The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-20
The NEWS TOLD By BULLETIN
TELEGRAPH COMPANIES HEAR
FROM BURNING CITY.

Aid the Servlce-Night Message Says
That 500 900 Persons Are Homeless.
The Western Union officials spent a busy
dsy Yesterday e~ndeavoring' to restore
geographic communication with San Fran
DISCO. President Clowry and Assistant
General Manager Barclay we're assisted
in their work by Frank, Jaynes, superin-
tAndent Of the Western Union system in
San Francisco, who is now in this city on
business.
Il was learned very early in the day that
the telegraph wires from the f~erryhouse at
the foot Of Market street across the bay to
Oakland we're intact. Four cables cross the
tsy and they contain in all ffty-four wires.
Mr.. Iaynes said that tests had been made
Of all The wires and all were found to be
in good working order.
The Western Union, however, could not
deliver even Government messages early in
the morning TO say nothing Of the thousands
OF private dispatches,
col. Clowry himself made an appeal by
telegraph to Gen, Funston, in command Of
the troops in San Francisco, to detail a,
couple Of ~privates for the sole purpose Of
delivering Government messa ges. He also
tAlesraphed to Washington and asked
that the War Department eend orders to
Gen. Funston to permit the delivery Of
Government MESA ges and to arrange a
system whereby the Western Unions own
employees could lave access 10 the Market
street ferry office.
Col. Clowry received word from Washing.
ton that such orders had been given, but
before they reached Gen. Funston, Col.
Clovry had received word from the General
saving that he would do everything to
facilitate the transmission OF all telegraphic
messages.
RAT STOLE PAST THE GUARps.
In telling Of the difficulty Of com NUM-
q ting with San Francisco N Wednesday
Assistant General Ma anal ger Barclay sid
that he had ordered two operators to be
sent from Oakland to San Francisco. In
order to make sure that two men at least
should reach the ferry office he had ordered
four sent. Two were in a launch and two
on A ferrybo1t. The men on the ferry
boat we're turned back by the Regulars, but
the men on the launch managed 10 steal
into the ~ferryholrse and remained On duty
all night. There was little for them to do
however. because the soldiers would not
permit any one 10 approach the place with
messages. MI e oilCliO h-t.1lVt 'hA' IN
was the sole reason why the newspaper
serrice vas badly crippled.
WESTERN UNIONS WIRE HERO.
The hero OF the Western Union service in
San Francisco is an operator m LIE
Conpte. He was forced out of the Western
Union Office at Pine and Montgomery
streets and in attempting to reach the Office
at the ferry was detained by the soldiers
practically all nigh.
After four roundabout trips to get 10 the
ferry he finally accomplished his object,
aud one Of the frs messages received at
the Western Union Office here yesterday
morning by Mr.. Barclay was from LIZ
Conpte. This message said;
The Western Union Office and So uthern
Pacific properties are all gone. F ire is
sweeping diagonally in a district Of t he hills,
beginning at McAlister street and ending
at Railing street and along Mission street
as far as Sixteenth street. The water sup
ply has given put. The wind il rising and
the military authorities will not allow any
BODY to e inter- the city. The military have
all the people they can handle without adj
hitting any more,
THOUSANDS WAIT FOR DOLE OF WAFER,
The situation has not improved and al
ready there Is great suffering because of
lack Of food and water. There re thousands
Of people lined up in one of the parks wait
ing for a supply Of water to be distributed
TO them.
This despatch vas supplemented by
another which said;
~ Is recorded that 100, ooo people are
homeless. The fire Is not under control
and the water supply is again cut of. Late
reports from Los Angeles as TO loss of life
and property in that city believed to have
been greatly underestimate. Ten thou
eand persons are reported homeless at
Santa Rosa"
FRI HAS REACHED NOR HILL
At go A. NJ. Mr.. Barclay received this
message from San Francisco:
1T is reported tina: the fire has reached
Nob Hill"
The news was confirmed ten minutes
later by this despatch:
Mob Hill rumor confirmed. Fire reach
Ing New Paramount Hotel, on California
street between Powell and Macy"
lust before this message was received
Mr.. Barclay got one from Oakland Point
which said.
Seven FIRE engines from the east are
going past on fat"cars over the Southern
Pacific In a few minutes the same OPP
orator sent this.
Fire engines returning from Frisco
City pra ctlcally doomed. No water
SITUATION CouLn NOT BE We Il
Al 90 P. NJ. this despatch was received
The military authorities will not allow
ssingle soul to land in San Francisco to-day.
The situation at present could NOT be worse
Two hours later this despatch wa re-
oeiYel;
From the burning city the homeless
people are Rooking with blankets and such
la Egage as they can carry in their arms
10 refuge across the bay. All traffic to~ard
the city has been storped by the military
authorities and every means Of travel made
Available to the distressed and homeless
people. In many cases wagons carried
wounded, sick and dying, together with
what few household effects could lie gath
erad together. The Oakland hospitals are
filed With injured and dying, who are being
conveyed to the other SIDE Of the bay as
rapidly as possible. .