THE OMAIIA 'DAILY BEE: THURSDAY, 'AFRIL 10, 1005. 9
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ACTS
Troops An Doine Gaard Duty and Awirtinc
in Relief Work.
TENTS AND RATIONS NElDEO AT ONCE
Secretary Tail Orders Supplies Heat
from Portland ruelfle Suao
roa F.aroate to Baa
Francisco.
WASHINGTON. April 19-The War de
partment early this morning received the
following second dlKpatch from General
Funston at Oakland pier:
We are doing all possible t aid residents
of Ban Francisco in the present terrible
calamity. Many thousand nnmcless ana 1
shaJI no everyllilnc In my power to render
assistance and trust to War department to
autnonae any action 1 may have to lake.
Army casualties will be reported later. All
Important papenr raved. We need tenia
ana rations for W.OUO people.
FCNSTON.
A dispatch received early this morning
from Army Commissary Trauthauff Is as
follows:
Depot destroyed hy fire. Everything lost.
Ix)cal troopa supplied. Will wire In refer
ence to Manila shipments.
, TRAUTHACFF.
Message from OsTersof Pardee.
The, president received a telgram from
Governor Pardee of California In response
to the president's telegraphic Inquiry sent
early In the day. The governor's message
follows:
SACRAMENTO, Csl.. April 1R. To tha
President, Washington: Owing to the In
terruption of telegraphic communication
the extent of the disaster In Ban Francisco
Is not well known here, but no doubt
calamity very serious. People of California
appreciate yrmr prompt Inquiry and offer
of assistance. Slate troopa doing patrol
duty and If federal assistance la needed
will call on you.
OKOKOB C. PARDEE, Governor.
The first message received from General
Funston arrived at 11:40 o'clock tonight. It
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 be sent. The business portion of the
city destroyed and about lOO.OnO people are
homeless. Fire still raging. Troops all on
duty assisting' the police. Loss of life prob
ably l.floO. Heat part of residence district
not yet burned. FUNSTON.
Orders will go forward from the War
department tomorrow morning to the ad
jacent posts to carry out General Funston'a
recommendation
Teats an 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 staff, and Brigadier General
Sharpe. the commissary general, and or
ders were dispatched to the army poet 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 to
confer with General Funston as to wha.tb.er
additional troopa are needed, and that If
more are found necessary, they be dis
patched to the stricken city.
General A. W. Greeley can throw 1,000
soldiers Into the city from the Presidio and
fortifications adjoining San Francisco. At
the Presidio 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
Alcatrai Island there are Ave more com
panies oj1 Infantry. The total number of
tents available Is 3. MS. In an emergency
temporary shelter can be afforded by these
tents to 20,000 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 Empresses Borrow.
President Roosevelt manifested profound
Interest throughout the day In the news
of the earthquake at San Francisco. Early
In the day he sent the following telegrams
to Governor George C. Pardee at Sacra
mento and Mayor Eugene E. Schmits at
San Francisco:
WASHINGTON. D. C, 'April 18, 190.
Hear rumors of great disaster through an
earthquake at Bun Francisco, but know
nothing of the real facts. Call upon me for
any assistance 1 can render
THEODORK ROOSEVELT,
later In the day he sent the following dis
patch to Mayor Schmits:
I share with all our people the horror felt
at the catastropha that has befallen San
Francisco and the most earneat sympathy
with your citizens. If there Is anything
that tha federal government can do to aid
you it will be done.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
He also sent the following to Governor
Pardee:
'It was difficult at first to credit the news
of the calamity that has befallen San
Francisco. I feel the greatest concern for
you and the people not only of San Fran
cisco, but of California, In this terrible
news. You will let me know it anything
that the federal government can do.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
House Takes Action at Once.
The following resolution authorising 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
resentatives of the I'nlted States of Amor
lea, In congresa assembled. That the secre
tary of war be and Is hereby authorised
and directed to loan to the mayors of the
citlea of San Francisco, Berkeley, Oakland.
Alameda and such other cities on the Pa
cino coast as have sustained damage, under
such regulation and restriction aa he may
deem proper, a aufflclent number of tents to
temporarily shelter such persons aa may
have been rendered homeless and lost prop
erty by the earthquake of thia date and at
tending conflagration, and to Issue rations,
supplies and render such other aid to sucn
as are destitute and unable to provide fur
themselves.
Be It further provided, That the secretary
of the treaaury and the secretary of the
navy are also hereby directed to co-operate
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 cutlers and
Terrific Javan Tidal Wave in 1867
A great calamity befell Java in 1SS7. when
the towns of Anjer, TJIringine and Telok
belong were destroyed by tidal waves
caused by volcanic eruptlona. All the light
houses in the Sunda straits disappeared
and where the mountain of Kramatan
stood the sea found Its bed. The loss of
both Europeans and natives was enormous.
The disturbances started on the Island of
Kratatsoa, In the si rait, of Sunda, about
fifteen miles off the coast, of Java. The
deep rumblings were distinctly audible at
Surakerta aad Batavla about forty-five nd
twenty-two miles away, respectively.
Little alarm was felt at first, but within
a few hours showers of stones began to
fall at Jonkjokerla, Surabaya and Serang.
All through the night (August 2S showers
of red-hot rocks aad ashes fell, causing
complete darkness In those towns.
