New-York tribune., 1906-06-21
TRIBUTE FROM FRANCE.
u. JuSSerond Sends Comment on San
Francisco Disaster to President.
IFrom The Tribune Bureau

Washington. June 29.-President Roosevelt has
received from N. Jusserand. the French Ambassa-
DOR, e letter from one OF the ambassadors coun-
trymen who was a witness Of the San Francisco
disaster. n. Thourouds, the writer of the letter.
pays high compliment 10 the and fortitude
Of the people OF the devastated city. and does II
graphically that the ambassador thought the
President would ike read it The President did.
and so much pleased with the letter in his
turn that ne declared II ought TO the light of
print. NJ Thouroude's letter follows;
New York. June 6, 1895.
Mr.. Ambassador: In the course Of the converse
g you We're so g g9qe s sn 70 gat e Ga
As one of the eyewitnesses and sufferers OF the
disaster, had occasion testify TO the admirable
6 aaah dnetaTe 90 not Beiisae @ that any
evIhoe leeeSarT e5ereR inGnitabep Yaitb in the
future and defiance Of obstacles and difficulties
the people Of s. san ~ Francseo were in this respect
also told you how astounding the organization
of relief was, and what remarkable lesson in
solidarity given the world by the prompt
pTiTste That ron $50 600 TO 10000 persons made
Homeless and breadiess in less than three days did
not for instant suffer from hunger or exposure
ed and might perhaps be envied by the commits
texhaustible resources OF a remarkably rich and
fertile country greatly facilitated the task and were
blessing from heaven in such calamity. but that
Buprerely moved by this strrGsle with death, that
which looked Prodigious, was that the food
camps was appcrtioned and distributed without
error noticeable friction. while the city in ruins
IN such want Of means Of communication.
nv saving il aeain But tfere is another point that
j dii not bring forth during our interview and
wfich II Is my earnest desire TO point out here for
the sake Of complete fairness and truth. -
San Francisco, as you know, was perhaps the city
Of the United States in which cos1nopolttansm had
SET Us deepest marx The most Nafled lhconsruous
clements, the dsslTilar races, lived there side
Ir2 G @ 10 Sqe be 10 ooPd pf eT 6 G T event Of sgdG
change IN The social equilibrium. Could there be
Euv more effective agency for this sudden caange
TINS shock that ignites the sparks from which riot
Is last? 4 whole city, awakened IN the terror Of
record deserts its public buildings hotels private
house. a1a threeourths ef ITS people care bor no!
following another at intervals Of twenty or
IN various parts Of The city immediately following
;he trembior fifteen fires which disclose the fact
become the fifteen brands that 10 destroy the
business district in single forenoon, deyour one
every one as early as The dawn of the fateful day
BE: Il was certainly admitted by ali on the very
.rst day. i therefore the safest and most
tempting opportunity for pillsge. II also. TO
cIslI extent, an excuse for the disturbances
Without shelter. food resources or occupation and
WI VIZ The prospect Of destitUtion for many days,
Instead q such disturbances. which would have
enhanced the horror Of the situation. the whole
mutual regard had such 2 slight hold were seen TO
ceFnn.nGle IN the same orderly effort to remove
th'r property and effects. superlatively respectful
. The guests Of tfe large hoteis-the St Denis or
ne Palace-stranded Union Square and left be
hlnn BY their for want Of help could be
seen four days later intact and untouched and
nnal4y heape6 among the nameless debris. This
was reported 70 repeatedly from other parts OF
!he cry. Who would not have thought in thus leaV-
ig his property in city undergoing such an ordeal
that IL would IN all likelihood be searched" and
''rcked"2
To be sure. the enforcement Of martial law from
tse very first DAY, the destruction of liquor and
slcohol the closing II barrooms. were measures OF
great wisdom and one viii question that they
contributed The splendid achievement but let ne
believe that there but very LITTLE in the in
fuence q those handfds Of soldiers over so wide
territory that the only, the true, the powerful
protector ~ order and property was. above all, the
people of San Francisco itself This IS the homage
which. a truthful witness. wanted TO pay 10
he Americans of the West. and of which believe
Tie Americans of all America VIII be proud.
= s q fact which far as | know. SUI
Ilciert stress has been laid You may. II need
be, challenge my testimony. ! shall easily find
among the prominent Frenchmen Of San Francisco
~ho were my companions IN misfortune the con-
hfmafiOn Of NV statement. II required
lSe pleased 70 accept. Mr.. Ambassador the homage
~ nly profound respect and the assurance Of my
entire devotion. @. THOUROUDE.
General Agent u the Chargeurs Reunis Company.
address in Paris. Boulevard Ialesheroes