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Flood Bldg. Call Bldg. Hale's 



U. S. Mint 



Odd fellows' Building 



Market Street, lookmij West 



City Hall 



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bt. buniface Chuit-b 



Uibenua li.inL 



Panorama showing Business District before the Fire. 



Patiur^nij i,r liu^uie^s Disirui Ironi 1..ik'- Stmn Ri.-stTV<jir afit-r tiic Fire 



STORY OF 

THL EARTHQUAKE AND FIRE 



. . . BY . . . 

WILBUR GLEA50N ZEIGLER 

Author ol "It Was Marlowe" 




Illu^rated with nearly 100 half-tone Engravings from Photographs by 
F. E. Strohmeier, A. Blumberg and others. Used by permission. 



Published by Leon C. Osteyee, 2010 Union Street, San Francisco, Calif. 
Copyright Application Filed. lyo6. 

Press of Morris & Blair, 3232 Mission Street, San Francisco, Calit. 



Two Cno'cs Received 



AUG 6 1906 



ro^ 




Map of San Francisco. The darker portion is tlie area burned or about three-fifths of the City. 



5tory of the Larthquake and Fire 



On Tuesday, A]iiil ITtli, 1900, a hiisiness man of San Friimisro asfondod for tho first time in five 
years to one uf tlie upper stories of the liigliest sky-scraiier in tlie Newspaper Angle. He was a 
groundling who liad kept liis ears as well as his feet to the earth. He was familiar with the local trade 
and had noted its tremendous increase; the advance of properly \ahies in like ratio; ami liad beard the 
jieriietual ringing of the hammers of the ai-tisans. On the crowded streets he felt the strong jiulse of 
prosperity. They were symptoms of substantial growth, signs that a mighty metropolis was rearing 
itself ujiou the "hundred hills" of the jieninsula ; but a full \ isioii of the thing itself, the bud unfolding 
into the perfect flower, had ne\-er been afforded him. 

To all points of the compass, from his elevated stand, lie looked with amazement and with wonder. 
As though the wand of a mighty architect had Ihmmi wa\('d over what had been shortly before tiat 
roof-tops and vacant spaces of earth, betwi'eu the mountains on the \\'est and South, the hills on the 
North and the waters on the East, solid and imposing strudures were now crowded close below him 
on all sides, and spotted the many hills in wide circuit, — a compact, magnificent, modern city. It 
seemed too splendid to be real, too substantial for illusion. He was not a dreamer, but he fancied that 
he saw the coiu'se of development: a natural, inevitable transformation of the renuiining hnmblc habi- 
tations into majestic edifices, of wooden shells into structures of steel, — unbroken rows along the ave^ 
OVies of traflfle; mansions like those ou Nob Hill sprinkled through the residential quarters, 



Ill fortv ciiilil liiiiiis llir iiictinc liiid iliiiiiiiT'd to (iiic of dcsohil inn. As f;ir as the eyes of tlic nhscrvor 
linil iimcIiimI. :iiiiI hcMiiid llic liiiiil n\' his vision, sprcnd :i mill coniiilrlr :iiid nlisojiili'. \:islor iIkiii :inv 
iIkiI niMii li;id cmt jdiilo'd ii|ioii. 'I'Iic laniics of Die iiiaslcr liiiildcrs lliiil lind jissuiihm! iii;il<'ri:il form 
and sccini-d of (|n:ilil\ ciidiniii.u l;:id vanishrd: a ini,i;lil\ j:ravc liad lircn dii.u: Iml slill. upward williiii 
llic I'diics id' Mil' clianial lioiisi'. r\rll licfolr llic riiiliiTS \\(Mr rold, 1 llf \)<-.\k and llirll llir IliMil fra I lllMS 

of III!' Idurnix sliowi'd. syndiolii-al uf ini i-lalil\. llic liorald of a ^riMlcr iiicl i-o|iidis to s|iiiiij: fiom 

I III' aslirs of I lie old. 



I Irfl llir I'l-css Cliili slicirll\ aflor .") .\. .M. on .\|ii-il ISlli. (tnl\ a low of ihr old j:iiard woic llini'. 
■ InsI l\vid\r hours hidorr al a woll allrndod s|M'ri:il nirclinti id' llir nirniliiTs. wo liad holly disriissi'd Ihc 
i|iirsliiiii id' n rliaii,m- ill hicalioii. <>iii- lii;hl had lircn shiil o|f iiii oiii' side li\ a sky srra|ii'r. and llic 
linildinu of nimiliri- was I hicaliMird. lo finllii'i- darki-ii our i|iiarli'rs. Tho ^rowlh of Ihc «'ily was hriiii:' 
inj; sonic disrnniforl . 'I'licic was a divided scnlinicnl on Ihc siilijcrl. I! . who sal willi iiic al llial 

carix lioiii-. w as in favnr of i he rlianuc ; I against il. As I opened I he dour lo |ca\i'. he said jokingly : 

"Only a sliori lime nioi-e in Ihc old qua ilcrs." 

In llic lii;lil 111' wlial I raiis]iiied. his wiirds sci'iiicd like iiroplice\ . 

il was an nniisnal lioiii- In he uiil. The jicaec id' nniiiliahilcd s|iaees of earlli prexailcd. .iiid Ihc 
dawn Ireinldeij in ils tiisli Idiisli. .\ uluw was iinrcasiiit; o\ci- llic raiii;c eiilininal in^ in .Moiinl hialilo. 
I lioniihl a iiews|ia|ici- of ;i hoy .-ind llicn liirncd down rowcll Sireel. .\l Ihc eiuar sland on llic ne\l 
cornel- I slopped lo i;el n liiihl, ;inil as I iimc hcd for llic eord on which il siis|pciideil. I saw il swiiiii 
Inward nie. I missed il and fell a.uainsi llic narrow eoiinler, and Ihc ihiniiihl Hashed lliroujili in\ iiiinil 
thai Ihc swa\iiij; of Ihc cord was a faiic\. and Ihal il was m\s(df llial was unslcadx. I ^raldx'd llie 
t-oimui- and held on, reali/.iiiy thai llic earth- syas sliaUing, and IJicii canie lo uic ilic mo»\ tviribh' of 




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fears, the most sickening of sensations, like those whidi niiglit be felt with the face of death close 
leering into yciiii- own. ils icy lii-cntli npon your rliccks. lis agony liocoiuing ]i;u-t of yon. I Hionglil of 
IIh' nit'lting of liic solid tlcsli. and how llic sjiai'k widiin ii would pass. <ir was IIicit Io lie absolule 
nolliingncss? .My family, -1 jiiaycd only for their safely^ 

A treiiKMidons and continuons i-rasliing of glass and ciystal in the diiiiking and dining hall almost 
under my feet sonnded. and foui' men. rnshing n\> the stone stairs, fell on llieir knees on tiie sidewalk, 
one jiraying and anoiher lief;<;ing in a maudlin voiee to be told how to formnlale a piayei'. I recog- 
nized several jironiineul s|iorling men in the distressed grouji. lint il did not oecur Io me at the time 
that there was anything ineongruous in liiis exhihilion. 

