Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-04-24
SUFFERING IN JEFFERSON PARK
Five Thousand Persons Practically
without shelter from Rain.

without shelter from Ram
SAN FRANCISCO, April 2S.-The condi-
ton of the 5000 or more people camped In
Jefferson Square park is something terrible.
Not more than 5 per cent have even an
army tent and the make-shlfts are con-
structed of carpets, bed sheets and every
imaginable substance. They are totally
inadequate to keep out the heavy rain
which is falling today.
The 400 soldiers of the Fifth and Sixth
cavalry, National Guard, are requisitoning
every house in the aeghborhood for shelter,
but in the meantime the homeless are in a
miserable plight.
Glenn A Durston OF the Spanish war
veterans relief committee has immediate
charge OF relief work. He made this state
ment TO the Associated Press:
1--WE are impressing every wagon we can
lay our hands on. We have about ten
wagons in which we are hauling all who
will go to the ferry station and sending
them out of town We have sent to the
Preside for tents and by conhscating all
vacant houses we can find, we hope to
have the sufferers housed with some de-
gree of comfort by night.
The spirit and courage shown by the
sufferers in the face of their misfortunes
is wonderful. An aged, crippled woman,
lying on the dirt floor of patchwork of bed
sheets, carpets and tin roofing, made a
remark which is a sample:
II am the widow Of union soldier. The
sufferings endured by my husband at
Vicksburg were as nothing compared to
mine. 1 am very comfortable, thank you"
The sanitary work is going forward as
| rapidly as possible. Several toilets have
been erected and all refuse is being hauled
! a Tbara ia an
far very little sickness in camp and none
| Of serious nature. No infectious disease
has made its appearance.
The ST. Paul Lutheran church, located
near Jefferson Square park, is being utilized
| as an emergency hospital. In the main
! auditorium about forty-fve patients are
| lying on mattresses spread on the floors.
| The stan of this hospital is composed
chiefly of Los Angeles doctors and nurses.
There are nineteen physicians and TWEEN
| ty-nine nurses employed. They work In
day and night shifts.
| The head nurse was very enthusiastic IN
regard to the work being done. She stated
| that they had every necessary appliance
and were able TO give prompt attention
| TO sufferers The patients are mostly sur
fering from exhaustion, nervous strain or
| slight fractures. There is no infectious or
| serious disease IN tnlS hOhpltals
| In Fort Mason there is little misery on
account of the cold rain. About 5000 people
are encamped there and on account of the
sandy and sloping ground sanitation is not
bad. Food is now plentiful and of fair
variety The health of the refugees at this
| place Il as good as could be expected.
| There is some general sickness, but on &C
count of the comparatively perfect sani-
tary conditions there is no danger OF any
sort of epidemic.
This is one of the largest camps in the
city. The Inhabitants here are made up
mostly of those from the poorer quarters
About half OF them are living under frail
shelters Of sheets and blankets, which keer
of neither rain nor wind The entire basin
between Fort Mason and the Preside Is
filled with refugees.
There Is acute suffering at Carv1lle
caused by scarcity Of food and poor shelter
There are 800 native inhabitants of this
section and 700 refugees At present sani-
tation is good. Order is perfect. Here
again sandy soil and sloping ground re-
lieves the situation from dampness
The contagion hospital at Harbor View
park established for the reception OF
measles, humps, scarlet fever and Other
contagious diseases, reports very little
business What few patients they have
r are we'll along toward recovery and happy
At Columbia square, in the south OF Mar
ket street district, conditions as the result
Of the rainstorm were perhaps worse thar
} In any section OF the city. Here are gath
cred about 100 of the poorest people OF
the city. All sorts OF improvised shelters
dot the ground, but tents and other sub
stantial coverings are few. The grounds
are fiat and the rain collected in pools
causing much suffering among the home
less, the little ones especially feeling the
effects OF the wet
Sickness In the park however, is moi
prevalent to any extent, mild colds and
rheumatism being the principal ailments
complained Of. Sanitary conditions are i'm
proving daily under the supervision Of Of
foers of the Columbia Park Boys club WHIT
have taken great interest in the affair'
Of the AFFLICTED people of this district. Hug
piles OF garbage are being carted away
and unless the rainstorm continues SAM
tary conditions in this camp will be excel
lent I'm a few days.
Garfield park, in the mission district, Il
: the temporary abode Of 300 people, who are
generally speaking, in comfortable circum
stances. The shelters in this park hav'
been erected IN substantial fashion, an'
Lieutenant Stevens OF the United States
! volunteers Is supervising the sanitary con
, ditions, which are reaching state OF com