A few days
afterward came a second shower, rendering still more evident the need of
haste in providing suitable shelter.
All this was foreseen by those in charge, and the most strenuous efforts
were made to provide the absolute necessities of life. Huge quantities
of supplies were poured into the city. From all parts of California
trainloads of food were rushed there in all haste. A steamer from the
Orient laden with food reached the city in its hour of need; another was
dispatched in all haste from Tacoma bearing $25,000 worth of food and
medical supplies, ordered by Mayor Weaver, of Philadelphia, as a first
installment of that city's contribution. Money was telegraphed from
all quarters to the Governor of California, to be expended for food and
other supplies, and so prompt was the response to the insistent demand
that by Saturday all danger of famine was at an end; the people were
being fed.
WATER FOR THE THIRSTY.
The broken waterpipes were also repaired with all possible haste, the
Spring Valley Water Company putting about one thousand men at work upon
their shattered mains, and in a very brief time water began to flow
freely in many parts of the residence section and the great difficulty
of obtaining food and water was practically at an end. Never in
the history of the country has there been a more rapid and complete
demonstration of the resourcefulness of Americans than in the way this
frightful disaster was met.
Food, water and shelter were not the only urgent needs.
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