Gilpin observer., 1906-04-26

CISCO thursday nlSht was the city
desolate. 1t seemed that the acme OF
its misery was reached at dusk, when
flames burst from all sides of the
beautiful Hotel Fairmont. the palace
that above every other structure was
apparently most strongly entrenched
against the attack of the all-consum-
ing fire. And surrounding that lofty
pinnacle of flame, as far as the eyes
could see to the south, to the east and
far out to the west lay in cruel fan
tastic heaps charred and smoking all
that remained of a prosperous city.
The metropolis of the western slope
was in ashes.
Thursday had been another day of
an uneven struggle of man against
unconquerable element of nature Acre
after acre has been ground into dus;
and ashes, despite the heroic perse-
verance of the firemen to limit the
conflagration. Thursday night there
was hope that the worst has been
nearly reached and that when Fri
day dawns the end will have come
but the hope is faint indeed. If the
flames can be barred in their devas-
tation of the western addition then
"finis" will be written to the great dis
aster
But San Francisco is not discour-
aged. Its best and highest class has
already begun to plan for restoration
and to care for the stricken ones and
the relief will be immediate. Total
subscriptions of S1SO,OOO were an
nounced. Arrangements were made
for the immediate relief of the needy
The baking of $4,000 loaves of bread
daily will begin Friday. Free trans
portation will be provided by the
Southern Pacific to destitute persons
desiring to go to interior points.
San Francisco, Calf. - Thousands
upon thousands of people were fleeing
from the fire Thursday. They are
fiocking to the ferries, to the parks. to
the military reservation and to the
suburbs. Residents of the hi!lsides In
the central portion of the city SEEM
ingly were safe from the roaring fnr
mace that was consuming the business
section. They watched the towering
mounds of flame and speculated as 10
the extent of the territory that was
doomed. Suddenly there was whis-
pered alarm up and down the long line
of watchers and they hurried away TO
drag clothing, cooking utensils ana
scant provisions through the streets
From Grant avenue the procession
moved westward. Men and women
dragged trunks, packed huge bundles
oil blankets, boxes of provisions-ev-
erythlrS. Wagons could not be hired
except by paying the most extortion-
ate rate.
But there was ~ panic. The peo-
pie are calm, stunned. They seem not
TO realize that the city is DESTROYED in
so far as business plants ara con-
cerned; they tell each other in the
most natural tone that their resideu-
ces were destroyed by the flames, but
there is no hysteria, no outcry, no crit.
icism.
San Francisco, Calf. - A wind of
high velocity was late Friday night
blowing from the northwest over the
fre-stricken districts and the water
front threatening the cutting off Of
communication with Oakland and
Berkeley. General Castor has order
ed out squadron of men TO endeavor
to keep the flames which threaten the
Union Ferry station, the only means
of egress from the city from being
destroyed
The water front emergency hospital
was endangered and the officials in
charge were prepared to move from
their quarters. The wind was of such
velocity that brick and granite walls,
weakened by the earthquake and the
subsequent fire were falling into the
streets. Market street, the principal
avenue of escape from the city to the
ferry may be blocked up thus shutting
off practically the only means of es-
cape.
Hoped to Save One-Fourth.
San Francisco, Calf. - The fire
was at noon Friday positively stated
to be under control. with the proba-
bility that one quarter of the city ly-
ing west of Franklin street and known
as the western addition northward to
the Preside will be saved. The stand
made at VanNess avenue was general
ly successful. the flames crossing that
avenue to the west in but few places.
The strongest fire at noon Friday was
toward north beach, east of VanNess
avenue, but will be controlled.
San Francisco, Calf. - The people
of San Francisco, homeless and starv-
ing, are facing the awful calamity
which has overtaken them and liter
ally swept the great city of which all
were SO proud practically out of ex-
istence. with spirit of resigned forth