The deeds of heroism and the courage displayed by regulars, militiamen, police, firemen, and civilian volunteers on the 18th and 19th will never be told; they can not be. They were occurring constantly, a dozen in a block, throughout the city, and there was no time for names or details. Firemen, regulars, police, and civilian volunteers worked in the heat and smoke and noxious gases until they were overcome and fell in their tracks. They were dragged back and others stepped into the breach, to be dragged back in turn when they fell. Firemen fought with the determination of despair and cried like children when the failure of water deprived them of their weapon.
Before the hour set for the meeting of the Citizens’ Committee the entire city was threatened with destruction. The sky was obscured with a pal of smoke through which swung the sun like a blood-red ball; great sheets of flame writhed and swirled through the smoke, and underneath all 300,000 men, women and children fled for their lives, tottering under their most valuable possessions, while 100,000 more were preparing for flight. That was the situation when the above named citizens met at the Hall of Justice at the call of the Mayor at three o’clock on the afternoon of the 18th.
They assembled first in the office of the Chief of Police, but another shock threatened to bring the tower down on their heads and drove them to the office of the central station, in the basement, and it was not long before they were driven from there to Portsmouth Square. There in the open air surrounded by thousands of frightened Chinese and residents of the district, was the seat of municipal government during the late afternoon and early evening. Then a dynamited building cast its debris of bricks, mortar and broken glass over the square, and government and advisory committee hastily adjourned to the Fairmount Hotel on Knob Hill. Headquarters had been established there but a short time when it was driven back by the advancing wall of fire and an adjournment was taken until Thursday morning at 9 o’clock, to meet at the north end police station, 1712 Washington street.
When the Mayor, Police Commission and Citizens’ Committee of One Hundred met Thursday morning, the following sub-committees were appointed and immediately commenced work:
Resumption of Civil Government, not including Judiciary—Garret McEnerney, chairman.
Resumption of the Judiciary—Charles W. Slack, chairman.
Resumption of Transportation—Thornwall Mullally, chairman.
Automobile Committee—R. B. Hale, chairman; Gavin McNab, I. W. Raphael, George Smith, Robert Park, Michael Casey, J. R. Howell and Mr. Harris.
Transportation of Refugees—Thomas Magee, chairman; George A. Hensley.
Restoration of Water—Frank B. Anderson, chairman; George L. Dillman, secretary; A. S. Porter, A. H. Payson, H. Schussler, and Mr. Lane.