The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-04-20
.MU[T|TUDES FLEE
TO GOLDEN GATE
Refugees Seek Safety in Park,
Carrying Few Rescued
Articles.

SAN FRANCISCO. April 19-Thousands
upon thousands OF people arc fleeing from
the fire today. They are focking to the
ferries to the parks, to the military reser-
walton and to the suburbs. Residents OF
the hlllsides, in the central portion of the
city, seemingly were safe from the roaring
furnace that was consuming the business
section They watched tho towering
mounds OF fame and spcculated as to
the extent of the territory that was
doomed
Try to Save Belongings.
Suddenly there was whispered alarm up
and down the long limo of watchers and
they hurried away to drag clothing. cook
Ing utensils and scant provisions through
the streets From Grant avenue tho pro-
cession moved westward Men and women
dragged trunks. packed hugo bundles of
blankets boxes of provisions-everythlng
Wagons could not be hired. except by
paying the most extortionate rates.
People Are Stunned.
But there is no panic. Tho people are
calm. stunned, They seem not to realize
the extent OF the calamity. They hear
that the city is destroyed insofar as busl-
ness plants are concerned. they tell each
other in the most natural tone that their
residences were destroyed by flames. but
Cism.
Still Driven Back
Mayor schmitz and Chief of Police
Dinan have been forced from place to
place by the onrushng flames: Daybreak
found them directing the Municipal Coun-
Gil which is a committed OF safety, from
the Fairmount hotel. tho beautiful struc-
ture that stood on the top OF Mob Hill.
But that caught fire and they retceated
streets. then to the north end police sta
ton in Sacramento street. Here the
council composed OF the financial leaders
cIded to resort to the most heroic mems
ures yet undertaken since tho city has
been in the path of devastation. This de-
cision WAS TO lombard the entire section
OF the city lying along the east side Of
Van Ness avenue from Golden Gate ave
nut to Pacific avenue. sixteen blocks in
all. containing the homes or many mil
lionaires and apartment houses.
Had to Use Powder.
The military was notified OF this action,
and barrels of gunpowder, the only re-
naming explosive In the city, were taken
from tho Presidlo. Fort Mcdowell. Alca-
traz and other nearby posts. Hundreds
Of police, regiments of soldiers and scores
of volunteers were sent into the doomed
district to warn the people to fee. These
stoically responded TO the demand OF the
law and went brayely on their way, trudg-
ing painfully over the pavemonts with the
little they could get together Every
tary to carry the powder.
Living in Tents.
The Preside reservation. the vast Rich
mond district of thousands OF acres
Golden Gate park and the surrounding
hills resemble one vast picnic ground
been erected everywhere, hreplaces built
in the streets. beds and mattresses
thrown down all over the section The
people thus situated arc philosophical
u-l, "a nnl7, danger nd
that the food supply will run out Every
grocery In San Francisco has been taken
by the authorities and each family is be-
ing sold only one article at a time In
many places the police and military pro
hibit over-charging Gen. Funston an
nounced this morning that rations would
will be supplied from the Preside
Bakeries have already been built within
the reservation and the bread supply
therefore has not failed completely
Ruin Everywhere.
From the water front the burned city
ness From the Pacific Mail dock to
Vallejo street, the west eide, q dis
tance of two miles, Hreckage and ruin
is the rule. Although the fire did not
Jump East street the damage has been
enormous. The hlled-in land facing the
ferry building is succession of little
valleys some four others six feet deep,
The Ferry tower Itself Is out of plumb,
and tho big building IS badly twisted by
the earthquake.
Just Smoldering Mass,
Looking up Market street the city is a
smoldering mass OF ruins. Great mer-
camille houses. manufactures, banks rail-
road and office buildings are nowhere to
be seen, and only In spots Is there SO
much the tower. tho monument OF the
burned structure.
Today is bright and warm The sun is
beating down on the tired workers and
rescuers There is scarcely any water
to relieve the thirst OF tho suffering. The
heat Is threatening danger, Tor the dead
In many instances. are lying In the
streets and ruins The authorities arc
doing all In their power TO remove bodies
In order that pestllcnce may be pre-
vented
Crying for Water.
It has been necessary repeatedly to
move the injured from places whero they
had sought refuge for the fire kept In
crcasing with alarming rapidity. Water
is tho lncessant cry of the fircmcn and
tho people-one wants 1t to fight the |
others to drink-but there Is only Soant |
drinking supply.
Sv7npnthv From Abroad