Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1906-04-20

are lteelnS from the IRE stricken CfNp
today. They are flocking to the fer
ries, to the parks, to the military res.
sryations and to the suburbs.
Residents of the hill sides in the
central portion of the city seemingly
"ere safe from the roaring furnace
hat was consuming the business sec
zion. They watched the towering
mounds OF flames ana speculatel as
o the extent Of the territory that was
doomed Suddenly there was whisper
'd alarm up and down the long line
II watchers and they hurried away to
trag clothing. cooking utensils and
;cant provisions through the stress.
Flee as From Plague,
From Grant avenue. The procession
! moved westward. Men anil wumen
ragged trunks, packed hinge bundles
5thing. Wagons could moi he hired
except by paying the most extcrtion-
| ate rates.
But there was no panic. This people
| ire calm, hut stunned. They seem
lot to realize the extent of tn, calam-
ity. They hear that the city is de.
'troyed in Sd far as business plants
are concerne,i: they tell each nther in
he most natural tones that their resi-
iences were destroyed by the flames.
hut there is no hysteria, no cutlery,
no criticism.
Authorities Forced to Move.
Mayor Schmitz and Chief of Police
Oman have been forced from place to
place by tie flames.
Daybreak found them directing the
municipal council. which is 4 commit
leo Of safety, from the Falralounr Iio-
eel, the beautiful structure that stood
IN the top of Mob Hill. BuI that
| ,anght fire and they then moved TO
the Gushing. AT ,-arkin and Sntro
streets. then to the North End police
| station. in Sacramento street
Millonares' Houses Doomed.
| Here the council. composed of the
| financial leaders Of the city, met this
morning and decided to resort 10 the
most heroic measures yet undertaken
since the city has been in The path of
| devastation. This decision was to
lombard the entire section Of the city
lying along The east side Of Van Ness
avenue, from Golden Gate avenue 10
Pacific avenue. sixteen blocks n al,
containing the homes Of many million
lires and inclding'a number of large
apartment houses.
| The military was notified of this
action and barrels Of gunpowder. the
only remaining explosive la the city,
were taken from the Preside, For;
Mcdowell. Alcatraz and other nearby
| posts.
Residents Warned of Danger.
! Hundreds of police. regiments of
soldiers and scores of volunteers were
sent into the doomed district to warn
The people to flee. These heroicnlly
responded to the demand of the law
and went bravely on their way. tr,Idg-
lng painfully over the pavements with
The little they could get together
Every available wagon was taken by
the military To carry the powder.
All efforts to check the spread OF
the flames at Van Ness avenue. by
blowing up a mile of buildings on the
east side Of the avenue, proved fruit
less. The fire has spread across the
broad thoroughfare and from present
indications the entire western addi
don, which contains the homes Of San
Francisco's Weather class, is now
lGomed.
| The destruction of the western addi
;ion of the city completes the work
IF the raging flames and marks the
devastation of the entire city.
Orders to Kill Enforced.
General Funston is cooperating
9ith Mayor Schmitz, whose or
lers To all officers are to kill
without warning all malefac-
ors. When men have been
needed to carry ont the plan or res
ne they have been pressed into SER
vice. In a few instances ii was ne
ressary 10 resort to the cooked re-
volver and drawn sword after which
there was no hesitation.
camped in the Preside.
The Preside reservation the vast
Richmond district of thousands of
acres. Golden Gate Park and the sur
rounding hills resemble one vast pic.
mic ground. Tents and improysed
Coverings have heen erected every.
where, fire places built in the streets
md mattresses thrown down all over
ihe section. The people thHs situated
are philosophical
Grocery Stores confiscated.
There is only one danger and that
is hat the food supply will run ont.
Every grocery in San Francisco has
been taken by the authorities and
each family is being allowed only
TO hny one article at time. In
many places The police and military
prohibit overcharging
General Funston announced this
morning that raiions would soon
reach the city and then the people