On the next morning the disturbance had
extended to beneath tha waters of the
strait and they were soon boiling and his
sing violently, while great waves dashed
upon tha Javanese shores. Even as far
away from the original point of disturb
ance aa Madura tha furious waves vers
supplies under their control on the Paclfle
coast.
Aside from the keen sympsthetle In
terest of members of congress regarding
the Ban Francisco disaster, several mem
bers of the California delegation have been
making all possible efforts toward getting
direct Information from their famlllea In
the stricken city. Representative . Julius
Kahn, whose wife has a three-days old son,
and Is confined at his home In the residen
tial section of the city, has made strenu
ous but so far unsuccessful efforts to get
word to or from her. Mr. Kshn leaves
for Ban Francisco tomorrow.
Representative Ijtcey of Iowa has a
daughter. Mrs. Brewster, who resides In
the Hotel St. Nicholas, and he, too, has
made several unsuccessful efforts to com
municate with the coast. Representative
Gillette of California Is much exercised re
garding the safety of his two daughters.
One of his daughters Is attending the Ice
land Stanford university at Palo Alto, about
thirty miles from the city, and the other Is
at Mills college on the Oakland side of the
bay.
Senator Ankeny of Washington has a son
who Is a student at the I'nlverslty of Cali
fornia at Berkeley. Senator Nixon of Ne
vada has a son at Belmont, three miles
from Palo Alto.
Chicago Will Bend Aid.
CHICAGO, April IS. Chicago will take
Immediately offirlal action to aid In re
lieving the suffering and destitution In San
Francisco. A special meeting of the city
council has been called for tomorrow aft
ernoon at 4 o'clock, at which resolutions of
sympathy will be tendered to the stricken
city, and Mayor Dunne will be authorised
to appoint a committee representing all
of the business houses, trades organizations
and nationalities In the city to take charge
of the contributions of money and supplies
which will be sent to the Pacific coast as
rapidly as possible. This committee Is now
being formed. Immediately after the of
ficial appointment of the committee a meet
ing will be held and arrangements for the
formation of trains bearing relief to the
stricken city will be made.
Besides the official action to be taken by
the city a mass meeting of citizens will be
held tomorrow morning for the purpose of
formulating measures of relief. The Chi
cago Clearing House association tele
graphed the Clearing House association of
San Francisco today expressing the deep
est sympathy and tendering assistance In
any manner In which it may be desirable.
At a meeting of the Chicago Commercial
association tonight a message was sent to
the president of the Merchant association
In San Francisco offering financial aid to
the citizens of San Francisco.
Offers from Many Cities.'
PITTSBURG, April 18.-Mayor Guthrie
tonight Issued an appeal to the citizens
of Pittsburg to attend a mass meeting at
the Chamber of Commerce tomorrow aft
ernoon and to bring their bank rolls and
check books with them for the purpose
of starting a relief fund for the California
earthquake sufferers. Appeals of the same
nature were also made by the mayors of
Allegheny and McKeesport.
BOSTON, April 18. This afternoon Gov
ernor Guild, Mayor Fitzgerald and Kidder,
Pea body & Co., the last named acting as
treasurer for the relief commltte, tele
graphed authority to the governor of Cali
fornia and the mayor of San Francisco
Jointly to draw upon the bank at once to
the extent of I2S,ono. A duplicate telegram
was sent to Governor Pardee of California
and Mayor Schmits of San Francisco.
BALTIMORE, April 18.-Mayor E. Clay
Ttmanus today sent a telegram to Mayor
Schmits of San Francisco expressing deep
est sympathy of Baltimore citizens and
asking If any assistance can be rendered.
NEW YORK. April 18. A special meet
ing of the New York Chamber of Com
merce was called today to consider plans
for the relief of the earthquake sufferers
at San Francisco.
CINCINNATI. April 18.-Actlng Mayor
Pfaff telegraphed to the mayor of Ban Fran
cisco a message of sympathy and an offer
of every assistance possible.
LIGHT ISIRASCB IS CARRIED
Immunity from Losses Results In
Overconfldenee.
CHICAGO, April 18. Fire Insurance com
panies had about .'50,000.000 at risk In the
city of San Francisco, the estimate being
baaed on the premiums received In 1906.
For years the Pacific coast has been the
one section of the country which could be
depended upon for a steady profit year In
and year out. San Francisco has been the
best profit producer of the coast. Its loss
ratio for a period of years has been the
lowest, being less than 26 per cent of any
city In the country, despite tha unusual
proportion of frame construction. As a re
sult of this unusually favorable experience
rates were low In that city and all the fire
Insurance companies wrote very liberally.
On the other hand, the proportion of In
surance to value was small, partly because
of over-confidence resulting from the long
Immunity from heavy losses and also be
cause there la no co-Insurance clause In
use there, aa la the rule In other large
cities, requiring the owner to carry a cer
tain proportion of Insurance to value.
The total San Francisco premiums In
1906 were 8t.ftK5.M4. of which 11.45,679 waa
written In American companies and $1,340,
880 In foreign companies. The latter pro
portion Is much greater than that held by
foreign countries In the country at large,
aa they have always specially developed the
Pacific coast business. There were 106 fire
companies doing business in California last
year.
