The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1906-05-25

started toward the smoking pile that
had once been San Francisco. On the
very first day car upon car of proyl-
siOns, followed by a handsome relief
fund, expressed in tangible and prac-
teal form the sympathy of the Fresno
folk In giving credit to any city for
being first at hand with relief it must
be remembered that so far as Oakland
was concerned, there was no such
thing as first" Oakland was at hand
with material aid, and the sympathy
that surpasses the power of words to
express, from the very instant that
the stroke fell, even before the outer
cities knew thar It had fallen. AL
though they themselves suffered in no
small measure from the earth tremor,
the Oaklanders threw open their
homes, albeit some of them were sadly
damaged, to their neighb0rs from
across the bay. When the homes
were full the churches, all public build
ings and halls, were converted into
barracks, where every available inch
of space was occupied by imprOVised
beds. Long tables were laid, big
kitchens equipped and manned and
free meals served to the destitute
Daughters of aristOcratic families
worked long days and nights at their
churches carrying food to women who
had never known anything but toll
in their lives, and ministering to chill
dren from the tenements. Even in the
midst of their misfOrtunes many OF
the refugees, more particularly the
women, refused to be a burden, but
demanded to be allowed TO do some
thing to help" The only condition
imposed upon the recipients of this
DISQUALIFICATION it was not charity
was that those who had money must
get their meals at the restaurants,
The relief workers fed only the desti-
tute, and these included oftentimes
those who had lived in affluence I'D
to the morning of April IS. The res
taurantS did not advance their prices.
despite the temptation offered by siege
conditions, Even had not martial law
frOWned Sternly upon such tendencies
the citizens of Oakland would have
done so, and the restauranteur or
provision dealer who should have at
tempted to traffic on the misfortunps
OF his neighbors would have been
SHOWN his mistake in no eQuivOcaI
manner. So it came about that the
refugee who possessed quarter of
dollar could dine heartily, and he who
had but dime could eat a substantial
luncheon.
Cities Prompt with Succor.
berkeley was as prompt and thor
0uSh ID Its administration IS was Oak
land, and Alameda was not behind
At the former place the University of
California, large majority of its men
students having gone to "the front"
with the university cadet corns sent
the remainder, including the women
home, with the exception of those who
chose to remain TO nelp take care of
the refugees who came pouring in
filling the dormitories and recitation
halls to overaowing and camping in
the classic shade Of the campus trees
Los Angeles, on the moment that the
news of the earthquake arrived. began
raising funds and gathering supplies
for relief On the day following the
disaster eight cars of provisions left
for San Francisco, going by way of
the San Joaquin valley Five thou
sand dollars was telegraphed next
day, and the good women Of Los An
geles are still packing 'ge boxes with
clothing for the suffering in San jose
and Santa Rosa The daily papers