Then came a motion tliat se<'med tlieetfort nf an all]io\\erful force to loosen the tirm foundations 
of tile earth, and a ihundering crash arose, as I he uii|ier |iart of the front of the ('oluniliia Theater 

tumhhMl Id the ]ia\ement. Il resimndcd lerritically. 'I'he loji line (d' the .lames F\ 1 jiui Iding swayed, 

i-eaciied oui over llie strei'i. an,l then sw un;; hark into phiee entire. 1 1 was surh an uncanny iilieno- 
menon thai I douhted m\- senses. A hea\y slone sli'p of the liuildini; williin three feel of where I 
stood was mo\cd out of ]dnmh. Iea\ing a j;a|nn;; lude where it lia<l lirmly set, and almost lumlded to 
the |ia\cmenl: ojieu ho.xes of cigarettes against the wall of I he stand i-emained in [dace. Later I saw 
a gi-eat Cohmial jdaller. inlail and still lipiied carelessly and willimil fasicninj;s aj;ainsi the walls, as 
il had lieen liefore the earl li(|uake ; while ,-i heav\ \;ise with hroad hase thai hail slooil heside the 
plaller. lay shalleicd on ihi' llooi-. The force hail worked in a manner to pel plex and a|ipall. 

There was somclhinj; so siranuc so m,\slerious. so awful in ils comiiig. |iresence and ile|iarlure. 
Ils a|ipiiiac|i had lieen like one with miilllcd feel in impeiiel rahle darkness, uidieia hied and unsiis- 
peeled: ils |ncsence manifesled li\ an eiieru\ of deshuci i\ eness, ,-inil mischie\ous .■inlics as shown in a 
deiiiolishinj; of the apparently i ndesi iiicl ilile, a lender handlini; of lhin.i;s fraj;ile, and a sit;nalure like 
the weird traciuiis of a freakish planchelle; ils jiassinii, like Ihal of a perl uilied spirit. The mlic 



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Signature of Earthquake, 
April 19, 1N92. 




<> — e 



Signature of Earthquake, 
April ;^0, 1S9S 




Signature of Earthquake, April IS, 190G. 

'A signature like the weird tracings of a freakish 

planchette." 



fdfcc. (lisi)lii\c(l ill iill ils ;;rc\vs(iiiii' fiilliii'ss l>y llic world iiiiiid. cdiilil ii(i| lia\c sInicU fircatci' tcri'iii' in 
llic licari (it iii.-iii 111- Icfl a si i-aiii;('i- Irail of ruin. 

Tlic cijiai- licalcr. willi a ra((' of Irn/.cii a.^ila I inn. liad jiiiii|m'(1 dmt or lii-dkcn lliroinili iln' ((iiinlrr. 
aii<l tiiiictlicr we i:aiiic(l lln' inidillc i>\' Ihr ■<lrciM a( llir jiiiiil inn <<{ \'.iit\\ . I'dwrll and .Market, and 
sliidd liicrc. iioi slarinu lo iiMi\r 'ii .■iii,\ diirrlinn. ll was su slit! ai:.iin. so iicari'fnl ! Wr saw tlir 
lower id' till' fcrrv Ikuisc far liidnw. like a wraitlir in lln' soil j^rav li^^lit. and llic ii|i|icr rrd rim of llic 
sun aliiiNc it. 'riii- sk\ poiiilinu fall I'.nildini; rcina iiii'd aiipai imiI Iv nnatl'i'ilcd li\ llii' rojlino of llic 
(>;ni]i. in fad. cvcix (Hic of lliv siilislanl ia I. |ii(i|:i'ilv Imill linsincss liiiildiii.i;s slill lixunril slalrlv and 
nniiiiiM'd n|>iin ilicir liases. 

Sdineiinc as pale as dealli sireic lieil oiil his hand and I si k it. rei(ii:ni/.iiij; an old foe. We had 

lioi spoken 111 line aiiolher in ten \ears. lie sai;l in a half w his]ier : 

••Wasn'i ihal awful!" 

I dill mil answer. Iiiii poinled to sexcral tire enj;ines enterint: .Markei Sireel from ail direelions and 
jidlini; lo I he lOasi and Soiil li. 

"l-'ire." I said. "\]\ (lod. how man\ alarms ha\e riiiii;?" 

II happened lh;ii tifl\ Iwo were sonnded in i he lirsl half hour. 
A milk wai^iin |iassed. and 1 hailed I he ilri\er. 

"Whieh way?" 1 asked. 

"I'p -Market and llaycs to Filliiiorc." 

."That's mv direction for iionie." 

'•Climb up," said ho. 

IIo (Irow roin, and I ^ot on liie Hfat bpsido liim. Tlion iio notired tliat ho lind lost his wliij) and 
nn oi'dor book, mid sa.ving llitit lio knew just wlioro ho hnd dro])pG(l tlioni, for It was wlioro his horses 
loll, ho piillod llioni iiroiind and galloped down Market Street and iiiln Fonrlli. Tills was 1o my 



great disfjiist. iuul agaiiisl my cxiios^lnlatioiis ami offers to pay for liis lost articles; fni- tny anxiety 
til reach liuaie made the slifflitesl delay niiliearahle. He said iiKniey would imt ]iay for tliat hook, oi-, 
at any i-ate. Ilia) he could not ]iiil a |pric<' on it, and lie conliniu^d talkinj; in this siraiii: 

"Tliat was ji lri<4htfnl shock. 'I'lic horses were trotting; along, when the wajimi was lifted on two 
si(h' wlieels, as tiionjili the othei- two liad struck an ohstacle. ( )ne liorse fell on his knees, hnt jiini|)eil 
xiji immediately. ;iiid then hefore fifty fe<'t iiad lieen i-oljed over, soinetiiinfi seemed to stiike I he under 
si(!e of the wa!^<in-l)o\ like ;i ;;ianl trip haiiniier. II was ;i joll that lifled me from ihe seal and iienrly 
threw me iiilo Ihe slr(H't. liiil 1 ilnnji on. i'xilh horses were thrown down, and Ihey were Iremhiinfi all 
over and whinnyinj; witli frijihi. even after 1 had pit Ihem on Iheii- hoofs ai;ain. I snw Ihe snrface of 
the street wavinji like a carpet with wind nnder it." 

