Martial Law, with all its foolish, overweening officialism, manifest especially among some of the soldiers, to whom human life was of no worth, was a decided blessing. Humanly speaking, most of those killed deserved to be. They were ghouls, preying on the dead and mutilating corpses in order to get jewelry. But there were other instances when men were shot down in the discharge of their duty, because they did not immediately obey some weak-minded boy in uniform. In many cases that Wednesday of April was a horrible carnival of death. Hundreds flocked to the saloons and drunk themselves mad or foolish or besotted, unable to do many things they might have done in the saving of property and fighting of fire. One gentleman who was through it all, writes me that if it had not been for the open saloons April 18, the fire would have been much sooner checked. When Martial Law asserted itself, the whisky was poured into the gutter, and never was seen such fire-fighting as sober San Francisco did. After this when schools and churches became hospitals and homes for the people, the saloons did nothing. When their hellish work was stayed, their activity ceased. Would God that San Francisco, and every other city, might learn the lesson and blot the foul fiend—the saloon—forever from their borders.
Souvenir of the Earthquake
By Editor
Souvenir of the Earthquake.—Before this paper reaches our readers, we expect that thousands of views of earthquake and fire results will have been sent out. In this booklet are over forty fine illustrations, and eight pages of reading matter. We have seen none at greater price that even approaches it for excellence. The price is only 25 cents.
Building Again After the Earthquake
The sufferers and citizens are uniformly of good courage. They will build again, more strongly, better buildings of steel and stone, of cement and wood. We admire their bravery, their pluck, their energy. We do not even respect their defiance of what may come. No earthquake-proof building has yet been created. Some have stood, but in the last great day, when God riseth to shake terribly the earth, no building save that of righteous character will stand, and steel and stone will disintegrate like sand.
Alarmists
By Editor
Alarmists.—A few, and but a few, have characterized this paper as sensational and tending to stir up alarm unnecessarily, simply because it tells Bible truth concerning this old earth. But while it sets before its readers the “sure word of prophecy,” it also points to the sure refuge. He who believes and lives the SIGNS theology is not alarmed over these tremblings of earth. He knows that God rules as king; that He who can, by the shifting sand, say to the proud sea, “Thus far, and no farther; and here shall thy proud waves be stayed,” can thus speak to the old earth in all her perturbations and agonies, general or local. Jehovah rules as King above the flood and the earthquake.
Earthquake Cracks in San Juan Mountains
Cities and towns usually show the most conspicuous evidences of earthquake severity; but not always are they the sites of the most powerful manifestations. Some parties that drove from Salinas to Gilroy by team report great cracks in the ground in the San Juan Mountains.
Earthquake Damage Beyond San Francisco
San Francisco is not alone in her suffering. From San Luis Obispo to Ukiah great damage was done. Profits of years were wiped out in one-half minute.