Durango semi-weekly herald., 1906-05-03

was declined.
on April 18th l Joined relief
corps composed OF Stanford students
and leading business men of the
town, VINO were to start for San
with provisions for the poor home
less people who were starving in the
hills and parks of San Francisco.
= We started from Palo Alto very
/ early next morning and went as far
! as Ocean View, from whence we
loaded our provisions ON wagons and
started for a three-miie walk to the
southeast section OF Golden Gate
park. All along here we distributed
food and wilk to ilalfstarving women
and children,
We went through the southeast
part OF San Francisco to Valencia
street depot.
When our supplies were all dis
tributed and we were waiting for
more, | took the opportunity to visit
the devastated city. Walking up Va
lencla street from the depot four
blocks. to the northwest is where the
ruins commence. To the right as
far as one could see was to be seen
nothing but mass of ruins. To the
left the fire had wiped out all the
buildings in semi-circle to the foot
Of the hills. From Market street to
tnc left when facing west, everything.
was burned on the east side OF the
foothills to within four blocks of the
Valencia street depot, then following
an Irregular course to Third and
Townsend streets and to the wharf.
Following up Valencia street to
where 1t intersects Market street, |
turned to the right and followed
Market street toward the ferry depot,
went as far as the Call building. be
yond which no one was allowed
The Call building, the Flood build
Ing st. Frances hotel and the new
po5tofiice buildings, which are built
OF steel, are standing. although burnt
out in the interior. One remarkable
thing that / noticed was the new
postoflice building on Mission street.
All buildings surrounding it were de-
molished. and it stands practically
unframed although a few windows
are shattered. and some pillars
cracked, which was caused by the
earthquake. Everything in the whole
vicinity is completely destroyed
From Market street at the Call build
ing, | walked up Ellis street, then
turned to the right. going up the i
street toward the Chinese district
and then went up to the Fairmount
hotel which is also wiped out by fire
Being fatigued from walking and
from the heat, / rested nearly an
hour on this spot watching this fas
cinating but terrible fire. Smoke
arising forth in great volumes that
resembled the clouds that pass over
Durango just prior to or following a
thunder storm. When was up there
'he fire extended from the ferry de
pot almost in straight line to Van
Ness avenue where it encounters the
bay near the Presidio. All the region
in the Chinese district is wiped out
The wind was blowing northeast to
ward Oakland, confning the fire to
That particular section of the city
The flames were raging fiercely,
crashing large buildings in the space
of few moments time. / soon
started on my way again, and walk
ed from Mob Hill toward the Presidio
When | reached Van Ness | turned
TO the left and followed the avenue.
Atouo Van Necc ovapua oil tba huita
ings on the east side were dynamited
and set on fire in order to check the
main fire wnen it reached this place
This avenue was considered as the
widest, therefore 1t was chosen the
one to be destroyed, to serve as a
baclfire for the protection of the rest
of the city. Blasting these buildings
is probably what saved the remand.
er of the city from destruction.
| proceeded on my way to Market
street. When | arrived there took
the same route | had taken when l
came out, and soon reached the de-
pot, where boarded a train and was
sped on my way homeward toward
Palo Alto.
The people of Palo Alto may con
gratulate themselves on the fact that
they have good water, power and
light. Nearby towns are not so for
tInate. In nearly every town in this
vicinity that | have visited since the
earthquake, may be experienced the
fact that they are without water and
power
The people of San Francisco are be
ing well provided for from the out
side. Trainload after trainload of
food is being shipped from all parts
of the country. There are many
deaths. however. caused by exposure,
especially so among small children,
where food and clothes are scarce
A smallpox epidemic is reported rag
Ing among the poor distressed peo-
pie of San Francisco and the city is
said to be quarantined. All stations
along the railroad leading from San
Francisco are closely guarded In or
der to prevent any spread of the dis
ease.
From all have seen during the