davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The National tribune., 1906-04-26
FRIDAY. APRIL 90.
Fires Rage Through the Northwest Sec-
tiOn and Threaten the Great Ware
houses and Docks-Hunger and Thirst
TOrture-GoOd Work of the Soldiers.

All day Friday the fires burned fierce
ly in theenorthwest section. threatening
destruction clear to the sea, including
immense warehouses and the ferry
wharves, by which San Francisco would
be completely isolated.
Early in the day it was believed III
flames had been brought under control
and that the buildings on one-fourth
of the city's territory would escape de-
struction. The wind veered at night
and gale began driving the fire direct
toward the sea.
Near Meiggs Wharf, which was
threatened, We're huge oil tanks, some
of them containing at least $4,000 gal
Ions of OIL
The Postal Telegraph Company aban-
doned its temporary office in the ferry
building
With the destruction of the buildings
in the path of the flames all that would
remain of the city would be that section
west of Franklin street and north to
the Preside. The only buildings of i'm
portance to escape destruction are GER
tain fine residences along Pacific
Heights
Hunger, thirst and fear of famine
existed. The problem of distributing
what food was on hand had not been
solved.
The destitution and suffering among
the refugees was indescribable
Fearing pestilence from the number
of bodies which had been exposed TO the
elements since Tuesday, Gen. Funston
ordered them all buried. SO far as the
bodies have been found this has been
done. Civilians were compelled, in some
cases at the point Of soldiers guns, to
do the work OF burial.
AT night water was coming into San
Francisco IN many places. California
street, Van Ness and Golden Gate ave-
nues had water in plenty. The principal
main was broken at the Five Mile
House.
Late at night the trade-winds set in.
and drove the flames back over the
burned area.
Nine-tenths of the wood involved is
redwood, which burns with a smolder-
ing fire. There have been no great
bursts of fire; no terrible whirls of
flames; only n steady, persistent ad-
vance So the workers saw this sullen
flame turn backward and spend itself
on the ruins over which II had passed.
Good Work Of the Soldiers.
All the dispatches speak in the high
est praise of the soldiers. One says:
1t is impossible 10 say anything really
definite about the situation es regards
famine. The remaining inhabitants are
scattered over a great area, and one
district is cut off from the other by the
fires, so that In some places the soldiers
must be working without orders, simply
on their own sense. Thank God for
these soldiers They have been our
steadfast hope, and they have policed
like heroes and ruled like fathers. In
the central part of the city they have
checked the outrageous famine prices
To starving S-ople.
When th.s morning broke. lines form
ed as ever before the stores whose sup
plies had not been Communicated. In
one or these the first man was charged
l5 cents for loaf of bread. The Cor
poral in charge at that point brought
his gun down with slam.
Bread is 10 cents a loaf in .this
The National tribune., 1906-04-26
Senator Jefferson Davis.

4 Western paper gives this picture Of
the new Senator from Arkansas:
HE is thoroughly democratic in
speech, manner and action, and is sur
charged with personal magnetism.
He makes the people think he is
prosecuted for their sake. and stands
between them and oppression.
He appeals to the human element
He cunningly paints things to his
liking and ingeniously and unscrupu-
lously turns them to his advantage.
He continually does violence TO the
moral maxim that the suppression Of
truth is the suggestion of falsehood.
He audaciously and impudently re-
lies on the public's lack of information
about incidents In issue.
He appropriates credit for about
everything creditable.
He has a powerful machine.
He has not met his match"
The National tribune., 1906-04-26
shop" ne said. It went He fixed the

shop" he said. IT went. He fixed the
schedule of prices a little higher than
| in fair times, and to make up for that
he forced the storekeeper to give free
food TO hungry people in line who were
too poor to pay. In several other places
the soldiers used the same brand of
horse. sense. Yet We do hear of cases
where bread went at dollar a loaf
There are no cases reported of actual
starvation. although many come into
Oakland hungry. ready 10 grab food and
choke it down like animals.
Sleeping in the Parks and the Preside.
Yesterday all the military tents avail
able were set up in the Presidio, and
the troops were turned out OF the bar
racks to bivouac on the ground. In
these shelter tents they are placing first
the sick; second, the more delicate of
the women, and, third, the nursing
mothers.
The city slept last night in three con-
centration camps-the Preside, Golden
Gate Park and Fort Mason. Many of
the rich even deserted their mansions
10 sleep out of doors, for fear that the
fire line. stopping at Van Ness avenue,
might sweep on and take their houses
with it. There were few tents, but
mainly they slept out in the fog and the
The National tribune., 1906-04-26

