The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1906-04-24

y AeeSs anu thC possibility VI CUtNkthlS
the march Of the flames there looked
hopeful Orders We're given to con
centrate every fire engine in the city
at this avenue, to marshal soldiers, po-
lice and all workers, and make one
last stand to save the remainder of the
city.
Huge cannon were drawn to the
avenue to aid the dynamiters in blow
ing up the mansions of the million
aires on the east side of Van Ness
avenue. Every available pound of dy-
Mantle was hauled to this point, and
the sight was one of stupendOus and
appalling havoc, as the cannon were
trained on the palaces and the shot
tore into the walls and toppled the
buildings in crushing ruins At other
points dynamite was used, and, house
after house, the dwellings of the mill
ionaires were lifted into the air by the
power Of the blast, and dropped to the
earth mass of dust and debris.
The steady booming of the artillery
and the roar of the dynamite above
the howl and cracking Of the flames
continued for hours with monotonous
regularity
The work of the fire fighters was not
in vain. Roaring across the blocks of
San Francisco's handsomest dwellings,
the fire reached Van Ness avenue and
there paused at the last defense that
could be made against it. The CON
fagration which completed the devas-
tation begun by the earthquake had
spent its force, after Id ing waste the
entire business part Of the city. the
finest residence section, and the tene-
ment districts. One-fourth of the city
is safe. The flames were stopped at
Van Hess avenue and Octayia street
on the west.
With the fire under control, the chief
concern was for the homeless and
furnishing, estimated to number 300,-
900 persons. Two-thirds of this mum
Der spent the night in Golden Gate
Park, on the hills, and at the beaches,
under such tents as could be impro-
vised. Oakland, Berkeley and Alamo
da tried to take care of thousands who
were able to SIT across the bay.
The sufferings OF the houSeless peo-
pie were terrible. Both food and water
were lacking. At daybreak, however,
there was water supply and army
rations, doctors, nurses, end tents We're
hurried to the city BY land and water.
Three main relief stations have been
organized in the city.
The military were COR yelled to i'm
press men to bury the dead. Their
number is still unknown.
The insurance companies announced
that losses would be + i'd Immediately,
thus putting large sum at the dis
posal Of realty owners.
But the people of San Francisco,
homeless and famlshing, are bravely
facing the calamity which has over
taken them, and practically swept out
of existence the great city of viii i
they were so proud. There were no
evidences of weakness among the
crowds of stricken people moving back
reluctantly from each advance of the
flames. Remarkable bravery was ex-
hibited by men, women and children
in face of Overwhelming disaster
To tie southwest everything is in
ruins for nearly three miles from the
bay. Every building of Importance is
gone, save the .nint-hotele theatres,
skyscrapors-everythirg To the north
Chinatown is a heap of ashes.
There is no business quarter-it is
gone. There is no longer hotel dis
trict, a theatre, place where night
beckOned to pleasure. Everything
gone. Only part # The residence do
main of the city remains.
With black ruin covering more than
seven square miles in its very heart
the city now waits in a stupor the in
evitable reign Of starvati n and pesti-
lence that must crowd close upon the
disaster.
The authorities are doing all in their
power to remove the bodies in order
that c pestilence may be prevented.
1t is impossible to pick out single in
cidents in This composite picture of
human woe and misery The suffer-
ings and hardships Of individuals APP
pear faint and puny in the great sor-
row that has overtaken the city of the
Golden Gate. The common woe is so
great that all details must shrink into
the dark picture which the city pre-
sents. Loss of home, fortune, relatives
and friends are part of the common
lot. Men who were wealthy are pau
pers to-day. Families who had oceu-
pied beautiful homes were thankful for
the shelter of the open air.
Now and then you recognize some
man, dressed like a tramp, dirty, drag
ging miserable woman, as a prosper
GUS business man or a sleek clerk
whom you have known. They come
hungry, mainly penniIess. fairly beg
ging something to eat from the public
kitchens which the soldiers have set up
in the streets. Public halls, the base
ments of churches end the squares
have been set apart for their use.
There are well authenticated stories
that people who were taken from their
homes, enfeebled and i'll, actually died
of thirst Others died of lack of medi-
cine. Among the fugitives from the
burned district are more than dozen
persons who have gone insane. There
are reports of seven suicides, and of
course this is not nearly the worst.
There is a darke- side, too. At least
four men have been shot for looting
There are no wharf rats in the world
worst than those which infest the San
Francisco water front. In the early
afternoon one of these cattle came
staggering out of wine house on
Green street. his arms filled with cham
payne bottles, and already half drunk
with brandy which he had found in
the wreck The soldiers stood him
against the burning building and shot
him to death. Three others were shot
in the back on the run. One man in
Market street who was found digging
in the ruins of a jewelry shop was dis
covered by naval reserve man and
fred upon three times. He fed, but
the reserve man brought him down
by running bayonet through him.
A detachment of sailors from one of
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