San Francisco's great disaster; a full account of the recent terrible destruction of life and property by earthquake, fire and volcano in California and at Vesuvius .. online

discovered a miscreant in the act of robbing a corpse of its
jewels. Without delay he was seized, a rope was obtained
and he was strung up to a beam which was left standing in
the ruined entrance of the Palace Hotel.

"No sooner had he been hoisted up and a hitch taken
in the rope than one of his fellow criminals was captured.
Stopping only to obtain a few yards of hemp, a knot was
quickly tied and the wretch was soon adorning the hotel
entrance by the side of the other dastard.

"These were only two instances of law executed by
civilians that I personally witnessed, but I heard of many
more seen by others. The soldiers do all they can, and
while the unspeakable crime of robbing the dead is un-
doubtedly being practised, it would be many times as prev-
alent were it not for the constant vigilance on all sides as
well as the summary justice.'*

ROBBER OF DEAD SHOT DOWN.

Jack Spencer had much to say of the treatment of
those caught in the act of rifling the dead of their jewels.
"At the corner of Market and Third streets on Wed-



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240 SAN Francisco's great disaster.

nciday/' said Mr. Spencer, "I saw a man attempting to cut
the finger from the hand of a dead woman in order to
secure the rings which adorned the stiffened fingers. Three
soldiers witnessed the deed at the same time and ordered
the man to throw up his hands. Instead of obeying the
command he drew a revolver from his pocket and began
to fire at his pursuer without warning. The three soldiers,
reinforced by half a dozen uniformed patrolmen, raised
their rifles to their shoulders and fired. With the first shots
the man fell, and when the soldiers went to the body to
dump it into an alley, eleven bullets were found to have
entered it."

When the emergency first arose the various neighbor-
hoods were filled with a great desire to emulate the exam-
ples of the vigilantes of the Bonanza days and organize
self-constituted vigilant committees, whose special duty was
to maintain order and to keep fires out of the houses. They
did fairly well the first night or so, but after that the
trouble began with friction between them and the militia.

Drastic measures were necessary to prevent crime, es-
pecially looting. Orders had been gxyen by General Funs-
ton and the Mayor to kill any looter on sight, and the vigi-
lantes and a large number of the National Guards took ad-
vantage of this order to practice their marksmanship on
men who might happen along and who in their excited
condition might be said to be acting in a suspicious manner.
The trouble finally came to an end when the city was divided
into districts for strict military control. The Federal forces
took the most difficult territory to guard, and behaved like
the nation expects its regular to behave, faultlessly.



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NATION GIVES MILLIONS FOR RELIEF.

The American heart is big and generous. The Ameri-
can purse is lightly hinged and ready to spring open at
every call for aid. This has been proved times without
number. When famine has visited distant corners of the
earth no succor has sped more swiftly than that from
America. When disasters have fallen upon peoples of any
clime or race the fact has been the same, America has
vied with all the earth in sharing of her plenty. To Russia,
to India, to Ireland, to Italy, to Porto Rico, have gone
boundless gifts when came the cry, "Come over and help
us." But it is when some community of the American
sisterhood passes under a cloud of affliction that the limit-
less generosity of the nation becomes apparent. Ask Chi-
cago, ask Boston, ask St. Louis, ask Charleston, ask Galves-
ton, ask Baltimore, and ask San Francisco, what manner
of heart is the heart of the American people. Each one of
these great cities has faced grim disaster; here fire, there
flood, at another earthquake. But whether fire, or flood, or
earthquake, tlie paramount fact has been that fellow-
Americans were stricken and needed aid. Never has it
failed that the entire nation has arisen as one man and
words of sympathy have sped to the scene of catastrophe,
coupled with the assurance that deeds of sympathy awaited
the command of the stricken. Only in America could
$25,000,000 be contributed, and be at the command of a
stricken community within seven days of the hour that
brought disaster. This is the record of the American people
in their swift reply to the cry of San Francisco for aid

241



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^42 SAN Francisco's great disaster.

