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

and will be read with much interest
Helena, Montana, Oct. 27, 1885
Dear Mother:
When the quake struck Friday tn
18th, at $50 p. m, was in Great Fall
tried to call home but the wires wer
down, as likewise the Western Unto
and Great Northern Railway wires.
checked out and made the 100 miles i
80 minutes, through that canyon roae
| was relieved when coming over tn
hill about IL miles out, to see the light
all on, and no reflection Of fires. Quake
were rather common to US, as we ha
already had go tremors before the BIZ
one, but it was SO pronounced In Grea
Falls, thought it must have been
whopper in Helena. According to tn
weather bureau here, we had the 5O0tl
one some time last night And prett,
stiff jolt about noon, again, today. Som
almanac had predicted q devastating
quake for last Friday night, and grea
number Of people left town. However
we got through the night with just /:
few little ones of moderate severity
Even though we are getting used Il
them, they surely are not welcome, d.
one wonders when the rumble begins
and the rocking starts, whether It will
be just little one, or will it continue
in increasing severity and rock dowr
our play house? 1t is estimated thai
about one half the population 81
Helena had left town last week. DIFF
ferent here want to stay right here
because it might be necessary to turn
off the gas, or catch a small fire start
ing IN the house. | just like to stick
around to be ready, if necessary to pro-
tect what we have left
Biologists have come in here from
San Francisco and Washington, y. C.
They are baffled as to the cause. nd
give out no information of their find
lngs and representations. The local
weather bureau man has his stuff
packed ready to flee; he thinks we are
due for quake which will completely
destroy us. Of course all that kind Of
talk is not encouraging, and personally
think 1t is a lot Of boloney. The
quakes hist with an underground
rumble, similar to thunder. It seems
as though we can hear them approach
ing, and then comes the shock. Some
times it just shakes, then it seems to
slip with sidewise rocking, and just
today it seemed like settling down
motion. Once in a while there is no
perceptible noise or rumble, but just
the CULVER
When got home that night it was
midnight. Alice had got the kids up
and all were dressed Thousands Of
people were out in their cars cruising
around so they wouldn't hear the
rumble, and feel the shocks. The
tremors were coming with rapidity, at
the rate of about $50 that night until
daybreak. Lasswells Of the beauty
shop were up here, as they were afraid
to stay down there right under tall
buildings. Nobody but the kids slept,
and about five a. m. we all laid down
for rest. Seven of us snoozed down.
stairs, as no one would 60 upstairs We
slept likewise for a week, Lasswells
coming back each night until Thurs
day. They stayed down there Thurs
day night, but came right back up
here Friday night, and now "AIl quiet
on the western front"
The big roller Friday night took the
light wires down, and the city was in
darkness for while That together
with the almost continuous quakes,
struck terror into many stout heart
Over at Burns, they lost their kitchen
chimney. When it came down a brick
Tell through the kitchen skylight ard
Lulu Burns just lost her nerve, which
IS so rare for her. They came over
% see how we were getting along, and
Glide turned off our gas, but Lulu
would not come into our house They
made their beds in their car and four
# them spent the night cruising around,
and snatching sleep. AT daybreak they
made up two beds In their new garage
,ut in the back yard. She left for
during the week, and came
back home tonight. Glide has been
taying over here. When Glide was
,ver here that night to turn off the gas, !
lie went to the Western Union and sent
he wires to you, for Alice. / hadn't
ret arrived Alice also wired her
mother and sister, and was supposed to
end them night letter but they went
light message, and We're delivered dur
ng that night. Lydia sat up till a. m.
rying to call us, but couldn't get a
wire through Alice wanted to beat
he press reports, as we knew you
would all be anxious. The wires were
0 the effect we were alright here, and
10 damage to our property. The only
amage done was few cracks in the
walls. No structural damage. During
he week, / got up on the roof and
ore down the kitchen chimney, be-
ause the plaster was weak, and re-
uilt 1t yesterday, not making it SO tall.
That night. (Someone hes adeptly
that the quake is better than
dozen operations for conversation
md you know how everything dates
rom my operation'.) That night was
all Of experiences. Alice made num-
rous pots of coffee. We ate several
utch lunches We drank copious
Quantities of beer. We talked about
uakes- We got awfully tired Our
air stood on end nearly every time
e would get an unusually hard roller.
i a. m. we got into the two coupes
[asswrlls and mine) and cruised
~