The Republican journal., 1906-05-10
EARTHQUAKE EXPERIENCES.
Letters to Relat ives from Oakland and
San lose.

Letters to Relat ives from Oakland and
San Jose.
Following is an extract from letter
written by Prospect Ferry girl who
was in Oakland at the time of the San
Francisco earthquake and fire follow
Ing, written on the train en- route for
: home:
DENVER, Colo, April %, 1906 I'll
| just write you a line this morning to
tell you that | am thus far on my way.
Have had good trip and an easy one,
although the trains were crowded on
account of so many people leaving San
Francisco. They have fed from there
in crowds. At the station in Denver
are more than a thousand people on
their way East who have lost every
thing in the San Francisco catastrophe.
Reports have not been exaggerated.
Before | left Oakland refugees were
coming there, rich and poor, with moth
ing left but the clothes they had on.
We have heard some pitiful stories on
the trains of how people suffered and
those who had money had to pay such
| exhorbitant prices to get to some point
where they could cross to Oakland.
Well, it was something terrible. All
that fine city that we visited just the
day before in all its Splendor consumed
by fire. East Oakland, where | Was
stopping, was badly shaken up. | was
aroused from sound sleep, the house
rocking like ship at sea. Everybody
rushed out of doors. The last two
nights | remained there most people
slept out doors. | met Maine people
on the street Wednesday. They were
Just as social as if | had always known
them. Mr.. and Mrs. Blanchard of
, Springfield, Me-, brother of DR.. Lom-
bard of Belfast, who lived across the
street from where l was stopping, and
Others Denver, April 26, we are hav-
ing regular western blizzard and the
snow is so thick we can hardly see out:
/ shall soon be on my way again. VIII
send card every day. f.
Miss Sarah NJ Wight of this city has
received letter from her sister-ln-law,
Mrs. Ralph Wight, who was IN san
Jose at the time of the earthquake, and
who wrote as follows:
Il wrote you brief mess age few
days ago to let you know that our lives
were spared at the time of the horrible
earthquake. 1t was an awful moment
when tie creaking, twisting motion
came. One is overcome by the awful
terror Of the moment and yet given
strength to endure it. Jumped from
the bed OF realizing that everything was
falling in the room and tried to open
the door leading to the porch, When the
hinges gave way, and | stood panic
stricken holding the door when my SIS
ter came down stairs into my ROOM
''This dreadful sensation was over IN
| 10 Ia I.fllx flrnc
Mr.. H coming down stairs and the
poor little Jap appeared on the scene
all dressed by this time and quite calm.
He said, Look at the house next door,
those people cannot get out. We went
over and assisted them, not one being
injured. Then with all the chimneys
down and no chance for fires, 1t was
some time before we could make coffee
for our friends and ourselves. This
done, we proceeded to clean up the
broken crockery and get the house IN
order
eve were dazed, not realizing the
great calamity of this and other cities,
until later we went down town, only to
find that people had been killed, build
ings in ruins and business houses burn
ed. such destruction, | never witness
ed. The cyclones of Iowa do not COM
pare with this. Yet, we must not muir
muir here in San Jose, when we realize
that the beautiful city OF San Fran
cisco has been wiped off the earth by
earthquake and fire. The fatal day
the people did nothing but walk the
streets, viewing the wrecks, sitting out
on sidewalks waiting for another shock,
several slight ones occurring during that
day and night and even today we nave
noticed some light sensations.
Emergency hospitals, free lunch
counters and all kinds of relief are
given to those who have lost all. Many
are coming here on every traln-or
walking-for assistance as they have
nothing but the clothing on their body.
Yesterday, | gave young girl VINO
, came from San Francisco, with only
, the dress she wore, cotton dress OF
mine to save hers. She was girl OF
} wealth but now has nothing. Such
: distress as is here and in San Francisco,
} is appalling. SO many homeless anu
penniless that there is a common SYM
pathy among us all. We do not know
: the distress, we cannot comprehend 1t
, as vet. but fear there will be much sui
: fering.
"There are such heart rendlng expert
: ences told that it is very depressing for
} us all. My sister had young lady ana
f her nurse come here and they left to,
: day. The home of this lady is wrecked
: and she is-on the verge of nervous pros
tration, but this morning went to hel
S sisters home. This is very dlscon'
| nected letter. am writing in the pres
;. ence of the family by kerosene lamp
5 and | am too nervous to write more.
$ Each night since this experience l
e have slept on a cot, partially dressed
as we are too timid, fearing repetition
e Of the first, but tonight we are gong
e to return to our beds, trusting that we
/ will be safe. l should have told you
: that was saved serious or fatal injury
by the hinges of the door breaking
e thus preventing me from stepping ontt
the porch, where bricks were falling
r from the chimneys at that time: Will
: 1ove to ALL" "Cynthia T. Wight.