The San Francisco call., 1906-05-11
Collapse Of the Nevada
House Described by
Frank Lee.
Only Thirteen Of Thirty.
Six Guests Taken
From Ruins.
Fire Puts End to Work OF
Rescue While Victims
Plead for Aid.

Frank Lee, con Of the proprietor Of
the Nevada House at ls2 Sixth street,
claims that twenty-three persons met
death sn that hostelry on the morn
ing OF the disaster. In a statement
made by Lee TO Coroner Walsh yes
uerday the horror Of the earthquake
and subsequent IRE was described II
detail, so Tar aS the people in his
house were concerned, and the young
nan averred that but thirteen out OF
thiEty-six dodgers were brought from
the ruins alive.
Lee acted as night clerk In the Ne
va6a House. The list Of dead as
given by him includes his father,
mother and sister. After the build
ing had collapsed from the tremor he
vas caught IN the wTeckage and so
badly. injured thai he has remained in
a hospital since that time When he
was finally rescued from his position
he remained in the street as one after
another OF the injured inmates
escaped OF was brought out. He
counted them all and be knew who
remained when the last Of the res
ouers retreated IN the face OF the sp-
preaching IRE and the shrieks Of the
helpless were nufiled By the roar Of
the flames.
Young Lee was In the Office when
the earthquake occurred The struo-
ture, four stories high, creaked and
swsyed and finally the walls, rent and
bulging, collapsed Lee was pitched TO
The front Of the building. his finger
badly crushed and his body lacerated
and bruised. With assistance that
quickly arrived he succeeded in reach
ing the street and gave hand in the
rescue Of others. His first care was
for his parents and sister, but he
found they could not be reached In
Iheir position under the splintered
umberA Then other lodgers claimed
his attention and he was present
when each was drawn from beneath
The heaps Of debris.
Thirteen persons including himself
were accounted for when the fire was
ready 70 complete the terrible work of
destruction. 1t advanced on two sides
and the rescuers worked until their
hair was stnged and their flesh scorch-
ed. They were urged on IN their ef-
forts by the piteous pleading OF the
imprisoned unfortunstes, who scented
the smoke and heard the crackle Of the
hamess But their endurance had
reached a limit and they fed for their
own safety. leaving twenty-three hu-
man beings TO their fate Later Lee
fui - i.
sufficiently recovered only yesterday
70 leave the institution and tell his
story.
The list OF dead ss given by Lee is as
follows;
Alva Lee. so years Of age. proprietor
Mrs. Alva Lee, aged 81 years; wife
0f proprietor.
Hilda Lee. aged Is. daughter of pro-
prietor.
mrs. Emma Greiner, 90 years Of
agsg employed in box factory at Third
and Townsend streets.
Hiss Edna Greiner, Is years Of age
Ers. Francis. fortune teller.
- Kesseler, Is years Of age
Woman known as Rosie" who had
been living with Kesseler.
Mrs. Ella Martin OF San Antonio,
Tex spiritualist-
Mrs Lawrence. So years Of age.
Joseph Cook. barber.
Ars. Joseph Cook. medium
- Carey, lAborer. rs years Of age.
Mrs. Jones dressmaker.
- Olnastea6. employe OF box fac
tory st Third and King streeta.
J. @. Bunker. painter
Mrs ]. @. Bunker.
Fred Espinola, lather
- Brookman, street sweeper.
Joseph Murray, tile setter.
Mrs. Alma Harris.
Virginia Harris. years Of age.
James Refily, plumber