Away down on market Street the wreckers are gradually removing the ruins at a remarkable rate. At this early date, go where you will, and there is not a suggestion of a disagreeable odor. Absolute cleanliness exists everywhere. Praise too great cannot at this time be given to the regular army men. Scoffed and laughed at ordinarily, today everyone feels like baring his head in their honor. Not yet an hour after that terrible earthquake those soldiers came riding by, all equipped for their duty. The faces of many of them were ashen in color, but no matter -- on they must go to take care of the rest of us. Everybody else, man, woman or child, had someone to stop and talk it over with. Not so with them. With the same feelings that we all had they were forced to their duty and no sooner on duty than some children were compelled to shoot to kill, which they did without hesitation. It came to me very clearly then that whatever may be effected in way of peace conferences, w! e still need the regular army to protect us from foes from within. Only in the past few days have these brave lads received relief. Yesterday I noticed a train load of fresh regulars with their horses, and the papers announced help as coming to them from various forts -- Des Moines among others. As to the firemen, fate was entirely against them. first, their brave chief lay buried in the ruins of the earthquake, and could not respond to the call. He has since died of his injuries. It is said that he was second to no chief in the country for ability, and it is believed that had he been able to be on duty, the fire would have been avoided. As it was, the fighting was done almost entirely with dynamite. At one place where water was used the firemen were so weak that I am told it took eight to handle one nozzle. As to the automobiles, they took the place of horses, telegraph and telephone companies. They speed over these tremendous hills night and day, every one at the service of the city. Every chauffeur sworn an officer. Their utility is not to be doubted. Those machines did work that nothing else could have done. The country has done well by us. So well is the crowd handled that money is all that is needed and that has come in plenty. It seems to be that no mistakes have been made." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert October 8, 2004 [email protected]