The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1906-04-25

vanced that the company expressed its
readiness TO resume business as soon as
the mayor would permit.
The water company announced the
completion OF such repairs as enabled IL
to supply l. 900, 900 gallons daily. In fine
there was all the evidence that put at
rest now and forever the fears OF those
who predicted that San Francisco would
never rise again
TREMENDOUS ENERGY.
The work OF housing and feeding the
homeless and OF reconstructing the sani-
tary conditions. already far advanced
Monday. was carried on with tremendous
energy. IL is certain that no one is hun
CRY in San Francisco unless he is will
fully So
There is food for all. and the method
of distribution has been so perfected that
IL is within the reach OF all. AS for the
health and sanitary conditions. there is,
considering all circumstances. nothing 10
be desired. An investigation OF the sewers
has shown that they were not as badly
damaged as was feared and while there
were breaks they have been repaired
There has been no outbreak OF disease
of contagious character nor is any
feared. and for these pulmonary diseases
that might be expected 10 be prevalent
in such crisis. they are chiefly notable
by their absence. The hospitals, which,
| in the first instances were crowded by
great numbers, are discharging their pa
tients by the score.
MILITARY RULE RETAINED
Military rule is still maintained. but
| there Is some ameloration OF its severity
| The militia, having given some cause OF
| complaint by impressing men when 1t
was necessary that work should be done,
was warned last evening i'm a letter sent
| by Mayor Schmitz to Gen Roster that
, the city was never and will never be
under martial law, and that the impress
ment OF citizens would no longer be
| tolerated
LESS THAN 300 DEAD.
| Az a Joint meeting yesterday afternoon
| of the finance committee and the chair
men of all the emergency committees II
was ascertined that the loss Of life caused
! by the catastrophe Is less than 300 This
| approximation was made by Fairfax
| Wheelan, chairman of The relief of sick
and wounded committee.
Before noon yesterday practically all
tho essential departments of the South
em Pacific were in operation.
| A force OF men commenced reton-
struction OF the ferry building tower,
the upper half OF which will have to be
replaced with lighter material
The fire underwriters are making some
plans to reopen offices in the Merchants
| Exchange building.
The United Railways company yester-
! day had between 45Q and 500 OF its en-
| ployes on the street, clearing the tracks
1 and erecting temporary trolley poles on
Market street from the ferry building TO
| Fifth street
Coffee and sugar are wanted I'm San
L Francisco for the relief camps. other
| provisions are to be had I'm plenty
Chairman Phelan reports contributions
| to the relief fund as fonows Outside
sl,917,O0o, local $54O.OoO total s. 263.4sS.
HELD FLAMES IN CHECK.
Three heroes saved San Francisco
| what is left OF &C. They were the mem
bers Of the dynamite squad. who checked
the fire at Van Ness avenue.
When the city seemed doomed and the
flames liz tho sky further and further 60
the west Admiral McCala sent three ex-
perts IN explosives from Mare island with
orders to check the confagration at any
| cost OF life or property. They brought n
| ton and half OF gun cotton.
The thunderous detonations 10 which
the terrified city listened all that dread
ful Friday night meant the saving Of
500 900 lives. A million dollars worth or
property. noble residences and worthless
| shacks alike were blown TO drifting. dust,
but that destruction broke the hrd
The whole east side OF Van Ness ave-
nue. from Golden Gate TO Greenwich was
dynamited a block deep.
From Golden Gate avenue north the fire
/ crossed the wide street, I'm but one place.
That was the Claus spreckles place, on
the corner OF California street. There the
4 flames were writhng up the walls before
4 the dynamlters could reach It, Yes they
made their way 10 the foundation carry
ing their explosives and fired the charges.
The dcsolatc waste straight through the
heart OF the city II a mute witness TO the
most heroic and effective work OF the
| whole calamity. Three men did this, and