The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-24
LIFE IN THE
RUINED CITY
From Sunrise to Sunset the
Streets Are Crowded and
Then Silence at Night.
GREAT RUSH TO the FERRY.
0esolation That Meets the Eye as
One Lands From Oakland
City Two Thirds Gone.

Market Street Now More Crowded Than
Ever, but Trafrc Is All Ono Way as the
People Seek Refuge-Mcn Impressed
by Soldiers to Clear Away the Ruins
-HOuseholders Compelled To shelter
These Guests Keep the
DIV ellings supplied With Food From
Relief stations Danger OF Being
shot At Night Rigor OF the Military.
SAN FRANCISCO. April 23.-The situation
in san Francisco. taken as a whole, Is rot
now so bad as that in Oakland and the other
outside points about the bay region. On
the whole, the damage has been exaggerated.
Rumors Of smallpox, fever, cholera, any
thing, creep through the cloud of black
smoke which screens the waterfront from
Oakland.
The fact that all leaving the city must
stay away raises the tension there to the
screaming point. But here in jefferson
Park, on the very edge of the burned dis
trict, it is a very different story. OF the
200. 900 left in San Francisco all have it in
their hands to find shelter; for if there are
no roofs for them here the road to the ferry
i, pointed out to them and they are urged
to go. If reluctant the first day, one night
of wandering in the black city, with a rife
in the face every minute, has meant flight
in the morning,
WHAT ARR sTREET LOOKS LIKE.
Yesterday we crossed into san Francisco
on the ferry from Oakland. where dozens
of men and women without the Governors
pass were begging the Red Cross and re-
lief committees TO permit them to 20
through. The bent metal flagstaff Of the
Ferry building was the first sign OF devaH-
tation. Then came Market street-crowded
with survivors. There is not a building in
tact on either side for two miles to Van
Ness avenue, but the street is a greater
thoroughfare than ever.
Diagonally to the right not a wall in
sight seems standing except the
Hotel; diagonally to the left there is not a
wall ten feet high standing for so great a
distance that the end is lost in smoke. just
ahead are the crumbled remains Of the
Palace Hotel. The Cal and Chronicle build
ings stand with a good outward appear
ance. in a kind of mockery. These are famous
old landmarks. To walk past them in their
present condition il like attending the
funeral of a friend.
sat for a time on the stone safety STA
ton before the Lolita Fountain, where tho
women waited in crowds for the cars only
five DAYS ago. The brick front of the Pal
ace. with its sandstone trimmings, was
directly opposite. The Palace was brick
San Francisco always thought that it was
wood. This brick wall stood the shock and
fire as we'll as the s~kyscrapers, but there Is
nothing left of the hotel.
At this distance from the waterfront
there was no smoke, but thick and choking
dust rose from the bricks in the street
powdered by the traffic that is passing all
the time. All the traffic is going one way
b IOWHTu ~ CITY. i' NV - 49,
mixed and motley as the people-express
wagons, trucks, automobiles. carryalls,
wheelba rrows manned by Chinese, baby
ca rriag es loaded with bundles, even tho
toy wagons of children. Now and then
an army Ambulance or a carriage OF the
relief committee passed on the back track
There came, too, a herd of steers, driven by
vaqueros from the stock yards, hurriec
in to be slaughtered on the hills and brint
fresh meat to the relief camps.
PEDESTRIANS MADE TO WORK.
Half a block down the street the soldier
we're stopping all pedestrians withou
the official pass which showed hat the,
were on relief business, and putting then
to work heaving bricks of the pavement
Two dapper men with canes, the only clear
people | saw, were caught at the cornc
by a sergeant, who slowed great JOY as HI
said:
Il give you time to git of those kid gloves
and then hustle, damn you, hustle" Inc,
hustled. The soldiers take delightin picking
Oil the best dressed men anu heePihS ''e'
at the brick piles for long terms. passe'
them in the shelter of a provision wagon
afraid that even my pass would not saw
me. Two men are reported shot becaus
they refused to turn in and help. Their
are many rumors about the shooting b.
soldiers, a great many of them Prooabl.
untrue.
The only building standing in the regio'
of the City Hall is the new post Office. Abou
this sprawl hundreds of people in a littl
camp Of their own. From Van Ness on, /
the Western Addition and Pacific Height
region, saved by the coming of the trad
wind, there have been fires in spots, br
most of this part stands unchanged,
SHELTERED IN HOMES,