Western I'nlon Moves to Oakland.
WASHINGTON, April 18. Secretary Taft
was advised tonight by the Western Union
Telegraph company that there Is no com
munication with San Francisco by any
route of tha company. The Western
Union company haa Ita chief California
office at Oakland and the secretary was
advised that all messages he has directed
to General Funston are being, sent to Oak
land and will be sent to the general at the
earliest possible moment. The dispatch
stated that no boats are running.
Sterling Sliver Frenzer. 15th and Dodge.
lashed Into mountains of foam as they
came rolling in. The threatening rumb
lings gradually became more and more
distinct and by noon the Malts' Meru. the
largest of volcanoes of Java, waa belching
forth flames at an alarming rate. This
eruption soon spread to the Gunung Teng
ger. the crater of which la four miles In
width. Soon afterward a third of the forty
five craters of Java were either In active
eruption or threatening.
Just before dusk the Gunung Guntur be
gan to vomit up streams of white acid and
sulphurous mud besides lava. Terrible
showers or cinders followed, the matter
being hurled In all dleertlone. A sympa
thetic demonatratton followed on the sea.
Tha people were panto stricken. The loss
of life was frightful and the devastation
of property appalling. Fertile valleys,
bearing coffee, rlne and other products
era rendered barren. In one portion of
Batavla twenty-five Chinese Inst their Uvea
About Europeans and Americans
were killed In the same city. At
Bantam. 1.M0 natives were drowned. Other
towns on the Island suffered a (Test loss
of Ufa.
CAUSE OF TI1E EARTHQUAKE
Prof. Haye Bayi it ii Dns to Blippinc of
Sorfaca Rocks.
RESULT OF LOCAL CONDITIONS
Other Belentlata A area that It
Haa So Connection with
the Krnptlon of
Vesuvius.
WASHINGTON, April 1.-The possible
relation of the earthquake In Ban Francisco
to the eruption of Mount Vesuvius formed
the subject of much discussion among
scientists In this city today. None of
them was willing to advance any argu
ment which would tend to connect one with
the other. In fact the officials of the
geological survey declared that there was
no relationship whatever, both being local.
Prof. C. W. Hayes, director of geology
of the geological survey, said:
"The San Francisco disturbances are due
to the slipping of the surface rocks to
adjust themselves to changed conditions
Inside the earth. They hsve no relation
ship whatever to the eruption of Vesuvius.
The Interior of the earth Is In a molten
state except -in the region of the vol
canoes, but if you go down a distance of
sixty or seventy miles the rocks are prac
tically In a fluid state from the Immense
pressure on top of them, They act like
a liquid and they flow to adjust themselves
to changed conditions. But when you come
nearer the surface where the strata are
hard and brittle, the slipping of a part of
the earth's crust along the line of a fault
will give you Just the conditions that at
tended the attack In San Francisco."
Seismic Disturbance In England.
LONDON, April 19.-The calamity which
has befallen the people of Ban Francisco
overshadows In Interest all other topics In
the newspapers here this morning. All the
papers publish long special dispatches de
scribing the terrible effects of the earth
quake, together with descriptions of the
city. Its beauty, etc., and Interviews with
San Franciscans resident In London In
fact anything calculated to bring home to
the English reader a realization of the stu
pendous disaster. Following so closely the
eruption of Mount Vesuvius and the earth
quakes on the Island of Formosa, the ques
tion is anxiously debated whether there Is
any connection between these events. Few
scientists have aa yet expressed an opinion
on the subject.
Prof. John Milne, whose seismic observa
tory at Shldeon on the Isle of Wight re
corded a disturbance at 1:80 o'clock
Wednesday afternoon, English time, ex
presses the opinion that the earthquake
had no connection whatever with the vol
canic eruption. E. W. Mauender, super
intendent of Greenwich observatory, on the
contrary considers that It In all probability
was a direct consequence of the activity
of Mount Vesuvius, whose eruption doubt
less started a severe wave movement
through the crust of the earth. He con
siders, however, that there Is not sufficient
reason to connect the catastrophe with dis
plays of solar activity and comments on
the comparative rarity of earthquakes In
the United States.
Dr. Davidson of Birmingham, another
seismic expert, obtained valuable records,
but could suggest no connection between
the Vesuvius and San Francisco disasters.
All the morning newspapers printed edi
torials deeply sympathizing with the
American people and victims of the catas
trophe. The Standard says: "We are
well convnlced that there will not be lack
ing in this land so happily removed from
these sudden calamities an Impulse to
succor our brethren In distress."
Prof. Davidson's Observations.
SAN FRANCISCO. April 18.-Prof.
George Davidson of the University of Cali
fornia, formerly connected with the United
states geodetic survey, said tonight:
Tha earthquake came from north to
aouth, and the only description lam able
to give of its effect to me is that It seemed
like a terrier shaking a rat. 1 waa In bed,
but waa awakened at the first shock. I
began to count the seconds as I went to
wards the table where my watch was,
being able through much practice to closely
approximate the time in that manner. The
shock came at 6:12 o'clock. The first sixty
seconds were the most severe. From that
time on It decreased gradually for about
thirty seconds. There was then the slight
est perceptible lull, then the shock con
tinued for sixty seconds longer, being
slighter in degree in this minute than in
sny part of the preceding minute and a
half. There were two very slight shocks,
which I do not record, at 6:17 and 5:27. At
6:50 p. m. there waa a sharp shock of sev
eral seconds.
