Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-22
REFUGEES IN THE PARKS.
Sanitary Conditions the Most I'm.
nortant Question

SAN FRANCISCO, April 21-Arnong
tile homeless hundreds now being sheltered
at Jefferson Square conditions are as ad-
mirabie as they could be under the awful
circumstances The relief committee has
supplied every sufferer with food, blankets
have been supplied and many tents are in
place
An effort has been made by the military
and civil authorities to secure some kind of
an accurate list of the dead In the neigh
borhood. So far they have been greatly
handicapped through their inability to get
reliable people to engage in the work.
Among the homeless in the square are
many little ones. Last night there was Il
shortage IN the milk supply but this condi-
ton was relieved at an early hour this
morning by the arrival of many cans of the
precious fluid.
Early this morning there was great ex-
element among the refugees over the re-
ported shooting of a looter In the square.
Certainly shot was fired. but by whom, at
what point. neither military nor civil au-
thoriues doing police duty IN the neighbor-
hood have been able to ascertain. 1t is
known, however. that no one was shot by
either soldiers or police at Jefferson Square
during the night
Tho sanitary condition OF the camp in the
square is Il matter that must be given i'm
mediate attention If the health of the home
less is to be preserved This matter IS in
the hands of the Engineer Corps of the
army, and no time viii be lost In looking to
the sanitation OF the whole city but mean
while there is great fear that sickness will
wipe out the lives OF many unfortUn1tes
who have been saved from earthquake and
fire.
There was some relief from the crowded
condition OF the camp in the square before
noon today, when little army of refugees.
carrying all they had in the world upon
their backs, made their way through debris
and wreckage to the ferry building Here
those who were out OF funds were given
transportation across the bay. At Golden
Gate Park, where there are camped prob
ably the greatest number OF refugees, con-
ditions today were improved
No estimate OF the number OF people in
the park can he learned at this time but
some sort OF Il canvass ia being made by
approximate number of people as well as
TO relieve all the individual cases OF suf-
fering and 10 improve the sanitary condi
tons. The food situation is not serious.
There was plenty OF food OF the simplest
sort, OF course, provided for every one In
the bread line
OF the Coast Artillery. n. G. c.. is In COM
malld OF the military relief measures in the
park. His headquarters have been estab-
Hshed at the tennis courts Hero sup
plies or sugar. coffee. bread and canned
goods are being distributed. and at another
point some prepared meats were given out
Army tents, us many as could be obtained
were set up everywhere, and other protec-
TONS were made OF blankets, rugs carpets
bed clothes and every sort of material that
could be used Cor the purpose. In some
places refugees had cleared out spaces be-
meath the thick shrubbery and the semi
tropical plants for which Golden Gate Park
IS famous and under these found some sort
OF pro.eation from the chilly night air.
AS yet there has been little sickness
aside from nervous shocks and physical ex-
haustion. and from these most OF the poo
pie have recovered. Tho efforts OF the nil
itary authorities today were all IN the di-
rection OF improving the sanitary condition
and providing safeguards against any pos
sible epidemic that may result from the
exposed situation of so many Thousand peo-
pie.
All refuse must be deposited IN trenches
dug for that purpose and sho park has