Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1906-04-28
DOWNPOUR OF RAIN
DRENCHES REFUGEES
1mprovised Tents Afforded Poor
Protection.
THOUSANDS WITHOUT SHELTER


Refused 20 Admit Distressed Wo-
men and Children and Militia Uncer-
enormously Broke Down the Doors.
San Francisco, April 27.-Many of
San Franchises homeless people camp
! ed In the parks, squares and vacant
lots, were awakened carry Friday by
the rain dripping through their impro-
vised tents, which was their only pro-
lection against the elements and af'
forded poor protection against the
downpour.
The rain began to fall about in
the morning, and continued several
hours. Drenched to the skin by the
rain and with bedding thoroughly
soaked, many persons were driven in
nearby houses for shelter.
Although the various camps were
better prepared for the storm than
fGr several days past, hundreds Of the
| tents having been received and put up
since the last storm, still there are
| thousands who are without proper
shelter and who shivered in their wet
clothing, vainly trying to get warm af-
ter the rain ceased, by walking or run
| ming around the camp. The least dis
| tress and suffering was at the Presi-
dio, where nearly all the refugees
have been provided with tents by the
Quartermaster's department
A wagon load Of picks and shovels
was furnished and trenches were
dug to carry off the wauer and the
ground banked around the tents, max
Ing them comparatively comfortable.
In Cow Hollow" at the rear of
Harris View, about 5000 Italians from
Telegraph and Russian Hills and a
sprinkling of Chinese and japanese,
are camped. Few of them have been
provided with tents and there was
much distress among the women and
children
A chill wind was blowing Friday,
and the difficulty Of preparing warm
food, added to the distress of the
homeless, especially fioundering in the
mud in the low bottoms.
In Lafayette and Hamilton squares
comparatively few tents nave been is
sued to those camped there, but the
ground is high and the drainage good.
Where the tents were made of
blankets, quilts, ETC., the soldiers took
the women and children into the
houses, thus alleviating some Of the
suffering.
A few who were not adequately shell
tered were taken into the large auto
mobile garages in the vicinity and in
to the Lutheran church.
In several instances people in the
houses refused to admit women and
children in distress from the cold and
rain, and the militia unceremoniously
broke down the doors with the butts
Of their rifles.
Several thousand tents are enroute
here, and 1t is said that within a few
days fully 10000 refugees will be
comfortably housed.
Trolley cars started to running on
several streets in San Francisco Fri.
day. The cars will not run after Z
o'clock Friday night, however, and the
United railroads whitman ain patrol
of one man in each block operated In
the burned district as a protection
against fire.
Over one hundred and fifty stores
were opened for business Thursday,
but before night numerous complaints
wer received that storekeepers had
raised prices to pyahlbitive ngures.
Captain Rittenh0use, U. S. A., COM
mandlng the DISTRICT from Bush to Oak
and Fillmore to Division streets, call
ed at the Central police station last
night and requested that detectives be
detailed to investigate some of the
complaints.
The alleged systematic thefts of
several tons of Red Cross supplies
has been disclosed by the arrest of
Arthur Jacobs by Police Commission
er OGrady and Detective Mathewson
Jacobs is said to have made a confes-
sion duplicating several confederates
and revealed the place where he had
hidden the loot. Jacobs is q team
ster, and it was while hauling Red
Cross supplies that he is alleged to
have done the looting during The Ayst
few days Of the relief when It was hot
organized as 1t Ia now. Under the
present system OF handling supplies
this would be- practically Impossible.
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