Omaha daily bee., 1906-05-14
FRISCO, PAST, NOW, FUTURE
History, Destruction and Reconstruction Of
BIC City Outlined by DR., Foote,
CRUSHED IN ZENITH OF ITS CAREER
Better in Building, Commerce and
Moral Force, New Metropolis VIII
Rise from Ruins, says
Omaha Physician.


few cracks i'm It's walls and in some places
the tiles of the roof were detached and
had fallen. but the old mission church
seemed almost to smile at me grimly, as
II it. had hung another earthquake upon
its belt and was looking disdainfully upon
the ruins of a young, modern church edt-
fee adjoining Il not more than thirty or
forty years old" said Or. d. a. Foote,
who was in San Francisco within few
hours after the earthquake. He made an
address yesterday at the Young Mems
Christian association on THE Past, Pres
ent and Future Of San Francisco" The
lecture was delivered at the Lyric theater.
Here at about the exact date of the
Declaration Of Independence, 100 years ago,
the Spanish fathers erected this mission
church and christened It and the stockaded
settlement about IL. Dolores. This was
the beginning Of San Francisco, and ]
saw beside this adobe structure the little
churchyard, where lay in restless beds the
crumbllng forms of the frocked fathers
and sturdy defenders of the faith in this
land of romance and tragedy. To me this
century-crowned church was an impressive
lesson as # stood there. like the true
Christian, calm and triumphant in the
presence of death and desolation.
History mp to Fatal Day.
"The history Of San Francisco up TO
April 49, 1906, had been a most brilliant
record of wonderful achievements, of
wealth rapidly accumulated and lavishly
poured out to build a city of magnificent
proportions, embelllshed by all that art
and money could command. San Fran
cisco by its location became a cosmopolitan
city indeed.
Trov ,ae wicked
city. Well, there are others I do not
know OF any large city that does not need
little Sapolio for it's silver door plates
and its brazen coat-of-arms, as well as
soap, water and fumigation for its dives
and protected bazar houses. San Fran
cisco needed the gospel of civic righteous
ness OF temperance, of personal purity.
But let the American city that is without
sin cast the first stone. and now humbly
thank God that 1t is not punished as 1t
merits. San Francisco had some noble
charities many notable centers of Chris
tian work.
Tuesday, April II, at the high tide Of
its prosperity, with fond hopes, plethorlc
visions and wild prophecies OF its indulgent
and enthusiastic founders fully realized,
and with plans for a greater and more re-
splendent city fully matured, San Fran
cisco was the Joy and pride of a devoted
and ambitious populace, numbering $4,000
souls. It's future was never so bright. its
trade never satisfactory. Like Narcissus
1t looked upon the mirror of the bay and
was intoxicated with the beauty of its
own vision. 1t had waited and worked and
hoped for this day for fifty long trouble
some years. In less than one minute it
was humbled to the dust. In less than as
it was utterly destroyed.
Picture of Beautiful City.
ct have stood upon the deck of a staunch
ship, one OF the modern marvels of speed
and safety that like swift shuttles weave
together in mighty fabrics of commerce
the nations that border upon the Atlantic;
I've looked out across the leagues of peace
full waters and have seen the dancing
shimmering waves rejecting the blue of the
sky and the gold Of the sun and have been
charmed and quieted by the beauty and
restfullness of the scene. The sky the air,
the water all in blissful accord You feel
as II nature is your friend and you its
lover and your soul is filled with poetry and
song. l, too, have seen the sky, the air,
the water filled with furies that seemed
determined to engulf our ship in utter ruin
I
Numbered in the sky, rosred in the winds
and appalled, us in yawning waves and ter
rible waterspouts The same elements that
had charmed now strove to destroy. have
stood on Mob Hill In San Francisco in the
shadow of those beautiful mansions OF
Stanford, Flood, Hopkins and others and
have looked out upon scene of rare beauty
and impressive grandeur. l doubt If its
equal is to be found I'm all this world. To
the west the Golden Gate opening outward
| for the ships crowded with the products of
American fields and factories and welcom-
| ing inward the rare fabrics OF the Orient and
! the gold OF commerce-our balance i'm trade
To the north are the mountains, silent
| serene, cloud clapped; at our feet the har-
Dor, with It's emerald isles and its graceful
| ships reposing like carrier doves at home
| Beyond the constellation OF little cities,
Benecis. Berkeley, Oakland, nesting in the
! foot hills that adorn our eastern horizon
| To the south a maize Of streets. the smoke
and dust Of factories, struggling outskirts
| that are lost in orchards and vineyards.
and ranches that line the road to Palo
Alto and San Jose Crowded about us are
great structures Of brick and steel and
stone; marble palaces, magnificent hotels,
beautiful churches, wonderful fabrics of
| All pSauAg anu bAttABln IN a thousand
varieties OF architectural visions
Il will not speak Of any details Of this
awful disaster. You are perfectly familiar
| with them through our enterprising and
| cosmopolitan press. The dissemination OF
the details Of this great event has been
marvellous, showing the wonderful equip
ment Of our modern newspapers and the
genious Of editorial management. There
are one OF two incidents related TO me
that may add to your fund OF pathetic mar
ratives Of the fateful days Of San Fran
cisco.
'one OF the most striking mixtures OF
grief and the emblems of JOY that came
10 my attention was the following: fam
lily was preparing for the wedding festivi-
ties OF their niece, an adopted daughter
| A large wedding cake had been made for
| the mOrrow's celebration. The earthquake
came and a sister of the bride-to-be was
killed by crushing blow upon the skull
! Soon after they were warned to leave be-
cause Of approaching flames, and. of course
they could not leave the corpse Of this
beautiful young woman, and so they bore
II away with them. And four times did
they have 10 move away from their places
Of refuge before they finally arrived safely
| a., h. nd o. -.