Summary:\u00a0 The 1965 San Francisco earth tremor causes the Cartwrights to stop to consider a few issues.
\nRating:\u00a0 PG\u00a0 \u00a06,435 words<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The Call of Nature<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAt precisely fifteen minutes to one PM Oct 8<\/b>th<\/b>, 1865, \u201cThe Daily Alta California\u201d <\/p>\n Adam Cartwright stepped down from the coach and tried to regain his balance as the ground beneath him suddenly shook. \u201cWhat was that?\u201d he heard the driver of the coach say in astonishment. Adam looked up at him surprise, not quite sure what to answer. As he opened his mouth to say something in reply, the man\u2019s attention was diverted as the horses he was controlling suddenly became quite agitated and began prancing around and tossing their heads. \u201cWhoa there!\u201d the driver cried, trying to soothe the animals. Within a minute he had them somewhat under control again, but they were still obviously agitated.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat was that?\u201d the driver said again, this time to no one in particular. Adam looked around the busy street where everyone had suddenly stopped and were all looking at each other as if asking the very same thing. Just as he could sense the crowd breathing a collective sigh of relief that nothing more severe had ensued, Adam began to feel the ground underneath his feet shifting again. Instinctively he grabbed hold of a hitching rail that was beside him and used it to steady himself as the ground began to shift beneath his feet.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam dropped to his knees and held onto the rail as around him people began to scream and run in all directions. He looked up and saw a large crack appear in the wall of the tall building across the street and several large pieces of plaster fell to the street below from the first floor. Several people ran out of the building and across the street, narrowly avoiding being hit by it.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Beside him, Adam suddenly heard a loud high-pitched scream and he turned to see a young woman struggling towards him with a young baby in her arms and a toddler beside her. He lunged forward and grabbed the child from his mother, cradling him in his arms as the mother sank down beside him. \u201cI\u2019ve got him,\u201d he shouted over the sound of the chaos that was unfolding around them. \u201cHang on!\u201d The woman looked at him gratefully and nodded slightly as she leant against the side of the building behind them both. The baby was screaming in her arms and she tried desperately to cover it with her shawl to shield it from the debris that was falling all around them now. Adam tried to ignore the struggling toddler\u2019s screams in his ear and desperately held onto the youngster with one arm and the hitching rail with the other while around them the ground shifted in undulating patterns.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n By now people were beginning to take cover and several horses had got loose and were running up and down the deserted street, a couple dragging carriages behind them. The high walls of the building opposite swayed as if made of paper and the roof began to crash down with resounding intermittent crashes. Adam prayed that no one was inside under all that weight. He glanced up to the top of the building behind himself and the young woman and said another prayer that it would hold firm, as they would no doubt be hit by the front wall if it began to fall.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n As suddenly as it had begun, the shaking stopped and there was an eerie silence in the street. All that could be heard was the sobbing of several women and the shrieking of the toddler in Adam\u2019s arms and the snuffling noises of his baby sibling in the young mother\u2019s arms. \u201cDo you think it\u2019s over?\u201d the young woman asked fearfully, checking that the baby was all right under her shawl.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI sure as hell hope so ma\u2019am,\u201d said the driver of the carriage as he stood up. \u201cScuze the language,\u201d he added absently.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The young woman nodded and looked at Adam, her terror still evident in her face. \u201cDo you think it\u2019s over?\u201d she repeated.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam shook his head. \u201cI\u2019m not sure ma\u2019am,\u201d he said. \u201cBest stay put for a few minutes just in case though.\u201d He let go of the little boy in his arms who instantly crawled over to his mother and sat on her lap. She stroked his hair soothingly as she spoke again. \u201cThank you mister,\u201d she said.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam nodded at her absently as he surveyed the damage around them. The street was practically unrecognisable as the busy thoroughfare it had been several minutes ago. The building opposite was a pile of rubble and the one next to it wasn\u2019t much better. Several other buildings in the street had either parts of their walls or roofs missing and the sidewalk and street itself was uneven with large cracks visible right across it in several places.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam stood up tentatively and noticed several other people doing the same. Everyone looked around in a dazed fashion as if they couldn\u2019t believe their eyes \u2026 as indeed they couldn\u2019t. \u201cI think it\u2019s safe to move now ma\u2019am,\u201d Adam said, bending down to help the woman to her feet.