The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-05-11

tGoldsooro Argis.)
As already noted IN these columns,
Mr.. and Mrs r. c. Freeman have
wv ors in San Francisco. Rod" and
Frank. from whom kilograms were re-
ceaved the day after the terrible quake.
Mrs. Freeman has just received \
letter from Rod. which by her kind
PERMISSION we are able TO give u
RAIDERS and we are sure il will be
read with interest py all. Here IL is:
Emeryviile. Cal,
April ., 1906.
My Dear. Dear Mother
inteied writing you sooner, but
there has been 40 much excitement
here that | hardly knew what | VAS
doing. All OF us lived safely through
the terrible earthquake and fire. Frank
has gone TO Sacramento Cal.
Met Merriednh in the afternoon CT
the first day Of the fire and he sold
me that he and his flasher lost every
thing.
For the last month | have been
working across the bay At Emery"
VILE, for the same firm that | worked
for at Fresno last summer. and was
there during the quake.
Was awakened Wednesday morning
at Sis by a sight and feeling that I
viii never forget rs long a | live.
was on the second floor OF a two story
frame building-when | was awakened
il was shaking. jumping and pitching.
something awful. First ! staggered TO
the window, could see cnimneys n
huge smoke stacks tumbling over as
Ii they were mere ten pins. Ii then
came into my mind To get out OF the
house thought sure it would either
collapse or turn over before | succeed
ed, but il did not. I remember | had
a terrible time getting down the stairs.
it was impossible TO walk. guess |
fell most of the way.
The streets we're full OF scared leo-
pie. clad in their night clothes only.
About $50 a. m, | learned that San
Francisco was a total wreck and on
fire. Anxious TO know If Frank was
safe | caught the next boat n went
over. The sight that met my eyes
as | walked through the ferry build
ing and looked up Market stree. Is
impossible TO describe. Great build
ings all shattered to pieces the streets
sunk from 4 TO 6 feet. great cracks in
the ground, street Car tracks broken,
and fire raging everywhere. | lodged
around fire and fallen buildings until
| finally found Frank, safe and sound.
The top of the big building that he
was living in fell off and killed sew
eraI people. The main shock was at
Sis, but there were smaller ones
all throught the day. After l had
e Frank and had witnessed as many
of the horrible sights as | cared to-
see | started for the ferry to come
back to E~meryville, u was disap-
] pointed as fire had my path blocked
So | a to spend the night IN tnat
wrecked and burning city. Cannoc be-
gin to tell you of the awful sights L
saw that night and the next morning
on my way TO the boat. | got a quilt
and wolked way out to Jefferson Square
and spent the night. where thousands
of others had gone TO get away from
| the fire. awoke covered with cinders.
and the raging fire was only a DOCK
| away. It was about 5 a. m, Thursday
morning, | started for the ferry again.
| and after walking mile after mile
| around the burning section. reacheu
the boat. Thousands and thousands
| of families los everything they had.
| they would sit on their o step I'M
til the asst moment and then get up
| and walk away with barely enough
| clothes to protect them from the night
| People suffered for food for a day
| or so, but now there is plenty. train
| load after train load coming in every
| day.
The fire probably would not nave
II &c .hor1 had ham wafer
| TO fight IT with, but the shake burs-
most all the pipes, and 1t was some
| time before they could be fixed They
succeeded in checking fire by blasting,
block after block was blown To atoms
before the fire was under control. The
blasts were S Oheavy that parts OF he
bay were covered with dead fish. |
will mail you several papers, one OF
them has a map of San Francisco
showing the fire line at the line IT
was published, but which Is worse
now. Hoping you are all well, and
that YOU did not have TO go through
what we did out here, will close. With
regards to all, | am your devoted son,
r. B. FREEMAN.
p. S. Did you get my telegram!
Have not seen Phil since the shake.
Frank and myself lost very little by
the fire r. b. F.
The Meredith" referred TO in this
letter is a son of DR.. Freeman, broth
CT Of Mr.. r. c. Freeman. who has re
| sided i'm San Francisco for years and
was quite wealthy. It will be seen that
he has lost everything" but he IL a
man of indomitable energy and has
not lost spirit, We feel quite sure
ED ARGUS