The new South-news., 1908-10-24

A. 1864 Taylor street. IN tho IT,
nf San Franclsco. there stands to-da.
a house. which, in the greatest FIRE o
modern times. was saved from IN
namos by the flag when over fou
hundred blocks Of buildings lay 1,
nmoklng ruins. thla house wne IA,
only ono loft standing unconaume,
along tho east side of tho fun lengtl
OF Taylor atroot-a distance OF TWEEN
v-clTht blocks. nearly two ful
miles.
Al Tho time Of tho earthquake and
IRE. April rs. 1906. Mrs. Brlndiey. d
daughter of Mr. Sheppard. was there
awaiting the arrival OF her husband
10 take steamer for Japan. She had
long resided in that country and had
had earthquake experience, so tc
speak Accordingly. as soon as the
earth had ceased trembling. she pro.
ccedod to MI the bethtubs aud All
other recep,acloa IN the house with
water. She feared that the dis.
tufhanco OF the earth had broken tho
supply Mains and hardly had she
hllcd the last pitcher when her fcar
was proved we'll grounded The
water ceased TO flow. nut the Ara,
step that made II possible for the aar
to save the house had been taken.
Mr.. sheppard and Mr. Dakln took the
second step. In order that the house
hold Nigh, have supply of drink
Ink water, they brought home from n
nciEhhoring grocery a doyon or 40
bottles charged with carbonIc acla
gas the kind of bottles whore vo,,
press a lever at the TOP. and tho
water flzzes out In a stream under
pressure. They are commonly called
"siphonn"
A. this time no one thouvh, thu
house in danger II had st,,,u,
withaiood the earthquake. ana tho
hre was many blocks away. put an
Wednesday and Wednesday nlebt and
All or Ihursday the IRE RACED In fury:
and at last II camo creeping up the
slope OF Russian I'm. The flames
reached me block I'm which the house
was situated. Tho heat grew intense.
ihe Sides of the house sent forth
smoke The ycrnnda on the east
broke into flames. and the under sld.
or the caves on the north and east
kindled TO blaze.
Mr.. Sheppard and his family had
taken one last look az their homo
with hs treasures. and had sought
refuge with friends across IN. bav
MIR. Dakin had stayed To the last
hoping against hope. but all hone
was gone. The house was burning
aud he was warned away. Us ss.
termined TO hoist Lis largest Amer.
lean nag and let the house meet de-
strucuon with tho colors nylnr fair
above II. lie rushed to his room OF
nags. selected his largest Stars and
stripes. mounted to tho roof nj.
hched the great flag TO the Lnlyards
and hung It to the breeze. Than
with a feeling somewhat akin 10 re.
spect Tor tho conquering power OF The
great nrc king, roaring forward in ir-
resistihe ruin. and with .a,-t,
somewhat akin TO the uncomfortable
pluck that stirred the breasts of HIS
comrades IN the days OF the c,v,l
War, he dipped the flag in salutc
Three times the glorious banuer ross
and fell. and than. fastening the hal
yards. Mr.. pakin descended tho
stairs, locked the door, and with n
heavy heart left the house 10 ,ts
rate. High In the air. shining hrisht
In the light of sun and flames. above
the house OF pines that had grown
ny the shores OF the Atlantic stream.
Ing forth on breeze that came fresh
from the Pacific. stood "Olc Glory
The white stars upon that iiar were
there as symbols OF the States of the