The Somerset reporter., 1906-05-03
Letter from San Francisco

The following letter recently received
here advises Mrs. B. F. Etton of the
safety OF her sisters, Mrs. s. B. Starbird
and Mrs. Oscar d. Allel CHE writer OF
the letter. and other relatives, chief J
members OF the Starbird family, who
will be recalled by many Somerset coun-
ty people. Mrs. Aliens home is the
state of Washington, but she was a
guest at the Starbird home in San Fran
cisco at the time OF the earthquake and
graphically relates their experiences:
We were in San Francisco in the earth
quake and found it a very exciting experience.
Mrs. Starbird, George Starbird. MIR and Mrs.
Coyel and Earl Starhird live together and we
were at their house.
At FIVE clock in the morning the quake
came and we knew instantly what il was, but
strange to say none Of US were frightened
although we fully expected the house 10 come
down. | think we must have been a little
dazed by the rocking Of the house. We
heard Attic shout "Down to the street" and
we followed orders; but by the time we were
on the front steps the rocking was about
finished. We were all in night gowns and
the whole street, so far as we could see, was
lined with people in night gowns and pa.
amas. Alter while we went back into the
house to Dress and there was gas enough in
the house pipes to make coffee and boil eggs,
but gas and water were soon gone We kept
our hats and coats on all day ready to run at
another tremble. The city was soon all on
fire and there was a constant tieam OF peo-
pie in the streets, who were fleeing from fire.
Towards evening the fire was SO near US
we thought it best to 90 to kalPh's, who
lives in the suburbs. Oscar and Earl made 4
kind of barrow, and we contiscated two
baby carts to move things in. Oscar took
the loaded barrow, I took one baby carriage
and Adelaide and Attic together took
the other so we were able to move a good
many clothes and much bedding After we
were gone George and Llewellyn made a
carriage of two bicycles by lashng long
boards between them. At Ralph's we found
plenty of water and we needed no lights for
the whole city was illuminated by the many
fires, We cooked eggs and coffee in the mid
die Of the street for no one was allowed to
make any kind of fires in the houses.
Towards night we were again alarmed by
approaching fire, and the men began moving
to a steep hillside not far away. Oscar took
the precaution to buy ten dollars worth Of
food and Mrs Ralph did the same. for we
knew we were in danger Of famine. We
slept what we could that night and We were
not at all lonely for about ten thousand peo-
pie were on that particular hillside.
Ralph's house was unhJrmed and we went
down in the morning and ate our breakfast
there, leaving George 10 watch the camp
Mrs. Ralph was able To get us a horse and
buggy to take us 10 the Ferry and about nine
O'Clock Adelaide and set forth, Llewellyn
leading the horse with Osclr on one side Of
us and Edward on the other, BY turns and
twists and winding around piles Of debris and
cracks in the earth we were able to reach the
Ferry without once getting out Of the buggy.
We had no troIble in getting out to Oak
land but Edward had to get pass from the
Governor in order to get into the city.
1t is not worth while to tell YOU anything
about the havoc in the city for You will read
il i'll the papers and it is not at all eNagger-
ated.