Regarding the cause, I maintain, as I
always have, that It la the earth cooling
on the inside. The cooling brings about
contraction, which Is bound to create a
readjustment of the earth's aurfaee.
I have heard talk of the eruption of
Vesuvius having connection with this dis
aster, but that Is rank nonsense. My
slBBingraph was twisted out of shape by
the shock, so t have no record from that.
Aa to telling whether there will be a
repetition of the earthquake, I can no more
predict that than I could have predicted
the ones of today.
Not Related to Vesuvine.
BERLIN. April 19. Prof. Archenhold, di
rector of Treptow Astronomical observa
tory, -expresses himself as very doubtful
regarding the Idea that the eruption of
Vesuvius and the earthquake at San Fran
cisco were of common origin. ,
Shock Pelt in Vienna.
VIENNA. April 18. A telegram from the
government observatory at Lalbaeh says
that from 2:25 to 2:69 o'clock thia afternuon
the seismograph recorded a distant earth
quake of great force and destructiveness.
The Indications showed that the disturb
ances were much more violent than those
which recently occurred In Formosa.
Aa the difference In time between San
Francisco and Vienna is nine hours six
minutes, It follows that the disturbance
shown by the seismograph at Lalbaeh prac
tically synchronized with the earthquake
shock experienced at San Francisco at
6:13 a. m.
Vibration Recorded In Plttsbnrg.
PITTBBI RO, April 18,-That the vibra
tions caused by the San Francisco earth
quake were distinctly felt here today was
demonstrated bjt a large Foucault pen
dulum which hangs suspended from the
ceiling of the Physical laboratory at the
Carnegie Technical school. At 8:62 tins
morning this pepdulum suddenly changed
Its usual motion caused by the movement
of the earth and began to swing rabidly
back and forth. The Incident created
something of a sensation in the school.
Tidal Woto Is Predicted.
ROCHESTER. N. Y., April 18 "Another
and an even greater disaster than the
earthquake threatens San Francisco. A
tidal wave would not be an unlooked for
accompaniment to the preaent seismic dis
turbances," said Prof. H. V Falrchlld of
the University of Rochester today. ''Much
of San Francisco is only twelve feet above
tide water and this fact renders It par
ticularly liable to destruction In such an
event."
SO COSJECTION. WITH YESIYIIS
General Greely Bay a Bant Disturb
ance Sot Tanao ol Both.
Major General A. W. Greely, In com
mand of the Military Division of the
Pacific with headquarters In San Fran
cisco, and formerly chief signal officer
of the United States army, la In Omaha
and received his first Intelligence of the
Ean Francisco earthquake from Tha Bee
reports: He said:
'There Is, In toy opinion, not tha slight
est possibility of, tha Fan Francisco
earthquake having any connection with
tha recent selsmlo disturbances at Mount
Vesuvius."
Major General Adolphus W. Greely, for
merly chief signal officer of the United
States army, but now In command of the
Division of the Pacific with headquarters
at San Francisco, arrived In Omaha Wed
nesday morning enroute, on a short leave
of absence east. He was a visitor at army
headquarters Wednesday forenoon and paid
a brief visit to Fort Omaha during the
afternoon, leaving for the east Wednea
day evening.
"I am enroute east to attend the mar
riage of my daughter, , Miss Adelaide,"
said General Greely. "which will take place
April 14. at East Hampton, Massachusetts.
She will be married to Rev. Charles L.
Adams, of East Hampton. I regret ex
tremely that I am absent from San Fran
cisco Just at this time. In view of the
calamity which has befallen that city. I
left Snn Francisco Saturday. I have wired
there for Information relative to the dis
aster, but have been unable to receive a
reply, but am anxiously awaiting one.
The Pacific Division headquarters are In
the Grant building and I do not know
whether my headquarters are In the
general wreck or not. As commander of
the Paclfle Division there would be much
for me to do at Ban Francisco Just now,
and I feel my absence from tha city with
most regret.
"As regards balloon experiments being
undertaken at Fort Omaha, I am still In
much doubt, as It was a year ago when I
was with the Signal department. It may be
possible that apparatus will be placed at
Fort Omaha for manufacturing and con
densing hydrogen gaa for ballooning purposes."
EFFECT OX WORK OF POSTOFFICE
Bnperlntrndent West Speaks of Re
salt of Shake I p.
CHICAGO, April 18.-The federal au
thorities In this city declared today that
they have received Information Indicating
that the reports of the disaster in San
Francisco have fallen short of the actual
facts.
Superintendent of Mails West declared
that he had been Informed by officials of the
railroad carrying the through malls
between here and tha Pacific coast that
the loss of property will be Immense and
that It Is certain that the death list will
run Into tha thousands. Superintendent
West said:
"The mall service In California will be
hampered almost beyond description. In
coming malls from across the Pacific ocean
must be landed somewhere else than San
Francisco and this will cause great delay
In the arrival of tha mall at eastern
points."
CHICAGO. April 18. Considerable dam
age from the earthquake Is reported as
having occurred in the city of Sacramento
as well as In San Francisco.
