The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-22


women, children and old men were allowed
to sleep on its stone floors.
But the refugees in Idora Park and the
slopes about Lake Merritt, oaklandi es-
capped the cold wind, and being In q town
which stood and was trying to do every
thing for them, they Jared a great deal
better. Only a few hardy meni who were
willing to sacrifice themselves for the good
Of the weaklings, went without covering.
The people stripped the portieres n hang
ings from their walls, tore up their carpets,
brought in every spare piece Of cloth which
would do for a nights covering.
The women and children who preferred
to stay indoors and on hard floors were
taken care OF in the public halls, the school
buildings and the Easements OF the churches.
To-day beds were ~improvised OF sheets
and hay and the weaker refugees who are
beginning to go down under the strain
will sleep comfortably.
Oakland has lone nobly. People are
sharing their beds with absolute strangers,
and while the newcomers in the park camps
were dead to the world those who came the
day before cheered up considerably. One
camp Of young men got out a banjo and
sang for the entertainment Of the crowd.
People played cards, too; and n little
San Francisco wharf rat produced an oil
cloth craps layout and started to bank a
game. The police raided this in short
order.
One hears all kinds of stories; some Of
them a comedy relief to the great tragedy.
A man ran from a hotel on Ellis street in
his pajamas, but with a pair Of trousers
thrown over his shoulder. About the time
the heavy shock ceased he ran into a group
of women. This brought him to his modesty
and he sat down on the sidewalk and put
on his trousers at once. People have bee
carrying about the most ridiculous be-
longings; like bird cages, music boxes
and cooking utensils. One refugee in
Idora Park carries about with him a big
French horn, which was the only thing he
saved.
SEPARATION OF FAMILIES.
I c lldPo viz ~ SHfNe
now is the separation Of families. In the
basement OF st. Johns Church they are
taking care Of three little Italian girls who
cry night and day. Somehow during the
exodus from Telegraph Hill to Fort Mason
they were separated from their father, who
had them in charge, and in the morning
they followed the general exodus to the
open ferries. Where part of a family is on
this side and part on the other, it is i'm
possible to 60 bach for any inquiries, owing
to the rigid rule that no one shall enter
the city.
There are a lot OF people in Oakland who
have come in from other places in Califor-
mia to try to rejoin relatives In San Fran
by the approaches Of the ferry mole, scam
ming every batch of refugees as the ferries
bring them over. ]. D. Springer, a travel
ling man, has a wife and family living in
Geary street, San Francisco. He wasin Sac
ramento when the shock came. He could
not get to Oakland until Thursday morning.
For two days he camped out by the mole,
so that IL his wife came over she would
not pass him in the night. On Friday a
friend told him hat he had seen Mrs.
Springer camping out on Union Square
the day before. This was his first proof
that she was alive. Yesterday morning
she appeared in the procession of refugees
in charge Of their Chinese servant, who
4 49, - - L. HEEL .-~
from the first. The Chinaman was carry
ing the baby,
In fact, one of the attractive features on
the human side Of this thing has been the
devotion of the Chinese servants to the
children of the families which they served.
This is not the only thing, for many a China
man has acted az the mar Of the family for
the women and children. Except for the
the Chinese tore into Portsmouth Square
and fought with the Italians for a place
of safety, the Chinese have been orderly,
easy to manage and philosophical. They
have staggered around under loads Of
household goods which would nave broken
the pack Of a horse and they took hard the
order Of the troops yesterday, which COM
manded all passengers to leave their bundles
at the ferry.
JAIL BIRDS TAKEN AWAY
The San Francisco police managed TO
clear the old county Jail on Broadway and
the city prison without losing a prisoner,
although both these buildings were de-
stroyed. There is a large county jail at
the southern limit of the city, far out Of the
zone of danger.
When it became certain that the jails
would go they sent the prisoners by relays
to this jail. The last batch went on foot
under heavy guard. The Broadway jail
was Of Spanish construction and dated
from the early days. From 1t Casey and
Cora, the first men lynched by the vigi-
lantes, were taken.
The time was when Oakland boosted
that she would some day have a greater
population than San Francisco. She has
tin a manner of which neither town ever