The Washington times., 1906-05-20
FIRST AID TO INFANTS
SAVED HOSTS OF LIVES
AFTER BIG EARTHQUAKE
Los Angeles Committee fastened to Stricken City With
Necessities for Babies Which Came to
Hand Just in Time.

myself IN communication with the Regal
Stores throughout the United States, ia
in number. and instructed their man
ayers to invite subscriptions and dona-
tions OF baby apparel from citizens Of
the various cities. The response was
instantaneous, and in a few days per-
feet flood of all imaginable articles be-
longing to babyhOod came pouring in.
The Regal stores were used as receiving
and forwarding points. handling tons Of
these goods and sending them on to the
babys relief committees distributing
station at the scene of the disaster.
In a short time we were able to give
assistance 10 hundreds OF parents who
were without shelter or means Of sup
port and perhaps secure relief for the
mites against the horrors naturally at
tending such great calamity, the out
come OF which is not known yet.
Relief to Continue.
This relief for the babies concluded
Mr.. Bliss. has gone on unremittingly
since the 5nrst day of the disaster 1t is
well organized now. is in the hands of
public spirited people. fathers and
mothers themselves. moved 10 compass
siea by thoughts that .hey are doing
a substantial good for this helpless por-
ton OF humanity. and il viii go on until
a majority OF the stricken homes are
rlghted and relief is no longer needed. -
In commenting on the manner in
which the residents OF the stricken city
met the problem OF giving general re-
lief and the scope IL reached, Mr.. Bliss
states that the leading citizens, on
whose shoulders the principal burden
fell, showed wonderful courage and re-
source.
When the enormity Of the relief
problem became apparent" said Mr..
Bliss. ''the natives did not faIter. Real
izing that rich and poor aliko were re-
duced TO q common level and that the
necessity called for bread from day 10
day, such men as ex-Mayor James D.
Phelan and Mayor Eugene Schmitz
laid aside their political differences and
took command OF the situation. bring
ing order oTt OF chaos. The only re-
grst expressed by then was THAI money
instead Of food rations was not sent
from the outside. With money. Mr.
Phelan pointed out TO me. they could
purchase all the supplies needeI and
then turn their attention TO recon
structing fortunes, which. he thinks,
viii take some years longer under the
circumstances.
Some confusion resulted during the
early stages OF the relief work There
were cases where people after waiting
IN the bread line for hours were given
through mistake articles such as cans
OF baking powder, lemons. raw potatoes,
or other impracueabIe things. but this
only existed for a short time. Now,
the work is wei organized. the heads of
families are given the kind OF food suit
ed 10 their needs. About 160. COO people
are daily receiving rations. This relief
work, 1 think, must continue at least a
year before ell the distress is removed
Savior of Babies.
The effect Of Mr.. Bliss timely aid has
been that he is now hailed in the Golden
Gate City as "a savior Of the babies"
Although the babies themselves are not
able in their immaturity 10 voice this
sentiment, yet the parents have already
sent him hundreds Of thankful letters.
all showing that their gratitude is deep
seated
A humorous side Of the baby relief,
for as grim and terrible as have been
the results OF the quake and fire il
has had some admtxture Of humor, is
shown in number Of letters Mr.. Bliss
has received from people in other cities
Offering 10 adopt children. The writers
seem 10 think that because Afr. Bliss
gave his time while on the coast to the
care Of the baby sufferers that he has
on his hands a number OF lusty young
sters bereft Of their parents and in need
of homes. This, however, IS not the
case, but that the hopes of the writer's
may not be disappointed he has forward
ed the letters 10 the San Francisco
authorities, with the suggestion that the
requests might be well carried out