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n She clutched the baby to her breast and held onto her little boy by the hand as she also looked around. \u201cI\u2019ve never experienced anything like that,\u201d she breathed softly.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam shook his head. \u201cNeither have I,\u201d he admitted. \u201cAnd I hope I never do again.\u201d He glanced down at the frightened young woman and her two children. \u201cDo you have far to go home?\u201d he asked.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n She shook her head. \u201cJust two streets,\u201d she said. \u201cThank you for helping us Mr \u2026.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cCartwright,\u201d replied Adam as he tipped his hat. \u201cAdam Cartwright.\u201d He picked up the little toddler and motioned to her. \u201cI\u2019ll see you home safely ma\u2019am.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n She hesitated. \u201cThat really isn\u2019t necessary,\u201d she said half-heartedly.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI insist,\u201d said Adam. \u201cCome.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n She gave him a grateful smile and allowed him to lead her through the chaos and the dazed people that surrounded them. The toddler sat quietly in Adam\u2019s arms as if in shock and even the baby by now had quietened and was still in its mother\u2019s arms. By the time they had reached the street that the woman pointed out to Adam, the eerie silence had been shattered by the rush of people running to get to wherever their loved ones were to check on them. The toddler and the baby seemed to sense everyone\u2019s distress and remained quiet as Adam and their mother picked their way carefully through the piles of debris along the way.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Suddenly a man ran towards them, his face a mask of anxiety and his head cut and bleeding. \u201cThank God!\u201d he shouted and swept the young woman into a tight embrace.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam stood by with the toddler still in his arms as the two embraced. As soon as she freed herself form her husband\u2019s embrace, the young woman turned to him and spoke. \u201cMr Cartwright helped us,\u201d she informed him as she reached up to touch his cut head. \u201cAre you all right?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m fine,\u201d he assured her. \u201cIt\u2019s nothing.\u201d He reached out his hand to shake Adam\u2019s. \u201cHow can I thank you?\u201d he asked.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThink nothing of it,\u201d replied Adam, handing the man his young son. \u201cYou\u2019d best get that cut seen to if you want my advice though.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The man held onto his little boy tightly with one arm and placed the other around his wife and baby. \u201cI will Mr Cartwright,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd again, thank you.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam tipped his hat to them before walking back down the chaotic street again. He was horrified to see ancient trees in the park nearby ripped up as though they were small saplings, their giant roots exposed and looking stark as they reached upwards towards the sky. There would be so much cleaning up to do in the city, Adam surmised. He thanked the Lord that he hadn\u2019t been hurt and said a silent prayer that no one had been seriously injured during the earth tremor.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n As he approached his hotel, he saw a large crowd of people gathered in front of it and instantly realised why. A water pipe had broken outside the building and water was flooding everywhere. One harassed policeman was trying to stop the crowds from pressing too close and getting wet, while also trying to answer numerous questions from bystanders about the state of the building. Adam felt sorry for him and stepped forward. \u201cIs there anything I can do to help?\u201d he asked.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The policeman gave him a grateful look before grabbing him by the arm. \u201cJust stand here and stop them all from going up that way,\u201d he said before turning back to answer another question. Adam did as he was asked and spent the next half hour directing people around the debris and the wet filth in the middle of the street. Everyone co-operated and listened to his instructions and from what Adam could see most of them were still in a daze as a result of what had happened. They weren\u2019t ready to question, but simply took advice from someone who told them what to do. From what Adam could see, this city wasn\u2019t going to recover any time soon from this afternoon and the devastation that the earth tremor had caused.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss looked up and nudged Joe. \u201cQuit it will ya?\u201d said Joe testily as he nearly overbalanced with the sack of grain he was easing onto the back of the buckboard. \u201cI nearly dropped that!\u201d Hoss nudged him again and pointed to their father who was approaching along the sidewalk. One look at him was enough for both of them to see that he was distressed about something and they both looked at him anxiously.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s the matter Pa?