Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1906-08-10
A Few Incidents of Untold History.

some lactS about tue great San
Francisco disaster are now being wills
nered abroad that have hitherto been
talked about with battd breath within
the devastated district. One OF these
j. the persistent effort that has been
made to minimize the loss of both life
and property by the shock. One re-
liable witness states that the victims
might have been numbered by the
thousands had any disposition been
shown for accuracy in relating the eX-
act truth; that in "A single building
over 600 people were unaccounted Tor
and there is nothing to show that they
were not all victims of the first act of
the great tragedy. 1t is also related
that John ID. Spreckles, the sugar
king, became SO affected over the pre-
partitions to dymolish his costly and
luxurious palace on Van Ness Avenue,
filled with works of art that could
never be replaced, to check the spread
ing fire, that he went upon his knees
on the sidewalk and implored the
the soldiers to spare the sacrifice. But
it was their duty to obey, and it went
ekyward with flash.
Another remarkable incident was
that hours before any human being
had the slightest premonition of i'm
pending disaster, hundreds OF horses
throughout the city were unusually
nervous. They paved, kicked and
neighed, and exhibited every sign OF
res,lessness in their stalls, showing
conclusively that their nerves were far
more sensitive in response to Natures
occult powers than the brain of man.
An eye and ear witness of the terrible
scene writes: "The cries of horror,
the shouts of firemen, the commands
OF the military officers, the clatter of
falling walls and the thunder of dyns-
mite will die in my ears, but l will
never forget the rattle OF trunks over
the cobble. stones as the people dragged
their earthly belongings to places OF
comparative safety"
1t is stated, on the best of authority,
that several hundred people became
insane the day OF the shock, while
scores Of people who had been dement,
ed for years suddenly regained their
minds, another proof of the philosophic
deduction that We are fearfully and
wonderfully made"
David Starr Jordan, President OF the
Stanford University, is authority for
the statement that the Sierra Moreno
range OF mountains, the backbone OF
the peninsula OF San Francisco, slipped
northward from three to six feet dur
ing the earthquake. At st. Mary's
cathedral, while the tremors were rum
ming through the building and bits OF
brick and mortar were falling from
the upper walls, two priests made their
way to the tower, and steadied the
cross which would doubtless have fallen
had it not have been for their support.
This act shows the sincerity and depth
of devotion neld by religious zealots
for objects regarded as sacred.
An individual with the significant
name Of Hellman, one OF the richest
men in the State, refused the use OF
concealed oven to bake bread in for
the refugees. He was compelled to
unearth it and was given the first loaf
as souvenir in compliment to his lib.
erality coerced though it was.
The night following the earthquake
many people slept in the burial vaults
and mausoleums OF Laurel Hill Gene
terry. Those who slept in tombs be.
side caskets containing the dead ex-
perienced a rare form OF rest. One OF
these care.driven victims on being
asked where he had slept the preced-
ing night said: "Ob, l found nice
soft grave! How about your"
The Collier Theatrical company,
which was about sailing for Australia,
was rounded up CHE male members)
and pressed into service for the public
welfare, in clearing Market street OF
bricks and mortar. Mr.. Collier, the
manager himself had the unusual ex.
perience OF three hours OF hard labor
with a pick. John Barrymore, the
star, and brother of Ethel Barrymore,
the leading lady, was made to dig
trenches at the bayonet's point, beside
the Secretary OF State OF California.
Military rule was no respecter of per.
sons and made common laborers Of all.
The Mission Dolores, an ancient
church built centuries ago, the Oldest
building in San Francisco, came from
the ordeal practically uninjured. 1t
was built by the Spanish padres, large
ly of adobe, and its foundation is as
firm as the day it was built.
WITHDRAWAL OF PUBLIC LAND-The
local land Office has received notice
from Acting Secretary OF the interior
s. F. Pollock, announcing the with
drawal from entry of certain lands
within its jurisdiction. 1t is almost
entirely in Thurston county and is de-.
scribed as follows: Township Is north,
range east; township Is north, range
6 east; township 20 north, range 5
east; township 10 north, range east !;
township Is north, range 6 east, and
township 16 north, range 2 west. It is
understood that the withdrawal is
pending examination for coal deposits.
Ia FL l.. l.