UNION SQUARE, SHOWING TALL CLAUS SPRECKELS BUILDING AND OTHER STRUCTURES
. WHICH WERE WRECKED BY EARTHQUAKE AND FIRE.
SAN FRANCISCO WILL RISE AGAIN.
A Systematic Search Being Made for Victims of the Disaster—
Millions of Dollars for Relief Pouring in from all
Sections of the Country. Twenty-six Miles
Burned Over—Loss Will Aggregate
$300,000,000.
San Francisco, April 24.—The new
San Francisco that will rise from the
ashes of the old is in its first stages
of rebuilding. After five days of con-
fusion and almost superhuman effort
on the part of citizens of California's
metropolis, the great task of shelter-
ing, feeding and otherwise caring for
the homeless thousands, complete or-
der has been established and atten-
tion turned to the future.
Throughout the great business quar-
ter, where the devastation by fire
was the most complete, dangerous
walls were razed, buildings that had
walls were raezd, buildings that had
not been disintegrated by fire were
inspected with a view of re-occupancy,
and ground was cleared for the im-
mediate construction of buildings in
which to resume business at the earl
iest possible time.
Confidence has been restored. The
assurance of insurance companies, the
measures taken by the financial insti-
tutions, the prompt and reassuring
words that have reached the business
men of San Francisco from eastern
financial centres, all these things have
dispelled the feeling of uncertainty.
The generally encouraging situation
temporarily suffered a setback be
cause of a chilling rain which fell on
the thousands protected only by can-
vas coverings and even less imperv
fous shelterings. While the rain caus
ed considerable suffering for the time
being, conditions were quickly ameli-
orated by the prompt action of every
relief committee, as well as by the
volunts:v aets of householders.
Homeless people are fed in a sye-
tematic manner From the water front,
where the bhoatloads of provisions
docked, there was
sion. of carts and drays carrying food
to the scores of sub-stations establigh-
ed throughout the city and the parks.
At these stations food and drink, com-
prising bread, prepared meats and
canned goods, milk and a limited
amount of hot coffee and even fruit
were served to all those who applied.
About 1500 tons of provisions are
moved daily from the water front.
Large supplies of blankets, tentings
and other material, to provide cover-
ings for those who have heen scantily
an endless proces- |
i ner and the
{ searchers
|
supplied, are reaching the supply sta-
tions rapidly. Barracks have been
completed at several points, and in
these many people have found com-
fort and shelter against the inclemen-
cies of the weather. The situation in
the congested camps, such as Golden
Gate Park and the various public
squares throughout the city has been
considerably relieved by the departure
of many people for points on the
other side of the bay.
General health conditions are satis-
factory. While the number of cases
at the various hopitals have increased
each day, sickness is mostly due to
exposure and worry. The most en-
couraging feature is the absence of
anything like contgaion or an epe-
demic of disease of any nature what-
ever.
General A. W. Greely took command
' of the federal troops at his post, su-
pperseding General Frederick Fun-
ston, who will act under Greely's or-
ders.
The condition of the 5000 persons
camped in Jefferson Square is terrible.
Not more than 5 per cent. have even
an army tent, and makeshifs are con-
sturcted of carpets, bed sheets and
every Amagingol substance. They were
inadequate to Xeep out the heavy rain
that fell. Houses are requisitioned for
these people as fast as possible.
Sanitary work is going forward as
rapidly as pos ible. Many cesspools
have been dug. and all refvee is hauled
away and burned promptly. There is
so far little sicknese in camp. No con-
tagions disease has anpeared.
Fiv> Hundred Eodies Buried.
The total number of bodies recov-
ered and buried up to Sunday night is
£00, No complete record can be had at
ti is time, as many bodies have been
buried without permits from the coro:
board of health. The
of the coroner's and the
board of health departments found not
more than 20 bodies Sunday. They
were buried immediately. It is impos-
sible at the present time to obtain any
sort of death list, or even to make an
estimate of the number of casualties.
Whenever a body is found it is buried
immediately without any formality
whatever, and these burials have been
made at widely separated points,
The health of the scores of thou
SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE BUILDING.
—— om
the circumstances, remarkably good.
There have, of course, been s2veral
cases of pneamonia reported. and eclds
gre quite numerous, but there is noth-
ing like an epidemic of pulmonary
troubles. An interesting item from the
Golden Gate Park district was the re-
port of the birth of 18 babes. These
cases have received prompt and efi-
cient attention, and the mothers and
children were removed to the various
maternity hospitals.
Temporary Quarters For Homeless.
