SAVING HOUSEHOLD EFFECTS

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12506, 19 May 1906, Page 10

SAVING HOUSEHOLD EFFECTS

GROTESQUE SCENES IN THE STREETS.

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.)

AUCKLAND, May 18

Among the passengers by the Mcana are Mr and Mrs Shipraan. They arrived in San Francisco the night before tho earthquake, and had apartments on the eleventh floor of the St. Francis Hotel.

Mr Shipman says.—"l was awakened by the earthquake at 5.13. As soon as the hotel became stationary 1 wmt to the window, and saw the srtairs crowded with guests. Men and women were frantically rushing into tlie streets in their night clothes. It was the nearest to a stampede I have ever seen. After getting dressed Mrs Shipman and I went downstairs,.and met a man in pyjamas, pale and breathless, who informed us the city was in flames. Wo found the square opposite the hotel crowded with people, sitting on household goods from their homes, which had collided or been burned. Standing on Market street, looking down third street, I could see tho flames rapidly eating their way to Market street. ARRIVAL OF THE MILITIA. "About 8.30 the militia marched down Market street, stationing soldiers at intervals, and placet! the city under martial law. The croud move-! morbidly down Market street, silent and <lazed, and watching the spread and approach of the devastating flames. None seamed to want to speak. The struts presented an odd aspect. Husbands and wives were carrying bundles "-iiopetnlod from the shoulder, and everything propollable by human motive power wa* pressrd into service—piled up household effect>. from trunks to green parrots, all travelling in the same direction away from the flames.

"At two o'clock the flames covered apparently half the cent re of the ci*y in a crescent shape. At six o'clock. Mission street, the end of the croscent had burned itself out. and carried the tire to the wholesale district and wa'er front, north of Market street. At nine o'clock the fire was near St. Francis Hotel from both ends of the cr?scent. FRIGHTENED BELL BOYS.

"The bell boys, more dead than alive, were requisitioned to earn- trunks and valines from the hotel. We left the building hastily, the buildings on both sides of the hotel being on tire.

"Twice we were ordered to leave our things and get out of danger by soldiers dynamiting the buildings to stop the progress of the fire. Everybody seemed to be dragging trunks and goods into the streets, which were crowded with refugees. Next morning we got our effects removed to the AUa Plaza. We camped there three nights. The first night we elept on our trunks, the second on n mattrass, and the third in « tent with steamer blaiikots. For two days we lived on bi>cuik and water. The third day relief parties brought us provisions. I and others were preeced into

service by soldiers, making the park sanitary and digging trenches and cleaning up the refuse. There were perhaps a hundred families in the Alta Plaw»."