Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-05-05
IN ''BREAD Line"
J. C. Rasmussen. Formerly OF
This City. Lost Hsavily
at Frisco.
PLACES OF BUSINESS GONE
Members of Family Came Through
Safe, But Are Temporarily De-
pendent Upon Charity.

]. c. Rasmussen, for many years
proprietor of a photograph studio in
this city and now of San Francisco,
lost his two places of business by
quake and fire. His home, which is
outside the burned district, was badly
damaged, but he and wife and daugh-
ter escaped harm. In letter to
friends here, MIR. Rasmussen states
that his money is gone, but he has
little courage left. His letter con-
cludeS:
When I'm not scratching my head
thinking about the future, why, | am
in a bread line which is often five and
six blocks long and my companions
look to be a very mixed lot. One,
neighbor, l know, had an income OF
81 900 per month, and some look as II
they had never had 90 cents.
Sometimes we go away with enough
for a generous meal for all, Eve are
housing two besides the family while
at other times il is not. For lunch
yesterday l got six soda crackers and
two oranges, not an extensive supply
but we try to be contented, as money
cannot buy food when it's not here.
Tomorrow morning l start Maurine
for the Jamason ranch. one OF the
largest in the state. They telegraph
ed for her; they meet her at Fresno
in their auto and she is then safe, for
the yellow flag is flying within two
blocks of us.
Must close as Mrs. r. is calling to
me to build the fire for coffee. Every
body cooks in the street until CHM
news can be repaired or gas turned
on At night we sit around in the
dark as no lights are permitted and
at the slightest vibration either from
sIamming doors or other cause. we
Jerk ourselves into an upright position
and start for the doors,
you can readily understand that I'M
der these conditions life has no pleas
ure but we hope matters Will soon
change for the better.
Mr. and Mrs. Whites Experience.
|. S. White, who with Mrs. White. has
inst returned from San Francisco,
speakin gto an Argus representative
White and myself left San Francisco
Sunday afternoon. preceding the earth
quake. having taken our daughter anu
the nurse to San Raphael, and after
leaving them there returned TO san
Francisco. We were at the st. Fran
els hotel, and when we left Monday
evening. we left our three trunks and
baggage. except a small handbag anu
the clothing we wore. 1t was lmpos-
sible to take with us to the Yosemite
any other baggage, as 1T was drive
of rs miles. We expected to be back
the following Monday.
1--WE were near the Yosemite when
we felt the earthquake shock. Wednes-
day morning. All wires were down
and we could get no news from San
Francisco until Thursday noon. and
then only the report OF travelling
man who left Oakland on the morning
of the earthquake. For as hours nc
word was received, and then the report
came that the surrounding towns mad
been completely destroyed, and thal
San Francisco was being destroyed by
the fire following the damage OF the
at was Sunday afternoon when we
returned to San Raphael. and we were
Obliged to spend nearly all the day
getting from Oakland to San Raphaei
Afterwards l secured pass and sew
eraI times visited the part OF the city
where the St. Francis hotel stood. Inc
hotel looked like burned out 1ur
mace, the interior being completely ue
stroyed. while the steel structure ahc
the walls apparently were uninJurec
nv either fire or earthquake.
zone of the incidents | saw that IL
Iustrated the extent of the loss sus
tanned by tourists was Raymond eN
cursion train of seven Pullman cars
with 81 people in the party. me en-
tire baggage of the party included only
seven trunks, a number having lost as
many as five trunks.
"An of our baggage was lost, as II
was at the ST Francis: We had moth
ing left but the clothing we wore when
we left for the Yosemite"