Several jironjis of men were in Ihe middle of Ihe sireels. Some of Ihem. half-dressed, were sealed on 
the calile slot. ]nillini; on llieir shoes and stockings. ()lhers were issuing, one liy one, onl of the 
smashed window of ;i restaiiranl. wjiere a sagginj; of sills had tirmly set the doors. Smoke in ihin 
rings and streaks was curling oul liehind them. An exciied crowd was gathi'red in fronl of a |i;iwn 
slio]i around the corner of dessie. somi' of Ihem holding a man who it was said had jnsi crawled out 
of the shop wimhiw. He Imd Ihe miscellaneous contenis of a showcase in a liag. and Ihreals of hanging 
biin were being niaile. The vandal was already stalking iiis prey. I.aler on. the regulais shot them dow n 
without time for prayers. 

Two flimsy board structures, holding chop-houses on their lower floors, had fa<ed each other at Ihe 
corners of a narrow little street running ofT Fourth. Both of them had fallen outward and were 
heaped in a common ruin. Their dried old timbers were crossed and piled together like an upset 
basket of kindling. Fires were in the cook-stoves of each when they fell, and even as we stopped, held 
by pitiful cries from the ruin, the flames were driving back some brave men who were trying to vcmw 
unfortunates pinned and penned in the veritable bonfire, 



I liiid socii cnoii^'h (if liorror. and nrpiMl !ho drivci- fi) turn liis Icani. We rattlod up Markot Stroct. 
Afl'riiiliti'd ]i('i)]il(> lined it, siiccchl<>ss, stai-inj:' ami a]>]iart'nl ly a|i|irclicnsive of sonic uhmt lioniliio 
calaniin l" follow. 'Plir sij;lil of llir wrcrk of llic('il,\ Hall aliiiosi look ni\ Invalli. .My lirsl i;lini|is(' 
of it was anoss .Maisliall S(|uai-c. where slill slanil llie inonnnieiils thai poiaray llie ti-ouliloiis limes 
of earh (lavs when iliis sjioi was a wilderness of shiflinii sand. I looked ai Ihe rotunda. 1 1 slill 
niiheld its Mai k (Imne inlarl. snrniininted liy liie (liiddess of I,ilieii\ ; linl. on I he half fronlini; lowani 
ns. the series of asreiid iiiu eolnnuis thai onie ^raeed llie s]ilen(lid pile, and Ihe liriekw m-k against 
whieli lliex had lieeii i III] ilail I eil , had heeil tolll olf, like ihe I'cel from Ihe side of ail orailiic The sleel 
1-ilis of a skelelon were revealeil, a ]ioverly of eonsi riiclion e.\]iose(l; ;ind Ihe threat hnildinj;-, e.xlendini; 
its \\in>'s on all sides, was an irreparalile ruin. The i;i.i;aiiiie pillars thai fronted Ihe low, eireiilar 
lioreli facinji ihe avenue, had heeii lop|ile<l from I heir liases and throw n out ward. They were of hollow 
iron, tilled with eonerele. moilar and Inieks: and their eonleiils and l he fnliai;c of their ea|iitals wcr(! 
scattered across the street and into Ihe s(|iiare. The rnliliish liefore the lira/.en doors of Ihis entrance 
was hi;;lier Ihaii the second sliirv windows. Wit liin. as il apiicaied la ler, I he |ilaslerin,i; (if Ihe corridors 
strewed the Hours as completelv as ihoiitih liarrels of cement had ln'cii e.xploiled aloii.u them; Ihechan 
(leliers were down like twisted hriish lieajis ; the Hours of the conrlrodins. olfices and chainliers had 
sunk to the liasemeiits. and the tiles of the corridors were n|ilieave(l. hrokeii and scattered. 

•'How many millions udiie there?" asked ihe praclical milkman. |Miinliiiji. 

••Si.\." 1 said, and the thought of it slaunered me; Inil afterward, when the lire |iiled up Ihe losses 
to half a billion, I (iioiijihl it a pica.viine iiiatter. 

We liii'iied into Hayes, and at Fnlton and Octtivia saw a block binning. I left the wtigoii and went 
to it. Half the block was consumed before the fire was subdued, but the ]ieoide on all sides treated it 
as a siuiill matter, comiiared with the eartliipiake. 1 noticed afterward, close to Ihe edges of Ihe con- 
(liigration. tliiit tiie liouseliolders nearest it, still guarding goods which could not be moved, appeared 



perfectly stolid and indifferent, while the excess of anxiety and fright was displayed by those wli«w 
were many lilocks from the fire. 

It was well llial Ihis liui'iil spare was ]ilaced tlierc diirini;' the day; for ils opoii expanse acted as 
a bari-icr to slay tlic jjiralcr tii-c of llic later day and iiiiilil, 1haf spread westward from t^t. Ignatius 
("ollejii'. Tlie use of water, even with tlie favorable gale, might not alone have pi-eveuted the coutla- 
gratioii trom rearliing tlie Park. 

'I'lie ri\ic .-lul lioril ies stood at their posts, conscious of the hurdeii ilin.wii ujioii tlieiii, williui;' and 
ready to hear il, and seeking lliroui^li the darkness and lilindinu |iallis of the City I 'esolate to catch 
gliin|ises of and follow some guiding light. The order of !) o'clock .\. M. of Wednesday, placing the 
City under ^lilitary iirote<tion, showeil how close the ear of the .Mayor was to its heart-heat, how 
finely attuned he was to e\ery <ivic vilnalion. and how the end ine\italile must havt' flashed hefo.re 
him, even as "the king felt in his hreast the phantom of the knife, long ere Kaxaillac armed himself 
therewith." 

The first order coming from Mayor Sihmitz was to ]iTevenf the sale and use of liqinir. and soon 
came the now famous orch'i- directing gas and electricity to he shut olf. citizens to keep within doors 
after dark, to refrain from lighting tires, and stating that crime was to he sui)pressed hy the rifie. 
The |iortioi>. of most startling imjiort i-ead as follows: 

"The Fedi'ral troops, the mendiers id' the regular ]iolice force and all the speci.il ]i(dice officers, 
have heen authoiized hy mc to l,ill any ]ierson found en^ai;('d in the looting of pr<ipcrty or in the com- 
mission of any ol her crime." 

It was an ordei- demanded hy the occasion anil the hour. It was like a comni.inil from the ahsolute. 
There was to he n<i parley, no hearing, no trial, no apjieal. The crime and the hiilh'i ! It bore fruit ; 
for after the la|ise of a few ilays not a hnr.nlary was atlempted, not a robbery report<Ml; miiidei- was a 
losi art. A week aftei-, a prominent criminal attornt-y said: "There is no Held for me here. The only 



lawver who will be engaged in the practice nf criminal law is the one who for a rear has been defending 
his own case for bigamy ami iirrjni-y. ami lii:ir will lie liis sole suit." 

It was a pciiiMJ of peace, and I'an. llie sylvan <lo<l, was aliimsl teni]iled to stalk the streets. 

