Willett Smith to his mother & sisters, 1906-05-20

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SC0206_b05_1906-05-20

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Ruins of San Francisco May 20th 1906

Dear Mother & Sisters Anne & Hannah,

I received Hannah's letter yesterday and was glad to get it but I think it was rather a long while to wait for an answer as I wrote you several letters two or three days after the big times here.

I was sorry you had to pay postage on my letter but the post office was put on the Hinkety Dink with the rest of Frisco & I could not buy any post stamps but I have got some now and am much obliged for those you sent me as they will come in handy just the same but you see what kind of writing paper I am using can't buty a piece in Firsco but it is a case of any old port in a storm just now I will tell you all it has not been a joke by no means. I came out of the hotel in my under shirt & a pair of trousers thank god they had my money & my papers in them. I got a pair of cheap shoes out of a store window in some sheeney's??? place where the earthquake broke he window & I went two days with out a coat & I have not got much better than old rags now. I have got money but all the stores in Oakland - across the bay is sold out & I happened to strike it lucky by running into an old friend of mine Mr. Root & he had a house out here right on the beach & he gave me some clothes & I am supping out here with him in his house & am fairing much better than a good many poor devils, the army have given away thousands of tents and clothes of all kinds & they are issuing rations to everybody & they are building wooden shacks all over down town to get people started in business again & there is plenty of work for everybody but half the people have gone away never to come back to this place again. We have had over a hundred shocks since the big one but some were so slight I did not notice them but we had about a dozen good strong ones & they are mean things I can tell you they have all come in the night I have made several quick moves - getting out of bed I can tell you, & keep my clothes in a bundle on a chair near my bed

Last edit over 6 years ago by Owlivia
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so I can grab them and they will be all together if I have to get out of the house in a hurry it would not be so bad if they would come when a person was awake beccause they always rumble like thunder before they get to a place, but I think they are about over with now we haven't had any for three or four nights now & I hope they are.

You say you would like to see the place well I tell you I am glad you are not here to see it would make you sick they are finding charred bodies every day & some of the places are smoking yet & you see it is over a month ago now since it happened & you can imagine how bad it was the fire raged for 3 days & 3 nights right in the heart of the city. I tell you I hope you never get mixed up in a disaster like this.

The rich & poor are about alike here now it is not the gay haughty place it used to be.

I have made an application to go to Alaska & the Steamer leaves June 2 and I may go if I succeed in getting the job I applied for I kind of want to get out of this place & again I don't if I only had a small capital. I see where I could make good money here & I want to see Alaska too so I don't know what I am going to do. Have you received any letter for me from the islands? If you have put them into another envelope & send them to me right away & when you answer this do it as soon as you received it because I want to hear all the news before I leave for Alaska that is if I should go I want to hear from you before June 2nd. Have you received any letters from a placed called Pacific Grove, California for me it will be from 2 lady I helped during the fire I gave them my Freeport address I didn't have any here then if so send them along.

I am glad you got the postals now because there aint any more like them I bought them the night before the earth quake but could not mail them I had no stamps & they were in my pocket when I flew out of the house I suppose there will be lots of picture postals of the ruins before long and I will send you some if there are I will buy you some photos as soon as they get cheaper there is lots of sale now but they cost $3.00 each & its too high.

Last edit over 6 years ago by Owlivia
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Miss Annie why don't you drop a line or two its a long while since I have heard from you or aint you well yet why don't you let Hannah write it for you I got a letter from Harold S. & the DaSilvas & they said you were getting well fast so I suppose you must be pretty nearly well now why don't you write a few lines once in a while.

I am sending you a picture of the Ruins it is from todays examiner but it is an awful poor picture it was snap shotted from some kites & it don't look real.

Well I am going to close now hoping you are all well & don't have no earthquake & fires around Freeport.

Well I close hoping you all will excuse paper and writing no other to be had at present & be sure to write so I will get an answer before JUNE 2 if I should go to Alaska. I remain to all hands the same as ever.

Willett Smith

Last edit over 6 years ago by Owlivia
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