The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1906-04-27
Mr.. and Mrs. Bruno R0emer
Received a Bad Jolt.
WERE SHOCKED IN A TRAIN.
Bridges Dropped Out Of Sight and
Rails Sank; Thought They Mere
10 Be Swallowed.
From Tuesdays Daily.

From Tuesdays Daily.
Mr.. and Mrs. Bruno Roemer returned
this morning from their California trip,
glad to get back into the good old
state of Minnesota whose earth does not
waves, but whose terra firma is as solid
as the rock of Gibraltar. Mr.. and Mrs.
Roemer passed through the earthquake
belt and experienced the thrilling SEN
sation of getting shocked. They were on
a train bound for California, having
left Oakland, when the earthquake oc.
CURED. Bridges in front and behind
them went down in an instant and the
rails sank into the earth about four
inches. The cars rocked nervOusly. and
Mr.. and Mrs. Roemer thought they were
about to be let down into yawnng
chasm. There they were on the track,
bridges ont and the earth trembling
violently as if it had the ague. They
were but short distance from the
doomed city. The passengers were COM
PEELED to remain in the cars thirty
six hours and they were momentarily
expecting the earth to open up and
swallow them at one gulp. Oh, they
had a real nice time, real picnic party
it was. On the following day the train
was returned to Oakland, and Mr.. and
Mrs. Roemer remained there the bal
ance of the day watching the flames
that were destroying San Francisco.
While in the train Mr.. and Mrs.
Roemer watched the destruction of the
big city and were thankful that they
had not reached that place in time to
be in with the fireworks. Mr.. Roemer's
description of scenes in and about
Portland is much like that of others who
have been interviewed. Both iMr.s.apd
Mrs. Roemer are glad to get home and
they are not anxious to visit Califor-
MIA again very soon.
Letter From Miss Davis.
William w. Davis has received a let
ter from his sister, Miss Alice E. Davis,
who is teacher in the Oakland schools
just across San Francisco bay: "The
worst earthquake California has ever
experienced occurred at 5:l4:4S a. m,
April 18th. 1t lasted twenty eight sec
onds. We are safe but terribly fright
ened The past two days seem like ages
and have brought forth the most heart
rending scenes. San Francisco is DOOM
ed. All will soon be gone up in smoke.
Everything valuable we packed last
night ready to leave home at any mo-
ment We are watching the flames leap
over in San Francisco and jump at the
slightest shock"
John FreschOltz Was Injured.
John Frescholtz, who went to San
Jose last summer, writes The Free
Press that he was in ured during the
shock He was thrown about his room
like ball and his knee hurt. He says
there are hundreds of people in that
town who are without food Mr..
Freschotz sends a copy of The San
Jose Mercury of April 20. 1t contains
much interesting news of the disaster,
also illustrations showing the destruc-
ton of buildings and the widespread
path of ruin.
Mrs. j. A. Presley of Carroll street
has relatives living in San Francisco.
No word has been received from them
since the disaster.
Mrs. j. w. True is anxiously await
ing news from relatives in San Fran
cisco
The American Express company has
sent out the following: TO Agents.
Contributions of money, clothing or
other supplies intended for the relief of
sufferers from the calamity which has
overtaken San Francisco and the neigh
boring towns in California. may be car
ried free of charge, when addressed to
regularly constituted relief organiza-
tions there. James c. Fargo, president