The telegraph companies here are en
tirely without wires to San Francisco. The
Sacramento office of tha Western Union
reports a very heavy earthquake west. Los
Angeles reports having lost all wires at
6:13 a. m.
The Union Pacific wires are now working
to Reno, but have been destroyed west
of Wlnnemucca.
Superintendent West said his Information
from the railroads was to the effect that
two wooden buildings erected to withstand
earthquake had been damaged but little.
The skyscrapers fared much worse, and
the swaying of the foundations twisted
the Iron girders from their anchorage and
threw the masonry Into the streets with
great violence. The large office building
of tha Union Paclflo railroad situated at
Market and California, streets was one of
the first buildings to fall and a number
of people are reported to have been killed
In the ruins. All of the regular passenger
depots are said to have been destroyed
by the earthquake and the railroads are
now compelled to run around the city In
order to do what little business they cs.n.
Further Information received by the mall
division of the Union Paclflo railroad waa
to the effect that the fire had swept from
the water front out ss far as Ninth street,
a distance of two miles.
According to the latest Information the
buildings of the Call, Examiner and Chron
icle were destroyed by fire. The Merchants'
exchange, owned by the Union Pacific
railroad was so badly wrecked that no
body could enter It.
Four Thieves Shot by Soldiers.
SAN FRANCISCO, April 1S.-4 p. m. The
Are Is still burning and buildings In the
heart of the business section are being
dynamited to stop the spread of the flames.
The number of killed will probably reach
200 and Injured ten times that number.
Experts estimate the financial loss from
Are, at more than 1100,000.000. The city Is
under martial law and precautions have
been taken to prevent disorder and looting
tonight. Four thieves were shot by sol
diers this afternoon for looting. The sol
diers have orders to shoot without warning
any person acting in a suspicious manner.
The city hall has burned, also many of the
principal business blocks, and the hall of
Justice Is threatened. Measures have al
ready been taken for the relief of the des
titute. They will be fed and protected In
Golden Gate park and the public squares.
Operators Retnrn to Work,
SALT LAKE CITY, April 18. 9 a. m
Reports received by the Salt Lake office
of the Postal Telegraph company from
San Francisco would indicate that the
first reports of the earthquake in San
Francisco were exaggerated.
Superintendent W. P. S. Hawk was In
communication with the San Francisco
office of the Postal company after tho
earthquake. He was Informed that u
would be necessary for the operating
force to vacate the San Francisco office.
This was done and the operators left the
building, but returned within an hour and
business was resumed. San Francisco re
ported that water mains in Market street
had broken.
fio Wire to Sacramento.
WASHINGTON, D. C, April 18.-A West
ern Union dispatch received at the War
department says:
"No wire now between Oakland and Sac
ramento. Martial law forbids the landing
of passengers In San Francisco from Oak
land. Later advices state that the Market
street office haa been abandoned."
Destruction of St. Pierre in 1902
The town of St, Pierre, Martinique, West
Indiea, waa totally destroyed and surround
ing country devastated by the eruption of
the volcano. Mount Pelee, at 8 o'clock the
morning of May 8, 1902. The total loss of
life In St. Pierre was estimated at SO. 0(0,
only thirty persons escaping with their
lives. Some estimates fixed the total death
list of 40.000.
The volcano poured forth a stream of
molten lava twenty feet high and half a
mile wide. Ita progress was appalling.
Rushing down the dry bed of Rlverre
Blanche, It reached the sea. The force of
the Impact waa such the sea receded for
some 300 feet for miles around, the weatera
coast. Loud detonations followed at abort.
Irregular intervals, so loud they were
heard for 800 miles distant. At night tha
volcano e rater waa a mass of lurid flames,
which shot up over tha mountain, while all
tha time tha cannonading continued at In
tervals oa Tuesday and Wednesday, Co
THOUSAND DEAD
IX SMOKING RUINS
(Continued from Second Page.)
vent the spread of flames. The fire is now
within one-half block of their general of
fices. They have dismantled two build
ings. Hope to check It. No one Is allowed
to enter the city and boats and trains are
crowded with refugee.
OMAHA PEOPLE Aft K HTF.RKSTF.D
Many Have Relatives There and Fear
for Their Safety.
Several Omaha families are anxiously
awaiting details from . 8an Francisco.
Carl Relter, manager of the Orpheum
theater, and Mrs. Relter are greatly wor
ried over the news of the esrthquake.
Mr. Relter's parents reside St Fifth and
Tehama streets, which Is but four blocks
from the center of the greatest havoc. At
Fouth and Tehama a whole family was In
a collapse. Mr. Relter endeavored In vain
to communicate hy wire with his people.
Mr. Relter was for some years In Ban
Francisco. He tells) an Interesting story
of a slight earthquake experienced while
he was manager of the zoo at the Chutes.
"If you will reflect," said Mr. Relter,
"you will see that most all these earth
quakes come early In the morning, at
least after midnight. One night about 12:30
when we were out at the Chutees the mas
ter of a big elephant which we had Just
taken In, wanted to show us his monster
In the peaceful act of sleeping. We went
with him to the elephant's bed chamber,
the master started up the elephant, when
suddenly the great animal awoke, arose
and made a lunge for the exit. His mas
ter grabbed a hook and took an affectionate
hold on him In the ear, but the elephant
kept going, dragging his master the full
lenpth of the tent. Meantime we felt a
considerable shock. It was an Incipient
earthqualtr, but the strange thing waa the
elephant seemed to have a premonition,
either that or he felt It first. It Is said
to be a natural animal Instinct."
