Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-05-15
seemed as If the whole city must b'
Sleep is impossible.

a0ohi9u dS ~ lHS WuulG CITY must De
destroyed.
Sleep Is impossible.
Wednesday night we went back to
the Alamo park to see If our things
We're still there and we had to stay.
The heat was intense, and the falling
cinders made 1t almost unbearable
We had brought our trunks, mattresses
and bedding to the park, but none of
us could sleep with the spreading
flames about us, each moment coming
closer.
Thursday morning the whole bust
ness district south Of Market street
was gone. Thursday afternoon the
flames had spread up north of Market
street, taking toward Mob hill, and in
Its course burning the palatial resi-
dences, Mark Hopkinson institute, the
Fremont hotel and the st, Francis ho-
tel.
"At this time the fire on the other
side of Van Ness avenue was coming
closer and closer Here was the widest
street in the city, and here if anywhere
must the flames be stopped. 1t was
the last hope of saving the remainder
Of the city. What a fight was made
there! 1t will never be realized by any
others than those who stood and
watched that last desperate struggle
to save the portion of the city from
the all devouring flames.
ivan Ness avenue was the pride of
San Francisco. On the north side of
this street stood ST. Marys Cathedral,
with its two tall towers Suddenly the
belfrey of st. Marys, ignited by sparks
from the south side of the street, burst
into flames and then hope died in the
breasts of the thousands who watched
on the streets below.
People Are Distracted
Many people were almost district
ed when they saw the fire thus start
across the broad highway that they
had hoped might be the savior of the
property remaining unburned. One man
who camped near us had beautiful
home near the Cathedral. He had al
ready lost his place of business and
eighteen flats that he owned had been
destroyed. Now, when. it seemed to
him that his home was doomed, it was
more than he could stand. so bidding
his family goodbye he drew his pistol
and attempted to kill himself. 1t was
only by the efforts on the part of his
family that he was placed under con-
troll. l shall never forget the anguish
portrayed on his face. With the great
est anxiety we all watched the result
of the fight against the fire in the ca.
thedral belfry. BY the light of the
burning city we could see three fire.
men climb to the top of the tower, and
at last the blaze was extinguished.
People-all of them-had been pray
ing and when the fire was really out
and it was signified by two taps from
the belfry tower, there arose from
every throat thanksgiving to God.
An Inspiring Sight.
ut was the most inspiring sight l
ever experienced to see these hun
dreds of people, who had been watch
ing so intently, collapse and pray.
From the south of Van Ness avenue
all along the water front there was not
a thing left to speak of. The city hall
after having been almost completely
ruined by the shock, caught fire.
Strange to say the public buildings
such as the new postoffice, the Mer-
chants Exchange, the mint and sever
al others, were left. The wide street
of Dolores kept the fire from spread
ing to the old Mission Dolores. The
south side of Market street was very
closely settled, and great many peo.
pie In these hotels and rooming houses
were killed. Just how many will new
er be known. The fire in Chinatown
was terrible. These people became
crazed with opium and LIQUOR and
were like fiends let loose. You can
imagine now thickly populated was
this section Of this city when tell you
that In one room twenty by sixteen
feet, forty Cinnamon would sleep.
5000 Lose Their Homes,
"The 1000 lives lost. as is an.
nounced, are only those recorded
north of Market street. Those south
OF Market street, and in Chinatown
can never be estimated, but it will
amount to 5000 or 1000 at the least
One building collapsed with 600 occu-
pants and another with $50. This I
know to be fact.
"A great many people censure the
f1remen for their manner in handling
the ire, but when it is considered that
~ llCy udu W meet were
almost insurmountable, their work
was commendable. The soldiers and
the extra police had number of diff.
ficultles. These, however, came froM q
clash In the orders they had received.
Two policemen were killed Just few
doors below us. One woman was shot
for not putting out her light. The SOL
diers had very strict orders, and were
told, Don't tell them twice. But the
order they kept was wonderful under
the circumstances. 1t certainly was a
blessing that the city was under mar
tial law, and If some of the soldier
boys took advantage of the confusion
and drank more liquor than was good
for them, they were punished when
they were caught. Six soldiers were
blindfolded and shot for looting.
Soldiers Destroy WhIskey,
Directly after the soldiers took
charge Of the city they went in com
panies to every saloon and corner gro
Gerry in the city and broke the whiskey
bottles into tubs and emptied the con-