The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1906-05-31
THE SAN FRANCISCO DISASTER.
A Letter Describing What Befeii Some
Former Garrett COuntians.
To the Editor of The Republican:

10 IHe EClIOf OF ne RepuDllcdn:
With your permission would use the
columns Of your paper for a letter to
my friends in Garrett county.
Just one month ago today, it was,
that the awful earthquake and the
greatest of great fires visited San Fran
cisco and gave her such a shaking and
such scorching as she never had be
fore. 1t was such an earthquake that
those who experienced it and had a
passover" will remember to their dy-
ing days. For my own part l was made
to feel how little we mortals can do
when the Divine Master sees fit to give
US little shaking was made fully
aware of my weakness the morning of
the 18th of April at a quarter past 5
O'Clock when the great rumbling Of the
quake, the cracking and swaying of our
house, the breaking of glass, the falling
of plaster, and the tumbling of what
not, caused my dear little daughter,
Ruth, to grasp me around my body and
cry Papa! PapaW and that my only
consolation for her was: Never mind.
darling; it is only an earthquake; and it
will soon be over, but it was some
time before | could realize that on ac-
count Of so many gas pipes and water
pipes having been broken and so many
chimneys having been tumbled down,
we would be without gas and water and
fire in our homes even if they could es-
cape the terrific fires that were starting
up Immediately in different parts Of the
city, until the authorities could make a
thorough inspection of all the chimneys
and water and gas connections. Even
now after an interval Of one month you
may see the rich and poor alike cooking
in the middle of the streets in thousands
of little makeshift kitchens containing
coal stoves, ranges, and a great variety
of little improvised ovens. Though strict
military rules forbade the use of light
fire of any kind in a house for quite
a while, the inspection is now going
on rapidly and gas and water being
turned on. Through the burned district
there are now hundreds and hundreds
OF one-story shacks and shanties spring
ing up to house the homeless or for tenn
porary quarters for some great business.
We have had dozen or more trem-
blers since the first heavy one the heav-
lest of which occurred last night, but
did little damage other than give many
people in San Jose a great scare. 1t
appears that in the neighborhood Of San
Jose signs had been posted on the
fences, predicting the end Of the world.
Upon investigation it was found that
many Of these signs had been posted by
boys bent on preying on the minds Of
any who were susceptible. 1t is inter
preted by some that this succession Of
Jremblers is continued evidence Of the
wrath Of the Master for wicked San
Francisco, while others are filled with
enthusiasm and earnestly talking Of
Greater san Francisco, "San Fran
cisco, the Beautiful, and that the city
will soon be rebuilt However at the
present rate Of progress it will be many
months before the debris is removed
from The streets and the sites for build
ings. If you want to see the sights the
principal way Of locomotion is walking.
If any one asks you why you do not ride,
simply become insulted and walk away.
A few of the electric lines of cars are
running, but certain hours in the dav it
is almost impossible to get seat in one
of them unless you should be at ter
minal You may be tired of walking
about seeing the ruins and you spy a car
coming toward you. You get ready to
jump on ana just as it reaches you see
the sign Take the next car and this
car spins past you. You now wait for
that next car, but it too shows the
warning Take the next car, and this
car huns past you filed with sight see
ers. You are now desperate and deter
mined that you will now make your final
stand and be sure to grab that next
car" but when it nears you Take the
next car can be seen, but you don't
care what the sign says, and with your
eyes wide open looking for place upon
which you can hang, you score another
complete failure as this "next car"
rumbles past you, filled and covered
with men going home from their work.
If you are sensible you now make up
your mind that you do not want to ride.
Now some men do not look at it in such
a philosophical way, they seem to be
very much put out about little thing
like this and will not say their prayers,
but simply walk and say good deal
that | must not tell you. Therefore, |
say, walking in this smitten city is the
principal way of locomotion, and it has
my individual Endorsement.
| have not as yet seen any of the
many cable cars that climb the hills of
San Francisco running, the earthquake
and fire having done so much damage to
their slots and cables and power houses
The Government is doing much to aid
II