Within twenty-four hours after the news had gone
forth that the Empire City of the Coast had been laid low
by earthquake, there was not a community, from one end of
the land to the other, in which every organized agency w: >
not at work raising funds. In some crises American cities
have valiantly decided to rely upon ther own resources to
recover from disaster, but from the earliest reports of the
probable extent of the disaster at the Golden Gate, it was
apparent that San Francisco would need the helping hantl
The nation spontaneously formed the conviction that no
American city could be left unaided to face a disaster that
came perilously close to annihilation. It was a splendid
tribute to the faith of any one American in all of the rest
that nobody seriously entertained the idea that San Fran
Cisco would not survive. And this attitude defied repeate-^
assertions from apparently authoritative sources that the
entire city was doomed. The generous outpouring of the
millions never for a moment ceased.

In the great sister cities the amounts contributed were,
of course, larger. But the same spirit actuated the smallest
township, and the multitude of little gifts went far toward
swelling the grand total. New York's three milions repre-
sents no more of the essential snirit of American fellowship
and faith in the indomitable spirit of Americans than the
$300 from the little town of Massachusetts or Maryland,
Kansas or Kentucky. The nation unconsciously reared to
itself a splendid monument when its g^fts in a mighty tor-
rent were poured into the lap of San Francisco.

The great National Government played its part. Tht
Congress appropriated first a single million and, as the
great need became more apparent, swiftly increased that
sum to $2,500,000. And this from a Congress which has



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SAN Francisco's great disaster. 243

established a record for keen and close oversight of expen-
ditures. The expense to the Government, however, will far
exceed this vast sum, so promptly and generously placed at
the service of the stricken city. Federal buildings destroyed
by the fire must be replaced, vast accumulations of stores
of all kinds were destroyed and must be renewed. Before
Congress had placed the relief fund at the service of the
War Department both army and navy storehouses at San
Francisco, which had not fallen prey to flames, had been
placed at the service of the people. Government losses and
contributions, in addition to the sum given by Congress,
equalled the tremendous sum of $6,000,000, which the
present or a subsequent Congress will be called upon to
furnish. State legislatures, where they were in session, fol-
lowed the lead of the national law making body. The Nev\
York legislature appropriated $400,000 and Massachusetts
gave $250,000. But the subscriptions, in the main, came
from the people. It would be useless to give the names of
the organizations which shared in the work. The list would
include every beneficial, trade, religious, charitable, com-
mercial, financial, professional, educational, organization in
America. It would name the public schools and institutions
of learning from kindergarten to university, and the em-
ployees of every class of firm, shop, factory, office, institu-
tion, organized and unorganized. The President named
the National Red Cross as his choice to receive general
gifts while every newspaper in every town and city in the
country became a headquarters for the receipt of contri-
butions. Congregations of every religious denomination
in the country made the oflfering a matter of special obli-
gation. On the Sabbath following the earthquake, the
people gathered in houses of worship, everywhere, heard



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244 SAN Francisco's great disaster.

mention of the disaster and were exhorted to Hb^frality.
Aside from the millions given for any work of relief, there
were thousands of special gifts to meet special needs. It
would take a volume to give the details.

A new form of national pride was bom of the calamity.
The President turned back a gift of $25,000 from a foreign
firm, despite the fact that its business was in a measure
American. The President believed that America could and
would take care of its own. It amounted to the declara-
tion of an ethical Monroe doctrine. But so highly devel-
oped is the sentiment of the universal brotherhood that the
President's act gave positive offense. Forei^ peoples felt
keenly that they were deprived from aiding fellow men,
victims of disaster. That the President rightly interpreted
the will and ability of his fellow countrymen was proved
by subsequent events. The vast sums given by Americans
alone, were equal to the vast need of San Francisco. When
the rehabilitated city has arisen from the ashes of the old
San Francisco, it will be a matter of pride that gratitude
for timely help in the hour of trial belongs only to the
American brotherhood.