Duiin-; llie the. looters were shot down in mnny ]i;n(s of the City, no meny lieinj;- shown where a 
.•rime was coiiimilted in tli<' view of ;i soldier. In one instan.c :i re;;nl;ir with a prisoner in rliar<;¥ 
appeared in llie lent of a commandinj: olli.-er. The i.ris<iner was a hoy. pale. Irenihlini; anil .allow- 
lookiiifi'. 

•■\\li,\ .li.l yon hrini; him h.-r.-?" asked ihe otli.i'r. 

'•lie was .an^^hl loolinL;."" 

-Wliv ilidn'l \iiu sho.il him on llie sjj.il? Ilw.ml.l liav.' sav.'.l \is lhi> Ir.mlde .if liiiiyiiiji him." 

••W.'ll, I .li.liri s.M' him l.i.iliiii;. hiil the .row. I di.l. and ih.'y p.iinle.l him .ml an. I I canjihl him." 

••r>a.l wiirk." sai.l lln- (illi.-.'f, .-.Lilly. 

The .ihsei^ver ..ml.! II. ii .lei. ■inline wh.Mhi'r ilii- .illi.-.'r was seri.ms. or thai In- ha. I sp.ikeii .mly to 
frij:hi.Mi ill.' Imy; Imi he iiirn.'.l away willi a si.keiiiiii; fe.'lini;. 

The sam.' observer l.il.l me .if s.'eiiii: Iw.i m.-ii .aiiulil r.'il haii.le.l with ani.h's .'f value fr.nii a 
sloi-e whi.h lhe\ ha. I enl.'i-.-.l. Tli.^.x wfi.^ manh.'il up the siri'.'l aii.l fa.-e.l anmml .■.mfidiil iii.i; 1 he 

soldiers wh.i ha. I ihem in .liar,!;.-. .\ x.ill.'y .if lireaiiiis raiii; ami llie ■nlprils |.il,lie.l f.nwar.l .m 

llii-ir fa.-es iicN.-r l.i ris.- a^ain. 

At sal.i.ms an.i };ro.-eries Ihe Ue^nlars and X.ili.inal (Inar.ls r.ill.'.l barrels of li.pmr and ke^s of beer 
.lilt .III llii- si.lewalks ami I'mjili.'il ih.'ir .■onli'iils iiii.i ili.' s.'w.'is. 

In ke.'piii': Willi III.' vi.il.'ii.-.' nse.l in lli.- pr.ii.'iiion .if properly ami life was ili.' w.nk .if lli.' brave 
mi-n in res.-nin^ niifoi'tiinales amid Ih.' ruins .if Ihe eailh.piake. and in llie maw of ihe lire; in iiiinis- 
l.-rinj: lo ih.' injur.'. I. in r.'li.'vin;'- Ih.' liom.'l.'ss ami liiin^r.\ ami in larin^ f.ir lb.' .I.'M.I. TIi.' Ii.'roism 
liisplavi'.l w.-r.' snbje.-ls f.ir an epi.-; for on.-e all iii.-n w.'if br.illi.-rs. ami milli.maires and iian|ii'is. Ihe 
ri^^hleons ami the de]irave(l, met on terms of ri|nalily in lliis linnian.' labor. 



Long before noon the fire had driven out the inhabitants of the lower Mission. They trailed away 
in all directions, stolid sufferers carrying and dragging lionsclmld gixxls and lending cliildrcn. Some 
reached aiiparcnt pniiits of safety only to lie driven out later. Others, thinking llie entire cily was 
doomed, and that no jilacc was safe (lulside the limits of (iiihh'ii (iaie I'ark. imme(li:it<'ly sunglil its 
sheller. The\ rame straggling out the streets of the Western Addition with dire tales of disast<'r and 

warnings. 

•'Tile (irand Ojiera ITouse is g(ine,'" they said, "the Call r.nilding. the Kialto; and nothing would he 

s]iared." 

l!v noon their lliglit aloiij; ilie direct route to the |iarU was iiitei i ii]pted ; for a reckless woman on 
Haves Street, near .Markel. had kindled a tire in a det'edive cliimi.ey. and with llie destruction of her 
home followed a local contiagrat ion of tliiity Idocks. indeiiendeut of the one slarled diri'ctly by the 
earthquake. St. Ignatius Church, a milliondollar structure, was alda/.e hy noon, its many spires 
pointing like toiihes into the sky and its interior of treasured iiainlings and works of art crunililiug 
into ashes. 

Westward spread the tlames. out Oak. Hayes, (irove. Fulton and .McAllister Streets. They were 
tiei-celv f<night by the tiremen, Forlnnately, an abundant sujijily of water was in this ipnnier, and 
the wind was soon blowing fi('r( ely from the ocean. Ity night the westward progress of this tire was 
checked at Octavia Street; bnt in the meant inie it had sjiread in the o](])osite direction, envelojied the 
.Mechanics Pavilion and <"ity Hall, and was swee|>ing on with nplifled lam-es of llame and banners of 
while smoke to join the like battalions from the .Mission. \\'hen they met. the sonth line of .Market 
Street, with all ihat lay close behind and far beyond it. was a smoking mass of rii'Ms. The norlh 
line of the street was still intact, but it crunibled at the conddned assault, and the tlatiies had tree 
course to meet those coming from the smoking region of Sansome and Tost. I'.elow the latter streets 
Itiy a rich wholesale district that, with the exception of one solidly built bUick, (tad been uticrlv 



destroyod. This block was covered by the Mills Building, the Sfock Exi'hange. the Telephone Ruild- 
inji. the Brooklyn Hotel, tiie First National Bank and many substantial wholesale lionses. The tire 
had l)listered it early iti iIk- men iiinji-, bnt i)asse(l nn. Ii was imiw (-onsidered secure, and even the 
furnishings of the iitlic Imtcl had been rcturmMl by six (I'cluck. ami owners and tenants were con- 
gratulating lliemselves on Iheii- escaiie. ]?ut th('\ lonnled on a false shew of gener<isity. At nine 
(i'cl<ii-k that night li\e tire rame baek. as though it had fdrgolleii something in iis wild prdgi-ess. and 
linislicd the work that it liad llircaleued in the morning. 