A. Mandelberg wired to San Francisco
to ascertain whether his relatives had suf
fered. He has received no reply and the
telegraph company advised him the chances
fox further delay wens excellent.
Mr. Mandelberg's folks reside up on Van
Ness avenue, which Is In the opnoslts
direction from which the earthquake seems
to have gone, and he believes they are
safe. Had the hour of the disaster been
later and his people been at their place
of business, which Is within a block or
two of the Palace hotel, he thlnka they
would have suffered considerably. Mr. Man
delberg was visiting his relatives when
the Bennington was blown up In the bay
of San Diego, and In commenting on how
the people there stand In holy terror of
earthquakes, he said:
"One morning, early, before getting up
time, one of the family came Into my room,
woke me and asked If I felt the earth
quake. I replied I felt something shake,
but thought It was a door slammed. At the
breakfast tnble we got our morning paper
and read the accounts of the Bennington
disaster. As shocks of this kind are often
felt along the coast, the general decision
was the shock we felt was not an earth
quake, but that of the United States ves
sel "
William Randall of the auditor's office
at the Burlington headquarters has a
married daughter In San Francisco and he
and his family are extremely anxious about
her and her family. They cannot reach
them by wire.
Miss Clara Thomas, daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. Dexter L. Thomas, 611 South Twenty
fifth avenue, Is thought to be in San
'Francisco. She has been In southern Cali
fornia since last December. Her folks
had a letter from her a day or two ago,
saying she was to leave Santa Barbara
Sunday for San Francisco, cn route home
by the northern way and they fear she
may have been In San Francisco when the
earthquake came.
Charlea Rutherford, formerly district
passenger agent of the Rock Island in
Omaha, Is now ihe Rock Island's agent In
San Francisco. His brother, F. P. Ruther
ford, is his successor in Omaha. The latter
thinks tho brother is safe, because, while
hla office is in the Palace hotel, his resi
dence is out from the business district.
Albert Morrison of the Burwood Stock
company has a mother and father,- a
brother and other relatives living In 8an
Francisco. Ills brother Is a reporter on the
Call. Mr. Morrison was much worried
Wednesday morning when he learned of the
disaster.
Edward Swobe of the New York Life
Insurance company Is anxious regarding
the safety of his brother, Dwlght, who
lives in the stricken city. Ha resides at
the Plymouth hotel.
1 Dr. O. 8. Hoffman is another Omahan
who Is anxiously awaiting news from rela
tives living In San Francisco. Tha doctor
Intended to go to that city last week, but
postponed hla trip.
Detective Savage has a brother living at
Sutro Heights, which Is remote from the
worst stricken section.
T. B. Hatcher has seven or eight close
relatives living in San Francisco. He was
making efforts to communicate with them
by telegram.
Mrs. R. B. Stevenson, of the Sherman,
is disturbed over the reports, for her par
ents reside In San Francisco and cannot
be heard from. They live at 1058 Bush
street.
Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Phelps of Omaha
and three daughters are visiting In San
Francisco. Resorts bring the assurance
that visitors generally are safe, hotels
where they are stopping not being de
stroyed. Miss C. Mldgley, 2671 St. Mary's evenue,
has two cousins In the striken city for
whose safety she Is anxious.
C. A. Peterson of 3424 Seward street has a
brother, L. A. Iarson, at the Golden West
hotel In San Francisco. Thia hotel Is situ
ated, or was, on Ellis and Powell streets.
Mrs. Anna B. Scott, 1318 Georgia avenue,
haa a son and daughter at 29 Van Ness
avenue, San Francisco.
The Omaha offices of the Western Union
and Postal Telegraph companies have been
overtaxed In the attempt to forward the
stream of messages sent by anxious friends
to persons living In or known to be at San
Francisco and other points In the disturbed
district. It Is an utter Impossibility to
Thursday morning, which was the 8th, it
was relatively still. St. Pierre was, as
usual, early astir and business was partly
going.
About T o'clock a sort of whirl of steam,
boiling mud and Are suddenly swept with
Incredible rapidity over the city snd road
stead. At once the town waa In a blaze.
The fire seemed to run over all. The ships
In the harbor were Instantly canted over,
began simultaneously to burn and sink In
the sea, which was then a raging caldron.
Tha whole reaction had taken place within
less than twenty minutes of the eruption.
The sea for miles around, was covered
with the wreckage of the vessels sunk off
St. Pierre at the time of tha disaster. The
heat from the smoking, lava-colored rulna
at St- Pierre was suffocating and the stench
from the corpse-strewn streets was awful.
For some time after the eruption lava con
tinued to pour down the mountain side In
great volumes, accompanied by heavy peals
ut thunder aud violent flashes of lightning.
THE LARGEST AKO STRONGEST
SAYINGS SOCIETY IN OMAHA
The best ran be nnno too good when 't
romn to laying amay savings, or invest
ing newly acquired funds.
An association of fourteen yesre eu
eessful esperlenre with over ll.aiifl.OOO of
business on It book': reserve and undi
vided profit account of IR7.000, and a rec
ord of paying not lean than per rent la
worthy of your consideration.
