The Topeka state journal., 1906-04-25
EAMES IN FRISCO.
Prima Donna Tells Her Ex-
periences in Earthquake.
First Thought Was for Safety
Of Sembrich.
SPENT DAY ON mob HILL
Driven Out by Flames Leaving
Clothes Behind.
Temporarily Lost Voice as
Result of Excitement.

San Jose, Cal, April 25.=The fol-
lowing statement of her terror of the
earthquake was today written for the
Associated Press by Madame Eames of
the metropolitan Opera company, who
is now resting at the home of DR.. Tevis,
located at Alma, in the hills of Santa
Clara county. Madame Eames is ar
ranging with the railroad officials for
transportation on the Overland limited
Thursday morning. The story is as
follows:
Il was in bed and at the first quiver
of the earthquake awoke to perfect
consciousness. 1 was in a four post bed
with very heavy mahogany canopy
over it. ] wondered whether [ had bet
ter get out but the futility of any
movement to save oneself came over
me and I lay quite still only holding on
to the bed to be kept from being
thrown out. I was absolutely without
fear at any time. AS soon as the move
ments began to quiet themselves
thought of moving but each time they
redoubled in intensity. At last a the
end of the first big shock I heard the
voice of our host asking if / We're
afraid. OF course / got up and dressed
as quickly as I could and rushed down
to the hotel st. Francis to see what
was happening to Madame Sembrich.
DR.. Tevis and got on an automobile
with which an acquaintance was for
tunately passing. On getting there we
rushed up six flights on foot as no
elevators were going, only to find Nine.
Sembrlch gone We at last found her
and begged her to come UP with us as
DR. Tevis house was on the top of
Mob Hill. We passed the day there,
watching the flames approaching and
feeling Schocks of earthquakes at in
tervals, Dr. Tevis all the time trying
to get some sort of conveyance to get
US out of town. Not from fear of
earthquake but of the approaching
fire. He al last found a landau from a
livery stable, whose driver consented
to wait in front of the door until we
must leave. The town was burning
between us and the ferry and there
was then difficulty in getting there. At
about o'clock the doctor said we had
better get out to the north beach. as
we might be surrounded by fame and
not be able to get away. The house
was ultimately surrounded by flames on
Thursday and was the last to remain
standing In that vicinity. It was a
monument of perfect taste and was
burned to the ground with all our
clothes, we being able to carry with us
in our hurried fight only our valuables
and one change of clothing.
I'VE took blankets and lay out all
night on the ground. the dew falling
so heavily that We were soaked At
about 9 on Thursday morning DR..
Tevis said the fires had burned them
selves out between us and the ferry,
and we could get over to Oakland,
and must go at once. The carriage
took our few belongings and two of
our party least fit for violent exercise,
while the rest of US walked. At the
Oakland ferry we found a large crowd.
but after waiting three-quarters of an
hour efor the carriage, which we had
outwalked and which through some
misund nderstanding had waited for us
at another place all the time, we got
safely over to Oakland. There leav-
ing our two maids in carriages we took
train to a suburb of Oakland where
lives a relative of DR.. Tevis. There
we found the house closed and lay
about on the ground waiting for them
to find means of conveying us to DR..
Tevis country place. sixty miles from
Oakland. As we were leaving North
Beach for the ferry the manager Of
our hosts country place met US, hav
ing come to look for US, and it was he
who told US we could get away. All
the part of the town through which
we walked was later swept by the
flames. which returned to destroy all
that in the previous fire they had left
unconsumed. Through some nlis7In-
derstanding Sembrich's maid was left
with some members of the opera s;Om-
pany in Oakland. so she returned to
the special train they were making
up. I had lost my voice completely
and felt I could not return to confu-
sion and endure a possible three days
sojourn in a railway train. At about
o'clock Thursday afternoon we
managed to secure an automobile-Dr.
Tevis. Mr.. Tetrigo. my maid and my
self, and came up here where we have
been camping out. We found the
careta kers in a state of terror on our
arrival and the house demolished by
the earthquake. We had taken a ride
in an automobile of four hours and
were glad to lie on a comfCrta BILE
mattress in one of the cottages of his
employees. At no time have we felt
any fear, and the whole thing seems
perfectly natural When everybody is
suffering from the same cause. ones
personal sensations are minimized.
One feels very small As I lay in my
bed at the first shock I took mental
notes, as I shall probably not see an
other earthquake, and I am not sure
want to. 7 tried to get news to my
friends in the east. but since my tele-
phone message to the Associated Press
representative and telegram to re-
assure my friends which I sent to the
New York Herald two days ago
have heard nothing from them that
leads me to think they know of my
whereabouts. We have been trying
very hard to get accommodation for
our party to New York, and I hope
Overland Limited arriving in New
York on Monday morning. We are
with Dr. Tevis at Alma, Santa Clara
county, until we can get away.
EMMA EAMES STOREY"