Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1906-05-04
HAD THRILLING EXPERIENCE
mrs. 1. A. Wagner Tells of Narrow
Escape of Herself and Family
From Death in Earthquake.

From Death in Earthquake.
SAN FRANCISCO, Cal, April 2s-
N-(Io the Editor II will try to give
the readers of the OBSERVER an idea
OF the earthquake horror that occurred
here on the morning of April 1s, as 1
experienced it. My husband arose at
$40 a. M, according to our time, the
exact time Of the shock was 5 IA 49,
and almost instantly the house stood
on end and came down with terrible
thud, bang and twist, crashing every
thlng breakable or movable. The
doors were banged shut, sealing us in
IN our rooms, and my husband was
thrown back onto the bed. The next
shock threw US to the floor We
managed to get onto our feet, and
with babe in my arms, I tried to get
to the yard, while my husband was
trying to rescue our other two children
sleeping in an adjoining room. Sud-
denly the back door broke from its
hinges, twisting out the lock, and we
were thrown onto the porch. Just
ahead Of us in the yard, the earth
opened and closed twice, width of at
least 18 inches. We expected to be
pitched into it headlong, but fortu-
nately were spared such fate.
We were the first people in our
neighborhood to get into the street, as
it was almost impossible for anyone
to get their doors open for several
minutes. Soon men, women and
children, in their night clothes, were
running aimlessly about, screaming,
crying, panic stricken, and all frantic
alike. 1 don't believe there was a
sane person in our neighborhood for
the first two hours after the quake.
After the first excitement, people
seemed to be on their good behavior
even the children. My three children
scarcely spoke above whisper for
three days. 1t was perfectly astonish-
ing to see people watching their homes
and places of business burn, with
calm, cool faces. Fully 10000 homes
were either burned or totally wrecked.
Imagine 25 square miles of city in
black ruins and the earth constantly
We lived in a new, well-built house,
with concrete foundation, beautifully
and artistically finished inside. To-
day it is a wreck. The lightly con-
structed houses, set on the ground,
were scarcely damaged. I had just
finished se-cleanlng at nine clock
night. Next morning the
clean laundry, broken dishes, olive
oil, vinegar, mush, eggs, butter, wine
and everything imaginable in the
kitchen and pantry, together with the
SCOT from the fallen stovepipe, were in
a heap on the floor. Most of our
was ruined, and my Sunday
meeting hat was sandwiched.
After dressing, we tried to telegraph |
our friends that we were safe, but
found communication cut off. We
then put baby in the go-cart and
started for the city, but found the
street cars were not running. We |
walked six miles to the scene of the !
fire, staid few hours, then went back
to where we had lived, got some bed
ding and food, and slept that night in
the Park with $4,000, or more, other
homeless people. None Of us were
but we have suffered from
fright. heart-aches and pity for the
suffering and awfulness Of the whole
hing. The horror of it all can never
be told. One must be among us to
realize what it is. We are now living
IN our back yard, in a tent made OF
nv bedroom carpet, and are trying to
make the best of things. On April 10,
We ate supper by the light of the burn
NO city. We are all badly tanned by
he heat and wind. A water famine
was threatened for awhile, as the
sewers and water mains got mixed,
,ut the water is better now and can be
1sed after being boiled.
I hope never to experience another
declaration of martial law. While it
vas the only thing to do, it was
placing too much liberty in the hands
If senseless soldiers. Many an inno-
cent man was shot; boy OF IA was
and shot for stealing, ana
woman was killed for lighting
ire.
We are giving what accommodations
ve have to six homeless grown people.
We all have to help where we can.
While we are cared for lavishly with
God. we enjoy none Of it. There Is
~ much sorrow and suffering all
,round usl What had taken man
ifetime to build was torn down IN