Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-11-19

Some OF them had played part IN history. There
the jack of the Oregon; the rearadmiral flag of
the Bennington; the jack of the Marblehead while
at Cuba; the launch flag of Deweys Olympia; and
on the walls of this room hung the great banner of
the Stars and Stripes that the house and
all its treasures from destruction
At the time of the earthquake and fire. April H.
1906, Mrs. Brindley daughter of Mr.. Sheppard.
there awaiting the arrival of her husband to take
steamer for Japan. She had long resided in that
country, and had had earthquake experience" 50
to speak. Accordingly soon as the earth had
ceased trembling she preceded fill the bathtubs
and all other receptacles in the house with water
She feared that the disturbance of the earth had
broken the supply mains; and hardly had she filed
the last pitcher when her fear proved we'll
grounded. The water ceased to flow But the first
step that made it possible for the flag to the
house had been taken. Mr.. Sheppard and Mr.. Dakin
took the second step. In order that the household
might have supply of drinking water, they brought
home from neghboring grocery a dozen or so
bottles of water charged with carbonc acid gas
the kind of bottles where you press lever at the
top and the water fzzes out in stream under pres
They are commonly called slphons
At this time thought the house in danger.
1t had sturdily withstood the earthquake; and the
fire many blocks away. But all Wednesday
and Wednesday night and all of Thursday the fire
ragged in fury; and last it creeping up the
slope Of Russian Hill The flames reached the block
in which the house situated The heat grew
intense. The sides OF the house sent forth smoke.
+. yc---,a on The cast broke into flames, and the
- p q. &c the north and east kindled
lard and his family had taken last
~ h--lc with its treasures, and had sought
= lends across the bay. Mr. Dakin had
--... ...-c last hoping against hope But all
@ne#, -.- The house was burning, and he was
lie determined to hoist his largest
.,-.-----1 i.cg and let the house meet destruction
v;,a the coors flying fair above it. He rushed to
his OF flags, selected his largest Stars and
Stripes, mounted to the roof attached the great
flag to the ha1yards and flung the breeze. Then,
with feeling somewhat akin to respect for the
querng power of the great fire king, roaring forward
in irresistible ruin and with spirit somewhat akin
to the unconquerab1e 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 heavy heart Left the house to its
fate High in the air, shining bright in the light
Of and flames, above the house of pines that
had grown by the shores OF the Atlantic stream
ing forth on a breeze that fresh from the
Pacific, stood "Old Glory"
The white upon that flag there
symbols of the States of the Union. One star was
there for California and there for Georgia;
but three blocks away, the eastward at the
of Vallejo Street and Montgomery Avenue, at that
moment, there CHANGED to be company of men who
represented all the that flags field of blue
a company of the 10Th United States Infantry.
Under the command of a young lieutenant, the
company had been its way to San Francisco
the day of the earthquake; and had been delayed
ITS journey twenty-fOur hours. 1t had entered the
~y Thursday afternoon, by the ferry from Oakland,
at that moment marching under orders to
INTO camp Washington Square. The lieutenant
md his had the flag rise and fall in salute;
and saw as it streamed forth in beauty amidst
smoke and flame.
Boys" shouted the young lieutenant, "a house
that flies flag like that is worth saving! His
responded with cheer; and as Mr.. Dakin sadly
vending his way down the northern slope of Russian
HILL soldiers of the 10th United States Infantry
dashing up the eastern slope at doube-quick. No
time was lost. They tore away the burning wood
work of the veranda; broke open the door; and dis
covered the bathtubs filled with water Some of
them carried earth from the garden; other mixed it
in the bath-tubs the consistency of plaster;
and then certain of their number stationed them
selves at different windows and the mud
carried to them, they bombarded every spot
that had kndled into fame.
One by the houses in the block burnt up
and burnt out until the old house stood alone. Every
blaze that had started upon its and sides had
been extinguished There spot
under the at the northeast corner that could
not be bombarded successfully. Unless the fire at
that point put out, all that had been done were
done in vain.
The soldiers were equal to the emergency.
squad mounted to the roof. One OF the Law
fiat upon the edge, and while four of his comrades
held him fast by the legs, he leaned afar out over
the wide od-fashioned caves Others passed to him
bottles of the water charged with carbonc acid gas.
And there, hanging far the edge of the roof
that he might be able to direct the OF water
the fire burning fercely beneath the caves, he
squirted the fixing contents of bottle after bottle,
until the fame and the last ember extinguished
and the house saved.
Conyriehted roro