\u201d asked Joe quickly. \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben waved a piece of paper in the air. \u201cIt\u2019s a wire from Adam in San Francisco,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe and Hoss exchanged a look. \u201cIs something the matter with him?\u201d asked Hoss. \u201cDid something happen?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben nodded. \u201cSomething has happened,\u201d he replied. \u201cBut your brother is all right thank God,\u201d he added quickly as he noticed the anxious looks spring to both their faces instantly. \u201cHe sent a wire to let us know that he\u2019s fine.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss looked puzzled. \u201cAny reason why he shouldn\u2019t be?\u201d he asked.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben sighed. \u201cApparently there\u2019s been an earth tremor in San Francisco,\u201d he said. \u201cQuite a big one by the sound of it.\u201d He looked across the street. \u201cThere\u2019s the stage from Sacramento coming in now. I\u2019ll see if there\u2019s any news in the latest newspaper. He stepped off the sidewalk and crossed the street, followed by Hoss and Joe.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIs Adam leaving for home sooner than he thought now Pa?\u201d asked Joe as they approached the stage.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben shook his head. \u201cNo. In fact, he says in his wire that he\u2019s going to stay on a bit longer than expected. It seems that there are quite a few folks in the city needing help and he\u2019s volunteered his services.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe made a face to Hoss. \u201cMust be a lot of damage then,\u201d he said. \u201cDo they have a newspaper Pa?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI hope so,\u201d said his father over his shoulder. Ben waited until the driver had alighted and helped the few passengers from the stage before approaching him. \u201cMorning Vern,\u201d he said. \u201cI was hoping to get the latest newspaper from California if you brought any.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The driver reached up on top to where he\u2019d been sitting and pulled down a stack. \u201cHere,\u201d he said. \u201cI managed to get a few of the <\/span>Daily Atlas<\/span><\/i> before I left Sacramento. I suppose you\u2019ll be wanting ta read all bout that earth tremor seeing as how Adam\u2019s in Sacramento.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben gave the man as half-smile as he handed him several coins in exchange for the paper. It never ceased to amaze him how everyone around here seemed to know everyone else\u2019s business, but he figured that it had its advantages at times. \u201cYes,\u201d he said, glancing at the paper.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAdam OK?\u201d asked Vern.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt appears so,\u201d replied Ben, scanning the front page. \u201cMy goodness it seems bad. Those poor people.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cRead it out Pa,\u201d suggested Joe as the word spread and several people began to cluster around.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben cleared his throat and began:\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThe second shock was very severe, and high walls waved and swayed in the air like willow branches in the wind. Windows, wherever pinched or slightly strained, were wrecked in an instant; plastering came down in showers, bells rung, walls cracked and general consternation ensued.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWow!\u201d said Joe, giving a soft whistle between his teeth. \u201cWish I\u2019d seen it!\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben gave his youngest son a severe glance. \u201cThis was no fun, I can assure you of that young man,\u201d he admonished him. \u201cPeople\u2019s lives and property were at risk here!\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe swallowed and instantly looked ashamed of himself. \u201cYes sir,\u201d he muttered and pulled his hat forward over his head to hide his face a little.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWas anyone killed Pa?\u201d asked Hoss.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben scanned the paper again. \u201cI don\u2019t think so,\u201d he said. \u201cHere\u2019s a bit more.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cScarcely a house in the city that does not show some mark of the visitation, in cracked walls, open joints, flaked plaster, or a cranky position and many of the heavy brick structures are so shaken up and twisted as to be dangerous to the occupants.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThem poor folks,\u201d breathed Hoss and several people around him nodded in agreement. \u201cMakes ya wanna do something for em don\u2019t it?\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben sighed again. \u201cYes,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m sure that there are many displaced and unhappy families in that city today.\u201d He nodded around at the crowd. \u201cI\u2019m sure there\u2019ll be more news presently,\u201d he said, noting several people with anxious expressions on their faces. He knew that everyone in the town probably had friends or relatives in San Francisco, just as the Cartwrights did.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The crowd began to buzz with the news and Ben drew Joe and Hoss to one side. \u201cI think we\u2019d better get on home boys,\u201d he said in a low voice. \u201cLeave everyone to their thoughts now.