The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-20

may therefore expect the city 70 remain
In darkness for an indefinite time.
Il request all citizens to remain at homo
from darkness until daylight overy night
until order Is restored.
Il warn all citizens Of tho danger OF fire
from damaged or destroyed ohimnoysi
broken or leaking gas pipes or fixtures
or any like cases.
Mayor Sohmitz has addressed an appeal
to the people Of nearby towns aaking for
bread and food supplies of all kinds, tents
and bedding. Golden Gate Park will be
the place where the destitute will be taken
care Of.
TO BLOW UP SIXTEEN BLOCKS.
The committee Of safety decided to-day
to resort to the most heroic measures yet
undertaken since the city has been in the
path of devastation. The decision was
to lombard the entire part Of the city lying
along the east side Of Van Ness avenue
from Golden Gate avenue to Pacific venue,
sixteen blocks In all. containing the homes
Of many millonaires and apartment houses.
The military was notified OF this action
and barrels Of ~gunpowder, the only remain
ing explosive in the city, were taken from
the Preside and other nearby posts. Hun
dreds Of police, regiments OF soldiers and
scores of volunteers were sent into the
doomed district to warn the people to fee.
Every available wagon was taken by the
military to carry the powder. The Preside
reservation, the vast Richmond district OF
thousands Of acres, Golden Gate Park and
the surrounding hills resemble n great
picnic ground. Tents and i~mprovised COW
erings have been erected everywhere, fire.
places built in the streets, beds and mat
To-day was bright and warm. The sun
beat down on the tired workers n rescuers.
There was scarcely any water to relieve
the thirst Of the suffering. The heat wal
threatening danger, for the dead, in many
instances, were lying in the streets and
ruins.
The authorities are doing all In their
power to remove the bodies in order that
a pestilence may be prevented. It has
been necessary repeatedly to move the in
jured from places where they had sought
refuge, for the fire kept increasing with
alarming rapidity. Water is the incessant
cry Of the firemen and the people. The
former want it to fight the flames, tho others
to drink, but there is only a scant drinking
supply.
Food, except that Communicated by the
troops, went up to famine prices. De-
tachments went about all day taking pos
session of the supplies In groceries and
delfcatessen stores Inc piling them up for
the common good Of all. Before the stores
which were spared there stood lines Of men
and women which ran in some cases for a
block long, Offering anything for bread
or canned goods.
Bread went up to seventy-flve cents a
loaf. Ten cents a piece was offered for
ordinary soda crackers, a dollar a pound
for ham and bacon and a dollar and a half
to two dollars for canned goods. There
are no quotations on fresh meat, because
none Is to be had.
The troops have been ordered to permit
no fires to be lighted in houses. So before
last night fell there were hundreds of cook
stoves in every park and women in all
stages of undress were preparing a supper,
which was eaten standing, often without
dishes. There was no time for table man.
ners. Early tn is morning the troops
passed from park to park in wagons dis
tributing ground coffee; 30 that most of
I the homeless people began the day with at
least that stimulant.
The few who stayed with their houses
had to depend for light on candles. The
Mayor had given strict orders that no at
! tempt should be made to turn on any gas
or electric lights, This was rather TN
necessary, as the power houses Of the
electric company are down, the wires are
fallen and the gas works have blown up.
Candles, too, sold at q great premium
and any relief supply trains should bring
along a supply Of candles.