1906 San Francisco Earthquake: Introduction

This history was completed in 1940 by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in conjunction with the

California National Guard and the California State Library.

Digitized by the History Office, Camp San Luis Obispo, 24 January 2015

Original document on file at the California State Library

THE CALIFORNIA NATIONAL GUARD

AND

TidE EARTHQUAKE AND FIRE

1906

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

ASSISTANCE IN PREPARATION OF THESE MA'rERIALS WAS FURNISHED BY THE P ...RSONNEL OF WORK PROJECTS ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL PROJECT NO. 665-08-3-128.

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'I~1.t. tJ.:J~X~UP.I~E A~W FIRE

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·The r;;ysof the '!Urnint; sun .. ere re<:.chlng v-e~ tv.r.rd to be the the lofty ~ea.re::: of the Co" s t fw.n,5e on tne !~or·, inr: of A}JrLl. :s , 19::16 , v.hen \\ithout v,<:.rnlL__. , but swift end su1e , tile hand of desti·ucticn reacr1ed up throu~:h tl thin cru:::t of t:H:. e.rtll to destr'-'.1 , ,i th nature ' s relentless sevel·ity , the vrJud city of tne Gola~n Jute . DoubJ..y visitt;d by tr..e drec: .. d cal:=t.Jiities of earth~uake c.nct :.'ire , the ~tueen City of the Paclf' lc lay _pros trd te . Gashed by yawning fis!;;ures , a c .. <...rred sl-~e.Leton outsprec. d undo2r i-1 pall of s:11oke iG the ru~ns of nec.rly the entire busi~ess section And the ~0~t be~utifui I'8dident~il district of the city.

Little rel.i.ub.le lnformc-.tion rego.rding tne exo.ct title of the enrth~uake wo.s availablA , as fe~ people ~ere about so e~rly . eports vr,1·.ied fro:n five o ' cloc""-c tv;elve minutf.'S ~i:x secnprls to

five o 1 cloc.t: tnirteen minutes t.tirty- seven ~econd~ , A. :._ ., but the • .!lore re_;_lable autJ.J_oritle~ 5:.ve t:le ti::te of t.1e beg..:.:1ning of the disturb8YJ.C':":' as five o ' cloc1\: tv.e.:ve :n.inute!: tt.irty- six seconds , A. : • , l~pr ..:.1 .:3 , L906 . Tne eartlh.uake bE.'gnn l"i th fairly st.r-:mt.; .10Ve~ent of the eartL ' s crust a11d continued wi.th increa.sing strengtn for one.u1lnutP or a. trifle .le~s , then ca.::1e a biolent twisting sicKening shoe , ~nd ~ulet ~as rE tored about thr·ee .JJinutc;s l.ater . TnE: totc:.: ' ur tion of the ais turb<mce v:as ~b~ut three ~tnutcs and t .:.rty ~econds .

The e~rth~uake ~as caused by str~in on the 8arth ' s crust set u1 hy a slow re:&tive dLspluce~ent of t~e Land on c~posite sides of a fault and rrEctically ~arallel ~ith it . The f&ult ~hich v·;r s the center of tne dl..sturbc-nce in t'le San Frc:ncL::sco ec..rtll­Cj_Uftl'::e .Ls located a fev. rJilAs south of the cl. t.y . T~1e ~Iove...r.en t of t~e earth 1 E crust ~~s from soLtnea~t to northwe~t and v<rle from seven to t~enty-one feet . Tr1~re w&s also a vertic~l di5-place~Ient of fro:n b.0 to trnee feet . ~· T!le disturb<-lnce w:=ts of unusu8.l ::.ever..:. ty a!1a ;vc.s .~.os t viol·~n t in the re(3 iou f ... b,~u t San Francisco B&y .

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*Str ... te ::-arthc ... uHk€ Inves ti~SU tlon co~l'Il.:. .. slon he port ' Vo.J.u::Je 1~2§:e 3 . '

any people were injured or killed in t!1e cities and :.n so..ne instE.r.ces 1Jerson::; became n.entally derc.nged . r.:E.r.y people v ere thra~n from thelr b~ds c.nd there ~as a general awakening of a~l people aslee) . I n the ~one of rnaxinum di~turornce , ~er~~- s av.·on:e and cit tend L.~ to their du t iet. v;ere tr1rov,n to tJ r ruun~l . .vic:- ny net.trd ru;nb..i.ln!6 sounds im:ned Ln. tel y be fore feE.:..:.in i t ..) SJ oc • Some reJ:orted rwving ~een t.1e biolent ::-v.c..yin~ Jf trel-~ . Ti1cre v'.ere :sev~J'Rl cases of r.er::: • s suffer.i.ns from nausec... 1-'\i.n[l::., in gen2 r..: '.'.ere , ffected VV.J.. tf• terror . Bulldings vvere par·t i all or co·npletely v. reched ; otno;.;r·s were ~!Li.ft.:d on the..:.r found< ti :.n~ . Sprlr.t,s End v·,t"'lls 1·.~re c i'fected pE-rr:.a!'lently or ter ..

1 orar..:.l.y .

