The Washington times., 1906-04-27
SAFES BLOWN UP
BY FRISCO LOOTERS
Conspiracy to Rob Vaults in
Rnined Banks.
CHINESE ENTER A PROTEST
Make Complaint to Secretary Metcalf
OF Unfair Treatment by Troops
and Committees.

SAN FRANCISCO. April 27.-Loot.
ers have blown open the safes oi
business houses in the burned dis
trict of San Francisco and carried
away the contents.
Evidence has been discovered of a
carefully organized plot to plunder
the safes and ruins of business
houses in unprotected parts of the
city.
The vandals and looters have been
operating in the guise of relic hunt
ers. thousands of whom had been
permitted to delve through the ruins.
To clear out the thieves cavalry have
driven out everybody except work
men, and thrown 4 guard around
the ruins in the business section.
Militia Not Withdrawn.
Governor Pardee has not withdrawn
the militia. as requested by the citizens
committee. but they have been ordered
not TO shoot persons if they fail TO halt
when commanded.
the
first time since the earthquake OF last
week, and gangs of men are now work
Ing day and night clearing away the
ruins.
Mayor SchmiJz made a formal demand
on the governor for special session of
the LEGISLATURE. Governor Pardee saws
it is his present intention 10 have a
special session. but he does not intend
10 take hasty action
Sixteen thousand persons are now be-
ing cared for at the Preside. More
than 100000 have obtained shelter in
Oakland. There are stiu thousands In
Golden Gate Park
Relief Work Now Systematized.
The relief work has made rapid prop-
rcss. It IS now exclusively in the hands
OF The military authorities. and has been
systemauzed until the feeding and shell
terinS Of the tens OF thousands Of hun
cry and homeless people is going on like
clockwork- Five hundred teams are
hauling supplies 10 the sixty relief de-
pots. There is still a scarcity Of sugar
and coffee. and IN urgent and pressing
need for more blankets. cots. and tents.
Unusually cold nights for this season OF
tho year now prevail.
II has been established that the area
devastated by the FIRE approxinates
1ooyO acres or about fifteen square
miles. Within this fifteen square miles
were nearly 100 banks. some of the
finest buildings in the world many
thousands Of mercantile and manufac-
turing establishments. and more than
-3foo9 inhabitants. besides 5000 tran
s.cuts.
Tho homes Of 10000 persons are stiu
standing and practically uninjured.
There still remain the great ship yards
at the Protero. the Pacific Mall docks.
tho stock yards at South San Fran
cisco, the docks and manufactures
along the water front from Mission
creeE 20 Hunters point. the mint post
Office. and large retail district In FIJI
more and Devisadero streets.
Chinese Complain to Secretary Metcalf.
a committee composed Of the Chinese
consul general and representatives Of
the Six Companies wal on Secretary
of the Department of Commerce and
Labor Victor Metcalf. The Chinese are
with the suggestion that they
remove their qual ters to Hunters point.
They say this is too far away, and Mr.
Metcalf IS considering the complaint
physicians and nurses are now IN need
of relief. Great numbers hurried here
on the first call for help, and now the
LEGAL physicians are practically with
out assistance.
An appeal has been sent TO the COM
mittee for the relief of 800 physicians
who are in want and without employ
ment- On the shore OF the bay is an
army Of 10000 persons wearing the Red
Cross badge. The people of San Fran
cisco have formed the bread line
habit" Men and women have contract
cd the practice OF dropping into the
ranks wherever they see a line of peo-
pie. They knew something Is TO be dis
-rlbuted in the way of food or clothing,
and they want all they can get
Perpetrate a Grim Joke.
Six men have been going about, and
when they would see a likely spot they
would form a little line and stand mo-
ionless with a look Of expectancy on
heir faces. Others came along and
mechanically fell into line behind them.
md in a few minutes there would be a |
inc of several hundred persons waiting !
or something TO be handed to them. |
Then the original six would fall away
o start a new line at some other point. |
The people on the fake line would /
wait until their legs ached, then the |
ituation would dawn on them and harsh |
hings would be said
The Oakland relief committee has |
made a demand on the San Francisco |
'ommittee for a large share of the |
unds and supplies contributed for re- /
ief. 1t is estimated that 100000 home
ess persons are being cared for in /
louses and halls in Oakland. and about /
0,O00 in camps. An allowance Of cash /
md supplies will be made to the Oak
and committee