The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1906-05-31
LIKE A PICTURE OF HELL.
Women Describe Scenes of Horror
FollOwing the Earthquake.

Women Describe Scenes of Horror
Following the Earthquake.
Mrs. Maria A. Wilcox, Mrs. MARI
Longstreet, Mrs. Frank Hicks and al.
fred Wilcox, who recently arrived at
Los Angeles from San Francisco, heG
been quartered on the eighth floor Of
the San Francisco hotel and found the
hotel rocking like ship. Mrs. Long
street told the story thus:
Suddenly, as we were standing
there, the entire city seemed to catch
fire. In all directions and as far as
we could see the great tongues of
fame leaped into the air. Terrified as
we were, we stood by the window, and
In less time than it takes to tell it the
entire part Of the city between us and
the ferry was ablaze. 1t was a beauti-
full yet terrible sight. We remained in
the hotel till 10 o'clock, and at that
time Mr.. Wilcox succeeded in getting
a carriage and an automobile. We then
left the hotel and drove to the home Of
a friend a mile away. When we got
there we found the house in ruins.
1--WE then went to the home of the
Tevises and remained there until we
were driven out by fire. Finally we
found refuge at the residence Of ]. F.
Winslow or Mob hill. We slept on the
floor that night, but they had no food.
and after securing the city over my
brother managed to purchase ten ships
90
and after eating these>we made beds
on the floor and tried to sleep. We had
a little candle in our room and that we
did not need.
"The hundreds of fires made the city
light as day, but it was CHASTITY. sick
with fear. Words cannot describe hui
man emotions at such a time as that,
and l wish l could shake off that feel
ing that has chung to me ever since
the first shock Of that earthquake
aroused me from my slumber.
II saved some things-three pairs of
shoes, believe. 1 put the shoes in
grip and brought them along. My
diamonds and money l left in the no.
tel. But we all did that. No one at
such times cares for personal effects.
We expected death at any minute and
were surprised that it did not come.
Can you wonder that saved the shoes
instead of my valuables?
"That night was awful. We could
hear the cries of the suffering people
and the crash of falling buildings all
night long. Van Ness avenue was
crowded from side to side with people
mothers carrying babies, men and
women packing on their backs what
few things they had managed to save.
Where all those people found food and
shelter 1 cannot imagine. We had no
water and almost died from thirst.
you would never know San Fran
cisco now. 1t Is nothing but ruins.
Did you ever see child build house
with blocks and then knock it down?
Well, that is the way buildings fell all
over the city during the earthquake"
II cannot describe it," said Mrs. Will
cox when asked for her experience.
II woke at the first tremble, and, oh.
what terrible sensation! Plaster fell
from the walls, and expected at any
second to see the st. Francis hotel
crumble to the earth. With the earth
quake came that horrible roar. 1t
sounded like thousands Of violins be-
ing played on the bass strings and all
at a discord.
Ibid you ever see the picture Of hell
which hangs in the Santa Barbara
mission? 1t was something like that.
only a thousand times worse. We had
a hard time getting to Oakland, where
we caught a train. The railroad peo-
pie deserve great credit. Once on the
train we were shown every courtesy.
If people did not have money they
were taken along just the same. Mon
ey was no object at that time"