places in the State. 1t is about three
miles In length and one mile in breadth
and il is bounded on the west side by
| the ocean.
The number of churches and chapels
was about 100. OF these 20 or more
are Protestant and not less than 20 are
Catholic. Nearly every religious de-
nomination in the civilized world has
a representative in the city. There were
few church edifices of the first class
The new Roman Catholic Cathedral, the
Unitarian Church, Grace Church and
the First Congregational Church were
the more notable edifices for religious
worship.
San Francisco's History.
The history of San Francisco dates
from Oct. 8, 1876, when two Franciscan
monks. from Spain established the mis-
sion OF San Francisco de Asis, but il
was often called the Mission Dolores.
The mission fiourished. and in 1925 had
rs. 900 head of cattle, 10000 sheep. 5000
horses and 1900 bushels of wheat.
When the Mexican Government secu-
larized the church properties the Cali
fornia missions We're given over TO civil
officers, who plundered them, and the
property accumulated by the monks was
dissipated until only a few adobe build
ings We're all that was left. There was
established, however, the little village
IF Yerba Buena. near the center of the
present city. This town did 4 small
trade in hides and wheat and furnishing
supplies to whalers. 1t passed into
American possession in 1S4e, when enc
OF our war vessels took possession of
the place in the name of the United
States. Immediately upon American oc-
cupatiOn began the customary compe-
tition Of town sites, and ona was estab-
IICn naah an \, Il
Gate and proposed to take the name of
Francesca. The real-estate men in
Yerba Buena saw that this would make
them lose some prestige, so Jan. 30
1S47, they changed the name of the
town to San Francisco.
The discovery of gold in California
made it the center of great commerce,
and it grew like weed in wet weather.
with houses run up from lumber
brought by ships around Cape Horn.
These invited great fires, and one on
Dec. "a, 1S49, destroyed $1,000, 900
worth of property: May 4, 1850, another
caused the loss of $4,000, 900; June a.
1850, a third fire cost another s3,0OO,-
600. The fourth. on May 81, 1851, de-
stroyed $7.000.000 worth of property
and the fifth, June %. 1851. destroyed
property valued at 10000 In spite
of these the city grew with the greatest
rapi"ity until January, 1854, when the
boom burst on account of the falling off
in the yield of the gold mines and for
four years the place was al a standstill
Since August. 1858. the progress of the
city has been steady and rapid, in spite
OF a real-estate panic, which followed
the extravagant expectations as to the
Pacific railroads. May. 1869. The city
was incorporated in 1850. In 1850 and
again in 1855 the corruption and ineffi-
cheney of the City Government caused
the formation of the famous Vigilance
Committees which purified matters by
hanging number of the worst charac-
ters.
The National tribune., 1906-04-26
10 blocks, with good prospects of saving
sAN veNNeNsC0 eNS

