Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-04-28
.LOO7ERS At WORK
AMONG THE RUINS.

San Francisco, April 2s.-Greater In
numbers than the military forces
guarding the lives and property in this
city Is the army of hooters that has
taken possession of San Francisco.
From early in the morning until late
at night every boat from across the
bay brings hundreds OF people whose
sole purpose In visiting the city is to
dig among the ruins and carry OFF such
articles of value as they are able to
lind with small amount OF effort
Laden with suitcases. baskets, bags
and satchels, they come. eager TO grab
from the streets and houses anything
that may have possible historical or
pecuniary value. Toward nightfall
they wond their way across the bay,
carrying the heavy profits Of their days
labor.
Although strict orders were given AZ
the beginning OF the military rule that
all persons detected IN the act OF loot
ing should be shot, the rlgor OF this
regulation has been relaxed and now
the army of hooters Is In full possession
of the blackened ruins. Throughout.
old Chinatown and along Kearney
street, where bazars filled with orler,.
tai wares once stood, the harvest Of
loot has been particularly rich. Men,
women and children. fearing neither
the presence of the military nor the
danger Of tumblng walls, swarm about
the ruins with great profit to them.
selves. In many of the Chinese ana
Japanese stores. when the fire APP
preached, the proprietors buried large
part Of their stock In the Easements
itaf apIfpn IN aftar ha Hra Ind
passed and recover what they could.
They never came back.
The terrors OF the rocking earth and
the sweep Of flame was too much for
their oriental minds; but the loetcrs
came, and everything that was of any
use or value has been carried away.
The merchants who hoped to save
something out OF which they could re-
establish themselves will never find
any OF the stock they left except by
searching through the homes where
hooters dwell
The work OF the looters has not been
confined alone to the ruins OF stores ana
houses.
Many residence sites have been
worked over and articles OF gold, sill
wen and china carried away. The
banks have established guards about
their premises, but very few of the
owners OF homes have taken this precau-
ton.
At the ruins OF the Hopkins art In
stitute and the Stanford residence
guard Is maintained, and yesterday
men and women who had been gathering
relics in the ruins OF other houses along
Pine and California street, complained
vigorously against the refusal of tho
guards to permit them to enter upon
the ruins where the Stanford and
Crocker homes once stood. Their pre-
vlous knowledge of the character OF the
house furnishings convinced them that
the profits OF lootlng there would be
great.
Among the ruins OF many of the
family hotels. the hooters have been
very fortunate. And IN the ashes of
pawn broking establishments they have
gathered trinkets which no money will
ever redeem. There Is no limit to the
endurance of the ooters nor TO the et-
.Srts they Will make to acquire some
thing of value A man was abseryed
ON lower Pine street yesterday carry
ing cash register which he had dug
from the ashes ToIling and sweating
under his burden. he was making his
way toward the ferry until advised by
a friendly sentry that he had better
leave IT, Another man boarded the
Ubhl Nhll lAIb q llANNA NrNh Itl'i WIN
expensive plates and dishes harvested
among the ruins OF Chinatown. Women
scrambled for a place TO rest being
wearied by the days quest for loot
One man carried a full dozen plates OF
expensive Chinese ware, handmade and
decorated, which were priced by
former Chinese merchant as being
worth 81 piece. Cups and saucers,
vases ana dishes, bronze and brass
ornaments, have found their way into
many humble homes OF the other side
OF the bay at no other expense than
the cost Of a ferry ticket and three
or four hours digging among the ash
os
Efforts have been made by the mill
tary authorities 10 stop the lootlng,
but 1t would require large force 70
patrol all the districts In which the
work Is being carried on, II Is prob
able that II the lootinR continues, the
authorities will be forced 10 revert
10 the system Of allowing no one TO
enter the city except those who have
pass explaining their business and
right 10 be here,