The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1935-11-14

in the forenoon we took in tile sights
and incidentally got some movies AL
ways did the four of our family 10 to-
| gether, not separating for fear one or
more might suffer injury You see
If we were to kick off, we wanted 10
do it together.
At the telephone office, just about
one-half Of the phones showed rsd
light on the board when the big roller
hit Which indicated that about one
forth Of the phones were knocked
over, with the other fourth trying 10
get wire to talk. Western Union
was SO crowded at noon on Saturday,
people were standing in line to hand in
their messages. 1t took several minutes
to get central on the phone And that
still prevails. Today when we got the
stiff jolt, ! was over at Burns, helping
to rebuild his chimney We went to
the phone, and it was fully four min
utes before central answered People
just will call up when we get stiff
jolts. The radio broadcasted the re-
port that we We're shaken down, and
burning up. There were no fires.
There was no footing. There were less
auto accidents than usual. III general,
very good order was preserved
As have said, we got out at 4 a. m.
and surveyed the damage. We didn't
know how bad 1t was, except for
telephone reports. A look made us
sick. The east side, and Northern Pa
cific depot section were the hardest hit.
The National Biscuit factory was COM
pletely wrecked A gaping hole IN The
walls and coping of the new million
dollar high school One end of The
armory torn out Millions of bricks
down in the streets and yards About
ESQ homes rendered useless. Probably
1000 chimneys down The downtown
section Of town was in good shape In
the residence section of the east side,
some OF the homes looked as though
some gargantuan fiend had grasped
them and shook them and let them
stand with one or two walls Some
times they were just cracked from top
to bottom. Most generally a corner,
or coping or side wall of the brick
houses had fallen out With some, the
chimney fell off in big chunk and
crashed through the roof of adjoining
house.
| went to the office about $50 a. III.
The two girls had reported for duty
but looked so worried told them to
90 home, and closed up shop We went
back to work Monday, but nerves on
edge every time a roller hit. You will I
understand they were still coming and |
with all the reports about what might !
happen, person was inclined to get
up and leave momentarily and let The
business 60 hang However again, "All
quiet on the western front" business
as usual Numerous inquiries from
agents about our safety.
The highway patrol, national guard,
and Red Cross got into action right
away, taking care of damaged property,
policing the town, and caring for the
1omeless. All public gatherings ban
ned. which was lifted Yesterday. Main
streets of town roped off for three days,
until inspectors had declared the bust
less houses safe. Business gradually
getting back to normal. We expect to-
morrow will see conditions at normal
lgain, as the weekend was rather try
ng in view of the almanac and ether
'eports about q destructive quake to
,e pulled off; but which failed to ma
eriate, as Doc says.
The last week has been narrowing.
We didn't have our clothes off for
hree days. Monday night we all went
o bed, but not until late We have
,een sitting up late each night. To-
light the family is back to normal size,
md we will go to bed fairly early.
Art Cooper lost his home, and ere
living with the Magraws. The latter
uttered a shaken down chimney The
loths moved to cabin out in Union
lille -
With love,
MARK.