At that time tile city
seemed doomed. I remained but for
a few minutes. then made my way
back to the ferry I hope I may never
! be called upon to pass through such
an experience again. Three thousands
seemingly devoid of reason, were
crowded around the ferry station. At
the iron gates they clawed with their
/ hands like so many maniacs. They
4 sought to break the bars and, failing
in that. turned upon each 9th 4r
Fighting my way to the gate, like he
others, the thought came into my
/ mind of what a trap we were in. Had
/ I not been q. strong man I would have
been killed.
when the ferry drew up to the sir
and the gates were thrown open tbs
| lush to safety was tremendous. Tit
people flowed through the passagewaN
like a mountain torrent that, with
rocks in its path, dashes over them
Those who fell saved themselves ths
best they could.
st left Oakland at about 5 O'Clock
At that time San Francisco was hid
den in a pail Of smoke. The SUI
shone brightly upon it without an,
seeming penetration. Flames ut time
cleft the darkness This cloud was nv
miles in height and at its top charge,
into a milk white"
J. Ritter OF Houston. Tex. said: g
was in the Golden West hotel whel
the first shock came When I awoks
the hotel was shaking like a cradle
While / was dressing the rear wall O
the hotel fell into the dining room
was dressed by the time the secon,
shock came and was going 10 rush OF
of the building, but the appeals Of til
women en- the sams HOOr stopped me
With some of the other men guests 81
the fifth floor we managed to get til
women cut. 1t was no light task
most of tie women w=re hysterical
THE first sight outside was that G
naked and half dressed persons in III
streets. running about crying. screechin
, and wild with fear. while buildings wer
topping down around them and chokin
up the streets Many were wrapped onl
Z 1T fnalz me- tusn hours to get aronn