10 blocks, with good prospects of saving
the wharves.
Despite the awful devastation of the
| city, this has been day of comparative
cheer. None went hungry or thirsty
| Devotional services were general in the
camps of the refugees. Substantial
business men are already planning to
rebuild.
Nine cases of smallpox are being
| treated at the Preside Reservation Hos
pital. The victims were found among
the refugees In Golden Gate Park. Sani-
| tary conditions are such that an epi-
demic is feared. At present there is nc
epidemic of any sort and there is less
sickness than yesterday.
The greatest suffering exists among
the Chinese, and their future is dark
unless the Government comes to their
relief. The few who have money find
no one willing to sell them property for
future homes. Oakland Chinatown is
overlooking, and the authorities refuse
to extend its limits.
1t was estimated to-day by compe-
tent insurance authorities that the loss
will aggregate 5000, 900, 900, and on this
vast amount of property the insurance
companies carried approximately $115,-
600, 900 insurance.
Martial law, rough and impolite
stepped in to bring a little order out
street, from Third to Ninth, where the
obstruction of the highway was most
severe, determined Deputy Marshals
stood at various points with pistol in
hand, and every group of able-bodied
male pedestrians that came or went was
forced at the point of the gun TO pause
and put in 10 minutes work at pitch
ing bricks out of the roadway. The pis-
tol point was lneXorable. Presidents of
banks Sweatel under their impressive
silk tiles side by side with teamsters
from the Mission for the enforced 10
minutes, and then moved away to look
gleefully back at the relay gang that
was forced to take their places
Refugees are distributing themselves
all over the bay region, the Upper Santa
Clara Valley, and the northern valleys.
Every farmhouse in the region will
probably be a little refugee camp in
itself for the next month. Such is the
spirit of the outlying districts that a
farmer or townsTnan who refused TO do
his share would find himself unpopular.
The reign of order seems TO be re-
stored. In the first place, there is no
more whisky. AT last the supply is
either drunk up, destroyed by fire, or
spilled. After the small riot of Friday
when some of the soldiers got drunk,
Gen. Funston got after the liquor prob
lem, and his men broke kegs and bottles
like Carrie Nation. Then with the end
of visible peril the people are getting
sane. The only really exciting event of
which we have heard to-day was the
outbreak of a drunken Japanese
drunken or craZy-who let out a yell,
jumped behind an automobile standing
on Market street, and began to shoot at
the crowd. A squad of soldiers returned
the fire and killed him before he hit
any one.
The National tribune., 1906-04-26
LIKE 4 WRINKLED APPLE.
Sir Martin Con~as's illustration OF the
Cooling Earth.

The cooling of the earth and the SUBJ
sequent shrinking of the surface, says
Sir Martin Conway F. II. G.. s., the
noted British mountain climber, caused
THE Western mountain range, ex-
tending rough North and South Amer
lea, is constantly, growing" said Sir
Martin. LAS the cooling process goes
on the earth shSinks, and, like the skin
on dryir apple, as the sphere gets
smaller the outer covering settles in
some places and in others is forced uI
in ridges.
These ridges are the mountains
Now, as the process goes on the ridges
get forced further up. The mountains
in the West grow probably six feet in
a century. This being SO, every once in
IL while something slips, and then We
The National tribune., 1906-04-26
The 2Stb Conn.

Editor National Tribune: Please give
a history of the 2Sth Conn. in your
valuable paper.-Alex. Weed, Jr.
Stamford, Conn.
The 2Sth Conn. was organized at New
Haven Nov. Is, 1862, to serve nine
months, and mustered out Aug. 2S,
1863. The Colonel was 5. p. Ferris. OF
the Regular Army. 1t belonged to the
Nineteenth Corps, and lost 16 killed
and 81 died from disease.-Editor Ma
tional Tribune.
The National tribune., 1906-04-26
MEN AND THINGS
SAW IN
Civil War Days.
By GEN. JAS. F. RUSHING.
SENT, POSTPAID, FOR Sc.
By GEN. JAS. F. RUSHING.
SENT, POSTPAID, FOR S2

Publications of selections from this
book in The National Tribune have
awakened a strong interest in it among
our readers. Gen. Rushing had un-
usual opportunities for meeting ana
thoroughly studying 4 number of the
prominent Generals of the war. and he
has set forth his conclusions with great
fairness, perspicacity, clearness and
force. His presentation is invaluable.
as coming from man who actually
saw and lived with them.
The National Tribune has secured a
limited number of copies-all that was
left of the edition-and now offers them
to its readers. The book is a handsome
volume OF All large pages. well printed
and illustrated on good. heavy paper.
strongly bound. and with a gilt top.
Sent to any address in United States
or Canada. postpaid. on receipt of 81.
Address
THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE,
Washington. d. c.
The National tribune., 1906-04-26
The 18th n. Y, Cav,

Editor National Tribune: VIII you
please print a short history of the 18th
n. Y. Cav. in The National Tribune p
Henry Ullman, Co. d, 18th n. Y. Cav,
Au Ores, Mich.
The 18th n. Y. Cav. was organized in
New York City from Nov. 10, 1852. and
mustered out July l9. 1865. The Col
onel was James w. Savage, of the Reg
ular Army. 1t belonged to the Eight
eenth Corps, and lost "a killed and 175
died from disease.-Editor National
Tribune.
The National tribune., 1906-04-26
heavy dew, wrapped in blankets and
bundled in quilts.
One Drink 10 Each Person.
hws,s. nsss FIRST srsnrso

