The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1906-04-29
HE REMAINED COOL
WHEN EARTH SHOOK
Put on Clothes and Walked
Down Stairs.
ADVENTURE WITH FAT LADY
Gave His Hat to Scared Man-Offered
to Help Girl Dressing in
Hall
ADVENTURE WITH FAT LADY

One Of the most interesting letters yet
received from San Francisco since the
earthquake and fire came to Chief En-
gineer c. a. McAlIister. of the Revenue
Cutter Service today from his assistant.
II. n. Wood. who was a guest of the
California Hotel when the disaster over
took the city.
Engineer Woods letter is written in
the form of a diary. after the introduc-
ton. which is of personal nature and
contains no information of public inter
est Plunging right into his story. Mr.
Wood writes as foi;ows:
April IS. 5:13 a m-Occupying room
rs. seventh floor of California Hotel;
awakened by violent shaking of build
ing; remained in bed until shock ceased;
arose, looked out of window. listened for
screams; heard none: dressed quickly
for street Including collar and tie);
started down stairs: one fight down
gave hat away to a badly scared gentle
man with a hysteIicai wife; went back
upstairs after another; started down
again; offered assistance to girl dress
ing in the hall; refused: down three
flights, helped carry fat lady. who had
collapsed. in room and put on bed 600
pounds; no small job; continued down
TO office: found most people properly
clothed; few decidedly otherwise; re-
mained about office and front of hotel
about fifteen minutes talking over the
situation.
Takes a Walk.
$50 a. M Find friend and walk I'D
Bush street 20 Grant. down to Mar
ket, along Market to Battery, out Bat
terry TO Broadway, down Broadway to
water front. along water front past
ferry TO Howard, up Howard to Second.
up Second, across Market to Post. I'D
Post 10 Kearney, back on Kearney to
Bush and to hotel.
10 a. m.-Walked out to Market
street and back to see the fires which
were spreading rapidly south of Mar
ket and east of Sansome street. rode
the other direction in a buggy with A
friend. did not think that there was any
danger of fire reaching the section
about the hotel.
~ m--Walked out to southwest to
observe the fire. which was spreading
very rapidly south of Market street
condition very serious but no sign of
fire north of Market or west of San
some street; returned to hotel to rest
packed part of baggage
A Vain Attempt.
'1:S0 p. m.-Walked down to apprais-
er's building and watched fire. which
was in next block; building apparently
safe; walked up Telegraph and Mob
hills 10 look over city: saw fires break
ing out above Montgomery street near
hearney, concluded that 1t was time
TO lust, returned to hotel and finished
packing baggage; consulted others in
house, decided 10 try TO make North
Beach with baggage, tried il in a one
horse express wagon with two friends:
were cut of by the guards At the hose
lines leading up the hill. found it impos-
sible to get up the hill with the load.
returned TO hotel and unIoaded the
trunks; two friends started out with
light baggage over hills for North
Beach, I remained at home with bag
gage; still some hopes that fire would
not go above Kearney street"
Engineer Wood then describes how he
tried to sleep in the launch of the
revenue cutter Bear. but was I'M
able to rest on account of the
cold. Early the next morning. AlI-i 49,
he assisted some refugees 10 move their
baggage out of the zone OF danger. ard
a o'clock in the afternoon ate the
first food that he had had since leaving
the hotel the day before. His narrative
then continues:
''3;i5 p. m.-Left friends and started
for North Beach. crossed small park.
so tired and sleepy. laid down on grass
and tried to sleep. began to get cold and
stifr, decided 10 go on to Megg's Wharf
n i =
get to bed; on way assisted several dis
tressed women up hills with baggage
and furniture: at pier twenty-nine found
ferTyboat taking passengers for Oak
land; noted cracks IN pavement foot
wide; assures several feet deep; depres-
sion In one place about five feet; reached
main ferry and took a boat at 20;
made way TO BODIES Dock and to the
Bear: got supper and good nights rest"
Engineer Wood returned 20 San Fran
cisco the next mornir 3.