Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1906-04-20


patches. 1t is quite safe to say that
there are 100000 people homeless and
sleeping in tents. Relief tenders have
been made by many communities and
the general government. The latter
was the first to respond aud as result
all the resources Of the government
for a temporary camp.life are at the
command of the stricken people.
Tacoma has started the good work on
Puget Sound by tender OF $4,000 to
Gov. Pardee. Seattle has appointed q
committee to raise funds. Congress
has already authorized the proper
military officers to extend all the aid
possible for relief.
There is really little danger from alb
solute want with 80 many and speedy
resources at command, and the main
cause for sympathy is for those who
have lost relatives and friends and
the worry and grief to which the living
will be subjected for a time.
The losses will approximate, if they
do not exceed, those of the great
Chicago fire, in October, 1871. There
were then burned $4,000 houses, the
area covering more than 1000 acres;
the loss 5000, 900. 600; 200 people were
killed and 100000 people were rem
dered homeless. But then, it must be
remembered, to institute q close COM
parison that Chicago's population
in 1871 was approximately twice as
large as that Of San Francisco at the
present time, affording q higher ratio
of loss per capita in the late disaster.
President Roosevelt has issued an
appeal for aid to the earthquake su fer
ere, the distribution to be made through
the American Red Cross society. I'm.
fortunately however, the proposition is
not accompanied by suggestion as to
details for immediate action, so essen.
tial in An emergency.
Rail communication is cut off from
all points-on the north above Santa
Rosa, which is GO miles from San
Francisco; on the south at Fres-
no. and on the east the railroad is
gone far as the Utah line. President
Hartman, of the Southern Pacific,
has given orders TO re-establish COM
munication without reference to pos
sible cost.
It is said that many people were
yesterday being burned alive. impris.
oned in doomed buildings where res.
cuers could not reach them.
Gov. Mead has offered to furnish
400 army tents for the sufferers. Funs.
ton telegraphs the War Department at
Washington that all tents it can sup.
ply will be needed.
Santa Rosa suffered probably more
than any interior town, where it is said
loss of life may reach the thousands.
There are 10000 homeless men. wo.
men and children, huddled together
and suffering the pangs OF cold and
hunger. Santa Rosa was one of the
prettiest towns in the State, situate in
the prosperous county Of Sonoma.
San Francisco should meet every
where the same generous spirit that
animated her when the bolt Of destruc.
ton came from clear sky. She had
started . relief fund for the sufferers
from Vesuvious and it had already
attained generous proportions.
The secret orders. here an d every.
where are all planning to aid the relief
fund. Whatever is done, must be done
quickly, and that tends generally to
enlist enthusiasm that ensures perfect
results.
Besides Seattle and Tacoma, which
were first to the front in relief action,
Bellingham has shipped . thousand
dollars worth OF provisions and is rails
ing subscriptions in cash. Spokane
raised $4,000 the first day and the
good work goes on. Everett is about
to ship two thousand dollars worth OF
provisions, and our people everywhere
are Fastening to get in line.
A meeting was held in the Council
chamber this morning, by call OF May
or Carlyon, to take measures for rails.
ing a relief fund here.
The later reports state that the mint
escaped serious injury.
The Associated Press dispatches re.
port that the shock was felt ct Glove.
land, Ohio.
1t is reported that the San Francis.
CO sufferers are threatened by disease
as we'll as famine.
Mitchell Harris is worried over the
conditions that beset his family. His
wife left Sunday for the ill.iated place,
to bring her two children to this city,
who were with their aunt. kilograms
from bis brothers, Gus end Henry,
assure the safety Of the senders and
their families. This was probably in.
tended to include all relatives.
Quite a number of our townspeople
who used the wire before communica.
ton was suspended, announced their
safety. So far, no serious casualty is
reported to any of our people.
The Postal's cable is out OF service
from some break that was doubtless
caused by the present "earth slides"
as Prof. Berkley calls such agitations
of the Earth's surface.
Fully three.iourths of all the build
ings in the Bay City have been de.
stroyed.