The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1935-11-21


who is principal of the Montana
Deaconess School at Helena She writes
Interestingly of the earthquake there
as follows.
Dear Friend
! feel quite sure that all Of our friends
are anxiously awaiting news of our
most remarkable deliverance. So 7
am taking this means of telling YOU.
Please feel that it is a personal letter.
You can readily see that I have not
time to write to each one of YOU in
dividually
On the night Of October 18th, all Of
the ladies were downstairs at our
weekly meeting There had been one
heavy quake just a short time before
we came down. As we came together.
each one remarked, = hope that is the
last one, for just one week before we
had quite severe one which made
many cracks on the walls. In about
an hour there came crash and with
the crash the weaving Of the building.
Truly, the walls went in and out in a
most indescribabe way. Plastering
fell and the lights went off. Our chill
dren were on the upper floors. We
called to them to be quiet, that we were
coming. Some went up and the old
gardener and myself went to the
basement to get candles. The boys on
the fifth floor had been organized and
were working under student govern
ment When the householder went
down in the evening she told the boys
that if anything happened to get their
teams together
The walls went out on the fifth floor.
Radiators came down. Those brave
youngsters jumped out of bed ard got
their teams together We could hear
them calling to each other to be quiet
and not get excited. Every experience
has its humorous side One Of the boys
who was quite nervous started to run
and his captain said, "You stand still
milne, or I'll knock the tar out of YOU"
BY the time the householder got up-
stairs they were all lined up They
came on down to the fourth floor and
helped with the little fellows. The little
girls were aided by the older girls and
some of the teachers I know you will
all be quite proud of our school man-y
agement when ! tell you that in sixl
minutes time in dark house the chill
dren were all taken out and not one
child cried
The next morning when we looked at
the building and saw how huge granite
blocks were hanging on the edge Of
the fire escapes. we felt more than
ever that our Father was taking care
Of us as we went out of the building.
just few minutes after we were
out the yard seemed to be filled with
people. The neghbors and members
Of our Board rushed to our aid The
children were quite comfortable. be-
cause those Of them who were not
dressed had on their bathrobes We had
to fix some place for them to sleep.
The men went to the third floor (thes
big girls Department. and threw out
mattresses and. bedding The lights
came on by this time. We moved The
autos out of the garage which is steam
heated and placed the mattresses on
the floor II was early morning before
the children quoted down Those who
had parents or friends in Helena were
taken into town by them that night
AS | sat there and looked at them
thought, What can we do? Surely
this work is needed These children
must be cared for All of the ladies
who helped so courageously must not
be thrown out of work. We must car
ry on, but where?" With that, right in
front Of me stood the picture Of this
building we are now occupying. As
soon as | could get to the phone The
next morning called up the members
Of the Building Committee. They all
thought it wise plan and came down
! that early afternoon to look the build
ing over, and then on down to the
school. They thought it WIS most salts
factory and told them to go ahead and
get lease for it. | was too busy to 60
into town that afternoon.
That night we moved our children to
dance hall near the school. This hall
is a quarter Of a mile from man who
used to attend the school He opened
his house to use and we had all of our
meals there. People in Helena pro-
vided the food
On Sunday morning, one week ago
today, came to the building and went
over il and worked out floor plan. /
got in touch with the plumber aud
electricians. Everybody was busy he
cause Of the torn down condition cf
Helena, but how good everyone was
to us, putting others aside so our chill
dren could be taken care Of.
Some of the faculty took care of the
children and the rest came to the
building. The Red Cross furnished us