The total contributions, in round numbers equalled
$20,000,000. New York led the list with gifts of $3,500,-
000. Philadelphia added $900,000; fialtiii.ore gave $150,-
000; Washington, $1000,000; Chicago, $2,500.00, and
thus throughout the country gold was poured into the lap
of the city. Of the total of $2,500,000 appropriated by
Congress, $1,800,000 was expended within two weeks in
supplies of every kind and in the transportation of troops,
2500 having ben added to the 3000 men from the Presidio.
Contributions through the Red Cross, under the appeal
made by the President, exceeded $3,000,000. The great



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SAN FRANCISCO S GREAT DISASTER. 247

generosity of the nation made serious privation impossible.
Chicago, on the occasion of the great fire of '71, received
in relief contributions, $4,000,000 and under the wise ex-
perrliture of the citizens' relief committee, this sum was
made to last for four years, duringf which time the refugees
were absolutely safe from hardship. In San Francisco the
number of homeless persons was twice as great as in Chi-
cago. Nevertheless, the greatest sum available assured re-
lief of a long enough time to rebuild a large percentage of
the destroyed homes.

The increase of the government's contribution from
the original $1,000,000 to $2,500,000 was due to the un-
tiring efforts of the President. No American sympathized
with the stricken city more deeply than did the Chief Ex-
ecutive of the nation and every possibility of his high of-
fice was realized both in the extent of the relief accorded
and the promptness with which the work of mercy was
done. This is well indicated in the nature of the messages
sent from the White House to Congress as need developed.

The letter of Secretary Taft to the President recom-
mended that Congress be requested to appropriate another
$1,000,000 to enable the War Department to carry on the
work of relief at San Francisco.

Accompanying the Secretary's letter are reports from
General Bell, chief of staff, Quartermaster General Hum-
phrey, Commissary General Sharpe and Surgeon General
O'Reilly, detailing just what has been done since the first
word came that a disaster had overtaken San Francisco.
These reports also embrace a complete recapitulation of all
t^legrains sent and received.



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248 SAN Francisco's great disaster.

SECRETARY TART'S LETTER.

Secretary Taft's letter summarizing the situation is
as follows:

WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON,

April 21, 1906.

My Dear Mr. President: — The situation in San Fran-
cisco is such as to require an additional appropriation from
Congress to meet the necessities of the people of that
stricken city who are immediately in need of shelter and
food. The War Department has rendered all the assist-
ance possible, beginning its orders as soon as the first tele-
gram was received from General Funston, about midnight
of the i8th instant. Indeed, a telegram was sent by As-
sistant Secretary Oliver to General Funston immediately
upon the receipt of the news of the earthquake, on the
morning of the i8th, directing him to render all assistance
possible.

From the night of the i8th of April all the available
stores of the army of three departments have been used
for relief purposes, assuming that the action of this depart-
ment would be ratified by Congress in accordance with pre-
cedent in similar cases.

The memorandum of the general staff, which accom-
panies this letter, shows the telegrams received from Gen-
eral Funston, which gradually developed the extent of the
terrible disaster, and increased the amount of supplies of
every kind needed.

All subsistence and quartermaster's supplies and all
medical stores of every kind which wert in the military
depots in San Francisco were destroyed, except the local
supplies for the troops stationed at the post of the Presidio
at San Francisco. Accordingly, everyhing had to be or-



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SAN FRANCISCO S GREAT DISASTER. 249

dered from a distance. There are now on the way by spe-
cial trains from every available and convenient point where
they were stored 900,000 rations, which means the rations
for 900,000 soldiers for one day. The value of these
rations is estimated by the commissary general to be $198,-
000. Two hundred thousand of these rations have prob-
ably reached San Francisco this morning, in charge of
commissary officers.

The quartermaster's department have expressed by
special train wall tents, conical tents, hospital tents and
storage tents for the shelter of 100,000 people, 100,000
blankets, 7,500 mattresses, 11,500 bed sacks and 8,000
cots, part of which have already reached San Francisco
from the immediate vicinity and all of which are hastening
to the city by special trains, which have been given pre-
cedence over passenger trains.

The quartermaster's supplies already delivered in San
Francisco or en route by special trains in charge of com-
petent military quartermasters, amount in value to $1,031,-
73440.

