Los Angeles herald., 1906-05-02
WHAT ONE MAN SAW
IN SAN FRANCISCO
W. R. Mech Tells His Experience in Ruined City
Says No Pen Can Picture Scenes-Has
Words of Approval for Some
Features of Catastrophe

"For scenes that are of genuine hu-
man interest, both pathetic and humor-
Gus, there is no place in the world like
San Francisco today" said w. r.
Mech of the Pacific Coast Steamship
company, whose offices in the Palace
hotel in San Francisco were entirely
burned out.
mo author has ever described
scenes similar to those in the ruined
city. So far the newspaper men seem
to have overlooked many of the most
interesting incidents.
Gathered about the streets early in
the mornings, around the little parks in
the city and the big Golden Gate park
are thousands of persons making their
breakfasts over little brick ovens.
Some have been fortunate enough to
find a section of stovepipe. which may
be seen protruding from the tops of the
| bricks.
"These hundreds of homeless persons
can be found every morning frying
their little portions of ham and eggs
over small pieces of tin that they have
found at odd places about the city.
They seem to be entirely free from
care. They sing songs over their little
fires and chat with their neighbors-
not about the terrible fire that almost
wiped San Francisco from the map,
but about the weather, and inquire
about one another's health. 1 even
heard two persons-women-ask
each other to call and have dinner.
Like Camping Parties
ITO us who were more fortunate in
escaping the destruction of our homes
by fire and earthquake it is laughable.
It suggests that we are visiting class
/ Fg,- 1frrVa 20 No
and customs. Then again it looks like
big collection Of camping parties
on pleasure bent.
"The horrors Of the fire and earth
quake have been almost forgotten by
| the poor, homeless thousands that are
obliged to depend upon the assistance
of others for food and a place to sleep.
1t is not exaggerating it in the least
when 1 say that these poor, homeless
thousands seem entirely contented and
| happy with life.
| Golden Gate park is a city in the
| full sense of the word. The people
gathered there live entirely to them
selves. They have their little trials like
they used to have in their homes
wherever they may lave been. From
| the father of the household down to the
pet dog or cat they have adjusted
themselves to the circumstances and
seem to be mighty glad that they're
alive-that's ALL
Keep Children Close BY
"a visitor passing through Golden
Gate park must not be surprised to
find the mother Of the household sit
ting in front of the tent entrance call
ing to her adventurous children to
come back within calling distance
While I passed through Golden Gate
park about one week ago 1 counted
| fifty-seVen children that were spanked
for going more than a f-V feet beyond
the tent entrance.
THE conditions in San Francisco
are becoming better each day. Last
Friday resident We're allowed to use
candles for lighting purposes for the
first time since the fire. They We're
permitted to use them only about two
hours each night. If they We're found
burning beyond that time a soldier
would call to them to put out the
light. If the order was not obeyed
a second warning would not be given,
but bullet would crash through a
} window and the lig would go out
at once.
Martial law has been a great thing
for San Francisco. 1t has prevented
the committing of much evil. Hun
dreds of men have been shot down
for the slightest offense-offense thai