Golden Gate Park and the Panhandle looked like
one vast campaign ground. It is said that fully 100,000 persons, rich
and poor alike, sought refuge in Golden Gate Park alone, and 200,000
more homeless ones located at the other places of refuge.
At the Presidio military reservation, where probably 50,000 persons
were camped, affairs were conducted with military precision. Water was
plentiful and rations were dealt out all day long. The refugees stood
patiently in line and there was not a murmur. This characteristic was
observable all over the city. The people were brave and patient, and the
wonderful order preserved by them proved of great assistance. In Golden
Gate Park a huge supply station had been established and provisions were
dealt out.
Six hundred men from the Ocean Shore Railway arrived on Saturday night
with wagons and implements to work on the sewer system. Inspectors were
kept going from house to house, examining chimneys and issuing permits
to build fires. In fact, activity manifested itself in all quarters in
the attempt to bring order out of confusion, and in an astonishingly
short time the tented city was converted from a scene of wretched
disorder into one of order and system.
At Jefferson Park were camped thousands of people of every class in
life. On the western edge of this park is the old Scott house, where
Mrs. McKinley lay sick for two weeks in 1901. Three times a day the
people all gathered in line before the provision wagons for their little
handouts.
Pages:
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113