The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1906-04-25

were accorded a heartfelt welcome by
that lady and were soon IN comparative
ouiet and comfort, They were three of
eighteen guests that this good friend
and woman had taken in, In this awful
emergency, and when another friend, u
MIR, II. =. Van Wrinkle passed the house.
saw. and recognized them, and insisted
that they come on to the home OF his
mother. some ten blocks beyond the
Simpson home, they did not hesitate,
but went with him, and found addition
al welcome at that home in the western
addition.
Here they stayed for several hours
and shared the grateful sense OF hap.
pincss aud security that came from
their further removal from the line of
conilagmtion that was raging all over
the territory they had but so lately
travel~ed, But this idea OF safety was
dispeled after II short time for the vol
ume and trend OF the fire showed that
il was encroaching on even this remote
ground, aud they then made their tnird
sortie, still further To the westward. to
the home Of Mr., Van Wrinkle himself,
where they really wem in absolute Sc
curity and where their welcome was
abundant at the hands of all, Here they
rested until they left the city on sat
urday. and from this point OF vantage
they saw and heard those things that
ep to swell the dread and horror of such
a calamity.
Here. even in the seclusion OF Il home
far removed from the termoil and dan
ger of the hour they found the rigid
rules OF martial law in full and force.
ful operation. even as il was enforced
in the districts engaged in the fire
There was no water, except at guarded
points in the neighborhood; lights were
not permitted on the premises at all
except the beggarly flame OF one candle
to the house, in the faint rays OF which
all the things that must he done after
darkness sets in, were done, for one
night only. for on the second night,
even this was denied them by the an'
thorities on the ground that woman
further down town had already started
another district into flames by the
carless handling of curtain; nor was
fire permitted in any OF the houses; !;
stoves and cooking, were imposed under
the reign of law that knows no one
and mitigates nothing to anyone.
Mrs. Flavel was the victim on an incl
dent that was severe enough in its out
come and vet smacking OF touch OF
humor, while a guest in this kindly
home, The water that was furnished
to this neighborhood, was at some dis
tance from the house. and as she es'
saved forth to obtain cup OF water
the air was surcharged with millions
of flying cinders from the distant fires
and one of them lodged in her eye.
When she approached the source OF sup
ply, a cupful was handed her and she
djpped the corner Of her handkerchief
into il to bathe her hurting eye, and
set the cup on the ground till she was
ready to drink it; but it was no soon
er on the ground than stray dog lapp'
ed up the last drop with an avidity
that compensated Mrs. Flavel for the
loss of the beverage. The loss was
made good instantly, however and she
returned to the house.
No one dared to sleep above the first
floor of their homes, and thousands slept
on their porches and on the floors and
all with garments at hand and path
ways cleared to the exits, for no one
knew at what moment the fire would
drive them forth those the ladies are
glad to report that none OF the three
homes that contributed to their safety
was lost in the holocaust OF fame that
swept the city from the earth.
On Saturday about noon they con
cluded to sally forth on their route
home, and engaged handsome break
and a forlorn team, for a fabulous
price to carry them to the Oakland fer
nv at the foot of Market street, and al
ter bidding a grateful farewell to tneil
| kind host and his family they started
with their trunks, (which had bees
cIeverly saved from the Occidental, by
Mr.. Van Wrinkle, acting upon the Gov
ernors pass, on the very day Of theil
departure from that hotel, and but
few moments before it was turned ov
er to the dynamiters for demolition) OF
the eight mile ride through the desc
lated city. There were no street line'
only vague lines and lanes through
great masses of debris and. mountains
of ashes still glowing in 8ullen wratl