The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-05-09
RESCUES AT JACKSONVILLE.
Fifteen Hundred Persons saved by
the River Crnft.


JACKSONVILLE. Fla, May 9--Had it
not been for the heroic efforts of cap
tains of vessels last Friday night the
death list attending the great fire would
have been appalling
1t now transpires through reports made
to the United States local inspectors Of
steam vessels that nearly 800 persons
who were hemmed in by fire on the
WharveS along the St. Johns River would
have been burned or drowned had not the
river craft gone to their assistance. The
ferryboat Commodore Barney rescued
200 persons. The tugboat Pelton picked
up fifty men from small boats and the
water. It also lowed the schooner Helen
Montague away from blazing dock The
tug Athia took fifty persons from the
burning wharf at the foot of Washington
Street The steam launch Edith rescued
sixty. the Frederick de Barry 100 and the
tug Biscayne 200.
Repeating is being practiced by the
negroes at the relief stations. and as
large proportion Of them refuse to work
stringent measures will have to be adopt
ed, which, it is feared, may lead to
conflict Twelve companies of militia are
now guarding the city.
Each night all the burued-out banks de
post their cash and papers in the vaults
OF the National Bank of Jacksonville,
which has stood as tower of strength in
the present crisis.
In the ruins of her home the body OF
Mrs. Scion Robinson was found today
where she had lost her life in the fire.
She was the widow of Scion Robinson, for
many years agricultural editor of the
New York Tribune"
The pOstomce employees are ready to
sUccUmb under the enormous demands
upon their strength. The Office has been
kept open early and late to accommodate
the thousands who have come for mail.
The full meaning of the widespread SUI
fering in Jacksonville was realized when it
was announced in one of the relief meet
ings that a great number Of men who had
never been used to manual labor were
clamoring for work Among them were
clerks. collectors, bOokkeepers, and even
professional men. Thrse young physicians
declared their condition destitute. as they
had lost wardrobes. libraries, office fix
lures, and everything else in the fire The
Department of Labor has undertaken to
give clerical employment to all Of these
applicants
The executive committee of the Relief
Association arranged to buy twenty-five
sewing machines and other appliances
which viii enable the seamstresses who
have lost everything to get work again
This will also relieve the condition Of the
fire sufferers who have lost all clothing
but what they are wearing
\ laundry viii be erected and the ne
gro laundresses viii be started in business
again.
Two carloads Of clothing and provisions
and one carload of potatoes arrived this
morning from New York The arrival Of
these goods greatly relieved the situation.
The total cash relief subscriptions to date
from every quarter amount 10 about So
co.
Good work IS being done by the Ladies
Relief Association, and many ladies OF the
better class VINO had been hiding their des-
Terate condition were relieved
The sewers have become clogged owing
TO the broken pipes throughout the city
and 100 men were put TO work cleaning the
pipes and flushing the sewers In the tent-
ed villages q sanitary force was set TO
work. and il is belived that with the exeT-
else Of great care all danger from typhoid
fever viii be eliminated.
over $4,000 worth Of insurance has al
ready been paid by the adjusteTs- The
people are beginning the erection OF tenn
p0rary places of business and dwelling. a
new Windsor Hotel IS TO be erected at a
cost OF $4,000