The San Francisco call., 1910-12-25
Big GATHERING
WELL MANAGED
BY The POLICE
Men. Women and Children En-
Joy Concert Without Suffer-
ing Harm or Discomfort
Nearly 100000 Persons Pre-
served From Accident and
No Thieving Reported

Devoid OF all roughness. 3ostling, ac-
cidents and thievery. the thousands that
gathered to hear the open air concert
OF Tetrazzini last night made the great
est and best hammered audience that a.
singer ever faced. The handling OF the
multitude by the police was one OF the
finest exhibitions OF policing evertcar-4
ried out in the United States.
Never before In the history OF Cali
fornia and San Francisco was there
such an immense gathering OF well
behaved men, women and children In
such compact space as there was In
the immediate vicinity OF LOtta's foun-
tain last night. To Captains Patrick
Shea and Henry ]. O'Day belongs the
praise for-the excellent police work.
All manner OF trouble was feared. and
every possible precaution was taken to
eliminate danger to life and property.
That the plans of the police were we'll
executed is proved by the fact that not
a single man, woman or child, was.
taken to a hospital. There was not one
case Of hoodlumism reported nor one
case Of pocket picking. Taken all in
all, the handling of nearly 100000 per-
sons was an ideal piece OF police work.
TRAFFIC STOPPED EARLY
As early as O'clock the thousands,
began to collect about Lotta's fountain.t
The police were on hand and kept the
crowds away from the car tracks, and
guarded them against danger from
other vehicles. At 1880 all traffic was
stopped Streetcars in Market street
were afOnnad hInNfra
Third and Kearny. both east and west,
and the same order was carried out as
to the Third and Kearny street lines.
Not only were the streetcars. fncIud-
ing the Geary street cable, compelled to
stop blocks away from the scene of the
concert, but all automobiles and teams
were diverted from Market. Third,
Kearny and Geary streets.
notable feature OF the manner IN
which the crowd was governed was
the open air spaces that were kept
free. Less than zoo police and Jetect-
ives were dtailed at the concert
QUIETUDE CAUSES SURPRISE
Policemen were stationed at specified
distances in all directions from the
stand to prevent pushing from the
outer edge OF the crowd In all the
streets facing the fountain, and this
scheme probably explains why there
were no accidents.
Mime. Tetrazzini marveIed at the
quietude OF the thousands while she
was singing and she turned and ex-
pressed her admiration to Mayor Nc
C2rthy while waiting to begin her
second song
''Yo uthank them for me-" she said:
they are all so goodP'
Even the thousands on the far out
skirts of the huge. audience became
absolutely silent when the word was
passed along that Nine. Tetrazzini
would soon be heard. Not a sound was
made In any direction when the or
chestra diminished Its volume OF sound
to accompany the grand opera star.
BE quiet, please" were the words OF
the policemen as the signal came from
the platform to give ear to the songs.
COURTESY OF THOUSANDS
The courtesy ON the part OF the
thousands at some distance from the
stand brought them their reward In
making 1t possible for the glorious
voice OF Nine. Tetrazzfni TO be heard
at all the further distances.
Not only did the police safeguard
those IN the streets from harm by pre-
venting all forms OF roughness. but
they guarded the thousands from dan
ger from those occupying places OF
vantage in the many buildings conty-,
uous to the stand Word was sent to
those In the offices and on the roofs or
the different buildings warning them
not to throw paper or any other object
into the street. The Janitors and at
taches of the different of1oe structures
were asked to cooperate with the po-
lice In carrying out this plan. but no
harsh steps were necessary.
EVERY PERSON PROTECTED
There were no pebbles or small OBJ
5ects tossed from great heights into
the crowds No one was permitted to
ascend telegraph or trolley poles, and
the police ordered all persons from in
secure bil1boards. stagtngs, etc.
The same great care was taken In
dispensing the crowd Those on the
sidewalks were kept IN motion. and
the rules OF the road regarding keep
ing to. the right were carried out on
the sidewalks as well as IN the Streets
Policemen walked ahead OF the street,
cars keeping the crowds in motion.
Automobiles and teams were not per-
mitted IN Market. Third. Kearny OF
Geary street, within the range OF the
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