The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1914-03-26


with his outfit tuned to its highest
limit, was calling. F. N. R.-F. N.
r., endeavoring to communicate
with the station on the Farrabones.
The men were still restless, stand
ing around in groups or pacing
back and forth in the gangway talk
ing in animated undertones.
All at once the crash of the wire
less ceased, a still, tense interval.
Then the operator tore out of his
Office, tumbled pellmell down the
ladder and raced aft for the captain g
quarters. Out of the cabin on the
run came the orderly and hurried to
the bridge. The clang of the gong
was heard from the engine room;
with roar the forced draft was
opened up. smoke and cinders pour
ed from the stacks and the ship
seemed to leap forward like hound
unleashed.
The evil tidirgs swept like wild
fire from cabin to fo'csle. Frisco
totally destroyed by earthquake.
Fire! No protection. Water mains
disrupted. Looks like the whole
city will go.
About two thirty that afternoon
the Marblehead was picking her
way to anchorage off the Folsom
Street dock.
The scene of that bay, the city
and the surrounding country beg
gars description. No mortal man
will ever portray it Alright. Over
head hung dense pungent clouds of
smoke, at times totally obscurlng
the sun. San Francisco as viewed
from the water front was a roaring
blazing inferno. Detail was indis-
tinct. Knob Hill and Telegraph
Hill rose above the rest of the city
like gigantic funeral biers; and indeed
was the biers of many souls that
day. Never will be known the eN-
act toll of that awful catastro-
phe. A beautiful. terrible, awe in
spring sight it was. bearing with it
feeling of horror and fear; bring
ing home the realization of how in
fintismal and helpless man really is
when arrayed against nature at her
worst. Few tall buildings remained
excepting the tower of the Chroni-
cle's magnificent new home, which
reared itself on high. smoke and
fame bursting from every window,
converging at the top into what
seemed a giant demons hand, wav-
ing onward Its devastating legions,
Across the water came the dull
rumbling boom of dynamite and
watching, one could see building af-
ter building totter and crumble
away to ruins, as the dynamiters
moved along, endeavoring in this,
the only way left, to stay the onward
rush of the devouring flames.
Fleeing Refugees
Tie ferries were still busy carry
ing immense crowds of refugees to
points around the bay: Oakland,
Berkley, Alameda and many other
places having thrown open their
homes to the unfornates.
Besides the ferries, small boats of
every size and description; all loaded
to overfowing with men, women
and children, all crazed with fear
jabbering and crying like lunatics;
who. even as yet, had not been able
to procure clothing enough to cover
their nakedness and caring less
whether they did. Frantic women,
praying and pleading for their folks;
mothers hysterical with grief, crying
for their babes; others more fortu-
nate, locked in their dear ones
arms, raising frenzied appeals to
Heaven for their own salvation.
Scarcely had the Marblehead
dropped anchor and secured than a
launch was reported coming along
side from the Naval Training Station
on Goat Island.
AS the boat touched, the Comman-
dante of the Island sprang up the
gangway. Waving all formalities
he grasped Capt. Bliss hand. "HelPs
to pay. ashore, Captain! Hell's to
pay, ahore!' and for moment his
head bowed and his shoulders heav-
ed. Recovering with an effort he
continued; Il bear orders for you
from the Admiral on Mare Island" :"
Here Captain Bliss interrupted,
come in to the cabin Capt. Fletcher
you need a bracer."
Seated in the wardroom with a
brandy and soda at his elbow the
commandante proceeded. AT ten
O'Clock this morning Mayor Schmidt
turned the city over to General Fun
ston. putting the police and fire de-