The medical bureau of this department has sent five
carloads of medical supplies from St. Louis by express in
charge of competent medical officers and hospital stewards.
The estimated value of these medical supplies is $50,000.

rr is estimated that the cost of transportation for all
these supplies amounts to $150,000, so that the cost of that
which has already been done in the matter of refief for San
Francisco is $1,429,734.40.

ASKS ANOTHER MILLION.

"I have the honer to recommend that Congress be re-
quested to appropriate $i,ooo,ooq more, in order to meet



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250 SAN FBANCISCO S GREAT DISASTER.

the cost already incurred over and above the $1,000,000
appropriated and to enable the War Department to pur-
chase such additional supplies as may be needed for the
purpose.

"The present resolution authorizes the expenditure of
money for the relief of San Francisco. The supplies which
have been sent have been taken out of the regular army de-
pots, and were necessary for the support and use of the
army. I respectfully suggest, therefore, that in the next
resolution, which I hope Congress may pass, specific au-
thority be given to the Secretary of War to use both the
$1,000,000 already appropriated and the amount which
may be appropriated in the recommended resolution, either
to purchase supplies for the relief of San Francisco, or to
replace by purchase the supplies taken from the regular
army stores for such relief purposes.

"I enclose the form of resolution which will accom-
plish the result sought.

"I attach the memorandum of the chief of staff, the
report of the quartermaster general and the report of the
commissary general, and their accompanying telegrams and
estimates. I also attach a memorandum from the surgeon
general as to his operations and needs.

"The loss of the valuable subsistence, quartermaster's
and medical stores assembled in the depot at San Fran-
cisco for use at the Pacific posts and in the Philippines
will require a very considerable deficiency estimate, in order
that they, in addition to the stores now being used for the
relief of San Francisco, may be replaced.

"The loss may be approximated as follows: Com-
missary stores, $150,000; quartermaster's stores, $2,941,-
472; medical stpr?s, $357,391; total $3,448,863.



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SAN FRANCISCO'S GREAT DISASTER. 2$l

"I shall submit estimates for these at a later date.
"Very respectfully yours,
"WM. H. TAFT, Secretary of War.

"The President."



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PRESIDENT LEADS WORK OF SUCCOR

In her dark hours, San Francisco was accorded a
memorable demonstration of the fact that mankind is a
brotherhood. The cities of her own land, and the nations
of the earth, so soon as the news of the tragedy had been
flashed to them, thought only of aiding her. The last de-
structive tremor had hardly left the earth before millions,
everywhere, felt the need of reaching out the helping hand.
As, hour by hour, the extent of the catastrophe became more
and more appalling, men everywhere became more and
more impressed with the duty of the hour, to succor. The
swift action, taken in thousands of separate and remote cor-
ners of the country, the subordination of every other cause
to this, the wonderful response in every American com-
munity to appeals that were answered before they were
made, will ever remain a splendid monument to the great
human hearts that beat in american breasts throughout the
length and breadth of the land.

In Hall of Congress the work of legislation was sus-
pended in awe as the details of the dreadful visitation be-
came known. The Congress, zealous of the purse strings
of the treasury, niggardly in the opinion of many when
clamor is made for appropriations, rose to the full stature of
greatness when it swept aside every sentiment but to help
the striken city to the full extent of its need. In less space
of time than it takes to teU it, a million of dollars had been
placed in the hands of government agencies to suceor the
homeless, to feed the hungry, to care for the injured, to
do whatever the need of the hour demanded. The Presi-
dent of the United States, quick in sympathy, vigorous in
act, appealed to the whole nation to stand by San 'P'rjincisco.