As the evening came nn, liie feeling that preddiiiinated was mie ni |iaiiiiky fear; mil df ilie lire. Imt 
uf a ie|ietitii>n of tlic carth(|uake. It was held <'\-en by tlidse who. cldse l<i ihe edge of ilie Ininiing 
disiriet. watched the jirogi-ess of the tlanies. wilii all liojie gone id' saxiiig llieir homes. Thai loss 
ajipeared iiie\ilaide lo many; and they were resigned, fur life was iidt ihreateneil. I'.iii iid diie cdiild 
fdreKdl what would be the result uf another con\nlsion of the crust of Ihe earlli. Tlieie woiilcl lie no 

warning monitor, and there was no avenue of esc,i|ie. l]\<'ryoiie i-eali/.ed it. As il rder had goii<' 

forth |)rohibiting the use of lights, not even a candle was to mitigate the coming darkness beliiiid 
home [loitals, and this increased the dread of being anywhere exce|il in spa<cs open to tli<- sky. In 
many districts b-w sought their beds. The memoes' (d' tlie so\iiid of ci-eaking and i-rashing beams and 
walls was too vi\ id ; and so the dwellings, even far distant from the tire, were as emjity of life as 
the tondis on Laurel Hill. Whole families, rather than trust to darkiMied interiors recetitly eaiilu|uake 
racked, lay on the |ia\i'meiits, on the d<iorsl<-|is and in xaiils w liere no chimneys threatened to fall. 
Forttinalely. the air was halmy. Xatnre had ne\ei- heeii more serene, ami tireil wdineii. children anil 
men. some with no covering Imt their ajiparid. do/.ed on their uncomfortable resting jdaces. 

.Ml night long the tire Ida/.ed with a spletidor never ei|ualled and a desi rtici iveuess twenty times 
grejit<'r than any coiitlagral ion id' iiuidern times. I'rom a distance, we saw the ('allaghan .itid .Murphy 
buildings burn likt; builded honlires of a linndreil feci in height; the -lames Flood stiiicture of twelve 



stories, a solid mass of flame, leaviug the walls uncnimhletl ; the St. Frau<is, liftiug highest its crack- 
ling crown; and through the Mission a wide wall of tire, bending and sweeping on before the wind 
like a living thing eager for its pi-ey. The intonations of crashing dynamite at times came to our 
ears, but no other sounds. Cinders, cold and black, fell around us at the distance of a mile from the 
conflagration. 

Most of the men, leaving their families on their improvised beds, walked tlie streets, going from point 
to point to watch the progress and mark the course of the tire. The regulars who had been placed in 
charge of the city within four hours after the first tremble, paced (he pavements; their signals sound- 
ing tiirough the still air. At sight of an occasional candle in (Iwcllings. tlieri' followed llie loud jiouuding 
of the butt of a gun on ilie ibior. or tlie rap of a ram rod mi the window, and a sltnitorian command to 
extinguish the light. 

ISefore midnight the relugees. wiio had crowded into Tnion S(|uare. as a jilace of secure encaniiiment, 
were for their own salvation ordi'red out. Theii- tliglil was a stanijiede like the frightened denizens 
of a town before a victorious and pillaging army, 'i'ruuks and honsehobl goods, faithfully guarded 
during the day. were aliandoned as there were no conxeyances to nio\(' them, or were dragged by hand 
along the walks, scraping the cindered surface, sounds from their continued freipiency during two days, 
likely to abide in memory. Women, loaded with bedding, trailed along the streets; and men, stagger- 
ing with heavier burdens, pushed on for other open s])aces. At the thought of losing their most treas- 
ured belongings, some grew frantic and attempted to stojt the wagons loaded with goods from the 
stores along Kearney and Post, and use them for their own purposes. In several instances they suc- 
ceeded; in others they bribed the drivers, at ten dollars a trunk, to increase their loads. The great 
buildings around the square, one by one catching fire, lighted up the pitiable scene. 

It was the morning of the second day and a summer warmth prevailed. From Fillmore Street, 
which was soon to shake ofl: its cpiiet and provincial air and become the principal business th<n'ough- 



fiii'p of Iho (haiifipd city, I hurried down Turk to learn from personal oltservation what the day jirom- 
iscd. .More jK-oplc than nsual tilled the walks. There were handshakini;s as friends and aequaintanees 
met. and some jileasaut words of jiicptin";. and a ;ain sorrow was shown over liitTer exjieriences Told. 
( »nc sad uiciup raiij;lil my allcnlion. W'umcn were wccpinj: aniiiinl ,i ijlilii who was Irviu'; Id ciniitiirt 
I hem. uliMc (Mil of (iiic lit a row of Mais. di)\\!i marlili- slops, spill ,iiid shaken, a collin was lii-inii Imrne 
liiwaid a (lcll\ci-,\ w :!.unii. 'riii' drhcr mounled his seal aii<l drove away aloiu'--he and llii' di'ad. 

1 iiiiiicii tiiiiii (icary Inlti i.arklii. The tire was (Hi l.fa\enw(iii h. iwn blocks dislaiii. ( tii l.arkln a 
ilisliirlicd idiidllliPii of atVaIrs cxlslcd. Tlii- dmir- of iiiaii\ of ihc shops on clihci- side of llie sireel were 
w iile o|ien. Some of lliesc j;ro( cries were enllrelx ^iilleil; ollieis had crowds befoii' Ihe coiiiilers and 
liehimi ihem. 'I'iies had been opeiieil for Ihe pilhiue of llie pulillr. and Ihe owners were aidllifi. 10vei-\ 
man. reliiiniiii; lo ihe sidewalk, had his arms or hands full of jiidV Isions. They eonlinned lilinji' in 
.■I lid out. som<> w ilh lio.xes and haskels. 1 1 was a case of iiel]iiniL; yourself \i> w hal yon could wllhoiit limil. 
I saw men lookiii'; half slarved. wilh faces drawn and hai^uard, lliose of lost homes, and jiossilile losi 
families. ealln,u hungrily of canneil floods and drinking.' from Imllli's. Women also, some wilh relics 
of tiner\ alioni lliem, such as a ireasnred sealskin coal over a shaliliy horrowcd dress, siood ihere 
eatinj:. .\ numlM-r of men were under llie inlliK'iice of liquor, some hopelessly so. 

1 reached a nei};lilK>rin<i ciu-ner. one block nearer llie tire, and there encountered a crowd al a corner 
jii-ocery. The double door was locked and barri'd and a man in uniform, either a soldier or hreinan, 
stood (dose before it. The restless crowd was clamoring lo be let in. and the jiuardian was otferinj; 
resistance. They were ytdlin^: 

"You can't save the place. Let us in. (iive us the stuff instead of letting the fire get it. Break down 
the door." 

The windows looked temi.ting. tilled with imported goods and bottles bearing foreign labels. Some- 
one was forcibly pushed against the glass front. It broke; and then as the attentions of tiie defend- 



er of the place was turned to the demolisher, the doors gave way under pressure and the mob poured 
in. No further effort was nuide to prevent the sacking that followed; for even the man who had kept 
the mob at bay, said aloud, as he walked away: "The stuff wnuld have been burned anyhow. It's bet- 
ter to let "em have it." 

