The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1906-05-11
Likely Tells Of the Earthquake
Los Gatos, Cal. April 30. 1905.

meaning until the morning of the 18th,
OF this month, when we had the big
earthquake.
1t was just this way: had gone over
the night before to stay at the house of
one of the Boss friends who was very
sick. snoozed in adjoining room, up
stairs. within easy call if wanted, and
LETT orders with the trained nurse to call
me at five in the morning. She followed
her instructions to the letter, and after
being called, laid there about fifteen
minutes making up my mind to get up,
just as used to with paw.
My time was jus: about up when there
came low rumbing, and bump that
tumbled Likely out OF bed and into the
sick room on double quick march
and incidentally, in light marching order,
l grabbed one bed post to try and
steady myself while the nurse hooked on
the other, for the bed had suddenly got
ten the roller skating craze and was do
ing few stunts in the center of the
room. We gyrated back and forth for a
little while in vain endeavor to regain
our equilibrium; meanwhile the house
was tossing abont and grooming as only
house built Of redwood can groan,. |
knew at once what was on the bills and
visions of "the last days OF Pompeil"
began to float through my brains. Was
scared? No, wasn't, but terribly ex-
cited. was sure l had to change nv
boarding place for all time to come, and
wondered whether I'd be eating nv
next meal with St. Peter or Annanias.
Then things went slam-bang! Some
bottles of medicine made a lunge at me
and landed at my feet, and the floor flew
up and hit me in the face. Family por-
traits got Mortified and turned their faces
to the wall. Just then door opened
and white robed throng started toward
me and l says to myself "Me for the
Pearly Gates" but.it was only the other
female members of the household want
ing me to save 'em. 'Save nothing"
says l "Me and the nurse are roller
skating" Nurse heaved sigh that
blew the lamp out, and as if tired of try
ing to keep with the procession, it went
to join the medicine Oh the floor. Here
was case when the signs of nurse
probably prevented fire and she WASH t
so awful big either. Then the dresser
gave it up and laid down, the house gave
a few weary sobs and all was quite.
How long did it last? Well. it was
considerable of race across the country
I've never, vet run across a man that
held stop watch on it, but l judged it
was 30 to As seconds though it seemed
as many minutes; and when it finally
quit, it was as quiet and serene out of
doors as it is in North Dakota after
heavy hail storm. When old Dame
Nature seems to roll her hands up IN her
apron saying "1'm throu IN now; you see
what can do, Play Ball." and then sits
quietly until she hears her cue to come
out on the stage again.
Thinking I'd better look after the Boss
and his folks, hiked across the Street
through the dust, hatless, shoeless and
minus several other things don't need
mention here. On entering the hall
found big jardinere that had met its
Waterloo. Pm sure of that, for stepped
in the water though didn't stop to see
where Loo was, and the next step took
looked as though had been out playing
in spring mud pnddIe. found things
here about as they were in the other
house only more SO. Boss wife lost
lot of tric-a-brac and the chimueys on
the house lost nearly all their brick-a-
batst but everybody was able to sit up
and notice things, SO that wasn't so bad.
The plaster on the parlor wall was
cracked just right to play checkers on, il
it had only been on the floor and it was
the piano that had the skates on here.
1t was out in the middle of the floor.
What did the shock feel like? Well
I'm dnged If can tell you, don't think
Webster ever expected anything of this
kind to happen because l don't remem-
Der ever seeing any words in his book.
tionary that would describe just how I
felt. 1t was more like l imagine It
would be on vessel in rolling sea, /
would have been seasick. only there was
no convenient place to "Heave Ho."
According to most people it was the
proper time and place for all my past
mlsdeeds to file by me in grand process
sion la drowning man, but couldn't
possibly stay on the reviewing stand.
was on the rollers.
While the shock in Los Gatos was
pretty heavy THE heaviest ever. they say,
and Of course. that makes it very unus-
nal, IS they say here) San lose got far
more. When saw the town next day il
/ presented q sorry sight and there were
nineteen lives lost. Windows were
broken, houses put out of plumb Or de-