Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-05-02
Letter From Sacramento, California.

Thursday p. m.
No doubt you wonder why / have
not answered your letter but tho ex-
citement and general unsettled con-
dition caused by the awful calamity
in San Francisco has kept everyone
busy. The papers here were getting
out two or three extra editions day
and every train and boat brought in
hundreds of refugees from the city,
so circus day wasn't in it for ex-
citement. While the earthquake in
itself was awful it was nothing COM
pared to the awful loss caused by
tile fire. Coming asst did at 5:l5
in the morning the working class
were mostly awake and preparing
their breakfast. When the shock
came the shells used as tenement
houses for the poorer classes col
lapsed and almost Immediately were
in flames. The water mains natur-
ally were broken from the severe
commissions of the earth and the
firemen were helpless. 1t is useless
to go into detail regarding all this
as the papers have told the story so
will not repeat it. Here there was
no damage although many Of the
towers apd larger buildings were
supposed to be Of light construction.
AS | had worked the night before
did not realize the trouble when the
shock woke me but imagined at the
time it was one Of those eastern wind
storms. The hotel where I am
rooming danced a little but no more
than it is often felt in the east dur
ing hard wind. Naturally the
press reports at first were greatly
exaggerated, for instance the report
of the noted Cliff House being
thrown into the Bay. That build
ing still stands with hardly wall
cracked. Already the rebuilding of
the city has commenced and in ten
years the world will see a larger and
better San Francisco than ever. One
cannot realize the great strength OF
humanity to those who are in need
until they see for themselves what |
have seen here. This city was al
most the first to send in food and
drink to the sufferers and inside of
"a hours a limited supply Of water
and plain food was being distributed
to all. Last week at least 10000
were received here and given a
warm meal at the depot, then taken
to temporary lodgings where they
were given hot baths and comfort
liable beds. AS soon as possible,
work. was secured for them and they
were furnished transportation to all
parts Of the country. AT present
there are less that 1000 needy suf-
ferers in the city and these are fur
nished everything necessary for
their comfort. The east has poured
money into San Francisco as fast as
possible but it was the first help
that counted as the people in the
city were on the verge Of starvation
and water could not be bought at
any price. Some paid outrageous
prices to have their trunks taken to
places Of safety but as many have
said, money was of no consideration
at that time as it would buy nothing.
The whole state has been ordered to
suspend all business and from day
to day legal holiday has been de-
clared by the Governor SO that the
banks could adjust their business
to avert any possible run that might
take place. This has naturally
caused a shortage of ready money
and check is almost worthless.
The U. S. Mint has $200,000,O0O
on hand which will be used to cash
all checks or drafts on San francisco
SO the outlook is fairly good at pres
ent. The funny part of the trouble
was the soldiers making state Of
ficials, millionaires and others eact
do an hours work piling brick and
helping to clear the streets after the
| fire.
j Many thieves were shot by tn,