Vigorous measures are being taken
By the board of health and the board
of public works to improve the sani-
flary conditions throughout the city.
Eight temporary structures 150 feet in
length by 28 feet in width and 13 feet
high, have been erected at Golden Gate
Park, and in these sheds thousands
found reasonably comfortable quar
ters. The buildings have been divided
into compartments large enough to
house a family. Those without tent
shelter received first consideration in
the selection of occupants for these
sands camped In the open air is, under |
of thousands of square feet of glass
roofing, also was practically unharm-
ed. Only a few of the windows in the
Sutro haths and in the Cliff House
were broken, and the lofty chimney
of the pumping plant of the former es
tablishment was cracked only very
slightly.
Chinese Can't Buy Land.
One of the problems facing the re
lief committees on both sides of the
bay is the sheltering of the Chinese. |
Many of them are destitute. It has
long been a question in San Francisco
what should be done with Chinatown,
and moving the Chinese in the direec-
tion of Colma has been agitated. Now
they are without homes and without
prospects of securing any. They can
get no land. Unless the government
undertakes their relief they are in
grave danger. Those who have money
cannot purchase property, as no one
will sell to them. Few, however, even
of the richest merchants in Chinatown
saved anything of value, for their
wealth was invested in the Oriental
village which had sprung up in the!
heart of the area burned.
RELIEF WORKER SHOT DEAD
H. C. Tilden Killed In His Auto By
Members of Citizens’ Patrol.
San Francisco, April 24.—H. C. Til
den, cne of the most prominent mem-
bers of the general relief committee,
was shot and almost instantly killed
in his automobile while returning from
Menlo Park. He was shot by men sup-
posed to be members of the citizens’
patrol.
Hugo Alltschul, a coachman, who
was with him in the automobile, was
cut in the face by a bullet, and an-
other ball pierced the seat and struck
in the back of R. G. Seaman, acting
lieutenant of the Second Company of
the Signal Corps. The force of the bul-
let was spent, and Seaman suffered
no injury.
Tilden was a commission merchant
of this city, a member of Governor
Pardee’'s staff, and was one of the
foremost workers in the general relief
work. He had taken his three chil
dren and a nurse from the Fourteen:
Mile house, where they had been since
the earthquake, to Menlo Park, where
he has a summer cottage. His auto
mobile had been used as an ambu
lance in conveying sick and wounded
to the hospitals, and the Red Cross
flag was displayed in his car. Besides
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temporary buildings.
The Associated Press representatives
covered the entire area of the burned
section. The circumference of the area
of the great conflagration, as near as
could be ascertained by the marking of
a cyclometer, is 26 miles, and comprises
the entire business district snd a large
section of the residence district, all of
which was densely populated.
Property Loss $300,000,000.
It was estimated by competent aa-
thorities that the loss will aggregate
$200,000,000, and on this vast amount
of property the insurance companies
carried approximately $175,000,000 in-
surnace.
Cliff House Not Destroyed.
A thorough inspection made by a
representative of the Associated Press
who made the trip in an automobile
shows that comparatively little dam.
age was done in the vicinity of the
Cliff. The Cliff House not only stands,
but the damage sustained by it from
the earthquake will not exceed $500.
The famous Sutro baths, located
near the Cliff House, with its hundreds
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this, he had the Red Cross insignia on
his right arm.
The three men under arrest are B.
S. Boyneton, a telephone inspector in
the employ of the Pacific States Tele
phone company; George W. Simmons
and Malcolm Vance. They are all
young men and members of the eiti-
zens’ patrol. , Boyneton declares that
he did not see the Red Cross flag on
Tilden's car, and when the latter did
not stop when challenged, he fired. The
coachman *n the car then began shoot.
ing, and Simmons and Vance replied.
The killing of Tilden has created the
greatest indignation.
The three men were taken by Chief
of Police Dinan in an automobile to
Fort Mason and turved over to Gen-
eral Funston.
200 Bodies Reduced to Ashes By Order
of Coroner.
San Francisco, April 23.—Two hun-
dred bodies found in the Protero dis-
tricts, south of Shannon street, in the
vicinity of the Union Iron Works, were
cremated by order of Coroner Walsh.
This information was obtained at the
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SAN FRANCISCO CHATEAU OF CLAUS SPRECKELS
board of health headquarters. So many
dead were found in this limited area |
thet cremation was deemed absolutely |
secessary to prevent disease. The
names of some of the dead were learn-
ed, but in the majority of cases identi-
fication was impossible, owing to the |
mutilation of the features. A syste- |
matic search for bodies of the victims |
of the earthquake and fire is being |
made by the coroner and the state |
board of health inspectors. The ruins
of the burned buildings in the business i
and the old resident section have suffi- |
ciently cooled to make the search pos-
sible.
