Weekly Arizona journal-miner., 1906-06-06
from falling bricks, this 10 just one lit.

tie lnbthnce.
We passed a lodging house where the
flames were already eating the lower
stories, and women and children
| jumping from windows above TO be
caught in blankets held by men or
crushed to death on the sidewalk. One
woman threw her little baby from a
fourth story window 10 some men be.
low, but they failed to catch it and
it fell in the street near us and was in
stantly killed. Oh, il was all so awful
and more than can ever tell, let
alone write. Finally we reached DR.
Palmer, and set to digging holes in
which to bury her books. When we
finished IL was noon, and We started
with what belongings Of hers we could
carry for long six mile tramp to the
ferry. The day was hot, and the heat
/ added to the flames and our heavy loads
and heavy coats, on top Of not bite Ia
eat or drop of water since Tuesday
night made it seem impossible TO com.
! pletc our journey. On every side
were cries and appeals Of the wounded
and suffering, the awful sight of help.
less old people left alone and children
lost from their parents, and many
whose parents were dead or dying. In
the lower part Of the city W. saw
many 40 drunk they either deserted
their children or killed them in their
frenzy Of fright All this seemed
more than human mind could bear,
but by the help of some great power
we trudged on hour after hour, some.
times being so near the wild, rushing
flames we could hardly stand the
scorching heat, and odor from burning
flesh, sometimes seeing men and wo
men too drunk to move and soon the
smoke and flames would hide them
from view. Many Of these people had
perhaps never taken intoxicants Ia
excess in their lives, but their awful
suffering from lack of water led
them to tap whiskcy barrels or bee,
kegs, ard drink thereof TO nliay their
maddcning thirst. Once we came "a
a fire plug where n little water was
leaking out, and men and women were
fighting with clubs and knives for even
one little drop Of water. We crossed
streets down near the water front with
cracks eight and ten feet wide, seeming
to have no bottom.
Finally, we reached the ferry and by
fighting our way, succeeded in getting
on to the boat, and Mt last reached
Berkeley, where Mrs. Charles Mctcalf
the whole -soulcd woman that she is
gave us shelter, food, water, and rest
DIR. Palmer, after leaving us there
went on to Oakland, where she had
friends, only to find that her dearest
friend, DR.. Lillian Dell, had been kill.
ed at the Agnew insane asylum, where
she had been resident physician. The
next morning early, Miss Palmer and
] went to Agnew to try to find the
body. Or. Dclls room had been on
the fourth floor, under an immense
tower, which had fallen during the
earthquake, demolishing the whole
building. She was crushed To death
and carried to the ground with the
rocks and timbers. Her body had been
dug out the day before and carried y
Santa Clara, three miles beyond. We
procured poor excuse of n horse, and
drove wildly to Santa Clara, where we
found the body had been put into n
casket and sealed. The undertaken re-.
fused to give up the body unless $l75
was paid him in cash. We could not
pay II, and were not sure that the cas-.
kct contained DR.. Dell. We found some
officers and prevailed on tlrm to open
the casket, by cutting IL, revealing her
poor bruised body, which had not even
been washed, but laid perfectly nude
on little straw in the bottom of the
casket, the most horrible sight l ever
saw. We then grew desperate, and
fairly scared the undertaken into Civ.
ing us the body, which We hauled to
San Jose, and then shipped it to Oak.
land. Then all the arrangements for
the funeral had to be made, 80 altogcth.
er 1t was most trying ordeal.
This is all for this time-later on
will tell you of some of my experiences
in. helping DIR. Palmer with the sick
and wounded.