The care of the injured, the feeding of the hungry and the housing of the homeless were the first consideration of the Committees, and for the first day or two all else was subordinated to these works of mercy.
It will require a large book to tell the details of the work of these committees, each being aided by hundreds of volunteers. Each member of a committee being vested with police powers, and automobiles, carriages and wagons of all kinds were impressed wherever found; their loads were dumped on the sidewalks and filled with the injured or medical and food supplies, the vehicles hurried on to destinations named by the committeemen.
The rapidity with which the Committee effected an organization and relieved the suffering and hunger of nearly 300,000 people is noteworthy. Changing headquarters five times and organizing and planning as the members fled along the streets was no easy task, but it was accomplished and for nearly a week these committees arranged and cared for the homeless multitude.
The rapidity with which organization was effected and order enforced, is what amazes the knowing world today. It was done by citizens of San Francisco, backing up their executive with their lives and their fortunes, and back of them stood their friends in the breadth and length of these whole United States. As did the fathers of fifty years ago, so did the sons of today.
(San Francisco Chronicle, May 9th 1906.)
| 1. | Lieut. Col. George H. Torney, deputy surgeon general, commanding. |
| 2. | Capt. James M. Kennedy, assistant surgeon. |
| 3. | Capt. Henry H. Rutherford, assistant surgeon. |
| 4. | Lieut. John H. Allen, assistant surgeon. |
| 5. | Lieut. Roderic P. O’Connor, assistant surgeon. |
| 6. | Lieut. Herbert M. Smith, assistant surgeon. |
| 7. | Capt. Wilson T. Davidson, assistant surgeon. |
| 8. | Lieut. Robert E. Noble, assistant surgeon. |
| 9. | Lieut. James F. Hall, assistant surgeon. |
| 10. | Lieut. John L. Shepard, assistant surgeon. |
DEPUTY SURGEON GENERAL, COMMANDING, AND THE MEDICAL STAFF OF THE
UNITED STATES ARMY GENERAL HOSPITAL, PRESIDIO, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.