Reports have been made by depu-
ties sent out by the board of health of |
the finding of 23 bodies in various sec-
tions of the city. Few of them could be
identified. The bodies were buried in
various places and the graves num-
bered.
The United States Mint, which con-
tained $290,000,000 of coin and bullion,
escaped destruction, although
around it buildings were burned to the
ground. The employes of the Mint bat.
tled with the encroaching flames for
hours, often at the risk of their lives.
Eleven Postal Clerks Saved.
Eleven postal clerks, all alive, were
taken from the debris of the postoffice
Friday. All at first were thought to
be dead, but it was found that al
though they were buried in the stone,
every one was alive, They had been
all |
D ——————
about 500 feet above the sea level, and
gives a magnificent view 0° San Fran-
cisco bay and the country for many
miles around. At the southwest corner
of California and Powell streets, just
| on the brink of the hill, was the Stan-
ford residence. At the death of Mrs.
Stanford about a year ago in Honolulu
the mansion became (he property of
Leland Stanford, J: University. It
contained many a‘t freasures of great
| value. On the couineast corner of the
same block stood the home of the late
Mark Hopkins, who amassed many
millions with Stanford, C. P. Hunting-
| ton and Charles Crocker in the con-
struction of the Central Pacific railway.
The Hopkins home was presented to
the University of California by his
heirs, and it was known as the Hop-
kins Art Institute,
All Old Landmarks Gone.
Old landmarks, made famous from
association with the early history of
California, as well as the new monu-
ments to the commercia! prosperity of
California's metropolis, have been
wiped ont of existence by fire. One of
the first landmarks to fall a prey to
| the flames was the Palace Hotel, known
the world over to travelers. It was
built in the 70's by James Ralston at a
cost of $6,060,000, and was owned by
| the Sharon estate,
The great new Flood building, built
{ by James Flood at a cost of $4,000,000
and occupied about a year ago; the
for three days without food or water. ' new Merchants’ Exchange building ip
All the
saved.
The spread of the flames toward the
mail in the postoflice was
ie
western adaition, the best part of the
city remaining, has been stayed, and
the only portions of the conflagration
that demands the attention of the fire
SPRECKELS' HOUSE IN SAN FRANCISCO
men is that extending from the Nob
Hill section down to the northwestern
part of the water front. The western
addition danger was averted by the
use of gun-cotton, dynamite and two
streams of water.
Two men were shot and killed Fri-
day morning. Policeman Flood on re-
turning to his home encountered a
stranger, who attacked him. Flood
shot him dead.
Special Policeman Snyder killed a
man, but the details are not known.
The only bank in the huge ruined
district that escaped destruction was
the Market Street Bank, at the corner
of Seventh and Market streets. It is
in the gutted Grand building, but the
firemen saved the ground floor. It will
pay out money just as soon as it
hears from the clearing house offi-
cials.
Palatiai Homes Burned.
. The district on California street from
Powell to Jones street, known as Nob
Hill, which was swept by fire, con-
tained the most palatial homes of San
Francieco. The summit of the hill is
CLAUS SPRECKELS' PAVILION,
California street, erected at a cost of
$2,500,000; the Crocker building, worth
$1,000,000; the Mills building, costing
2 oo
GOLDEN GATE PARK.
$1,000,000; the new Shreve building,
cost $2,000,000 and occupied on April 1
by the largest jewelry store on the
coast, are some of the new structures
destroyed by the flames.
Municipal Buildings Destroyed.
The great group of municipal build-
ings, standing on a plece of ground
bounded by Larkin, McAllister and
Grove streets, erected by the city of
San Francisco at a cost of $7,000,000,
and known as the city and county
buildings, are now a mass of smoulder-
ing ruins. With the buildings were
probably destroyed the city and county
records.
The California hotel and theatre, on
Bush street near Montgomery; the
Grand Opera house, on Mission street,
where the Conreid Grand Opera com-
pany had just opened for a series of
iwo-weeks’' opera; the Orpheum, the
Columbia, the Alcazar, the Magis, the
Central and Fisher's were some of the
playhouses destroyed.
At the junction of Kearny, Market
and Geary streets stood the three
great newspaper buildings of San
Francisco—the Call( Spreckles), the
Examiner and the Chronicle. All were
destroyed.
All the large department stores are
uestroved.
GATEWAY OF LELAND STANFORD, JR., UNIVERSITY.
3
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