Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1925-07-10
VALLEY WOMAN
IN QUAKE AREA


Exper1ence-hnOWn in woodstock
1.-The Santa Barbara earthquake
one; we have been through twenty
four hours of Ii; our house rock
ed up and down; the most hideous
groaning and grinding noise filled
my ears; l sprang up and was
pitched headlong into bookcase;
my daughter reached me and we
started for the front door: it had
grown dark and the heat was terrific;
we reached the yard safely, with
bricks, chimneys, dishes, bric-a-brac
and everything coming down around
u.s." are some of the vivid express
sions used by Mrs. Imogene Avis Pal
mer, daughter of DIR. ]. L. Avis, of
Harrisonburg, in describing the San
ia Barbara earthquake in letter to
her brother, Payne NJ Avis, of Har-
risonburg.
Mr.. Avis received the letter Sun
ter, Miss Avis Tatum, who only re-
Gently went to California, had been
a terrible experience. and the hard
ships and anxiety were so great that
locks of her head turned gray
Mrs. Palmer's letter is as follows:
Like Going Through H"
''Twenty-four hours of all the
h I ever want to see have just
passed. BY now, you will have had
the pictures and news. Nevertheless,
l shall try to tell you something of
what Avis and l have experienced.
Beautiful Santa Barbara, the
playground of multi-millionaires now
lies in ruins, as far as its business
districts, theatres, all art centers, ho-
tells, churches, the famous old Span
ish Mission, chief streets and won
derful beach boulevard are con-
cerned
Many residences gone, and others
damaged beyond repair.
Had the earthquake occurred an
hour later. the death-toll would have
been terrible. But it was at GAS
a. m, and stores and business activi-
ties had not opened. AS l am writ
ing, my bed is rocking and the house
shaking, and it is fifteen minutes to
o'clock Tuesday afternoon; 81
hours duration now.
THE San Francisco earthquake
was nothing to this; but thus far we
have been spared fires. Four huge
government ships are in the harbor
and trains of nurses. physicians and
medical supplies have arrived from
Los Angeles and San Francisco.
I'VE do not know what is before
US, as it is turning hotter. Food and
water have been rushed to the city
and hundreds of sailors and police al
each corner, the city being under
martial law, and all officers and
hastily-sworn in deputies and police
are armed Thousands left last night
by autos, but we had no money and
are DESTROYS of saving some of ouI
personal belongings.
Sleep In Garage
Every one sat up or laid on the
lawns, in parks or out on the road
side. Avis and l spread paper or
the ground of the garage, put down
a quilt and covered with blankets
but cold was severe at night, with q
heavy fog. With severe shocks all
through the night, we had no sleep
l have a violent cold today from
exposure
I'VE were asleep; / in my room
and Avis in hers. Something hit me
and I sprang up to see my reading
lamp on my pillow and the house
rocking up and down, not sideways
The most hideous grooming and
grinding noise filed my ears and
sprang up, screaming to Avis, Get
out of the house! Get out of the
housed and was pitched headlong
into a bookcase. Tried to get on
my feet and can't remember whether
/ was up or down when Avis reached
me and we started for the front door.
1t had grown dark, and the heat was
terrie. We reached the yard safely
with bricks, chimneys, dishes, bric-
a-brac, gas stove and everything
coming down around us. Avis. and
/ were alone, but friends soon came
and the neighbors also.
"All gas, lights, electricity, phones
and telegraphic communication were
severed, but flying machines and
autos carried the news to telegraphic
points. Government radios and air
planes got here in few minutes.
planes got here in a few hours, and
are now flying over the city and car
rying mail / do not know when this
will go out.
Terrifying Experience
Banks were too unsafe to open
for business; candles and lamps are
unobtainable and res are forbidden.
I ventured into the house and got
some coffee and bread and sugar and
eggs, and built fire in the back
yard and fed six of us. Between
shakes Avis and / got out bedding
and camped down in the garage, of
course claiming the door back, so it
could not jam. I had my loaded
pistol at hand. Orders are to shoot