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPa?\u201d asked Joe as they crossed back over the street again and headed towards their buckboard.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes son?\u201d replied his father.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI was just thinking,\u201d mused Joe. \u201cYa never know when something like that is gonna happen do ya?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben shook his head wearily. \u201cNo son,\u201d he acknowledged. \u201cYou never do.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam handed the old man a plate of hot steaming soup and smiled as he took hold of it with two shaking hands. \u201cSteady there,\u201d he said gently. \u201cHere, I\u2019ll put it on the table for you.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The elderly man looked up at him gratefully. \u201cThank you young man,\u201d he said. He picked up his spoon and took a tentative sip. \u201cIt\u2019s so good to have something hot.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAre you staying here tonight?\u201d asked Adam, as he handed another bowl of hot soup to a young woman sitting nest to the elderly man.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ll be here until they tell me that my building is safe to go to. They say it might be a week.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re lucky,\u201d said the young woman. \u201cMy building is completely destroyed. The front wall was completely destroyed so they\u2019ve decided to knock the rest of it down as well.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat will you do now then?\u201d asked Adam, stirring the pot of soup in his hand. He continued to walk around the table filling up people\u2019s bowls as he listened.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The woman sighed. \u201cI really don\u2019t know,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019ve lived in San Francisco all my life and I don\u2019t want to leave, but after what\u2019s happened I can\u2019t honestly say that I feel safe enough to stay.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s just nonsense,\u201d scoffed a man opposite her. \u201cEarthquakes like that one could happen anywhere. We were just unlucky that\u2019s all.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWe sure were,\u201d said another man. \u201cI heard tell that the front walls of the City Hall building are badly cracked and you can see the rafters in some places. Some people even heard the bell in the tower ringing when the quake hit \u2026. It was so strong.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The woman paled. \u201cDo you think it\u2019ll happen again?\u201d she asked.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The man shrugged. \u201cWho can tell?\u201d he said casually, sipping his soup. \u201cI sure hope not though. There\u2019s enough folks round here without anywhere to live now as it is.\u201d He looked around the crowded community hall and then up at Adam. \u201cYou lose your home too mister?\u201d he asked.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam shook his head. \u201cI\u2019m from out of town,\u201d he said. \u201cJust helping out while I\u2019m here.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The woman smiled at him. \u201cThat\u2019s good of you,\u201d she said. \u201cFolks like us with \u2026\u201d she caught her breath on a sob. \u201c\u2026 with nothing left now really appreciate it.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam smiled at her and patted her on the arm comfortingly. \u201cIt\u2019s the least I can do,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s a dreadful thing to have happened.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSure is,\u201d said the first man miserably. \u201cThere\u2019s whole families \u2026 some of em with tribes of young kids too \u2026 all with no where to g now.\u201d He made a face. \u201cI guess the City Council will try their best, but they won\u2019t be able to do everything at once. There\u2019s an awful lot of re-building to be done.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI saw a large housing block on the corner of Battery and Washington street so badly damaged that the fireman who climbed up onto the roof said that he could see clear down to the basement form up there,\u201d said the elderly man. He shook his head sadly. \u201cIt don\u2019t bear thinking about.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n There was silence around the table for a moment as everyone pondered their own difficult circumstances. After a moment the first man spoke again.\u00a0 \u201cI heard tell that the house of the California Engine Company on Market St is so badly damaged that the Chief of the Fire Department has ordered the engine to be removed to the Corporation Yard for safety. It looks as if the whole building will have to come down.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSurely not,\u201d said Adam.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The man nodded. \u201cLooks like it,\u201d he said. \u201cThat\u2019s not going to help them to get their jobs done either,\u201d he added. \u201cSeems that everywhere you look in this city of ours at the moment there\u2019s going to be things to be done.\u201d He looked around the busy hall again. \u201cThank God for places like this where we can at least get a hot meal and a roof over our heads. Thanks for the soup mister.