The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-04-21
PEOPLE CHEERFUL
UNDER DISASTER
Survivors Of San Francisco Catas.
trophe Accept Hardships in
Hopeful Spirit.

San Francisco, via Oakland, April 21.
Never has situation such as that
which confronts San Francisco been
handled SO superbly. There is little
actual want in the city, altho plenty of
discomfort. The food supply is becom-
fering, the dearth of water, is being re-
Ieved. There is plenty of water to
drink, but as yet little for other pur-
poses. The military has handled the
situation in manner that calls forth
praise from even the despairing.
Thursday and Friday quantities of
supplies were pouring into the city.
the refugees are camped and distrib- |
uted gratis to the needy.
Yesterday the great stores Of army
clothing were opened and wagon after
wagon load of clothing and blankets
was soon on it's way to the camps of the
homeless. Turnout the refugee districts
notices We're posted informing the pop
ulace that further relief was on the
Eay. Army wagons distributed bread,
biscuits and canned goods. There was
enough and to spare for everyone in the
vicinity Of the supply stations.
AS tho to make amends for the dread
fulness of the preceding two days, the
elements dealt kindly with, the suffer
ers Thursday night. The night was
balmy, scarcely a breeze stirring, and
even those that had vet roofs to shelter
them left their dwellings to sleep in the
open. On the hills in the western part
of the city thousands gathered to wit
ness the completion of the destruction
between brief intervals of sleep.
Z 10000 Camp in Park. i
In Golden Gate park 10000 bivouac
hres cleaned, In front of every
remaining residence impromptu fire
places were doing duty as stoves and
for the first time since the earthouake
shock the people sat down on grass
plats or curbstones to enjoy warm
meals. . -
Withal the crowds were good natured.
possibly the cheerfulness of despair.
Here and there some party would start
up 'rollieking song. One heard little
OF pesslmlsm. For the time being the
people were out of want, the future
would engage their attention after some
sort of order had come out of the chaos
in the burned district. q
Early, on Thursday the military had
taken charge Of all supplies remaining
in the city and was distributing them
to the crowds. Dealers in goods not
classed as necessities, such as tobacco,
furniture and the like, were permitted
to continue their sales, with the under
standing that there should be no rails
ing of prices. Whenever a dealer vio-
lated this rule his stock was promptly
confiscated and distributed free. The
best of order was maintained everv-
where; the military had the situation
under perfect control.
Dozen Shot for Looting.
At least dozen men have been shot
by soldiers for looting and in two cases
thieves were run thru with bayonets
and their bodies left lying where they
fell, Ito become food for the oncoming
flames.
At one place on Thursday five men
were shot, two killed and three were
wounded. The troops had thrown open
corner grocery with the usual order
that the crowd might carry off all it
contained except the liquors. A large
party Of men made rush for the place
and emerged with quantities of whisky.
When called upon to drop them they
failed to- obey and a volley was fired
upon them.
fed calls2to halt. The rife was leveled
with the first order and at the failure
of the second to stop the offender it
was discharged.
Undoubtedly the troops saved a lot
Of lives by keeping the burned district
free of crowds where buildings wrecked
by the earthquake were constantly fall
ing. ~
Millionaires Eat With Laborers.
Out in the Golden Gate park, where
the number of refugees is now close tc
100000, the situation is democratic il
the extreme. Hobnobbing side by side
may be seen millionaires and day labor
ers, state and city officials and mem
bers of the judiciary eat out Of the
same tureen with the lowliest of the
city's people. Money counts for moth
ing. All that it would purchase for it,
possessor was good transportation ia
cilities for the little that was saved
from the rich mans home The foot
supplies were as free for the paupe1
for the one that the other could no
have, Turnout it all the best of com
radeship prevailed. For the time class
lines were completely blotted out.
Some of the household utensils il
use are primitive in the extreme. Fo
the most part the cooking range con
sists Of some fiat pieces of iron lait
upon walls of bricks. Here and there ;
chatting dish is in use. Every name
of kettle and pot has been pressed int,
service.
Sanitation Important.
The sanitary problem is still the on
that gives most concern. This may b.
solved IN measure. now that tn
flames are under control and the sol
diery will be enabled to leave tn
= burned area and devote its attention t.
more thoroly restoring some system O
living In the great refugee camps. Al
ready considerable sickness has de
veloped because of the exposure an
absence of anything but a canned good
diet.
Now that supplies are coming tn
situation will be alleviated. The exten
of the loss Of life will never be known
The police now estimate the dead a
700. However, an army officer VIII
had charge of the Mission district sal
last night:
ct don want to exaggerate
situation that is already horrible enough
but it is my honest opinion that 1000
would be near the correct figures O
the dead. In the Mission district Ion
rows of flats were leveled fiat TO til
ground. Beneath them were scores o
crushed bodies. Before the work q
rescue could be more than begun til
flames swept thru.
know of one large fat housin
The most intensely
sY interesting hooly