The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-22
DELIVER MESSAGES IN CITY.
TELEGRAPH COMPANIES NOW
REACH SAN FRANCISCO.
Early Morning Alarm for the western
unlon-OperatOrs Rushed Across the
Bay-Hard Lot OF the Refugees
Postal Catching Up With Its Work.

Hay-Hard LOT OF the heIuBees-
Postal Catching Up With lite Work.
The Western Union Telegraph Company
hogan Yesterday the delivery Of messages
IN San Francisco. An enormous number
n kilograms have piled UP for delivery,
and most OF the c~ompany's efforts for a few
days will be directed toward seeing that
they reach those to whom they are ad-
dressed.
Printed lists Of the persons to whom
the messages are directed have been posted
in san Francisco and Oakland, and the lists
will also be published by the newspapers
which are now being printed in Oakland.
The Federal troops are also taking a hand
in the distribution Of these messages.
In spite of the task which 1t has or hand
in ra,toring its service to normal the West
en Union continued yesterday to furnish
in bulletin form news Of the exact situation
in the destroyed city.
At 1870 o'clock yesterday morning one
n the operators at the Market street ferry
Office reported by direct. wire that the
whole waterfront was in danger on ao-
count of the fact that the wind was blowing
a gale from the southwest. At the time
tugs were trying to keep the fire away
from the wharves. but it was feared that
their efforts would be fruitless, and prepara-
tons were made to vacate the ferry house
and establish headquarters elsewhere.
I'VE felt absolutely safe until last night"
Sid Assistant General Manager Barclay.
"Then we we're advised that it was blowing
a gale in San Francisco, that the worst
fires were those in progress along the water
front, and that il it continued to blow we
would be forced to vacate the ferry house.
We then arranged to splice the cable in
which our wires are brought over from Oak
land. so that they could be taken up in the
bay and worked from a point at which there
would be no danger. Fearing that the
fire might progress 80 rapidly that we
could not keep away from 1t, we made
preparations to pick up the cable and work
one or more wires from a boat far enough
from the shore to protect us from danger,
but I am glad to say that 1t was not neces-
sary, as we afterward learned that the
waterfront fire was under control.
we have already sent 100 operators into
San Francisco from outside points, and
our force there now numbers 100 men.
We haven't had a roll call yet, because Of
martial law. Although the main Office
was destroyed, all the records there were
saved. We are going to build on the old
Montgomery and Pine street site.
4 don't think from the information We
have cleaned tn at many people were killed.
Our first estimate was between 500 and
100, and l don't think that the loss Of life
will exceed that. There were but few
people in the business district when the
earthquake occurred, and reports show
that the guests escaped from the Palace
and other hotels. The fire was caused by
the breaking Of the gas mains and the
ignitng Of the escaping illuminant by
sparks from the broken electric wires.'
At 2o'clock yesterday afternoon a bulle-
tin was received in the main Office here
describing the darkness that had fallen
upon the city.
1T 10 as dark as night here" said this
report. Through the heavy smoke the
whole city looks like a desolate waste and
one canno see more than 200 feet ahead.
Refugees leaving at the ferry seem in
adazed condition, caused, no doubt, by the
loss Of sleep and the suffering they have
undergone. They seem like people in a
dream, and it is difficult to get intelligent
or even ineligible information from them.
THE fire along the waterfront Is under
control. However, we are still very much
afraid of the fire situation on the west end"
At / o'clock yesterday morning this meg
sage was received:
There is no material change as far as
can be learned. People leaving on boats
seem to be bewildered as to the locality
Of the latest outbreak, as their reports are
conflicting"
At $50 yesterday morning, New York
time, the office at the Market street ferry
reported:
Fire still burning around wharves.
The superintendent Of the building said
q few minutes ago that the structure was
sate and would not take fire. 1t is still
difficult to estimate the number OF dead.
They are scattered all over the city, They
are burying them in trenches, fifteen in q
ditch
An hour later the operator wired: 'The
ierryboats are now running on schedule
time, which means that the exodus to-day is
going to be big. There is an immense
crowd around the depot here, and commit
tees from all the towns across the bay are
urging them to leave San Francisco and
60 with them. The committees, however,
will not allow the people to take Any bag
gage with them, and this Is causing a great
deal Of argument and disappointment, for
the crowd in loaded down with k~nickknacks
and absolutely useless bits Of furniture.
The depot looks like a great second hand
store.
The people are dragging everything,
from a piano to a bird cage. They are all
anzious to flee but they hate to leave their
goods behind, and the committees insist
that no baggage shall be allowed. AS a
result the depot is Uttered with curious
stuff. The goods Of the crowd ara piled
up in the street and everywhere around
the depot for a long distance.
The fire is burning fiercely up north,
hut the wind has gone down. making it
less dangerous"
This was the bulletin received here at
t45 o'clock in the morning:
The fire that worried us during the night
by squirting up at times may get away
from the bremen at any time. 1t may
~endanger everything on the waterfront.
that is, the sheds and warehouses. There
are but few of these left, and they are OF
wood Of the poorest kind.