The air was growing intensely hot; it smelled strong of tire, and cinders, warm and white-furred, 
fell ihii k upon the .sidewalks. On a tlight of broad ste](s before a mansion on the corner of Leaven- 
woitli and (ieary Streets, a drunkard overcome by jiis jiotaiions of whiskey, slept despite the roar of 
the conrtagration and the gruff calls of a half-intoxicated companion. The flames burst through the 
rear board walls of a livery stable, diagonally across the street, out of which issued the owner and his 
employees, like rats (!<>serting a sinking ship. I looked down (icary Street. I t was like peering into the 
door of a furnace. Tli- (>yesight could penetrate but half a block, between blazing buildings lining 
either side, liecaus*' of the concentrated white heat. One knew that the way led straight onward for 
more lli:in twenty bloclis through a region which could be ajitly coiniiared with nothing but h(dl, but 
devoid of the spirits of the damned. 

t'p Leavenworth I went to Sutter, and a block below it to the edge of the tiery mouth, I saw the 
square bay windows of the Pleasanton lipped and adorned with tlauie. A block higher up on the street 
I tra\idled. the furnishings of the Empire crowded the walks, that massive slrmture itself standing as 
though fearless of a any withering touch. Xeverthek'ss, it fell later with its cringing neighbors. The 
old Crocker house was as eni;ity as though attaching creditors and loud-mouthed auctioneer had swept 
its floors; but its late occu]iants sat on its wide stejis. its jporchcs and lawns, hesitating about their 
exodus. 

I climbed the hill to California and Hyde and glanced at the Fairmount. The demon that sent his 
forked tongues into the ci-o\vded haunts of the heathen, the narrow streets and alleys of Chinatown, 
was to be no more merciful to works modeled on the lines of Greek mastei-builders. That magnificent 



biiildiii}! stood lik(> a tcniplc inviolate, and sooniinirlv licvond tho touch of any plemental power. No 
one would have Immmi disinrlicd as (<i lis salcly liy an oidiiiary tire of all tlicenfirclin-i' (hvcUinsis. sopav 
alcd as ilicv wcif li\ sIi-itIs on foni- sides: Imi ;lic liny of ilic i-onllajii-ation sccTnciJ sn|H'rnaini-al. It 
must liavi' lauirhcd at Ilic stolid and nncon<i'ini'd aspcci and allilndi' id' dial iiiiiiosiiii; jiilr. In fact, 
nianv allrilmtcd its Imi-ninj: to ilic lonli of ilic iiHcndiaiy; Inil proofs aic la<kin,i;. and so was iiiolivc. 

The richcsi jiarl <>{ tlic cily was to fall, ami Ilic aii|iiiiiiicd aiicnl simply si icil ihc imwcr sntli- 

ciciil. '{"lie h'aii-monnl can.uht llic sparks, nursed ilicni f(n- a spell and soon si 1 a denuded franie of 

discidored slone. 

Il was adniil leil ilial all llieciiy from llie waleilKml oiil lo \'aii Ness Axeiiiie was doomed. 'I'liere 
was no saUalioii fen- il said lliose wIki marked I lii' proyress id' llie lire. Itiil hope was slroni; for wlial 
la\ lie\<ind Ihc liaie space of one hiindlcd ami I wciil \ live feel llial marked Ihe a\enne. 'I'lici-e was 
lalk of dxiianiile fop ihe iweiilytivc conlinnons lihicks llial lined iis easiein side from N'allejo to 
.Maikel I wo miles of splendid mansions, chiirclii's, skysciapin,!; a]iarlineiil houses. Iiolids. cliili Imild- 
inus and homes endeared lo lliose who dwelt w illiiii lliem. Iiackeil li\ llie Imsiiicss Idocks id' I'olk sll'eel. 
lo he hlowii in air: heroic irealment like Ihal applied al .Moscow --enoni;li Idocks. if uionpcil lordlier. 

1 ake a rich cil,\ of ilself. I.aler. the ]ilaii of clearing I his rii lily hiii 11 sjiace id' ea rl li w as modilieil. 

the silnaliim clemandini; ihal il he carried only paiil,\ iiilo clfecl liy ihe deslriiclion ol' scal'ered 
hiiildinus in ihc area desciihed. 

I walked oiil ('alifornia Slreel as far as ('enlral .\\eniie. .\n nmpiiel feelin.i; w as |n-e\ alenl llirouj;h 
theeiilire dislaiii-e. displa.xed li\ groups id' |ieople lalkini; in low \oiccs. sei-imisly and willi fniiive 

^dances lo Ihe easlern sk\ in which llies ke was lifled. Some were jiackine iriinks in li.-ilis and on 

(he porches: wai;iins pai-lly tilled were hacked ii p In 1 he w a Iks ; |ii les of household j;iioils were in jdacOs 
liea]ieil in readiness lo he nio\ed when liie occasion demaiideil it. They were lakiiii; lime li\ llie fore- 
lock, aiilicipalin.i; Ihe worsi: and what, accordiiiii lo ihe laled spe<'(i of Ihe coiillajiral ion, cuuld nul 
force iliem oiil Ixd'ore aiioiher ila\ had dawned and laded, 



That evening in my home (Hiaitei- the neighbdi-s Hed like slieep, despite tlie fact tluit thirty burnt 
lildiks prdlertcd i( and the tire was a mile away, it was like the street of ;i deserted village, sans the 
grass, the decay, the rol of the limbers. Itnt the air was rife with startling rumoi-s: the tire from the 
.Mission wonld clind) the hills and en\eh>ipe ns ; the wind wonld carry endiers foi- miles to ignite roof 
tofis; the ettoits of the dynamiters had failed. To lie alone, the sole snrvi\-or cd' disaster, was not to be 
consiih'red for a moment. We joined tlie strnggling caravan to higher gronml. niilmilded and "oiieii 
lo the glimjises of the moon." I'ntil late into the iiiglil we watchi'd a sea of llame just beyond where 
Ilie dark, nnbnrned disirici terminated in the iionse-toii line of \'an Ness .\\('nne: this block line of 
spires, towers, cn]i(das. chimneys, tial and jiointed roofs, and vacant spaces, showing auainst the blaz- 
ing sky like the edge of a gigantic broken toothed, eross-cnt saw. We heard the frecpient crash of 
dynamite; lejiorts that marked bra\c des]ierate work; wt- saw the tire, liercer ih.in an\ lliat ever 
swept a monnlains wooded side, crawl backward and ii|i Nob Hill lo destroy ever\ landmark that had 
been lircled ill the afternoon and, in the wondrous ]ian(iraiii:i. iioled Ihe biirsliiig of llaines from every 
ajierliire of Ihe l-'lood residence, which, after honrs of binning, showed by its glcwing windows, 
clearly marked. Iliat its stone frame snivixcd entire — an em|ily shell (d' a ]ialace. 

