The San Francisco call., 1906-05-12
TENDERLO|N
CAROUSES ON
MINT STEPS
Women and Male COnSOTtS
ReVel Wildly as the
Flames Roar.
Liquor Is Supplied by the
Owners OF Red
Light Cafes.
Under World Drinks to Old
Sdn Francisco as
1t Passes.

As the flames that followed the earth
quake of April ls began to leap into
that section where the red light CLEANED
and the sound of early morning carousal
broke the peace Of the night the sirens
who filed the numerous lodging houses
IN the vicinity began TO gather in the
streets there. Some carried jewel boxes,
some bird cages, some spring hats that
had just come from the milliners. Near
ly every one, with that feminine variety
which probably grows greater instead Of
lesser with vice, was painted and dressed
in her gaudiest inery They had had
plenty Of time to go back to their rooms
after the quake and don fine raiment,
and even the terror that was creeping
over them as the flames grew nearer could
not deter them from making up" to
win such admiration as they might.
Out in the streets the terrorized women
gazed up at flame and building, not know
ing but that another quake would send
brick and stone to hurl tho death the
fire could not bring them. They ran
about on Mason, Powell and Eddy streets,
clutching at those they knew and asking
afrighted questions. They knew of no
refuge. Where were their friends of
whom they could ask shelter in the un.
burned district
Why they did SO, no one could say,
but some Of the women wandered down
Fifth street to the Mint They halted
and sat on the broad sweep of stone steps
that gave ample resting ground. Others
InSSoltIfa Rod
their living from the fallen women fol-
lowed doggedly. Word got out that the
Tenderloin was gathering on the Mint
steps. From Mason and Ellis and other
streets the exodus to the government
building became general. Men and wo-
men whose existence had been wrought
from vice in the immoral section hocked
to the Mint. The steps became crowded
and late comers sat on the sidewalk or
paced up and down in the street. It
looked as if a great crowd had gathered
at an amphitheater for band concert
Above, in the heavens, there was the
red glare Of the flames and smoke and
cinders filled the sky. The roar Of the
fire as it tore its way up town almost
drowned the babel Of voices on the Mint
steps.
The male creatures gathered in this
strange throng were dogged, sullsn-4-
mostly. Some Of the women screeched
In hysterical excitement, some were silent
and pale. Shouts that the world was COM
ing to an end arose from the more ignor-
ant Of them. Some prayed and called on
God, as vice always does when death looks
in on its reyeling and freezes its blood.
Soon another sort Of shout arose. A
wagon came dashing along, bearing on
the front seat with the driver 9 man
known to everyone Of the crowd at the
Mint. He was the proprietor of Ten
derloin cafe where they had all reveled
many night. The wagon was stocked
with champagnes and other fine liquors
He was trying to save his stock.
The load never got further. Men and
women surged around 1t and snatched
out bottles and soon the etimulants were
flowing down parched throats as the bot
ties few along through the crowd.
An idea grew in somebody's brain as
the commandeered liquor began to work.
Messengers were sent to all the saloons
in the Tenderloin with word that "the
girls" had gathered on the Mint steps.
o1ShOeo 0AAA Uo&SA AoaoS Va wei. kOOOS
began to reach the Mint. The stuff was
not drunk. It was poured down. by ell
who could get 1t. Earthquake and fire
we're forgotten. The red liquor shut out
all the horrors Of the situation. Prayers
gave way to Hbald song. The mute wo-
men began finging their arms about and
showing signs Of resurrection. Mem
cursed and some Of them fought. Male
and female embraced. Some danced.
Soon a wilder, fercer orgis than the red
light district had ever known was In prog
ress On the broad sweep Of the Mint
steps and the street in front Of 1t.
So the closing saturnaha of the Ten
derloin, which went with the rest Of the
city in the great fire, was held on the
steps Of the stately government building
It grew in intensity as the flames grew
The reason In the brains Of the men and
women Of the underworld was licked up
by the alcohol, as were the buildings by
the oncoming fire.
Soon sparks that blazed more redly
than their predecessors began to drop
from the heavens. Some were so virile
that they burned holes in thin waists and
scorched hat plumes. The roar of flame
changed to a distinct crackle and build
ings crashed down close by The heat
was growing intense.
Still the corks popped on the Mint
steps and alcoholic liquors of many var
ieties found their way into reeling human
forms. Some of the revelers, sobered by
the growing inferno, staggered away and
moved to places of greater safety. The
flames began to lick the back of the Lin
coin school and roar on Mission street not
far away. Above them stin rose drunk
en- shrieks Of women, now obGvious to all
danger and shouts Of men who had found
the temporary courage of craven hearts.
The flames showed their red teeth
above big building across on Mission
street. The soldiers and police came. A