The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-10-14
SAVED BY THE FLAG.
How One San Francisco Rouse
Stood With Ruins All around It. a,
A E. n. WAEslaN. In st. Nicholas.

d mouse, WHICH,, LII TIC SiColCSI IL "
modern times, was saved from the
flames by the flag. 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-eight blocks, nearly two full
miles. 3 +
At the time of the earthquake and
fire, April IS, 1906, Mrs. Brindley, a
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-
sceeded 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 we'll 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 a supply of drink
ing water, they brought home from a
%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 a stream under
pressure. They are commonly called
'"siphons."
At this time no one thought the
house in danger. 1t had sturdily
withstood the earthquakes; 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 1t M creeping up the
slope of Russian Hill. The flames
reached the block in which the house
vas 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.
Mr.. 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 his largest Amer
;ican flag and let the house meet de-
.struction 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 it 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-
resistible ruin, and with a 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 a
heavy heart left the house to it's
fate. High in the air, shining bright
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 a breeze that came fresh
from the Pacific, stood "Old Glory"
The white stars upon that flag were
there as symbols of the States of the
Union. One star was there for Cali
fornia and n was there for Georgia;
but three blocks away, to the east
ward, at the corner of Vallejo street
and Montgomery avenue, at that mo-
ment, there CHANGED to be a company
of men who represented all the stars
on that flags field of blue-a COM
pany of the Twentieth United States
Infantry.
Under the command of a young
lieutenant, the company had been on
its way to San Francisco on the day
of the earthquake, and had been de-
layed on its journey twenty-four
hours. 1t had entered the city Thurs
day afternoon by the ferry from Oak
land, and was at that moment march
ing under orders to go into camp at
Washington square. The lieutenant
and his men had seen the flag rise
and fall in salute; and saw it nov as
1t streamed forth in its beauty amidst
smoke and fame.
Boys" shouted the young lieuten-
ant, "a house that flies a flag like that
is worth saving" His men responded
with a cheer; and as Mr.. Dakin NAas
sadly vending his way down the
northern slope of Russian Hill, SOL
diers Of the Twentieth United States
Infantry were dashing up the eastern
slope at a double-quick. No time was
lost. They tore away the burning
woodwork of the veranda, broke open
the doors and discovered the bath
tubs filled with water. Some Of them
carried earth from the garden, others
mixed it in the bathtubs to the con-
sistency of wet plaster, and then GER
tain Of their number stationed them
selves at the different windows, and
as the wet mud was carried to them