I missed one (d' the parly, and found her .-ilone near the i-oriier of lh(> tent crying sileiith in sadness 
and biiierness of heart — a San Franciscan weejdng o\'er loss, not in the sense of ]iersonal ownership 
<d' anything that was gone, lint (d' the material nioinimeiils marking memories, the ntler le\(ding and 
obliteration of the scenes connecting childhood, yoiilh and wom.-inhood. it was the display of ;i lender 
sentiment a!read.\ felt, or later to be keenly experienced, by e\crMine whose naii\il\ was Ihmc. I, (d' 
a distant state, could not fnll,\ comprehend or apjn cciale il. It is a loss i-esi licteil lo the native sons 
and daughters. 

All night the embers fell nixm ns as we slept, bnl there was no ( hange in that mai'ked line of 
housetops. The tire was greedily devouring all lel'l wilhin Ihe liniils lo whicli. by the braverv and 



heroic endeavors of the firemen, soldiers, and civilians, it had been restricted; but, so far as the city 
w est of ^■au Ness Avenvie was concerned, the dan<^er was past. Through the night we heard the call for 
telegraph operators to report at a stated place for duty. It sounded strangely in the still air, as 
though every one of them would be retiuired to do the great work of conveying the words of a hundred 
thousand sufferers to distant friends. There was a free distribution from autoiiiobilcs of newspapers — 
I he combined •'Call-t'lironicle-Examiner" — and a rush to get thoni as they were scattered broadcast 
ihi-ough the streets. All day. as of the day before, the scraping of dragged trunks over unswept pave- 
ments sounded, this time in the return to saved homes; all day the carting, jiackiiig and rolling of 
furniture over the streets continued. The automohiles. as on \\'f<liifsilay. went without restrictions 
on sjiecd. iliiiiu^li nil streets, sounding like mail tilings, tlyitig from \\li;it ilicy di<'ad<>d or speeding 
onward in answer to summons that himikcil of no delay. There \\ere none used for any length of time 
by the curious, every one as it appeared on the streets being apjirojniated by the civil >iv militai-y 
authorities. 

Friday found the fire confined to limits that admitted of no extension for it, excej)! along the seawall 
toward the fcii-y building. At t lircc I'. .M. word (•.•iiiie there to the braiirh ]i(istolliic that the entire 
walcf-front would soon be alila/.e. ('louds of smi'ke Irnm the noitli. <liilling across the ojien spa<-e 
from which the streets <-onverge. gave ground for the waiiiing. The wind lilew it along with increasing 
density. At that time theolfice was ]iackeij with ii.'ojde. sending word of their safety to distant 
friends. \\'indows were ^.'lammed down with wailing laces close .against tlii'in; doois were hurriedly 
shut as the crowd lileil out. and work toi- the |iieser\ at icni id' tli<> mail was licgnn. I'.iU it >\as not a 
case of the city liurning to the water's edge; the tire tailed in its last sa ll,\ and died out liefore il 
reached tiie (|uarter tiiicatened. .\t'd «o the lower clock, tha'' once faillilnl niaiker id' the tlii;lit <if 
time, slopiieii liy the tretnor id' the earth, staffs with its dead fjice np the hrnadesl trail tlnon^i: 
the ruins. 



It was on a hot sidewalk that the first tent was raised in the burnt district. On the next day shel- 
ters of a little more permanent character were being made with roufih jxiles covered with scrai)s of 
sheet iron dragged from the ashes. They were the initial ste])s <if Ihe period of rclmilding, and taken 
before the conflagration had ceased burning along the sea-wall. 

In the face of the calamity, there were but few who did not sup])ress their feelings of distress over 
their losses. A few days after the fire I was for several hours with an acquaintance who said nothing 
of his having been deprived of a monthly income of six hundred dollars, and the next day I learned 
of it from a mutual friend. The resolute and indomitable sjiirit of the age had a chance to display 
itself fully; and with the talk of the ri<her and greater San Francisco of the future, there is a union 
of tireless effort to realize it. 

Some, possessed with the spirit of humor, disjjlayed it like Nero fiddling over the ruins. One refugee 
in Jetferson Park had his tent labelled: "Well Shook,'" and the next one to it was "Shook Well." A 
cui-bstone kitchen had the sign "The Outside Inn," and i( looked it. A ]iiano on a wagon bore these 
words: "Played on by many; the hist time by a fii-eman." The sign of Dr. Lamb was not a hundred feet 
from one of Dr. Slaughter, and the passer might wonder if. for i)urposes other than consultation, the 
former might be led to the latter. "We moved be. ause the elevator stopped running" was a notice 
](laced on a pile of bricks— all that remained of the building formerly occupied by the man who was 
thus advertising. "Eartlnpuike Shakes" was the sign above a street stand. One barber shop had this 
sign on its front: "Shaving, (iood work; no raise;" and some wag added the letter "r" to the last 
word. "Quakers and Shakers Welcome" was displayed over the door of a restaurant instead of before 
a gospel meeting room. 

Work immediately became the order of the day. Wherever j)ublic jn'oiierty required clearing for 
travel, every man within call of the person superintending the work, or reach of his pistol, was im 
pressed into service. On one occasion, the Secretary of State attempted to pass a body of such labor 



crs. lie \v;is onicrcd to loss lirirks wilh ll iIiit iiii'ii. ^iikI lir worked llirrc unlil his idciilit.v \v;is 

('slal)lislicd. Al ;i iiicclini; id' llic licmli ^iiid l):i r In di'visi- w :i\ s :ind iiiciiiis I'm- lidldiiii; nniii. I lie ipics 
IJDii \v:is l)i-o;i(lu'd ;is In wlicllicr (■x<'iii]il inn t'nr I lie judj^i-s :ind llicir idlims fniiii siirli iinpri'ssiiii'iil 
sliDiild noi he dhlaiiicd from (Jciicnil l^'misltm; liiil il was considered lliat any iii<i\e to i liis end would 
be a recouniliou uf llie inililary itower o\er llie ri\il and was (o lie avoided. 

'riie o]i|iortllliil \ lo make llie mosi of wlial Naliire lias lili<Tally ]iro\ide(l in the way <if snhlime siir 
roimdiniis and harlmr nne(|iialled has been fully rei-oj;ni/,ed, and a ]ii-ojert fof the "city lieanlifnr' 
de\(do]ied. A conj;esled uiowlli id' skyscrapers is no loii^^er |iroliable; for the area for bnsini'ss jinr 
jioses has widened and the retail and wholesale districts been divided. Homes with wide-spieadili}; 
lawns. Iiotids with spaces foT' imt-door enleriainmeiil. jiarks for recreation and broad avenues, will 
urace and adorn llie le\els and the hills where dwidlings tind business buildings were, once crowded 
lordlier close lo the ediies of the walks. 




■0^ 




Observatory, Strawberry Hill, Golden Gate Park, San Frannsco, Damaged bv liartlKiuake. 




Nob Hill from Sutter Street and (irant Avenue before the Fire. 




