Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-04-19
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ACTS
Troops Are Doing Guard Duty and Assisting
in Relief Work.
TENTS AND RETIONs NEEDED At ONCE
Secretary Taft orders Supplies sent
from PortInnd-Pacihc squad
ron Enroute to san
Francisco.

WARRINGTON. April ls.-The War de-
partment early this morning received the
following second dispatch from General
Funston at Oakland pier:
We are doing all possible TO aid residents
OF san Francisco IN the present terrible
cetamlty. Many Thousand homeless ana
snail 90 everything In my power to render
assistance and trust to War department to
authorize any action 4 may have to take.
Army casualties will be reported later. All
important papers saved We need tents
FUNSTON.
A dispatch received early this morning
from Army Commissary Trauthauf is as
follows:
Local troops supplied Will wire in refer
TRAUTHAUFF.
Message from Governor Pnrdee.
The president received telegram from
Governor Pardee Of California in response
early in the day. The governors message
follows:
SACRAMENTO, Cal, April 1s-To the
President, Washington: Owing to the in
terruption Of Geographic communication
the extent OF the disaster in San Francisco
is not we'll known here, but no doubt
calamity very serious. People OF California
appreciate your prompt inquiry ana S oner
duty and II federal assistance Is needed
GEoRGE C. PARDEE, Governor.
The first message received from General
Funston arrived at 11;4o O'Clock tonight. 1t
was addressed TO Secretary Taft, who had
already retired. The message follows:
Secretary OF War. Washington: We need
thousands Of tents and all the ratiOns that
can car, 6e sent The me S1sn t peoDe spe
homeless Fire still raging. Troops all on
duty assisting the police. Loss Of life prob
not vet burned. FUNSTON.
orders will go forward from the War
department tomorrow morning to the ad-
jacent posts to carry out General Funston's
recommendations
Tents and Food Ordered.
The dispatch from General Funston was
delivered to Secretary Taft by his secre-
tary. Mr.. Carpenter. Secretary Taft imme-
diately summoned Brigadier General Bell.
the chief of stan. and Brigadier General
Sharpe the commlssary general, and or
ders were dispatched to the army post at
Portland, the most convenient to San Fran
cisco. directing that all tents necessary be
furnished and all commissary supplies
necessary be purchased at Portland and
forwarded with the greatest expedition. The
officers at Portland also were directed 10
confer with General Funston as to whether
additional troops are needed, and that il
more are found necessary, they be dis
patched to the stricken city.
General A. w. Greeley can throw 5000
soldiers into the city from the Preside and
fortIhcations adjoining San Francisco. At
the Preside there are three companies Of
the Fourteenth cavalry, three batteries OF
field artillery and ten companies of coast
artillery. At Fort Mason there are two
companies of engineers Fort Mcdowell
has FIVE companies of infantry. Fort Baker
has two companies of coast artillery and at
Alcatraz island there are FIVE more COM
pS.nies OF infantry. The total number of
tents available Is s,35 In an emergency
temporary shelter can be afforded by these
tents to 5000 persons
The Pacific squadron under command of
Admiral Goodrich sailed yesterday from
San Diego for San Pedro Bay, Cal. secre-
tary Bonaparte said that this squadron
can be sent TO San Francisco without de-
lay in case its assistance be needed. The
squadron consists of the Chicago, Boston,
Marblehead and Princeton.
President Expresses sorrow.
President Roosevelt manifested profound
interest throughout the day in the news
OF the earthquake at San Francisco. Early
III tue ndg ne Htnl Allt lolloMlh8 AclNBA aAhS
TO Governor George c. Pardee at Sacrs-
mento and Mayor Eugene e. schmitz at
san Francisco:
WASHINGTON. d. c.. NApril Is, 1906. -
Hear rumors of great disaster through an
earthquake at San Francisco, but know
nothing of the real facts. Call upon me for
any assistance | can render.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
Later in the day he sent the following dis
patch to Mayor schmitz:
III. A. IL
at the catastrophe that has befallen San
Francisco and the most earnest sympathy
with your citizens: II there is anythi Ing
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
He also sent the following to Governor
Pardee:
1t was dinicult at first to credit the news
of the calamity that has befallen San
Francisco. l feel the greatest concern foT
you and the peopiss, not only Of Is. san Fran.
news. You will let me know II anything
that the federal government can do;
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
House Takes Action at once.
The following resolution authorizing all
possible aid to be extended the sufferers
from the San Francisco earthquake. pre-
pared at the instance OF Speaker Cannon
was passed by the house today:
Resolved, BY the senate and house of rep
Fesentatives OF the United States OF Amer
lea, In congress assembled, That the secre'
tary OF war be and Is hereby authorized
and directed TO loan to the mayors of tho
cities OF San Francisco, Berkeley, Oakland
Alameda and such other cities on the Pa.
cine coast as have sustained damage under
such regulation and restriction as he may
deem proper. a suffcient number OF tents tC
temporarily shelter such persons as may
have been rendered homeless and lost prop
erty by the earthquake OF this date and at
tending cOnfiagration, and TO issue rations
supplies and render such other aid to sucf
as are destitute and unable TO provide foi
themselves.
BE II further provided. That the secretary
OF the treasury and the secretary Of the
navy are also hereby directed to cooperate
with the secretary OF war In extending re-
lief and assistance TO the stricken people
herein referred TO TO the extent Of the use
OF the naval vessels, revenue cutters anC