The San Francisco call., 1909-02-16
Two San Franciscans Escape

Among the many San Franciscans
who are to be found in Acapulco at all
times OF the year. at least two. Mr..
and Mrs. George 7. Moreno, are known
10 have been in the theater during the
disaster, a brief cablegrGm having con-
veyed this Intelligence to their rela-
. tives yesterday. Roth succeeded in
pushing their way through the terror
stricken crowds and escaped with their
lives. The cablegram was addressed
10 Mr.. and Mrs. S. l3arbieri of 2723
Sixteenth street, and was as follows;
'Theater burned; three hundred per-
ished- We escaped with our lives. Ad-
wise Merenos. GEORGE AND DOLLY"
George Moreno and his wife were
born in San Francisco and lived here
all their lives until three years ago,
when they left for Acapulco. where Mo-
reno took the position Of agent for the
Pacific Mail steamship company. He is
a son Of John G. Moreno, a master
mariner living at 182 Douglas street
His wife, prior TO her marriage, was
Miss Dolly Barbieri, a daughter of $.
Barbieri, well known in sporting circles
and recognized as one of the best trap
shots and duck hunters in the com
munity. While a girl she attended the
Lincoln school. Moreno was con-
nected with the Pacific Mail steamship
company in San Francisco before going
and popular in their sets while in San
Francisco.
Their frequent letters TO their rela-
tives here indicated that the theater
was about the only amusement in Aca-
pulco, and that there the best people
in the small town gathered nightly.
- For this reason IL is anticipated that
the death roll VIII include the names
OF the most influential men and women
stant reference was made to the large
number Of Americans who were con-
stantly passing in and out Of Acapulco.
Most OF these were connected with va
riOus steamship companies. and, as the
theater offered an excellent opportunity
Of seeing the best side Of the town life.
IL was customary for them to devote
their hours ashore in viewing the
plays.
We have no other information ex-
cept this brief cablegram' said Mrs.
Barbieri last night we knew from
their letters to US that both my daugh-
ter and son in law attended the tkeater
regularly, and ] suppose that they
cabled 10 Us Immediately to prevent US
any worry when we read the news
paper dispatches. From their descrip-
ton OF the town. Acapulco can not be a
big place by any means, and il seems
to have been the custom for all the
betters classes-particularly the Ameri-
can colony-to make the theater a
meeting place every evening. I do not
know Of any other Americans there at
the present time"
Another cablegram was received by
c. l. Buchanovich. head of the com
mission firm of Buchanovich. living at
1l53 Taylor street, telling of the dis
. aster
It contained the information that 2S3
charred and burned bodies had been
taken out Of the ruins already and that
many more still remained. Buchano-
vich is the landlord of the house in
which the Morenos live. and, besides.
owns one Of the brick buildings in the
place. Mrs. Buchanovich, who recently
returned from Acapulco. said last night
that the news received by them was
very msager.
II the IRE was Of any magnitude. -
said she, there is every likelihood of
the entire place being destroyed. There
Is not any fire lighting apparatus in the
town and all efforts 10 extingufsh the
flames would have to be on the part of
the citizens OF the town alone with
such organization and apparatus as
they could arrange for on the spur of
the moment"
Buchanoyich returned to San Fran
cisco from Acapulco two years ago
leaving his business there in the hands
or his son, but on account Of his grand
mothers health the latter left the town
short time ago, bringing his aged
relative with him.