All night wagons mounted with bar
rels and guarded by soldiers drove
through the park doling out water.
There was always a crush about the
wagons, and but one drink was allowed
to a person.
Separate supplies were sent TO the
sick in the tents. The troops allowed
no camp fires, fearing that the trees or
the park might catch and drive the
people out of this refuge to the open.
The National tribune., 1906-04-26
The following shows the city's growth

This latter figure makes San Fran
cisco ninth in point of population in the
United States. The cities that surpass
her are New York. Chicago. Philadel-
phia. st. Louis. Boston, Baltimore,
Cleveland and Buffalo.
The National tribune., 1906-04-26

have a disaster; iifllsfl that in San Fran
cisco. IA
succession, and t5hep there will be no
other disturbance for 100 years. No
one can tell When they are coming.
Why this earthquake happened on the
west side of the mountain range. and
not on the east jig. I suppose, because
that is the weaker side"
The National tribune., 1906-04-26
Buell. Ordered to Chattanooga.

Gen. Halleck directed Gen. Buell. to
take his army and march upon Chatta-
nooga, but he coupled with this the
harassing restriction that he should
move by the way of the Memphis 4
Chattanooga Railroad, and repair 1t as
The National tribune., 1906-04-26

Chinatown.
There Is another unconsidered factor
which adds to the list of probable dead.
Chinatown was built three stories above
the street and three below il. The Chi
nese had run their tunnel chambers and
secret passages SO feet below ground.
These were always populated, especially
at night. As they We're not timbered,
these tunnels must have caved in, for
the shock was strong enough at that
point to overthrow some of the old
rookeries. The things which must have
happened down there in the bowels of
the earth Even if the Chinese had
thought of rescue work here, the fire
would have driven them away, for
Chinatown caught fire almost at once,
and the population was driven into
Portsmouth Square.
The National tribune., 1906-04-26

the men remained at work, and then
the billows of fire. swept on TO spread
ruin in buildings 'fhiles away, leaving
the treasure-house intact.
The National tribune., 1906-04-26
SUNDAY, APRIL %.

Day of Comparative Cheer-Fire Com
fined TO 10 BIOcI<s-Fear of Pesti-
lence.
On Sunday the fire was confined to
The National tribune., 1906-04-26
WASHINGTON c. THURSDAY
Chinatown.

Yet what can three railroad lines do
with 100000 people? Sanitation is the
problem now.
The National tribune., 1906-04-26
After the Evacuation.

Beyond all comprehension, HalleclI
seemed satisfied with gaining posses
sion of Corinth and Beauregard's re-
treat, and to lose interest in further
prosecution of the war in his great De-
partment. There was 4 marvellous lack
of thought that there was anything
more to be done. One cannot for an
instant understand why he did not take
the magnificent army of 100, 900 men,
which. if nothing else, had been organ
lied and drilled to thorough effective
ness in the long, tedious advance upon
Corinth, and strike with ii at New Or
leans, TO open up the Mississippi River.
If this did not appeal to Halleck, and
it is equally incomprehensible that it
did not, why did he not go to Mobile
or at least to Chattanooga? Either
movement would have shortened the
war at least a year. Instead. Halleck
put the Armies of the Mississippi and
Tennessee into comfortable camps along
the line of the Memphis * Chattanooga
Railroad, ana for a week or two of
precious time seemed to be resting in
utter vacuity of mind after the long
strain. Probably he was carefully
studying the Washington news. and pre-
pairing himself and the public for his
substitution for Mcclellan. He was
feeling his own greatness very acutely,
and contrasting it with McClellan's i'll
success quite satisfactorily to himself.
He had probably been fully Informed
that he was to be placed i'll command
of all the armies of the United States,
and was studying that wide field in the
place of the one Immediately in front
of him. After a time he began to issue
orders, and these broke up the great
combination that had been perfected
and resolved the army into its former
components of the Armies of the Ten
nessee, Mississippi and Ohio.
The National tribune., 1906-04-26

walls and toppled the buildings in
crushing ruins.
The Effort Pr0yri E,ruitless