Gilpin observer., 1906-04-26
AN AWFUL DISASTER
Adequate Description Of the San Francisco
Calamity Bankrupts the English
Language.
FRANK MAIsCHoss TELLS OF HIS EXPERIENCE

Frank Maischoss, who has been So
journing in California the past couple
Of months, arrived home Sunday even
ing after remaining day or two in Den
yer, where he was met by his wife. Mr..
Maischoss was among the very first to
escape from San Francisco after the
city was visited by the appalling earth
quake of last Wednesday morning, and
an extremely interesting interview from
him, pertaining to the catastrophe, ap-
peared in Saturday evenings edition of
the Denver Post.
Shortly after his arrival home Mr.
. Maischoss was seen by an Observer re-
porter and asked for an interview. In
attempting to relate his awful exper-
ience and the sights he had witnessed
on that eventful day, words absolute
ly failed him. The English language
seemed inadequate to properly express
the extent Of the horror. The efforts Of
the reporter to supply the words neces-
sary were futile, notwithstanding the
fact that Mr.. Maischoss was being in
terrogated in the presence of Thomas
Stribley, who vainly endeavored to rem
der assistance. When it was seen that
the supply of words of Mr.. Stribley, who
has an extensive, if not an unlimited,
vocabulary failed of its purpose, the OBJ
server man repaired to remote seat in
the rear.
The ordeal which Mr.. Maischoss
thron.h laccr,pf,nr, arl
cannot be compared to any horror of
which the minds of the readers can con-
ceive. Dante's Inferno would be veri-
table paradise in comparison and the
burning Of Rome together with the hid
eous walls Of all the dogs, would serve
merely as side show. Mr.. Maischoss
insists that the years OF his existence
have been curtailed at least five. The
gentleman related the disaster in the
strongest terms he could command, not
in the least fearing exaggeration as that
would be an utter impossibility.
1t was shortly after five o'clock in the
morning OF last Wednesday when the
city received the first shock. Mr.. Mais-
choss was snugly wrapped in bed, en-.
joying all the pleasure restful sleep
holds, when he was suddenly awakened.
The first jar caused him to sit straight
up in bed and SO closely did the second
jar follow the first, before he could COL
lect his bearings sufficiently to get out
OF bed by supernatural power he was
seated in the center OF the room. He
got up and walked to the window with
much difficulty, the room rocking and
shaking like ship on rough sea.
When he reached the window and gazed
into the street, he saw the high build
ings across the way rocking like stalk
OF corn in a Kansas zephyr. The first
thought that entered his mind was that
Gabriel had sounded the final call and
the world had come to an end He claims
shock was one minute. To bear him
out in that assertion he said that after
he had come to the conclusion that the
world was no more, the sins he had com
mitted since he had ceased to say that
childish prayer SO familiar to us all,
Nov, / lay me, etc." passed through
his mind and for him to recall all these,
though few they may have been, would
require minutes time at the lowest.
When the shock passed and the build
ing quieted, he managed to hastily dress
himself and rush out into the hall. On
his way to the stairs he saw woman on
her knees, wringing her hands and ex-
claiming, "What shall l do! Oh, what
shall do!" Mr.. Maischoss said Just at
that moment he was in too big a hurry
to vacate the building to stop and offer
any suggestions.
1t was not until he reached the street
that he realized an earthq had oc-
Cured. People were then running
wildly in every direction. Some were
partly dressed and some had nothing on
but their sleeping attire. He went up
the street several blocks from the hotel
and after watching the rapidly spread
ing flames thought he would go to n
restaurant and get something to eat.
When he reached the restaurant he
found that in flames. Ho wended his
way back tn the hotel to get his belong
ings, which he hurriedly gathered and
got out Of the rapidly burning building.
When he was at the door down stairs,
just out Of the building, he met the
clerk OF the hotel and asked him for
$4,000 he had deposited with the office
and which was in the safe. The clerk
positively refused to go back into theofilce
to get it and said that as far as he was
personally concerned ii could remain