n Portsmouth Square but illustrated the madness of fear
everywhere prevailing. On every side thousands were fleeing from the
roaring furnace that minute by minute seemed to extend its boundaries.

THE FLIGHT FOR SAFETY.

In the awful scramble for safety the half-crazed survivors disregarded
everything but the thought of themselves and their property. In every
excavation and hole throughout the north beach householders buried
household effects, throwing them into ditches and covering the holes.
Attempts were made to mark the graves of the property so that it could
be recovered after the flames were appeased.

The streets were filled with struggling people, some crying and
weeping and calling for missing loved ones. Crowding the sidewalks were
thousands of householders attempting to drag some of their effects to
places of safety. In some instances men with ropes were dragging trunks,
tandem style, while others had sewing machines strapped to the trunks.
Again, women were rushing for the hills, carrying on their arms only the
family cat or a bird cage.

There were two ideas in the minds of the fugitives, and in many cases
these two only. One of these was to escape to the open ground of Golden
Gate Park and the Presidio reservation; the other was to reach the ferry
and make their way out of the seemingly doomed city.

At the ferry building a crowd numbering thousands gathered, begging for
food and transportation across the bay. Hundreds had not even the ten
cents fare to Oakland. Most of the refugees at this point were Chinamen
and Italians, who had fled from their burned tenements with little or no
personal property.

Residents of the hillsides in the central portion of the city seemingly
were safe from the inferno of flames that was consuming the business
section. They watched the towering mounds of flames, and speculated
as to the extent of the territory that was doomed. Suddenly there was
whispered alarm up and down the long line of watchers, and they hurried
away to drag clothing, cooking utensils and scant provisions through the
streets. From Grant Avenue the procession moved westward. Men and
women dragged trunks, packed huge bundles of blankets, boxes of
provisions--everything. Wagons could not be hired except by paying the
most extortionate rates.

"Thank Heaven for the open space of the Presidio and for Golden Gate
Park!" was the unspoken thank-offering of many hearts. The great park,
with its thousand