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t54 SAN FRANCISCO S GREAT DISASTER.

rfeiore Congress or the President had acted, both the War
Department and the Navy Department had thrown tor-
tuous routine to the winds and soldiers of the regular army
were playing a conspicuous part in quelling the lawless,
guarding life and protecting property, as well as joining
in the battle to check the conflagration. The hour demanded
action ; humanity's call had been heard and ol»^yed even be-
fore official Washington knew the extent of th ^ catastrophe.
When San Francisco rears some token of her ^^atitude the
United States Army will be conspicuous among the agencies
to be commemorated. And Bri.ofadier Gener. 1 Frederick
Funston, idol of the army, hero of the nation, will be her-
alded as the man who could not wait for orders v hen fellow-
men, stricken by two of nature's deadliest wea x>ns, cried
out for help. When, finally, authority of every i rmal kind
had been showered upon the doughty sold'^r, lere was
nothing his great force coukl do, more than iiey had
been doing for twenty-four hours. San Fr^^* sco will
never forget Funston.

In her pride the stricken city v^ould gladlv h;>vi refused
outside aid, and, relying on her own valor and sta«ni la, have
undertaken, unaided, the appalling task of rising ti om cin-
ders and debris, to be a new, and even a greater rity. But
the nation would not be denied. It was not in Ai lerican
hearts to stand by and see a struggle in whto^ tb>i odds
were so unev«i. It was a moment to prove tha» wfiile all
mankind is a brotherhood, the American nation '^ a ^mily
whose ties are closer even than brother with brother. San
Francisco could not have refused the proffered ?M hM she
willed it. A thousand cities sent swift messages of sym-
pathy, coupled with the request "What can we do?" Not
one waited for the reply. They knew that hundreds of ho u-
$^d§ would need sh^H^, would n^4 fpod, wQu^d ne« 1 re^



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§AN FRANCISC0*S GREAT DISASTER. -257

lief in a hundred forms that money, and only money in
generous supply, could furnish. They set to work to get
the money.

American dollars have crossed the seas to Russia, to
Ireland, to Italy, to Japan, to India, to Porto Rico, to any
part of the earth where disaster has befallen. The sympa-
thies of the nation are universal. No human cry has ever
reached these shores and failed of speedy and generous an-
swer. So also the cry has come from American cities.
Stricken Chicago, stricken Boston, stricken Charlestpn,
stricken Galveston, stricken Johnstown, stricken St. Louis,
stricken Baltimore have all inspired generous inpulses in
every corner of the Union. Some have demanded that they
be allowed to face, single-handed, crisis from earthquake,
fire or flood, and with pride in their valor the nation has
said, "So be it." But no American city has known such a
tremendous blow as that which fell upon San Francisco.
Every city seemed to feel that left alone the Queen City
of the Slope could, beyond doubt, rise triumphant. But not
a city, not a citizen, could let such an unaided fight be
waged. No American could enjoy peace and plenty when
here were want and desolation. So granaries, store houses,
treasure boxes, everywhere were poured out, and even be-
fore San Francisco could rally her faculties to make answer
to the inpouring queries, millions in money, tons of pro-
visions, acres of canvas for shelter, physicians by the hun-
dred, were speeding from every part of the continent. Thus
some added horror in the holacaust of horror was prevented.
Thus America, more than in any other ntanifestatiooi,
proved herself in the van of civilization, for the blood of
the nation fertilizes the hearts and brains from which spring
spontaneously, the highest of human endowments, the quality
of mercy, the impulse of succor.



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258 SAN Francisco's great disaster.

PRESIDENT MAKES APPEAL.

To describe in detail all of the work of relief would fill
many volumes exceeding the limitations of this. Some
broad generalities must enter. The central fact> however,
was the appeal of the President to the nation and the part
the national government played in this work. President
Roosevelt only hesitated long enough to decide upon the
agency which he would name to receive the funds. When
he had selected the National Red Cross as the best equipped
for the great task his message was soon before the country.
This was the memorable appeal :

"In the face of so terrible and appalling a national
calamity as that which has befallen San Francisco, the out-
pouring of the nation's aid should, as far as possible, be in-
trusted to the American Red Cross, the national organiza-
tion best fitted to undertake such relief work. A specially
appointed Red Cross agent, Dr. Edward Devine, starts to-
day from New York to California, to co-operate there with
the Red Cross branch in the work of relief.

"In order that this work may be well systematized, and
in order that the contributions, which I am sure will flow
in with lavish generosity, may be wisely administered, I