The Washington herald., 1912-04-21
AS Senator Fletcher Speaks
on Earthquake, Explosion
Rocks Hotel.
PROMINENT MEN SPEAK
Exposition Banquet" of califOrnis
Society Is Rudely interrupted
by Big Noise.

Just as Senator Fletcher, OF Florida.
finished describing the San Francisco
earthquake. and the rising Of that beau
tiful city from the ashes OF Its ruins, in
an address last night at the Exposition
banquet of the California State Asso-
cIation, at the National Hotel, series
OF explosions rent the air, shaking the
banquet room. and the lights grew dim
and rapidly went out. leaving all in total
darkness.
As the noise Of escaping steam con-
tinued the diners started for the exits
by the aid OF matches. A panic was
averted by the presence of mind Of Sena-
tor Fletcher, President O'Donoghue. Rep
resentatIve Knowland. Roe Fulkerson,
and others. who called out that all would
be right In a minute and asked everyone
/ to keep their seats.
1t was soon learned that one OF the
boilers in the engine room vt the Ma
tionaI had gone on a rampage, blowing
out its cylinder head. No one was in
jured and the only person to faint was
Miss Rebecca Duckett, the telephone
operator. Miss Duckett was revived.
In about ten minutes the engineer had
another dynamo running and another en-
gine doing duty; the lights were turned
on and the diners went hack TO speech
making, as though nothing had hap
pened.
Reception In ParIOrs.
The banquet was preceded by recep-
ton in the parlors OF the hotel. The mu-
sucal numbers during the reception were
contributed by Miss Gertrude Brooks.
pianist, and Ms. Eva s. BalIou. soprano.
NJ. F. O'Donoghue, President OF the as
sociation, made a shore address.
Representative Joseph r. EnowIand
was then introduced as the toastmaster.
and made a short address. Declaring
that there has never been a time when
California faced a brighter future. even
In the days OF the gold rush, the toast
master introduced Judge Raker, as the
Representative in Congress Of the great
mining communities in the northern sec
ton Of the State.
Representative Baker said that the
wonders OF the world are In the West,
and urged all, IL they must travel, to
see their own country first before going
abroad.
Then Came Big Noise.
Senator Fletcher was then introduced.
and spoke on the wonderful strides made
by both Florida and California. Hardly
had the Senator finished telling of the
San Francisco earthquake and the rapid
ity with which the city was rebuilt when
the boiler explosion rocked the hotel.
After the lights were turned on the
:oastmaster introduced Representative II.
B. Ferguson OF New Mexico. who spoke
briefly. declaring that the word Cali
fornia'' Is a synonym for greatness.
Short talks were made by Secretary
John II. Marble. OF the Interstate Com
merce Commission; Roe Fulkerson, and
]. ]. O'Brien.
Among the guests were Mrs. Dutton.
\. ]. Poston and Mrs. Poston. Frank H.
POston, Prof. Michael Down. OF the Ma
val and Military School: Mrs. PIckney
T. BOdell. w. B. Peckham and Mrs
Peckham. Miss S. G. Hickey, and Col
c. W. Henderson.
The banquet committee was composed
OF Guy W. McCord. chairman: c. T.
Vogel, Joseph d. Chew, T r. Maitland,
Mrs. Marie II. Smith. Fred Z. Wood
ward, w. c. Wallace, Mrs. Charles w
Otis. and Mrs. SIlas Hare.
The officers Of the association are NJ
F. O'DonOghue. president: A. r. Nathan,
first vice president; Mrs. NJ. II. Smith.
second vice president; C. T. Vogel, secre-
tary-treasurer; A. J. Boyer, historian,
and Rev. E. NJ. Mott, chaplain.
1t vas announced that the cabin Of
Joaquin Miller. The Poet. of the Sier-
ras." recently removed to Rock Creek
Park. will be dedicated Sunday, May II.
at 1 ID. m