The Columbus commercial., 1907-08-06

T.. "A. DeVOe, u >. Army Olt blIS
work of the Regular Army in
the San Francisco Disaster.
Lieutenant Colonel, r. K. Evans,
mentioned in the article is a
Mississippian, enjoying the dis
tinction of being the senior IL
rank of officers now serving IN
the Regular Army from Missis-
sippi. He has many friends and
admirers throughout the State
who are hoping for his early
promotion to the grade Of Colo
mel and subsequent promotion to
the rank of General. 1t may be
of interest to know that other
Mississippians, notably, Captain
G. w. Martin, 18th Infantry,
and First Lieutenant, J. E. Ware,
14th Infantry, rendered great
assistance to the people and city
of San Francisco in the recent
disaster:
On May 20, General Orders
were issued, defining the camps.
the total at that time being
twenty-one, eighteen of which
were in San Francisco and the
other three in outlying cities
Lieutenant Colonel r. K. Evans,
5th Infantry, was placed IN
charge of all the camps by the
Commanding General. with Cap
tain NJ. j, Lenihan, 25th Infan-
try, as his Quartermaster, and
other officers were detailed as
assistants. Colonel Evans was
afterwards relieved by Major
Joseph A. CASTOR, 1st Cavalry
The s ami tary arrangements
varied in regard to the different
conditions. Eighteen a m p s
were variously scattered through
Golden Gate Park, the Preside
Military Reservation, and the
various other parts Of the city
The system usually adopted was
that of the Reed trough and
Odorless excavator. A large
number of the Reed troughs and
odorless eXcavators had been
shipped by express to San Fran
cisco. There were no restric-
tions placed on the inmates of
these camps save those required
by decency, order and cleanli-
ness. If the occupants persist
emily refused to obey the rules
to meet the above requirements
they were obliged to forego the
benefits of goverment canvas
and relief stores.
A Red Cross agent was sta
toned at each camp who attend
ed to the registration Of all the
occupants in connection with
their proper supply of food,
clothing, etc.
The climatic conditions in Cal
ifornia aided materially in the
prevention of epidemics. Every
day a strong fresh wind sets in
from the Pacific Ocean and blows
easterly across the city and,
while it is not cold enough under
usual conditions to create a seri-
Gus chill, it purifes the atmos-
phere and prevents disease.
Water was furnished in abun-
dance not only for drinking, but
for washing, bathing, and laun-
dry service. The potable con-
dition of the water supply of
each camp was determined week
~ Dy means OF cultures developed
in the General Hospital.
There were some cases of ty-
phoid fever and some cases of
smallpox, but nothing even ap-
preaching an epidemic obtained.
The officers and men showed
great adaptability and patience
in the care and administration
of these camps, and in this con-
nection. this lecture would be
incomplete without a brief ref
erence to the heroes of Jones
dump About dark. April 81.
| was stopped near the Presidio
bakery by a tall, enrnest-looking
young soldier of the 22d Infan-
try, who was walking down the
road with two wagons. he in
quired where he could get some
bread. said the bakery was clos