The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-05-22

VIVID DESCRIPTION OF. WOE

Ntr w. S. Gum and Mr. A. y. Stokes
rettlrncd yesterday, after visit to ueV-
astated San Francisco Mr.. sam ooheh
and Manager Hutchlns. OF tho l'hVis
Shoe Company, completed the party, pul
tho latter two went up to Seattle before
returning to Richmond.
Mr.. Gum Is OF the opinion that san
francisco viii not fully recover for thirty
years and thinks that It Is at present
a poor place to invest money one
feature Of the place is that the WORKING
people .nre leaving by tho train loads Tor
Washington state. r. S91Ia n
One OF tho adverse features IS Gthht IN
the unburnt sections many of the best
houses have the Tor rcnt" or u Tor
sale sign on them, The trains going
North are crowded every night with pco-
pie going away for good.
Takes Optomistic View.
Mr. e. r. Wathall, of tbis city, who
Is now In San Francisco, writes very
alphabetically Of the city's future. Hc
also sends copy OF The Examiner, the
first newspaper to be rc-csthbished In,
the city. The paper is full Of adxcrtis-Q
ing business, there being nothing about
its appearance to Indicate that the city
has undergone a great catastrophe. The
editorial IS characteristic of the spirit
of the Western people, overlooking With
hope and energy.
Immediately after the shock and before
stroyed orders were sent to the East
the old Examiner building had been do
for typesetting, stereotype and press ma
chimes, which were started to the West
before a site had been picked for their
location.
re5o Vivid Description.
( Nrs Il G, -nrfb
Twenty Street, received few
days ago the following letter from
lady In San Francisco who has been
fprnctcng medicine there. The letter
wildly describes the horror of the dis
aster.
Dear Idn,--I presume that you dixie
many others are anxious to know where
am and how I am. The fire did not
reach me. but the outlook for while
on Thursday after the earthquake was
not very favorable We packed what
wo could carry out by hand mo teams
Z to DO had and were ready TO leave at
moments notice. First OF all, let me
tell you: About 5:i5 a. NJ. VIC were sud
denly awakened from a sound sleep by
the terrible rocking to and fro Of the
house. the crashing of glass and china.
and falling OF everything Qoosc) to the
middle OF the floor. attempted to rise
large picture was thrown from the wall
across the pillow from which | had just
raised my head. 4 attempted to 80 to the
window. I WIS terror-stricken. After the
heaving up OF the earth and the most
Violent shaking Of the house had sub
sided, I dressed, and, in company with
II friend, left the building 0here are
three families In this build!ng). Dreal-
ing a repetition OF this awful experience,
we took to the top Of the hlll-to ind
the city below us In flames Tile fire
spread until hope was gone Of saving
the city, and we became much alarmed
about the fire. Thursday afternoon we
were advised to abandon our homes.
The city was given over to martial law,
and now we have the appearance OF
living on the frontier. We go day By day
to the soldiers for food and water and
any other supplies. We are in dark
ness, 81 except for the candles we are
allowed, to burn until 10 o'clock. We are
without water except what we can carry,
and our food we get from the relief com
mittee stationed around this unburne"
district There were about 100000 people
In the streets OF San Francisco since the
earthquake, No ono is allowed to enter
the city. except on urgent business. The
railroads carried away about 100000 reo.
ple, mostly women and children. but
able-bodied men were detained to clear
up the debris and do what they could
to relieve the suffering. There Is but u
very small portion OF the city left, ard
It breaks my heart to see thai barren
threc-fourths laid bare OF all It's be.uy
and usefulness.
Cannot Yet Have Fires.
We are not allowed TO have fires IN
the house. so we have erected COO:
stoves In the streets at Our front doors.
and must carry our food up and down
stairs. and It Is like Sinking red flag
sin athc face Of bull to put out wash
,ing.f Water Is so scarce that wo nro
forbidden to use it for anything but
absolute necessities had large wash
Ing at my Chinamnn's. and, OF course.
It burned, 30 / am short OF clothes.
Have no mosey, and have been cut or
from my practice and have my income
stopped What | am to do for Whllc
Is a puzzle to me. Our experiences are
awful. cannot begin to describe any
part Of them. The terror at the time OF
tho shock: the anxiety about tho hres;
the fear OF food and water FAMINE; me
dread of exposure and disease; we had
all these to live through. outside peop'a
arc sending supplies, SO no onc, VIII want
for food but it Is not the KIND or 1000
one needs In this climate, aid there 10
no fruit nor green stutfs, except lor sh'e'
and there IL no money-at least In my
possession. If can keep my health ana
pnt something to do here. I will stay
until know what the prospects VIII nc
for n new city and new practice. Oh,
it is simply awful! do not thlhk your
papers exaggerate, except about tidal