A postal will brine full Information.
The Conservative Savings QL
Loan Ass'n.
20S South 16th Street. Omaha
send the messages direct Into the city and
the telegrams are sent to the nearest relay
offices of the companies and from there for
warded by mail.
W. B. Wllklns has a son In Ban Fran
cisco. Owing to worry over the possible
fste of his son Mr. Wllklns did not appear
last night to fill his number In the Jules
Lumbard benefit program.
Reports of the earthquake and conse
quent fire at Santa Rosa brought distress
to Miss Ruth Chase, teacher at the Kellom
school. She has a sister. Miss Alice Chase,
there. She Is employed on the Santa Rosa
Republican and no word haa been received
from her. Banta Rosa Is the county seat
of Sonoma county. It Is some 12,000 In
population and Is about sixty milca north
of San Francisco.
Mrs. Clement Chase's parents, Mr. and
Mrs. Edwards, and their son are at Palo
Alto, the seat of the Leland Stanford, jr.,
university. The young man Is attending
the university. They are distressed over
the bad news from there.
Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Ayorigg, J01 South
Thirty-third street, are among the Omaha
people visiting In Ban Francisco. Mr.
Ayorigg Is assistant engineer for the Union
Pacific.
CITY TOSSED I.IKE . A FEATHER
Great Metropolis Helpless In Grasp
of Earthquake.
Manager Huntley of the local office of the
Postal Telegraph company received several
bulletins during the morning which showed
the disaster unparalleled In San Francisco.
The latest Is:
Terrible fires are raging throughout the
city. The Postal office was destroyed. Two
blocks on Market street next to the Ferry
depot are consumed and still burning. The
water malna have bursted and the firemen
are forced to use dynamite to try to check
the path of the flames, blowing up large
buildings In their efforts, but the flames
remained unchecked. The city morgue
and adjacent buildings are filled with dead
and every hospital Is glutted with wounded.
Tourists are terrified and are leaving the
hotels and rushing for outgoing trains.
Bag-gage litters the sidewalks, with no
teams available to haul It. Every person
Is looking out for himself. Fire is raging
near the Palace hotel and the hotel la In
great danger. Another fire Is raging back
of the Spreckela building. Thls Is the
building In which the Call Is located.)
Every moment conditions grow worse. The
city was tossed like a feather In the wind.
No llghta, either gaa or electric, are availa
ble. Power of all kinds Is shut off all over
the city.
The Union Paclflo officials attempted to
get word from Ban Francisco via the
Southern Pacific wires, but these were all
down and communication was Impossible.
Manager Umatead of tha Western Union
said all their wires were down, but from
reports received In a round-about way the
disaster Is the worst 'of the century.
"In fact," said Mr. Umstead, "It could
not be much worse. Our reports from
Sacramento say thousands of lives are lost
and all details are out of the question."
MANY BLUFFS PEOPLE AMXIOl'B
Unablo to Obtain News of Friends 1st
' Stricken Cltys
Council Bluffs people who have relatives
and friends In San Francisco were natur
ally much alarmed for their safety and a
number of telegrams on Inquiry were sent
from thia city yesterday, but up to a late
hour last night no answers had been re
ceived. Members of the Fifty-first Iowa
volunteers, who were quartered In Ban
Francisco for several months before being
sent to the Philippines, made a number of
warm friends in mat city and a number of
telegrams were sent by them to tha
stricken city.
Mr. and Mrs. M. B. Brown, formerly of
this city, are in San Francisco, where both
Mr. Brown and his son are connected with
tha Western Union Telegraph company.
Mrs. Brown Is a sister of Mr Rapalje of
this city. Fits Warren, a former resident
of this city and father of Joe Warren, the
young man under arrest In Omaha, Is em
ployed In the customs house In San Fran
cisco. Hugh Burke, brother of the late
Flnley Burke, who was born and raised In
this city, has been a resident of San Fran
cisco for several years and Is employed on
the San Francisco Tribune.
Advices at the Western Union office In
Omaha are to the effect that only one em
ploye of that company waa killed and his
name was Jenkins, which would Indicate
Mr. Brown and son were safe.
BAM GRACE TOOK WISE COt'RSE
Omaha Man Gets Ont of GolnaT to
Coast Last Week.
Sam Grace, secretary of the machinists
lodges for the Harriman lines, might have
been one of the victims In the San Fran
cisco calamity 1: he had not been excused
from carrying out the orders of the union,
and thereby remained away from the coast.
A conference between a committee from
the machinist union and Southern Pacific
officials was being held In San Francisco
this week to decide upon certain grievances
and working conditions. Grace was ordered
to act as a member of the commlttea last
week, but for various reasons did not care
to go to the coast unless he had to. He
managed to g?t out of the trip and Tom
Wilson, formtr fourth vice president of
Good Food is the
Secret of Health
In a Kernel of Wheat Nature Provides
Every Necessary Food Element.
The human body constantly consumes the
vital elements of which it Is composed, Just
as tire consumes fuel. And, Just as flra
dies without fuel, so does tbe body die un
less replenished with its elements.
There are fourteen of these essential ele
ments, and aa each Is consumed the body
must be replenished If life and strength are
to he sustained. Tills is the secret of
health.
