The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1908-01-09
CHAPTER II.
BROKEN PLANS.

CHAPTER ii.
| BROKEN PLANS.
"Then the earth shook and trembled;
| Tho foundations also of the hills moved
| And were shaken because he was wroth.
And there went up smoke out Of his nostrs,
And hre out Of his mouth devoured;
| Goals wero kindled by it."-Psa. 1S.
oman proposes but God disposes."
How unexpectedly our plans were in
terrupted. Mr.. Garsong reached San
Francisco the night before the famous
earthquake. arrived about three
hours after. While in the quake, hap
PLY l was not in this city the very
heart OF the tremble. We had purposed
leaving for New Zealand on the 10th of
April, 1906, on the steamship Sonoma.
Mr.. Garsong loft for the coast from Des
Moines. l had been leading in church
rally at Lyons, Kansas, where the new
church had just been dedicated. Start
ing from our respective places at the
same time and in consequence of me
making side trip into Texas, we met
at the Grand Canyon of the Arkansas.
1t happened that his ticket read over
the Southern Pacific from Los Angeles
while mine read over the Santa Fe from
Los Angeles to Frisco. We departed
on our respective roads the same night
from the former place. His train went
through, reaching Frisco the following
night. was supposed to arrive at the
same time but upon reaching Barstow
found the through train from the east.
with which connections are usually
made, was seventeen hours late, occa-
stoned by burning bridge. The hotels
were full. There we're a dozen of us.
After much searching for place to
sleep in this small junction in desert
place we were given, through the cour-
tesy OF the railroad agent, the use of a
chair car standing on sidetrack. Here
we spent the night. A happy family of
those who were strangers the day pre-
vious. 1t happened one man was for
merly minister in the Church of
Christ-now real estate man-three
citizens of Los Angeles, and the others
belonged to various places in Califor-
MIA. Here, too, met one person with
whom had conversed on train while
crossing Idaho the year before.
| The next day an oyster freight train
came through, going north. Isucceed-
ed in getting billed through as a lob.
ster, urging that must 60 in order tc
make connections with an outgoing
boat. Riding on this freight for dis.
lance and making branch line pas.
senger which runs in onto the main
line track, time was made over the de.
layed through train and reached the
stricken city about three hours ate,
the shake. Even then we were com
PEELED to take steamer down the
river, the train being ordered to stot
, several miles out.
Two more tremors occurred durinc
the day. The fire was in full swing
the flames constantly spreading.
; joined a San Francisco jewelryma1
whose place was then burning and VIZ
; together took a number of photograp
He had permit from the chief OF DO
lice to pass the guarded lines. Will
this he secured my passage, as we'll
through the lines from the soldiery
While taking a snapshot we saw tn,
Hopkins Institute of Art take the flame
and while getting ready to aid in carry
Ing out pictures and statuary, men a
the point Of pistols were being show
!. the way to find work by the soldiers
We preferred to volunteer but wer
!. quite fatigued after an half day O
steady manual labor. Then set out t
search for Mr.. Garmong. left my ad
> dress at the pier from which we wer
to set sail, so that should he INQUIRE
> we might arrange to meet there. N
mails were being distributed at tn
general delivery. also tried to wir
! east but no lines were in order. TIL
q next day took train for Sacramento
Here sent message of inquiry to hi
9 people asking them to wire me his ad
! dress as soon as they heard from hin
q Then sending message home waite
9 for four days for reply. Two thor
Q sand messages were in ahead of min
!. even at Sacramento, four hours by trail
g from Frisco. This fact will give a
idea Of the difficulty Of using the wire
y to satisfaction near the upheayed cit,
g Messages from the former place wer
g sent subject to twenty -four hours della.
b / Finally telegram from Des Nome