The Washington times., 1906-06-19
LOYAL TO DUTY
IN TINE OF PERIL
Noble Service Rendered by
Frisco Postal Clerks.
REPORTS TO C0RTELY0U
Saved Postoffice From Destruction
Saved Postoffice From Destruction
and Kept Mail Moving
Through Fire.

Postmaster General Cortelyou has
found much to interest him in the re-
ports from the postmaster at San Fran
cisco concerning conditions Immediately
following the recent disaster in that city
and subsequently, with special reference
10 the postoffice and stations. The post
office building was considerably dam
aged by the earthquake. but the night
shift of clerks continued on duty. The
fires. which succeeded the earthquake,
rapidly approached the postoffice and
threatened its destruction. The post
master states the building was saved
from the flames through the heroic ef-
forts of ten employees OF the postal and
custodian forces.
These ten men," he says. remained
in the building throughout the disaster
and fought with interchangeable energy the
fire. which entered the building at the
north corner. and despite their efforts
completely destroyed the contents and
finishing of the suite occupied by the
United States district Judge. 1 feel that
too much credit cannot be given them
not only because of the amount Of prop
erty saved 70 the Government. but also
because Of the fact that through their
efforts it was possible for this office to
Immediately resume the postal service
in San Francisco"
Suspended Only Two Days.
Mail service was necessarily suspend
ed on April is and Is, while the fire ragged
destroying the wholesale and retail dis
tricts Of the city. together with a large
portion OF the residence district. The
fire was practically under control at 40
in the morning of the 10Th. and business
was resumed in the postoffice at 9
o'clock The clerks assigned TO the STA
lions which We're destroyed were added
TO the force at the main office and at
the stations still standing. General de-
Hveries were Immediately opened at the
postorice and stations: temporary uuar-
ters We're secured for stations DESTROYED
IN cases where parts of the districts
served from them remained standing
and carrier delivery was resumed where
practicable on the 2Ist- Stamps were or,
sale at the stations on the 23d. and by
the 25th business had been resumed in
all departments Of the office The re-
celpt and dispatch Of malls was resumed
on April p, the military authorities i'm
pressing wagons for transporting mail
between the main office and ferry and
between the pOStOffice and stations
The only serious interruption OF The
work was on April %. when the ruins in
the vicinity of the pOstOffice We're dyna-
mited in order to throw down walls
deemed dangerous to life The baaL-I
blasting wrecked all the glass in the
building and rendered II SO dangerous
that all clerks were ordered out The
efficiency or the clerks. working under a
severe strain as they were. was nateri-
ally impaired for some time through the
nervous condition resulting from the fear
caused by the blasting in the vicinity
The entire force Of clerks have worked
overtime and have at last succeeded ia
clearing up the congestion Of mail.
Handled kilograms for Delivery.
The telegraphic service was so badly
crippled that the companies found II
necessary to seek relief through the
postal service. In one afternoon over
10000 kilograms were deposited in the
postoffice for delivery.
During the height OF the distress
much mail was received in the office
without being properly prepaid with
stamps. feeling Of humanity neces-
Stated its receipt and forwarding until
conditions more nearly nominal were re-
stored. The postal service as 4 rnaans
OF communication among the hundreds
of thousands of distressed people was
an untold blessing
On May p. the records of the caDce1-
ing machines show collections within
6o,VDO letters OF the heaviest collections
OF record In the office. while the stamp
sales were within $500 Of normal
Employees Lost Their All.
Two hundred and forty employees of
the office were burned out in the fire
and many Of these were left entirely
destitute. So far as known only one
empIoye. carrier. lost his life, while
one other is missing and is believed 10
have been killed
Stations A c, e. K, and o and TWEEN
ty-one numbered stations were destroI--
ed bY ire. The amount Of mail lost was
comparatively small The amount of
the loss of stamped property outside of
safes and vaults and the contents OF
safes and vaults burned has not been
le4ar~,fnad --O~ SSCA