Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-21
NEARING THE END
RaVaging Flames VIII
Soon Stop Work
At SAN FRANCISCO
Burying the Dead in Long
Trenches.
A SEA OF SMOKING RUINS
Abatement of Wind Dispels Further
Fears.
EXODUS FROM THE CITY
Thrilling Tales of Experience From
Refugees-Not House Standing
in Radius of Two Miles.
EXODUS FROM THE CITY

Late dispatches from San Fran
cisco say:
1t is still difficult to estimate the
number OF dead, as bodies are scat
tered all over the city. They are
burying them in trenches and put
ting fifteen bodies in ditch.
Those who are in tents in parks
will suffer until they can get into
some house There are plenty of
fats for rent, but the quake put
them in very bad shape.
There seems to be no immediate
danger from fire. Wind has died
down and several warships and tugs
are pouring water from the bay on
the flames, which are quite a dis
tance from the ferry building, where
the Western Union office is located.
The superintendent of ferry build
ing pronounces it now safe and in
no danger from fire Everything in
a radius OF two miles is nothing but
smoldering ruins, not house stand
ing.
There is no fire within three
blocks of the ferry. The ferry boats
are running on schedule time.
There is an immense crowd around
the depot and committees from all
towns across the bay are urging
people to leave Frisco and go with
them to their homes, but the au-
thorities won't let them take any
baggage with them.
1t looks like an immense second
hand store here The people have
dragged everything down here
from pianos to bird cages, and their
goods are all piled up around the
depot for a long distance. The fire
is still burning fercely up north,
but the wind has gone down, max
ing it less dangerous.
1t is stated that Gov. Pardee will
at once call a special session of the
state legislature to prepare relief
measures for this city.
SAN FRANCISCO. April 21.-For the first
time in its history San Francisco has had
It's taste Of martial law. When darkness
fell upon the desolated city every inhabi-
tant of the houses that were left standing
sroped about their homes in darkness early
IN the evening. the survivors OF the terrible
calamity cooking their suppers on fires
built In front of their houses, The wind
famed many Of the fires into nasty blazes,
and for IA time II looked as II many new
fires would be started. But police orders
were issued that all fires must be put out.
and with score OF assistants and soldiers
the building OF fires in front of houses was
summarily suppressed.
In all OF the homes left standing lights
were allowed to be burned. In places
where persons lit their lights contrary TO
the orders OF the police and the militia
citizens formed and forced the occupants
20 extinguish them The only exception
was In the case OF hospitals Soldiers pa
trolled the streets and no citizen was al
lowed to pass from one block 10 the other
except by written permission of the chief
OF police.
Mayors Reassuring Food Notice.
Mayor Schmitz has Issued the following
proclamation, which citizens are instructed
10 observe:
do not be afraid of famine. There will
be abundance OF food supplied Do not use
any water except for drinking and cooking
purposes. Do not light any fires in houses
stoves or firepiaces. Do not use any house
closets under any circumstances but dig
earth closets In yards or vacant lots using
II possible. chloride of lime or some other
disinfectant. This is Of the greatest iml or
tance. as the water supply is only sufficient
for drinking and cooking. Do not allow any
garbage 10 remain on the premises; bury II
and cover Immediately. Pestilence can only
be avoided by complying with these regula-
tions
you are particularly requested not to en-
ter any business house or dwelling except
your own. as you may be mistaken for one
of the looters and shot on sight, as the
orders are not to arrest. but to shoot down
any one caught stealing"
DR.. Vorsanger, chairman of the committee
to feed the hungry, reported that every
thing possible was being done to provide
food for the populace. and that not a hun