The San Francisco call., 1906-05-07
FREE TRAVEL
SOON TO STOP
AHOrderS Must Be
Validated by
May IL.
Companies Assist
! Many Worthy
Applicants.

Orders already issued for transnorta
ton to points east Of Chicago and St
Louis VIII be valid II presented at .bA
railway ticket Offices before TIA cIo.a
OF business today. Orders for trans
portarion 70 Chicago and st. Louis and
points intermediate wiz be issued no
TO and including May 10 but these or
ders must be validated by the evening
OF May u. after which date ALI free
and reduced transportation win be dis
continued.
Really, can't make up my mind az
to just where I want TO go. There
Tom, my son, at Seattle; Mary, NV
married daughter, at Portland. ana
Jack, my brother, at Los Angeles"
Thus spoke a white haired woman
whose life had passed beyond the three
score mark as she stood outside this
railing which fncloses the busy quar-
ters Of the railroad companies that
have been assisting worthy persons out
OF The city. These quarters are located
IN Franklin Hall, and a long line of
men, women and children is to be seen
there from carry morning until late in
the afternoon.
O K Gushing has had charge Of this
branch Of the relief work and he has
been ably assisted by a corps Of help
ers who are never idle an instant
The more important cases have been
given Mr.. Cushing's personal attention
and hundreds OF utterly destitute men
and women, and in a number Of cases
whole families, have been furnished
with free transportation even to the
other side Of the continent and sent on
their way rejoicing.
The old lady IN question was only
one Of many who were undecided rs
TO which member Of the family with
whom they wished to be reunited. Her
story. too, was only q repetition Of hun
oreds Of others who had made applbca-
ton for transportation before her. The
great fire had swept away her home
and all her possessions and she want I'd
70 be with some one OF her kin who
could care for her for the remainder
OF her days. She finally concluded that
her daughter at Portland, whose his
band had a fairly good position and
who had sent her word that she would
be looked after nicely. provided she
could secure transportation to the
northern city. would be the most de-
sirable to go to. Mr. Cushing there
upon furnished her with an order on
the Southern Pacific ticket agent at the
Ferry building for free transportation
70 Portland, and, after profuse thanks.
the old lady joyfully departed.
Tales OF most narrowing experiences
during the days Of the fire after the big
temblOr, followed by utter destitution.
have been poured daily into the ears
OF the transportation people. Each has
been listened TO with patience, and all
reasonable requests have been granted.
Some men and women. having a little
means left, have been furnished, upon
satisfactory representation, with trans
portation at half rates. Hundreds have
been sent to relatives or friends in New
York, Boston, Philadelphia and other
Tar Eastern cities, but the majority
have been given transportation to
towns in the interior OF the State and
70 cities on the coast They have been
going out at the rate of three hundred
daily, and up to yesterday It is esti-
mated that something like five th0u-
sand persons have been assisted ou.
OF the city by the railroad companies.