Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-05-12
THE VIEW VARIES
Letters Do Not Agree on condi
ton Of Refugees at
San Francisco.
SOME BLAME, OTHERS PRAISE
Mrs. Bennett, Formerly of Moline,
Tells of NeeIigence-Old New
Shops EmpIoye Heard From.

There seems to be wide difference
IN the manner in which the refugees o.
San Francisco are being cared for, &C
cording TO letters received here from
those on the ground Some state that
there is little actual suffering and the
real necessities Of life are easily OBJ
tanned. Others declare that many are
starving and that the authorities are
negligent. Among the latter is Mrs.
Nellie Burn eston Bennett. formerly of
Moline, who safely passed through the
ordeal with her two children and moth
er, Mrs Fannie Burneston. Following
is an extract from letter written to
Friends here:
Conceal Truth.
The papers have combined to con-
ccal the truth, knowing that the real
facts will ruin the future. San Fran
cisco was ruined by an earthquake
the fire only leveled down buildings
that would have had to be torn down
anyway. The place is dangerous for
habitatiOn. but the DeYOungs and the
Hearsts have too much property here
to let the city die now. There is
crime, disease and starvation on all
sides. With the millions that have
been spent for relief, women and |
children are hungry A man whose |
wife lay dying stood in line two hours |
and then received can of pineapple. |
No coffee, no bacon and few of the |
necesS ties, and then so much red tape |
that one is exhausted before they re-
ceive their ration.
"A woman lay on a mattress on the
sidewalk in childbirth. Three differ
ent autos passed-each with a single
commander as passenger, and
though there was no rioting, nor in
fact any necessity for their presence.
none of them would stop long enough
TO take that poor creature TO matern-
ity home, ami by the time help got :
there both she and her baby were /
dead
Sees No Suffering.
AS an example of the opposite view ]
may be cited the experience of Will
liam Scribe, boilermaker recently en-
sloyed at New Shops and now at San 4
Francisco, where he passed. through
he horrors of the earthquake and fire. L
n a letter to William McDougall. sec d
etary of the Mississippi Valley Gale
IoniaE club, living at 916 Forty-fourth I
treet, Rock Island, he says: j
II am still living in the park in
Japanese house or tea garden. We S
hased the Japs out and took posses T.
ion of their house. There were 10 OF
Is at first, but now we only number )
o. We are pretty comfortably cir 4
We live well, getting all
ur necessities free" Not a word is i
aid anywhere of any recent suffering y
nd no blame is attached to anyone.
Mr.. Scribe gives Il particularly gra p
hic account of the earthquake and Ii
hen relates modestly the part he took
n aiding others less fortunate than
imself He says:
81 did what l could to help the peo-
lie and friends about me, as the fire
fas then spreading and we had to n
ee One woman who was sick | took 2.
V the arm and her husband looked
fter the children. We made our way
D another part of the city. On the
ray we we're all nearly killed by a gas
xplosion in the street. Just where u
re were passing a sewer blew up. A :, -
-agon was near the spot and the driv :"
r and horses were killed A woman ~
my back was hit with cobble stone 10
nd | noticed that she was bleeding
at the nose and mouth. The
dy whom was assisting was struck 70
the back and her shoulder blade Q
roken. myself was safe. but l had in
carry the lady and rum" nc