R A C E A L N G 353 



sight but a grinding noise which came from some- 

 where was almost deafening. 



*'By that time my face and hands were covered 

 with blood. Rushing to the bathroom for some water 

 I found that there was none. Then there was another 

 shake. Grabbing a towel I fled from the room. As I 

 ran down the corridor I saw that the walls were 

 cracked and that some of the pillars supporting it 

 had dropped into the court. Coming to a stairway I 

 dashed down, hanging on to the rail as almost all of 

 the steps were broken and a few had disappeared. 



''My room was on the third floor. It did not take 

 me long to get down to the court into which stones 

 were falling and dash out of the carriage entrance 

 into the middle of Market Street. 



"When I stopped I looked at my watch. It was 

 between five and six. Day was breaking but it was 

 not very light as there was a dusty haze hanging 

 over everything. 



"I was dazed and started up Market Street. When 

 near the Chronicle Building I saw that the water was 

 still running in the Lotta Fountain. Going over to 

 it I took a drink and washed the blood off my hands 

 and face. 



''As I was drying my face with the towel I carried 

 from the hotel a pohceman walked down the middle 

 of the street. He yelled at me to get off the sidewalk. 

 I ran towards him. When I stopped and turned I saw 

 the wall of the building fall where I had been stand- 

 ing. 



'Close call/ said the officer as he looked at me. 



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