The L'Anse sentinel., 1906-04-28


given to the once beautiful city than
that of vast ash heap. Desolation
and ruin greet the eye from every di-
rection, viewing the scene from the
center Of the business district. Cold
: en- Gate park and the Preside are
great camps In which over 200 900 men,
women and children are patiently
waiting until they can say they have
homes of their own. They are living
under martial rule with an uncom-
planning resignation, enduring hard
ships which they never dreamed Of,
yet without a murmur.
The sight is presented of thousands
depots, waiting for their daily allot-
ment of rations. The man who count
ed his wealth by thousands is not
above standing elbow to elbow with
the man who was in the humblest
circumstances four days ago. The
women who rode in an automobile and
commanded an army of servants re-
ceives her bread after the poor wash
erwoman has been supplied, and shows
no sign of pride.
Business Men Are Alert.
A tour of the burned district, except
ing portions that are impassaOle, re-
veals appalling conditions. The
stencil from escaping gas Is overpow-
ering, yet is braved by hundreds OF
business men who are bent on ascer-
tanning the condition OF the buildings
which they occupied and planning for
the resumption of trade at the first OPP
portunity. Every incoming train
brings these eager-eyed men to the
city from surrounding towns in which
they took refuge.
Chinatown is no more, and 1t is
doubtful whether 1t will ever be re-
suscitated in the picturesque form
which attracted so many thousands
of visitors each year. What was
Chinatown Is now lot of holes in the
ground, which may be aptly compared
to rabbit warrens. Not a stick of the
flimsy timber which Sheltered the
largest Chinese colony In the United
States remains upright. Even the
ashes have peen swept away by the
strong winds, and the ground looks as
bare as though it had been -scraped.
Many Die from Hardships.
The care of the dead and dying Is
becoming a more serious problem than
before. Many deaths are occurring in
the camps among the women and chill
dren whose frail constitutions could
not withstand the exposure. The dead
that have been taken from the ruins
are being buried in the bay and in
trenches. and the work of burial is
Citizens have been forced by soldiers
to help in the digging Of trenches, so
imperative is the necessity Of remov-
ing the corpses and avoiding possible
epidemics. The revolver and rife are
also being used to compel men to work
In the ruins.
The work OF relief is being rer-
formed on a tremendous scale, and It
Is improving every hour in efficiency
Mayor Schmitz's orders to break open
all stores where food may be found
have been carried out in scores OF in
stances. Many thousands Of gallons of
milk were distributed among the
women and children, boon that
came at the critical moment in the
| lives of thousands of children.
Church Services in Open Air.
For the first time in nearly 2cO
years, the church bells did not call the
people to worship Most of the
churches have bsen converted IN O
rubbish heaps by earthquake and fire.
The few still standing were filled with
homeless, sick and injured
But there were religious services
services in the parks and open
spaces where the homeless are camp
J ing in tents and under trees services
of thankfulness that so many were
saved where so many were in peril and
of gratitude for the generosity OF ma
tion which has responded so nob'y y
. and 80 promptly to avert famine.