Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1908-10-10


a house, which, in the greatest fire of
modern times, was saved from the
flames by the flaR When over four
hundred blocks of buildings lay in
smoking ruins, this house was the
only one left standing unconsumed
along the east side of the full length
of Taylor street--a distance OF TWEEN
ty-elght blocks, nearly two full
miles.
At the time of the earthquake and
fire, April IS, 1906, Mrs. Brindley,
daughter of Mr. Sheppard, was there
awaiting the arrival of her husband
to take steamer for Japan. She had
long resided in that country, and had
had earthquake experience" so to
speak. Accordingly, as soon as the
earth had ceased trembling, she pro-
ceeded to fill the bathtubs and all
other receptacles in the house with
water. She feared that the dis
turbance of the earth had broken the
supply mains; and hardly had she
filled the last pitcher when her fear
was proved well grounded. The
water ceased to flow. But the first
step that made it possible for the flag
to save the house had been taken.
Mr.. Sheppard and Mr.. Dakin took the
second step. In order that the house
hold might have supply OF drink
ing water, they brought home from
neighboring grocery a dozen or so
bottles charged with carbonic acid
gas--the kind of bottles where you
press a lever at the top, and the
water fizZes out in stream under
pressure. They are commonly called
"siphons."
At this time no one thought the
houge in danger. 1t had sturdily
wittstood the earthquake; and the
fire was many blocks away. But all
Wednesday and Wednesday night and
all of Thursday the fire ragged in fury;
and at last it came creeping up the
slope Of Russian Hill. The flames
reached the block in which the house
was situated The heat grew intense.
The sides of the house sent forth
! smoke. The veranda on the east
broke into flames, and the under side
of the caves on the north and east
kindled to a blaze.
Mr.. Sheppard and his family had
| taken one last look at their home
with its treasures. and had sought
refuge with friends across the bay.
Dir. Dakin had stayed to the last,
hoping against hope. But all hope
was gone. The house was burning
and he was warned away. He de-
termined to hoist lis largest Amer
lean flag and let the house meet de-
struetion with the colors flying fair
above it. He rushed to his room OF
flags, selected his largest Stars and
Stripes, mounted to the roof, at
taChed the great flag to the halyards
and flung 1t to the breeze, Then
with a feeling somewhat akin to re-
spect for the conquering power of the
great fire king, roaring forward in ir.
resistihle ruin, and with spirit
somewhat akin to the uncomfortable
pluck that stirred the breasts Of his
comrades in the days of the Civil
War, he dipped the flag in salute
Three times the glorious banner rose
and fell; and then, fastening the hal
yards, Mr.. Dakin descended the
stairs, locked the door, and with E
heavy heart left the house to 1t.
fate. High in the air, shining brigh
in the light of sun and flames, above
the house of pines that had grown
by the shores of the Atlantic, stream
ing forth on breeze that came fresl
from the Pacific, stood "Olt Glory"
The white stars upon that flag were
there as symbols OF the States of thu
Union One star was there for Cali
fornia and one was there for Georgia
but three blocks away, to the east
ward, at the corner of Vallejo stree
and Montgomery avenue, at that mo
ment, there CHANGED to be a compan,
of men who represented all the star
on that flags field of blue-a com
pany of the Twentieth United State
Infantry.
Under the command of youn,
lieutenant, the company had been o,
its way to San Francisco on the da,
of the earthquake, and had been de
layed on its journey twehty-fou
hours. 1t had entered the city Thurs
day afternoon by the ferry from Oak
land, aud was Mt that moment march
ing under orders to go into camp a
Washington square. The lieutenan
and his men had seen the flag rls
and fall in salute; and saw it now a
it streamed forth in its beauty amids
smoke and fame.
Boys" shouted the young leuten
ant, "a house that flies a flag like tina
is worth saying!" His men responde
with cheer; and as Mr.. Dakin wa
sadly vending his way down tn
northern slope OF Russian Hill, sol
diers of the Twentieth United State
Infantry were dashing up the easter
slope at a double-quick. No time wa
lost. They tore away the burnin
woodwork Of the veranda, broke ope
the doors and discovered the BATH
tubs filled with water, Some of theI
carried earth from the garden, other
mixed It in the bathtubs to the cor
sistency of wet plaster. and then eel
tain of their number stationed then
selves at the different windows, an
as the wet mud was carried to thel
they bombarded every spot that ha
kindled into fame.
One by one the houses in the bloc
burned up and burned out, until tn
old house stood alone. Every bla2
that had started upon it's caves an
sides had been extinguished save on,
There was one spot under the cave
at the northeast corner that could NJ
be bombarded successfully. Unles
the fire at that point was put out a
that had been done were done /
vain.
The soldiers were equal to th
emergency. a squad mounted to tn
roof One OF the men lay Aat upo