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re welcome,\u201d said Adam thoughtfully as he moved onto the next table.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben stopped outside his son\u2019s bedroom and was surprised to see that Joe was sitting on the windowsill looking out into the moonlit yard thoughtfully. \u201cJoe?\u201d he said in a low voice. \u201cI thought you would have been asleep hours ago son.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe looked up at his father and shook his head. \u201cI couldn\u2019t sleep,\u201d he said in a soft voice. \u201cI was thinking about all those poor people in San Francisco.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben nodded and sat down on a chair next to him. \u201cSo have I,\u201d he acknowledged.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe shook his head. \u201cSure musta been scary,\u201d he said. \u201cI really didn\u2019t mean what I said today bout wishing I could have seen it. I wasn\u2019t thinking about how bad it musta been.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI know son,\u201d said his father.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe grinned at him. \u201cI spose it was just one of those times like you always say,\u201d he said. \u201cWhen my mouth works before my brain.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben returned the grin. \u201cI have been known to say that a time or two haven\u2019t I?\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe nodded. \u201cYeah. Well anyways, I\u2019ve been thinking \u2026 makes you kinda wonder why God does that sorta thing don\u2019t it? It just don\u2019t seem right.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben sighed and shifted to a more comfortable position in his chair. \u201cLots of things in this world don\u2019t seem right to us at times Joe,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019ve just got to believe that God knows what He\u2019s doing.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe frowned. \u201cYeah, but why would he do that to all those people?\u201d he asked. \u201cThey didn\u2019t even know it was coming. They had no warning or nothing.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben thought for a moment. \u201cI don\u2019t really any answer as to why Joe, but I do know that sometimes we don\u2019t give God enough credit for warning us.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe gave his father a startled look. \u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d he asked.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI mean that perhaps if they\u2019d stopped and read the signs then they might have know it was coming,\u201d replied Ben. \u201cNature usually has a way of telling us things if only we\u2019d stop and look around us and take note.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t get it Pa,\u201d replied Joe. \u201cWhat do you mean? Are you saying that God sent them messages or something before the quake hit?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben nodded. \u201cIn a way,\u201d he said. \u201cWho really knows? All I know is that I\u2019ve seen many natural disasters over the years \u2026. Some of them at sea years ago and some of them right here on The Ponderosa \u2026 and every time there has been some sort of warning.\u201d He smiled at Joe\u2019s puzzled face and leant over to stroke the back of his neck soothingly. \u201cI\u2019m not explaining myself very well am I?\u201d he said with a gentle smile. \u201cYou know the best person for you to have this conversation with would actually be your brother.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe made a face. \u201cMr Know-It-All Adam is in San Francisco Pa. You know that,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben raised an eyebrow. \u201cActually this time I wasn\u2019t meaning Adam,\u201d he said. \u201cI was referring to Hoss.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe looked even more startled than before. \u201cHoss?\u201d he spluttered. \u201cHow come?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben smiled once more. \u201cTalk to him tomorrow about it and you\u2019ll see what I mean,\u201d he said, getting up. \u201cSometimes we don\u2019t give Hoss enough credit for things you know Joe. That brother of yours knows an awful lot about nature and God\u2019s ways and I\u2019m sure he\u2019d be willing to share his thoughts with you on the topic.\u201d He reached down and felt Joe\u2019s arm through his thin nightshirt. \u201cNow into bed with you,\u201d he said. \u201cYou\u2019re cold sitting here.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOK Pa,\u201d said Joe, getting up. \u201cI\u2019ll talk to Hoss about it all tomorrow. Night.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cGood night son,\u201d said his father as he walked towards the open doorway. \u201cSweet dreams,\u201d he added with emphasis.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe smiled, before getting into bed.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Charles Whittaker looked up from his desk and smiled as the young man walked into his office. \u201cAdam!\u201d he said, standing up and holding his hand out to shake. \u201cGood to see you. I\u2019d heard that you were in San Francisco. How\u2019s your father?\u201d\u00a0 He motioned for Adam to sit down.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cFine thank you sir,\u201d replied Adam, sitting down on the other side of the desk. \u201cHow are you? No damage to your building by the look of it.