Perth Amboy evening news., 1906-04-25
Mr.. PARKER IN
NEW PLEADING
Venerable Lawyer of Newark
Speaks atSan Francisco Mass
Meeting in Newark.

ld"StA pluCNlNlhS III lHlo StdLS, hao
one of the principal speakers at a
mass meeting in the interest of the
relief fund for the San Francisco suf-
%ferers, held at the Columbia Theatre,
Newark, Sunday afternoon, at which
over $1,000 was contributed. Mayor
Doremus presided and Mr.. Parker
was one of the first speakers.
His speech was as follows:
I'VE meet to aid in stimulating ac-
ton for the relief of brothers suffer
ing under a disaster unparalleled, as [
think, in the history of the human
race. Nothing | V e heard or read
equals it in pathos. Four hundred
thousand inhabitants of one of the
richest and most beautiful cities in
America were either asleep or had
just awakened and were preparing
for the employment Of the day. at 5
o'clock and thirteen minutes, when
sudden noise and crash occurred. In
three minutes every building fell or
tottered, their occupants, many near
ly or quite naked, were either killed,
wounded or hurled into the streets,
and the living plunged into misery
indescribable. have endeavored, af-
ter reading the tale, to imagine the
feelings of this ~astonished people
how they wondered, what they suf-
fered, and as to it's cause.
quickly they must have realized
what that was. An earthquake had
torn the city to pieces. A great gulf
had buried hundreds. Ere they could
think, the demolished houses were
fired, the result of the earthquake
throwing house against house, and
survivors of the first crash were burn
ing alive. Alarms sounded and
seen witnessed brought fire en-
gines manned by hosts of those brave
men who, in that city as we'll as else
where, are so fearless. skillful and
ready for death to save communities
Their hose was attached, but, horri-
Bile fatality! the earthquake had de
stroyed the waterworks, their per-
fectly trusted reliance, always hereto
fore their friends, and fire rushed on
ward, raging with increased fury.
Quickly they sought powder, and
then dynamite, most dangerous foes,
usually, that they ever encountered,
and thus made friends of their ordi-
narily worst enemies. But alas, their
success was little more than momen-
tary, Their stores of these fearful
weapons, with which ordinarily they
removed buildings TO the surface OF
the ground, where fire was soon put
out Or satiated, gave out.
Could DO Nothing More.
"They could do nothing more. EX-
hausted and without means to inter-
fere with the fire. they had t leave
it's path and, If possible, gain tempo
rary safety, and look on while the
whole city burned, at the will of the
destructive element. Pr~ovidentially,
on the hills bordering the populated
territory, was the United States fort
That was made a territory for es
cape; as night anne on, a sleepin;
camp, and the soldiers, under the
distinguished and most judicious gco
eral, became part of the police mas
tiers of the city under martial law
! that seldom needed, horrid necc sit
The market had been destroyed IN
provision stores had persisted. Fam
inc began and stared them il t1t
face. Thirst accompanied it. We ar
not sure that anything is perfectly
safe yet. The fire shoulders where il
does not blaze. The population are
compelled to remain within the city
and the United States territory, un-
less they can escape across the bay,
or to the south, where just one ave
nue. for safety exists. Money has
been useless, for there were no pro
visions, no clothing, no bed colthes.
nothing useful for comfort, purchas-
able.
Relief Not Sure.
Relief seems likely now, but not
sure. Earthquake, fire, famine,
| thirst, ~nakedness, houselessness are
still visible or apprehensible dangers.
All these evils, these frightful hor-
rors, are still their fate. Employ
ment is largely burying the dead,
whose bodies have become danger
Gus. The fear now is for disease.
Has history ever chronicled such mis-
cries? In their midst have rushed
the pity and money help of the ma
tien, the sympathy of foreign govern
ments, the large provision of con-
gress, the subscriptions of the peo-
pie everywhere, the pouring into
treasures established for their bene-
fit of money in uneXampled sums, the
forwarding from our metropolis OF
generosity with layishment before UNI
known, even tere, the successful eff
forts of our mayor and the commun-
ity of this city in obtaining additions
to this mass of munificence and here
we are, called by him to aid in slim
ulating action so just, and therefore.
so c%reditable.
This calamity has befallen a sister
state. New Jersey should do her part
in saving California from despair.
1T has certainly set the city of San
Francisco back years. 1t may even
! amen that no DrOSDeritV can VeT