The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-05-05
The Two Men in Washington
Who Were Responsible for
the Speedy Relief Of the San
Francisco Sufferers.
SENATOR'S EXPERIENCE
IN AN EARTHQUAKE
Washington News Notes Of Particular
Interest to North Dakota
People.
By e. c. snyder.

Washington. May 5.-During all the
trying days Immediately following the
earthquake and fire In San Francisco,
the brunt Of moving troops and sup
plies and organizing systematic relief.
camps for the stricken people about
the Golden Gate devolved upon two
men Of the war observation-disclosures
Franklin Bell. chief OF staff, and Char.
les F. Humphrey. quartermaster gen.
eral. When the news first reached
Washington of the awful disaster. I'M.
mediately these Two men went to work
and 80 prompt were theylin respondin,
to the appeal for help that within
twelve hours troOps and, supplies wer,:
on their, waysto, the scenes of des0la-
ton. Day and might these two men
worked. Humphrey, in his shirt
sleeves before a high desk much like
that used by bookkeepers In big count
ing rooms. while General Bell. in a
room in the second story of the big
building, held hourly conferences with
the secretary OF war and the members
OF the stan looking to the speediest
and most efficient way of relieving the
necessary needs of the people. It
looked for all the world during those
days as IL we were once more in the
thr0es OF war. At night the war Office
was as brilliant as in the daytime,
Officers hurried to and fro. The cease.
less click Of telegraph instruments told
its own story Of what the war depart
ment was doing for the succor of those
who had been reduced from .affluence
to positive need.
It can with truth be said that Briga-
SYfoH
bore the brunt Of the first few days of
getting relief to the people Of San
francisco and other California cities
in need sof assistance. HaSeompre-
hensive knowledge Of the location IF
available troops and supplies stood
his IN large service during those try
Ing times. Without reference to re-
ports his brain seemed to be an ency-
clopedia of &Ieedful military infornla-
ton and he gave orders to half a dozen
stenographers as we'll as keeping the
heads of these departments everlast-
ingly plugging away In order. that
there should be no delay in carrying
out, the wishes of the president and the
secretary Of war. While Funston S
work was necessarily more spectacu-
lar, because he was on the ground, the.
quiet, steady movement of troops and
supplies into San Francisco by reason
OF the ability of Bell and Humphrey
made Funston's achievements possible
Senator Hansbrough Of North Dako-
Ia broke into reminiscent mood the
other day aprOpos of the San Fran
cisco earthquake. Hansbrough was
type tsticker" in "the. olden days"
and m 1890
San Jose (Cal.) Patriot. The Patriot
building was two-story wooden
structure. the eases" being in the sec
.ond story. While working at the
cases" the building began to oscillate
gently back and forth and the prints"
knew a quake was on them. Instant
ly the printers broke for the street
and as Senator Hansbrough tells it the
sensation was nerve-racking. He
started across the street when the
earth rose up at him. knocking him
down. y,t& :,
You have seen the waves Of the sea
rising and falling said the North ,Dal-
kotan well, that is the way the earth
was performing I tried to run, but
the smooth surface OF the street had
hillocks in 1t and down fell. It was
not time for dignity and l crawled
on my hands and knees to a place of
safety. in mortal fear that the build
tngs would fall down and crush me.
In all my life I never experienced such
a sensation and the memory OF that
day Is as vivid az ifjt were but yester-
day" 4
"That's all very well." replied Mr..
Cushman % Washington state, who
heard the recital of the senator from
North Dakota. II have had the earth
to come up and hit me on several oc-
casions when was younger than / am
now, but don't care to file bill OF
particulars in the individual cases.
Authority has been granted the re-
cfamahons service to negotiate. without
the formality Of advertising, with con-
tractors IN Montana for the construc-
tion division No. 3. Lower Yellow
stone irrigation project, North Dakota
and Montana. at figures not exceed
Ing the lowest bid, on division No. a.
and to- waive the requirements Of q
percentage payment to be Held back.
It Is explained that owing to the ex-
igency which exists this AUTHORITY Is
granted. under the provisions OF Sec.
1903 of the revised statutes.
The engineering details Of the ma
tional work of reclaiming the arid
vest naturally are of particular, inter-.
est to the colleges wherein engineering
isle. ss-5ia (Ennf1oypeA NJ uo,rn &,