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Charles sat down as well. \u201cNo thank God,\u201d he said. \u201cWe were lucky. It\u2019s business as usual here.\u201d He sat back in his chair and crossed his legs. \u201cSo \u2026 what brings you here? What do you have on your mind?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam gave him a half smile. \u201cWhat makes you think I have something on my mind?\u201d he asked.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Charles returned the smile. \u201cBecause I know you Cartwrights. Your father doesn\u2019t have any particular business with my firm at the moment and if you had wanted to make a social call you would have done it when you first arrived a week ago.\u201d He raised his eyebrows. \u201cSo I\u2019m figuring that you\u2019re wanting to talk about something.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou thought right,\u201d replied Adam. \u201cActually, I was hoping for your help with something.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOf course,\u201d said Charles. \u201cAnything for the son of my good friend Ben. Are you all right? Were you hurt in the quake? Any of your luggage damaged?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam shook his head. \u201cNo … I\u2019m fine,\u201d he said. \u201cI was lucky too. Actually I wasn\u2019t thinking about myself. I was thinking of others.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cGo on,\u201d said Charles, picking up a pencil and tapping it on the desk. He gave Adam a thoughtful look and considered just how like his father he was.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell in the last few days I\u2019ve been helping out where I can,\u201d continued Adam. \u201cAt one of the local shelters they have set up for the homeless people.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Charles nodded. \u201cPoor wretches,\u201d he said. \u201cThere are a lot of families really feeling this I know. It\u2019s good of you to help son.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam waved the compliment aside. \u201cIt\u2019s the least I can do,\u201d he said simply. \u201cAnyway, it started me thinking. I\u2019ve been listening to an awful lot of stories from people who\u2019ve lost everything and I was thinking that there must be something that can be done for them.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Charles nodded again. \u201cGo on,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell I was thinking of some sort of relief fund,\u201d said Adam. \u201cI know that the city will help them for now, but once the immediate relief is over there\u2019ll be nothing for hundreds of people who will need support for a long time to come. Maybe a relief fund to help them build new homes again would be the answer.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Charles tapped the pencil on his chin thoughtfully. \u201cYes,\u201d he said. \u201cI see wheat you\u2019re saying. So why have you come to me?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou know the city,\u201d said Adam sitting forward in his chair eagerly. \u201cYou\u2019d know who to go to get this thing going. I thought that I\u2019d wire my father and I\u2019m sure that he\u2019d send a considerable donation to start things off, but it\u2019s going to need some strong business men to really get it moving.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd the backing of the city council,\u201d said Charles.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes,\u201d agreed Adam. \u201cAnd I thought that you might have those connections too. So what do you say? Are you willing to help?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Charles sat forward in his chair. \u201cI surely will,\u201d he said. \u201cI think it\u2019s a wonderful idea Adam and I\u2019m sure that I can rally quite a few of the business men in this district to make some considerable contributions to it. Are you willing to help organise some meetings?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll do whatever it takes,\u201d said Adam, a grin spreading over his face instantly. \u201cThank you.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Charles shook his head. \u201cI\u2019m the one who should be thanking you young man,\u201d he said. \u201cLone of us should have thought of this sooner for those poor people.\u201d He stood up. \u201cIt\u2019s going to take a considerable amount of time you know Adam. Are you prepared to stay in the city for a while longer until this thing gains some momentum?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI sure am,\u201d said Adam enthusiastically, getting to his feet as well and shaking Charles\u2019 hand. \u201cI\u2019ll wire my father immediately and let him know what I\u2019m doing.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cCome to supper at my house tonight,\u201d replied Charles. \u201cI\u2019ll see if I can get a few others there and we\u2019ll talk.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes sir,\u201d said Adam as he turned to the door. \u201cThank you.\u201d He stopped and turned as Charles spoke his name.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\n<\/b>the City of San Francisco was visited by
\n<\/b>the heaviest shocks ever felt in the vicinity
\n<\/b>\u00a0by the oldest inhabitants.\u201d<\/b><\/p>\n
\n<\/i><\/b>October 8<\/i><\/b>th<\/i><\/b> 1865<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n