The Crittenden record. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1904-1907, 1906-05-11
ANoN, cRITTENDEN COUNTY, KY, MAY II, 1906

DEAR UNCLE: OF course you have
heard Of the awful earthquake and fire
IN San Francisco, but thinking you
might feel little anxious about US |
write to say that Annie and were in
city during that week. We were spend
ing a few days visiting friends and
sightseeing. AT 5:l5 on Wednesday
morning we were suddenly awaken by
the fearful commotion and sprang out
of bed but could not stand still, and
for IS seconds the shaking continued.
The house we were in was not very
seriously damaged and the fire did not
reach that section.
From the top Of hill near our friends
we watched the fire and the great
buildings melt away before its mad
and merciless march. II was terrible
sight, one ! can never forget. BY day
the sun shining through the clouds Of
smoke was the color Of blood, and by
night the lurid fame leaped up TO i'm
mense heights.
Many Of the pipes were broken by
the earthquake so the water supply
was insufficient and the fire had TO be
fought with dynamite, clearing away
path over which il could not pass.
When heavy blast Of dynamite was
fired the thunderous report would roll
and reverberate down the bay for miles
and miles.
In three days three hundred thousand
people were rendered homeless.
Just below us were one Of the thor
oughfares leading into the great
Golden Gate Park, where thousands
fed for safety. The rich man was
driven from his palace and the poor
man from his cottage. All distinctions
based on wealth were demolished and
all were put on one common level.
In very real sense the rich and poor
met together.
Just how many were killed can never
be known. but the number would have
been much greater had the shock come
at almost any other hour. An hour or
two later everybody would have had
fire in the stove getting breakfast and
fire would have broken out in a thous-
and places over the city. or later the
streets in the business parts would
have been crowded with people as
had seen them two days before, anc
the falling stone and brick would have
killed thousands.
As to territory. presume one-hali
the city was burned. and as TO wealth
four.ffths or more. The relief work
was prompt and generous. Ship ant
train loads Of provisions poured in anC
was rapidly distributed. II was simply
wonderful had good opportunity q
witness the relief work. saw bread
lines half a mile long. Christ, in III,
hearts Of His people. fed-not fv,
thousand but thirty or forty times tina
many. The sympathy. love. unselhsh
ness manifested was beautiful indeed.
We left the city on Saturday. Tw
young men carried our baggage and ",
walked five miles down Market stree
through the very heart Of the burnc
district 70 the Ferry Depot, crosse
the bay at Oakland and came home t
find all safe and we'll The earthquak
did no damage this far south,
n am to speak in the opera hous
here Sunday e,enin n Lessons froI
the Great Dissster." still like Cal
fonia-not especially fond Of eartl
quakcs. that Is sGeb big ones. HaN
no desire TO rush back east simply b,
cause the ground tremblcs a little her
once and awhile. Am very frank
admit that we have no desire for
repetition Of our recent San Francis
|. experience. Your nephew,
II. c. CocKRuN.