Nob Hill, North from St. Mary's Cathedral, after the Fire. Van Ness Avenue Bread Line 

in the Foreground, 




Fire about the United States Mint, Fifth Street. 




The .Man, San Francisco — Withstood both Earthquake and Fire with scarcelv any Damage- 




Y M. C. A. Building, Mason and Ellis Streets, after the Firc- 




The Burned District as Seen from Rincon Hill, San Francisco. 







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St. Boniface Church, Golden Gate Avenue, near Jones^ Street, San Francisco, Destroyed by Fire, 








Turk and Market Streets, San Francisco, after the Fire. 




Valencia Street Four-Story Hotel Destroyed by Earthquake, Thirty People Killed, 




Cottages on Golden Gate Avenue, above Hvde Street, Collapsed as Result of Earthquake. 




Looking' down California Street after the Fire. 



. '€ V.-^-'-f. i-iT "M 




Relnif Slatiun in (jolden Gate Park. 




Tlie Xe.v I'ostoliice, San Francisco — did not Suspend Business except U>v a lew Hours to Fight Fire. 

Grant Building at Left. 




Looking Xortb on Sansome Street, from bush Street, San Francisco, after the Fire. 




Jefferson Sc^uare Camp of Refugees, 




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I^incoln School, .5th Street. Damaged by Fire. 



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Looking down Market Street from Eleventh Street after the Fire. 




City Hall before the Fire and Earthquake. 







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The Business Distnet of San Francisco Burning as Seen from Fairmont Hotel. 

Copyright 1906. A, Bluiubcrg, Alameda. Used by Permission, 







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Palace Hotel, San Francisco, after the Fire, with Monadnock Block on right. Walls withstood both 

Fire and Earthquake. 




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Bread Line on Folsom Street, San Frant'isco, 




Lla}' Street and Van Ness Avenue where the Fire was Checked- 




Capp Street, near 17th, Damaged by Earthquake. 




Looking down Larkin Street during the Fire. 




Looking down Sutter Street, San Francisco, after the Fire. 




Ruins of the Grand Opera House, Debtroved by Fire 








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Result of Earthquake on Mission Street opposite Post Office. 




J<.Ugsian Hill, showing houses saved from Fire, 




Preak in the Street ne^r Water Front, caused by Earthquake. 




Mission District burning as seen from Ashbury Heights. 




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The Wreck of the Emporium after the Fire. 




Central Bank, 14th and Broadway, Oakland. 



wpsp 




The Mission District burning as seen from Market Street, near Dolores Street. 

Copyright, 1906. A. Blumberg, Alameda, Cal. Used by Permission. 




Jewish Syna|ogue, Sutter Street, between Powell ^pd Stockton. 







The James Flood^ Building after the Fire, Building was gutted by the Fire but apparenth- not 

otherwise damaged. The City Treasurer now has his Office here together 

with Western National Bank. 




The Result of the Earthquake on the block between 17th ami 18th. Lookini,' North on 

Howard Street. 




California Theatre, Bush Street, near Kearny 




Union Square, Hotel St. Francis and Pewey Monument after the Fire, 




Looking down Fell Street. Showing how closely the people clung to their homes, only leaving when Fire 

was a few doors away. 

Copyright, 1906. A. Blumberg, Alameda. Used by Permission 




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Grace Church on Cahfornia and Stockton Streets. 




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The Burning of the Emporium. All of the buildings shown here were destroyed by Fire. 

Used by Permission. 




United States Custom Mouse, corner Sansome and Washington Streets, withstood Fire and Earthquake. 




The Call Building, seen through a. tangle of Ruins. 




Museum, Golden Gate Park. Damaged by Earthquake, 









Looking North on Kearnv Street from Post, after the Fire. 




Montgomery Street, looking North from California Street. 

Copyright 1906. A. Blumbcrg. Used by Permission. 




Montgomery Street Looking South from California Street. 

Copyright 1906. A. Blumberg. Used by permissson. 




Residences of Messrs. Flood, Huntington and Crocker before the Fire, 




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The ruiud of the Crocker and Flood, Palatial Residences. These residences with their MagnihceiU 
Furnishings and Art Treasures represent a loss of Millions, 




The Music Stand, Golden Gate Park, damaged by Earthquake. 




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The Break in the Street on Van Ness Avenue near Vallejo Street, caused by Earthquake. 

Mains broken here. 



Water 




The Burning of the Call Building as seen from Kearny Street. The Mutual Savings Bank Building in 

the foreground. 



Ustd by PeniiisKiQu- 




St. Uominic's Cathedral, Bush and Steiner Streets. 




Home of Claus Spreckels, where Fire was checked on Van Ness Avenue, Corner Clay Street. 





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St. Ignatius Church, Hayes Street and Van Ness Avenue. 




Ruins of Chinatown District. 







Mary-Help Hospital, Guerrero Street near Market ( Unfinished ) Destroyed by Fire. 




Mass^on the Steps ot St. Mary's Cathedral Sunday after the Fire. 




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Mission Dolores, OUl Unliurl and the New a Total Wreck. 



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Luuking West on McAllister Street, San Francisco, from Market Street, sho\vin.t,' Hibernia Bank being 

used as a Police Station, 



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Showing the Results of Earthquake on Block between 17th and 18th Streets, on Howard Street, 

San Francisco. 




Scottish Rite. Masonic Hall, with Jewish Synagoi,'ue on the Left, (ieary Street, near Fillmore. San 
Francisco, damaged by Earthquake. At the extreme rii^ht is seen the Spirit of 



Frisco in the Poster, " Work, Morn. Noon, Night." 




POBIBAns 



BRISTOL CO 
ELERS. 



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FURS 



The Call Building. San P'rancisco, among the Flames. Taken from the 10th Floor of the new Spring 
Valley Building, showing Results of Earthquake on Roofs of Business Houses. 




Camp of Burned Out Householders, Jefferson Square, San Francisco. 




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The Sentinel of " Nob Hi 



New Fairmount Hotel, San Francisco — Withstood the 
and Stands Alone amongst the Ruins. 



■"ire and Jvirthquake 




Stanford Library, Stanford University, damaged by Earthquai<e. 




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Memorial Arch, Stanford University. Damaged by Earthquake. 




View showing a portion of the Asylum for the Insane at Agnews. Wrecked by Earthquake. 




Another portion of the Wrecked Asylum at Agnews, showing Results of Earthquake, 




Sonoma County Courthouse, Santa Rosa, helore the Earth(iuake 




Sonoma County Courthouse, Santa Rosa, after the Eartliquake. 




Wells Fargo Bank Building, Santa Rosa, destroyed by Eartlnjuake. 




Hotel Vendome Annex, San Jose, wrecked by Earthquake. 




St. Patrick's Church, San Jose, destroyed by Earthquake. 




Ill"""" 



IBRARY OF CONGRESS 



017 169 887 A #