The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1906-04-25
The Misses Masse Relate Graphic
Experience,
HUNDREDS PEOPLE KILLED
Young Ladies Compelled to Sleep In
Cemetery All Night--Thieves
Are Shot without Mercy by
the Soldiers.

anu witnessing the unuttefapie horfois
of the earthquake and fire. that devas'
ta,ed San Francisco. the Misses Anna
and Belle Magce arrived home last even.
ing, thankful to escape with their lives
and return once more to the land where
such eatastrophes never happen,
TheN relate gfphic account "
their experiences and in spite OF what
they saw aud endured are none the
worse for their trying time.
They say that when the first shock
came they were asleep in a house at
1850 Qfarrll street, located three
blocks above Van Meas avenue. and were
awakened by being literally thrown ne
ross the room.
I'VE were terribly frightened" said
Miss Anna Magee, last night in re-
ferring to the subject, and for time
hardly knew what had occurred Ey'
cry article of furniture in the room
was upset and smashed, and even the
doors throughout the building which
were locked flew open
Without waiting to dress Belle and
myself ran into the street, with bricks
and stones flying all about us, The
street was already crowded with fright
ened and hysterical women, who shrek
| ed and moaned. crying that the end Of
the world had come, and adding TO the
! horror of the scene Fires also were
beginning to blaze in every direction
I'VE remained about an hour out
doors. and then fastened back into the
houses where we collected what cloth
es we could and escaped, We thought
TO take the train to San Jose, and
made our way with the utmost difficult
ty TO the depot, only to learn from the
conductor that that city was all gone,
| ana 10 DC tolu UNIV iuAtlnhu was ="
quilted by a tidal wave, Chicago and
Denver destroyed and New York city in
flames. r
"Of course by this time we weN'
thoroughly terrified and believed the
| assertion OF the conductor that the end
had come. Finding that we could not
leave the city tired as we were we walk
ed back to our ronming place. Every
block We would be stopped by soldiers
and warned not to 90 in that dirrc'
ton and ii we had obeyed all the or
ders which we received we would prob.
ably have been compelled to jump into
the bay, a. that seemed 10 be the only
thing which wasn't on fire, according
to the military.
When We reached our house, it was
about noon and We found the Chinese
cook calmly building fire in the kitch'
en- stove preparatory to cooking dinner
He was compelled to de-i.t at once. a.
the chimney was down and fires OF any
kind We're positively forbidden to be
lit.
"That night we slept in Calvary Gem
eterv. It was awful. Wailing women
and children crowded together watched
the red flames leaping across the heavens
every moment seemingly approaching
nearer Many tried to leave, but sentrie-
posted all around stopped any one who
did 80. In the morning, the fire wa
even worse, and tired and hungry, FOL
we had nothing to eat except a fe"
crusts of bread, and one cup OF water
which went the rounds of IL girls, VIZ
started for the ferry. Time and agar
we almost tainted for the sights which
met us were sickening. Many time'
we stepped over dead bodies; some hac
been shot by the soldiers, and Others
killed by falling walls. The fire to'
ragged all around US, and soldiers order
ed us back, until we prevailed upol
them to let us pass.
"Had it not been for a fortunate
chance, we might never have reached
the ferry for just as we had abandoned
our suit cases, and about given up hop
four gentlemen met us, whom we knew
and with their aid we reached the fer
ry. After long wait we managed t.
cross to the Oakland side where we me
friends who cared for us. Every tow
which we stopped at on our way mort
treated us royalty"
Probably the most terrible occurenc
which the Misses Magee narrate, is tina
when the fire first started many injure'
we're taken to the Mechanics pavilion
Finally the fire reached this building
. in which there were $50 patients. A
: fast as possible the inmates were car
ried out but the fire was swifter an
when over fifty persons men, women
and little children. were still remain