The Tupelo journal., 1906-04-27

realize the extent Of the calamity. They
hear that the city is destroyed, in 50 far
as business plants are concerned; they
tell each other in the most natural
tone that their residences were de-
stroyed by the flames. but there is no
hysteria, no outcry, no criticism.
Mayor Schmitz and corps have been
forced from place to place by the on
rushing flames. Daybreak found them
directing the municipal council, which
is a committee OF safety, from the Fair
mont hotel, the beautiful structure that
stood on top Of Knob Hill. But that
caught fire, and they retreated to the
Cushing, at Larkin and Suffer streets.
then to the north end police station, In
Sacramento street. Here the council,
composed of the financial leaders Of the
city, met and decided to resort to the
most heroic measures yet undertaken
since the city has been in the path Of
devastation.
Resort to Bombardment.
This decision was to lombard the en-
tire section of the city lying along the
east side of Van Ness avenue from Col
den Gate avenue to Pacific avenue, 10
blocks in ali, containing the homes OF
many millionaires and apartment
houses. The military vas notified OF
this action, and barrels Of gunpowder.
the only remaining explosive in the
city, were taken from the Preside. Fort
Mcdowell, Alcatraz and other nearby
posts. Hundreds of police, regiments
Of soldiers and scores OF volunteers
were sent into the doomed district to
warn the people to fee. These stoical-
ly responded to the demand Of the law.
and went bravely on their way, trudg-
ing painfully over the pavements with
the little they could get together. Every
available wagon was taken by the mill
tary to carry the powder.
Gen. Funston CO-Operating.
Gen. Funston is cooperating with
Mayor Schmitz, whose orders to all Of
ficers are to kill without warning all
~malefactors. When men have been
needed to carry out the plans of rescue
they have been pressed into service. In
only a few instances was it necessary
to resort to the cooked revolver n
drawn sword, after which there was no
hesitancy. The Preside reservation,
the vast Richmond district Of thousands
of acres, Golden Gate park and the sur
rounding hills, resemble one vast picnic
ground. Tents and improvised shelters
have been erected everywhere, fire
places built in the street, beds and mat
tresses thrown down all over the sec
ton. The people thus situated are
philosophical.
One OF the Real Dangers.
There is only one danger, and that
is that the food supply will run out.
Every grocery remaining in San Fran
cisco has been taken by the authorities.
and each family is being sold only one
article at a time. In many places the
police and military prohibit overcharg-
ing. Gen. Funston announced that ra-
lions would o o reach the city, and
the people will be supplied from the
Preside. Bakeries have already been
The day was bright and warm, the
sun beating down on the tired workers
and rescuers. There is scarcely any
water to relieve the thirst of the suf-
fering. The heat is threatening dam
ger, for the dead, in many instances,
are lying in the streets and ruins. The
authorities are doing all in their power
to remove bodies in order that a pesti-
lence may be prevented. 1t has been
necessary repeatedly to move the in
jured from places where they had
sought refuge, for the fire kept in
creasing with alarming rapidity. Wa
ter is the incessant cry of the firemen
and the people-one wants it to fight,
the others to drink-but there is only a
scant drinking supply.
No Diminution of the Fire.
Oakland, Cal, April 20.-At mid
night Thursday the fire in San Fran
cisco did not appear to have dim
inished. The entire sky was illumi-
mated by the glare of the unchecked
conflagration. There was no wind,
and only the faintest suspicion of a
breeze, but it was said that there was
a stiff breeze blowing over San Fran
cisco. A gigantic column of smoke
hangs over desolated San Francisco,
the apex forming in fantastic shapes
thousands of feet in the air and SLOW
ly drifting away to the northward.
Although Geographic communica-
ton was established Thursday even
ing with the ferry building on the San
Francisco side, only a very limited
amount Of matter could be handled.
Telegraph companies would receive
but a few hundred words of pressmat-
ter, giving the wires over to the press
ing commercial business. 1t is prob
able that by this morning additional
telegraph facilities will have been
provided, and detailed stories of the
city's destruction car be handled from
that side of the bay.