Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-04-27
Friday, April q, 1906.
ORDER COMING OUT OF CHAOS.
Stricken California Cities are Pulling
Themselves Into Shape Again.

Themselves Into Shape Again.
While there is no reasonable doubt
that the disaster which befell San
Francisco and the other coast cities Of
California was one Of the greatest that
has ever occurred in America, 1t Is
becoming evident also that never be-
fore In the history of the world has
relief work been more prompt or eff
ficient on such gigantic scale. There
has been lots of suffering. Of course,
and a great deal Of decentralization;
but when II is remembered that out OF
conditions so peculiarly favorable for
utter humiliation, comparatively good
order has been restored in such a
short time, the situation is indeed re-
markable.
The great crowds In the parks, were
as already reported drenched on Sun
day night by a chilling rain. This
caused lots of suffering. II only add
ed to misery that already seemed un-
bearable. But the discomfort was
remedied with remarkable dispatch.
Already all kinds of supplies were on
the way to the stricken city Of San
Francisco, and during Monday acres
and acres of shelter were erected I'm
| the parks. Little enclosures were
constructed under these shelters for
the benefit of families cooking uten-
sils began to come In, food arrived In
increasing quantities and slowly but
surely the people have been made
reasonably comfortable. The ferry
boat service was not so crowded after
Saturday and thousands of people got
out Of the city, some going far into
the interior and others across the bay
to the cities OF Oakland, Berkely and
Almeda
But II Is a mistake to think that any
body has been put at ease yet. The
authorities, civil and military, having
assumed control of the situation at an
-arly stage Of the catastrophe, held
their hold with iron hands and there
has yet been but little relaxation. The
brains In the lead not only compre-
hended what was to be done; but knew
how to do 1t. There were, Of course.
thousands and thousands Of people, ac-
customed to do as they please; but
who were unable to realize there had
been any change in the situation as to
this particular. These were the special
concern Of the authorities. 1t was not
a question of every man for himself any
longer, 1t was necessary to make the
people realize the fact. This was a
task best suited to the military, and
although extreme measures have been
used, II seems that nothing else would
do.
AS already stated. the entire city was
placed under martial law at the earii-
est practicable moment. the United
States army cooperating with the ma
tional guard and the police. The ma
Il tional guard, of course, was more or
ess inexperienced and younger mem-
bers of 1t committed many grave In
ldiscretions. The regular army soldiers
had explicit instructions as to what to
do under certain circumstances and
followed out Instructions to the letter.
The police behaved handsomely. There
are reports Of numerous summary ex-
ecutions. If these reports are true,
citizens were frequently shot down on
what seemed to be the slightest whim
Of the soldiers. In most cases how
ever, this was the work of younger
militiamen, their nerves overwrought
by the terrific strain of the situation,
and In some cases by liquor that Ii was
their business to destroy or guard.
There were some conflicts Of authority
between the soldiers and police at
first; but these were soon arranged.
AS early as Monday all the able bodied
men to be found were rounded up and
put to work clearing the debris from
the streets and blowing down totter-
ing walls. Curious people, some dudes
and others business people would go
about the work as onlookers. Inva-
riably the soldiers would put them to
work. II they attempted to evade or
lrttr haU xaTffh am,
marily, and In all cases they were
held until they could have an oppor-
ltunity to show that their services were
really more valuable or important else
where. The question OF pay for labor
has not yet come up for serious con-
sideration. The vast majority Of the
people are being fed out of the COM
mon store derived from the contribu-
tions of the surrounding country and
the United States at large, and the au-
thorities hold that every man owes 1t
; to the common good to do what he can
in the work of Strengthening things
out
, The safes and treasure boxes among
the cooling ruins have all along been
: an object of great temptation to the
constitutionally dishonest, and the po-
lice and military have been exercising
all possible vigilance I'm the protection
of valuables Of this kind. On last
Tuesday a squad Of soldiers came upon
! la gang of men breaking open q safe
In the ruins Of a business house. The
men were told to consider themselves
under arrest Instead they undertook
to run away and four Of them were
shot down. Where the soldiers are
|. able to effect arrests conveniently even
under circumstances like these, they
refrain from shooting; but where 1t is
, necessary to shoot they show not the
slightest hesitation. AS q result the
disorderly and vicious element Of San
Francisco was never better behaved.
The thievery now Is hardly greater In
proportion than 1t was under normal
conditions.
During the first days of the disaster,
all private supplies that had escaped
were Communicated for the common
good. The owners were not allowed TO
; sell. On the contrary their stuff was
put under guard and used as needed.
There may have been some account
taken with reference to future pay
ment; but on this point the reports are
silent. The shops in which intoxicat-
; ing liquors were sold were generally
condemned. The soldiers were In
} structed to have no hesitation Of de-
stroying the goods in all such shops
as were found to be open. Orders
were issued on Tuesday allowing all
other business houses to resume busi-
ness but enforced prohibition continues.
People are not even allowed to have in
toxicating liquors In their possession.
There was another slight shock on
Monday and still another on Wednes-
day. Some tottering walls fell In both
Instances and the overwrought people
were more or less excited but In neith-
er case was any considerable harm
done The shocks were not felt gener-
ally throughout the region that suffered
from the first great disturbance.
An idea Of the task which confronts
the food committee may be gained
from the fact that throughout the city
rations for 349, ,440 persons were distrfb-
uted Tuesday. This Is an average es-
innate based on reports from few OF
the food depots. At one point during
the day provisions were given out to
672 persons an hour for ten hours.
This station Is neither one Of the larg-
est nor one OF the smallest and so its
reports were used as a basis to strike
an average. All -four that is received
I'm sacks Is exchanged at bakeries
pound for pound for bread. Almost all
l,.aty