1906 Earthquake

the story in advance as we neared town. There was no schedule of trains toward S. Fr. - a train had just left, and one might go in an hour or so but probably it would not get further than San Bruno. A train of old cars rolled in, and the many people at the depot rushed forward to look for kinfolk among the refugees - A rather "good-appearing" crowd - middle class - all with the same blank look of having seen something that hung still before them - we all had it in turn. Girls carrying the Easter hat and a pillow slip full of things, men with some sort of satchel or basket - hundreds of them - Men were hurried into corners and each had his audience while the horrid tale was told - I listened to several, and then had the discouragement propre for a while - All said the fire was at or beyond Octavia - that one could not get into the city, and "why in God's name do you want to go there?" Well, I figured that the fire could not get out to tenth avenue any way possible, that 1819 was gone, and all the rest, and that it would be useless to try to get from San Bruno to 270 that night - So I went uptown to the Mayor's office, which was in the park by the city hall, and