The air supplies the oxygen which the
body needs, but all the other elements must
be derived from our food. These are Just a
important aa oxygen, and we cannot ex
aggerate the Importance of selecting food
which provides all the nutrition so neces
sary to life and health.
Some fooda contain nitrogen- These sre
tlssue-bulldlng foods. Some foods contain
carbon and hydrogen. Theae are force and
heat-making food. Some fooda contain
phosphorus, potash or others of the vital
elements.
Nature haa given us one food that con
tains all these elements of life. This Is
wheat, and when It is prepared as Malta
Vita, there Is no other food so rich In all
the nourishment needed by the body; no
other so easily digested.
Malta-Vila la the whole of the best white
wheat, thoroughly cooked and steamed,
freely mixed with pure barley malt extract,
then roiled Into little wafer flakes and
baked crisp and brown. The mall extract
converts the starch of the cooked wheat
into maltose, er malt sugar. Physicians
recommend maltose, and aUlta-Vlta la rich
In it.
Malta-Vita Is always absolutely clean
food and Juat as delicious as healthful. Try
some tiMlay with milk, cream or fruit. You
never lasted anything quite so good. Ready
la e'.. AU grocers. Now 10 cents.
the organization, and well known In Omaha
and Nebraska, waa sent In his place. Wll.
son waa the mar. who led the Union Pa
cific strike three years ago. Whether or
not he and his friends survived the dis
aster the machinists In Omaha do not
know. They have great faith In Wilson's
lurk, however, and are willing to believe
that If there was any chance he escaped
with his life.
Meanwhile, Grace Is not sorry he Is pur
suing his routine duties In Omaha at the
district headquarters In the Bee building.
AMEND BIG INSURANCE BILL
Senator Armstrnnsr Insists Sennte Haa
Thereby Crippled tho
Measure.
ALBANY. N. Y.. April 18. An amendment
of vital Importance to the "big bill" gen
erally amending the Insurance law was
made by the senate tonight at the clnso
of an all-day debate. This amendment,
which waa adopted by a vote of 2n to 34,
strikes out the provision requiring; mutual
companies to expose lists of policy holders
In connection with their annual elections,
and substitutes a provision requiring such
companies to mall to all or any of their
policy holders during the five montha prior
to any election, any matter required by
100 or more policy holders to be sent.
Senator Armstrong declared tonight that
the amendment destroyed one of tha cru
cial reforms sought by tha Insurance In
vestigating committees.
VESUVIUS AGAIN ACTIVE
People Who Had Returned to Homes
Compelled to Abandon Them
Asrnln.
NAPLES, April 18. Volcanic ash la again
falling at Santa Anaatasla, Bomma and
Garcola In such quantltiea that the Inhab
itants who had returned to their homes
have been obliged to leave again.
A strong wind, becoming this afternoon
almost a tornado, prevented tho departure
of the British squadron which has been
anchored In the bay of Naples.
The Inhabitants of Ottajano, In spite of
advice to the contrary, have decided to re
build the village on Its old site.
BAN ON SYMPATHETIC STRIKE
Jodge Jnllan Mark of fhlcas;?
Circuit Court Declares It la
Illegal.
CHICAGO, April 18 Judga Julian W.
Mack In the Cook county circuit court In
a decision rendered today declared that the
sympathetic strike Is a form of boycott
and that the boycott Is Illegal. Judge
Mack's decision was rendered In granting
an injunction to tha National Stonecutters'
society, restraining the officers and mem
bers of the Journeymen Stonecutters' As
sociation of North America from Interfer
ing with members of tho former organiza
tion. MACKINTOSH'S TOFFEE
Th Old English Candy
"More MACKINTOSH'S TOFFEE" Is the
cry of the children. Give them all they
want. It's aa healthful aa It la delicious.
It's good to grow on.
Bo and lOo package. At all dealers.
John Mackintosh, - 78 Hudson SI- New York
AMVSEMEXT.
nA..JI WOODWARD
BOVfl Q BURGERS,
WU MANAGERS.
SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY
Geo. M. Cohan's Musical Hit
Little Johnny Jones
7&-PEOPI.E 75
Coming Henrietta Crosman.
BUWOOD
THE WOODWARD STOCK CO.
Thia Afternoon. Tonight, All Week
MOTHS
Next Week In the Palace of the King
Souvenir Night May 7th 360th Per
formance. 'Phone Douglas 494.
MODERN VAUDEVILLE
Matinee Today 25c
Children 10c.
TONIGHT
Prices 10c, 25c. 50c.
concert"
THE Ml Sit AL ART SOCIETY, In old of
ALL, SAINTS ORGAN Ft Ml.
J. II. SIMMS, Director
assisted by
FORREST HI TIIKRfORn, Rnrltona
FHAK WILCZEK. Violinist
CHAS. S. 11 A V Kit STOCK, Baritone
At First Christian Church
Tabernacle, 19th H Farnam Sts.
Thursday, April 19,8:15 p.m.
ADMISSION Tile.
Tlcketa on sale at Hospe'a.
Individual Chicken Pie
Thursday Dinner
me CALUMET
For From
BOYS ( SIX
and I J to
GIRLS SIXTY
sff " 0 CRKIQHTON
