The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-05-06
HUNDREDS IN LINE
ASKING FOR BREAD
Allen Dunn Tells OF the Gays of Despair That
Followed the Destruction OF
San Francisco.
By Allen Dunn.

, number, and compared to the myriad
| instances Of heroism, of seif-sacrifce
and dut performed, almost trivial. OF
TO the westward the bay lay placid
/ though unusually quiet from traffic, to
the east the sun glared, a blood-red
! portent, through increasing volumes of
! smoke. BY noon the fire ragged unas-
suaged. unchecked along the south side
of Market street, eating steadily south
ward and westward. A groan went up
from the pOpulace as the flames leaped
through the windows of the Spreckels
building and dropping rapidly from
dome to the lower floors, proclaimed
the destruction of San FranciscO's most
notable edifce. Still the cry was for
water. Some connection had been made
from the bay and the fire tugs were
pumping their hardest, but the supply
was pitifully low. Union Square was
crowded with refugees surrounded by
| what portions of their Lares and Pa
mates they could grasp in the moments
| left them. Most of these came from
the poorer districts where the frame
houses closely grouped, had soon been
| burned, but mingling with them were
wealthy tourists from the St. Francis,
| bewildered at this sudden ending to
their pleasure trip, looking for means
of instant transportation east, and
grasping their valuables. Pity was not
for these but for the many who sat on
the grass surrounded by their monde
script belongings, and for those who
were starting on their long journey to
the Preside or the Park, dragging and
carrying their salvage, precursors of a
mighty host soon to gather on the out
skirts of the town, safe from fire but
exposed to the rest of the elements.
Sad sights there were already, invalids
PROSTATE on benches, sick persons and
! many crlpples, others stricken down
with fatigue, nervousness and even
dementia from the shock. Already a
child had been born in the streets,
other babes were yet to be ushered into
perturbed world before the morning.
The newspaper men soon rallied
forces. l met Editor Mcknight of the
Chronicle, Ernest Simpson, his chief
aide, and Cowles of the Associated
Press, in the Bohemian Club. The
wires were down and the Asso-
ciated Press was temporarily inactive,
but all had joined hands and We're plan
ming a combined edition to be issued
from the Chronicle building, yet I'M
touched. Many prominent men were
there in. the famous Green Room dis
cussing insurance action and little sus-
pecting the tremendous devastation yet
to come. A light west breeze was blow
ing which aided at first in combining the
fame area, and all prayed for stronger
wind, condition later to be granted
and destined to prove inimical rather
than friendly.
flames steadily advanced through the
afternoon, jumping Market street and
encroaching on the city's heart by
thanking attack. Stately building after
building caught the fire arrested it a
moment and then either collapsed or
remained as Quilted skeletons. Mob
Hill was by this time thoroughly
alarmed. The stylish apartment no.
tells and fats along Suffer, Bush and
parallel streets disgorged hordes of
alarmed inmates who watched the
flames steadily fighting up hill against
all defence. Express wagons were at
a premium already though many had
to move twice, miscalculating the ulti-
mate spread of the fire. Heads of fami-
lies dragged trunks up hills, over curbs
and along pavements. babies were car
AiCl tSiib tiiSlI NIUE carriages uSeu LOT
loads of goods. Children's toy wag-
ons and bicycles packed their share. |
Those who had intimacy with owners of
delivery wagons saved most of their |
belongings. Near my house. almost the |
highest point in the district, it seemed !
impossible that the fire could reach |
across the many vacant spaces of gar
dens and climb the steep hills. Water
still TIantifD1
reigned generally to the extent of stay
ing by their goods till the flames ap-
within a dozen blocks at
east, though nearly all refused to re-
enter their houses for fear of another
-emblor, intermittent shocks being fire.
Iuent, and made preparations to pass
he night in the streets. With our
leighbors. George F. Coard and wife.
Who is a niece of James w. Bergstrom,
# Honolulu, and both Of whom once
iVed in Honolulu for q short period,
ny wife and myself camped in the hall
f our dwelling. Judgment as to the
ire not reaching our quarter for many
ours was finally INDICATED as it was {
hirty-siX hours after the outbreak
hat the flames. famed by a wind that !
lew from what was deemed a safe di- ?
ection, RACED the neighborhood to the :
round and halted two blocks beyond ,
acitic avenue, completing the destruc- c
on of the city proper and residence {
istrict east of Van Ness avenue and a
outh of Market street as far as TWEEN I
eth and Mission streets. a
All hopes that by nightfall the fire f
ould be, if not checked. at least in c
and We're soon disillusiored. AS the q
IN sank peacefully behind the Golden T
ate and Fort Point began to wink n
ternately its red and golden eyes. the s,
lstern sky gIared with the throbbing W
ow Of volcano a pulsing semi O.
ome of vivid orange reflected back s.
ON the unburned districts and rem II
ring the city bright as day with 81
sht that never was on land and sea" n
was awe-inspiring. this waving cur W
in of flame that reached to the W
NTH. Pillars OF fire and smoke rolled II
'Ward from the doomed district and 81
{ contiasration seemed but two cl
ocks away when it was twenty The cf
Dad terrace OF upper Jones street Ia