Los Angeles herald., 1906-04-24

If Los Angeles citizens could see the
class and condition of some of the peo-
pie who are arriving on the free trains
from the north, they would readily APP
preciate the steps that are being taken
by the chamber of commerce, health
officers and others to prevent many
of the refugees who are coming south
as fast as trains can bring them from
entering the gates of the city.
Every succeeding free train has
brought a worse looking load than
the train which preceded it, and the
newcomers say that there are 25,OOO
more people clamoring for passage tol
Los Angeles.
When l entered the first section of the
trains which arrived in Los Angeles
last night the stencil that came to my
nostrils made me stop and lean out
side the car to get another breath OF
pure air.
In going through the train to take
the names of the refugees l was sur
prised to see the condition that some
of the people were in, notwithstanding
the fact that 1 have seen two-thirds
of the people who have arrived in Los
Angeles from the north
Smokers Are Filthy
The people-everybody should pity
of the citizens should not be unneces-
sarily endangered because the fleeing
people are in such bad condition.
The first car that L entered was the
smoker 1t was so full of smoke that
it made my eyes sting, and time and
again | was forced to go to the window
to get pure air.
The mems bodies and clothes were in
q filthy condition, because they nave
not been able to get water with Whlch
to properly cleanse themselves.
The smoker was filled with japanese,
Chinese and some white men, who ap-
parently were in the best condition
that it was possible to be in under the
circumstances.
I found the conCition in the other
cars somewhat better, but in more than
half of the cases the people were really
not of the most desirable class.
Some of the people were refined, good,
honest people, and what punishment
it was to make them ride with the
class of people that fill the free trains.
Disease Aboard Trains
The health officials are trying toI
cope with the situation. On the train
on which L rode, one woman of good
breeding and education came to me and
told me that her little boy had been
taken sick with the measles and wanted
me to do what I could to help her get
TO her parents in Ontario.
Protect Health of Los Angeles
Two detectives came to me and told
me that there were a score or more
of men and women of ill-rerute on the
train. but that they did not have the
mower to stop them outside of the city. |
eI,a the
health department in establishing some
kind of a camp where the undesirable
and diseased refugees might be taken
care of until they can properly be dls-
posed of. In this way protect the health
of the people of Los Angeles, all OF
whom are susceptible to disease ON ac-
count of weakness because of hard
work, sleepless nights and worry
Weather Take PulImans
More than 1000 people arrived in Los
Angeles Yesterday from the north. The
Pullman trains contained the Weather
class of people who had enough money
with them to pay their fare to the
city. Although many of them saved
only the clothes that they were wear
ing, all of them took their plight tran
uuilly and seemed satisfied to get away
from the destroyed city.
One Car of Babies
One thing which gladdened the hearts
of all who saw them, was thirty-one
prattling babies. who arrived in spe-
cial Pullman car at . o'clock, chartered
by the Volunteers of America. The
children ranged from eleven months To
four years old. Most of them were just
little creepers. They came from the
Maude B. Booth home, S11 Shotwell
street, San Francisco, $15OOOO build
ing partially destroyed by the earth
quake.
All But One Well
All the infants were well except one
little fellow who had whooping cough.
The train was stopped at River station
for forty-five minutes, because 1t was
feared that one of the children was
sick with scarlet fever. A thorough
examination was given the child by
Health Officer Powers and other doc
tors and it was found the baby was
in healthy condition.
There is some talk among Los An
geles women of adopting the children,
and all of them may be given homes
within the next few days if those in
charge of the infants will allow it.