Tit ere Wt"'re ::..<:.ndsl ide.::.. on ...., teep s'!..opc~ , rc.ilv.ry trA.c!<..s Vd?r e buc .. led "'nd broken . L."" r·~e trees v..ere Llro~dl t..) t'le ground c:- r1d in some cc- so ne~ped off above tne ground . *

'IhP. ~hoc!.. , rerceptibJ..e to tne ~ent>es extended from Coo~ B c.:~ , Orer;on , -::m t .. · north to Lo~ An.;eles on the souL , c · "1 istc..nc~ of about 7 .)0 ml.:es; <- •c-'~ eat:> tcrly r~~ far a~ Wi nneL uccr , "lt;VW < , a di~tc:.nce o .• : :.bout ;JU railes fr.)m tne coc·s t . Tne t rr.:.tor; < [ ··~cted , Jproxim~,ted l75 , 0v0 .square ~ni.::..(;s ln .... and fro:n the coc-st . -**

The ban Franc.:..!:..co earthc.ua:t.e <.tnd r8su~ tan t f .ire r&n..t'.S w.!. th the grcc< t cc... tas tror hes of the v.orld ' s .~" i~tr1ry . COli.! I,- ar<.:. ti ve ly ~!lla::.l as ~as the ti~t of killed and injurec , tne c..nnihilatlon of the bus L:::1e~ s sec tlon of tt1e city and .Jf t e mo:::: t tnicn:..Ly ro

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resldentail di2trict , broutnt to tne bread li~e virtua:ly the city 1 s entire po:)ulc.• tion . Tne shoe~ left the city f. o·:. erless to supply ~ i <tl t , he; t , water , drainc..ge e.nd ,.Jeans of tro-.:n::; r ortr..:. t.i.un or communi co t.ion within the city or v . .:. th the outside \.or::..d . Be cause of tne breaKing of the ·1.a ter .nain s , .::~buut tnirty fln ~ s h:ch were saic to hc.ve stnrted on both :::ides o1' P.'i<.tr.Ket .Street lmm~dlately aft r the shocK , could not be coratro~Le~ . ***

T.!.thin tl1ree hours after the earth~uake , e continuous ..:.ine of flaQe extended alan~ the ~ater front from north of ~£rhet Street , south ~ast the Ferry Bui:ding to ~i!:::sion St~eet fnd west past Third 5treet . T~e Ferry Building &t the foot of ~arhet Etreet and nearly all the pi ers along the ~2ter front ~ere spared by reason of the broad expanse of Ebst StrPrt (The Eillborcadero) thct se~~raterl tnem from t~e nearest buildinG -· Bet~een East a,d Third Street~ , the ele~ents showed no ~c:vors .

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*State I~rtl1;uan:e Inve_tigation Co~~isEio~ Re~ort , Volume 1 , ase 1 .

**State F2rth~ua£e InveEtig~ tion CoD~ission Report , Volume 1 , pa~e ~ .

~**San Franci~co Re~ief SurvE~ , By Char:es : . L ' Connor , rage 3.

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On bo t h sides of :v1c-.r.Ket Stref t the fla1::es made o c"!.e:.n sv.eee . The flPues svvept s ter di ly to\·,ard the west and so'Jthv1es t. From Townsend Etreet on tne south east to San Francisco Bay 8n tn'e norta see~ed a solid mass of flame~. ~est of Third Street an occasio~al building was srared , ~orne of tna~ , by reason of hav­ing priv: tP 'Yater suppli ·s froo deep wel~.s , and others by re.:os0n of tne i r f 1. r e res is tL1g qualities . The I d.._< ce Hotel v.as one of those su~plied by a deeJ well . It ~as hope tnat tne f~muus nostelry would be saved, but before the danger ~&s ~ast the supply of water v:c..s exaausted rnd the tnirty year old establish­ment was soon a mass of fl&~e~ .

Excited crowds watched the fl&mes devour ~kyscr~:ers wnich tne day before ~ere the pri6e of tne Pdcific Co~st . The lack of ·,c. ter made the employ.nen t of dynmai te nece~::;< rJ~ in the effort to s te y the devour in~.S flames . Exrlos ions v,ere ·1e!:l rd on evE ry side , ~hlch added ~o the a~ful ro&r of tne fl&mr~ , the top;ling of bu rY1ing buii.din,_, ..- , , i th novl and then a mingli. _; >f ..,. he- t seemed like the moan of the traveli~g eartn . A large part of thA •vholesa_l.o olstric t , practically 0ll of tHe retail and :..nap-pine district , the pri"1c.:.pal finc...ncia:L cente!.., , the .le[•dlng hate.:...., , some public bui '..dings , hundreds of sme:,ll no tel..., ;;; td lodc;lng houses and .LC:t.q;e portions of the JlOS t expens _:_ ve o.nd exc :.usi ve resLdential section.s ~ere cons~~ed by tne fla~es.

By the mornin~ of April t~entietn, t~e fire ~rs bnder contro~ . ~uter mains nad been ~artially repaired and there was at least a no 1)e tnr ~ t the v:or:3t was over. The flar1es hc.d swept westtt.ard to Van Ness bvenue and Dolores Street and south to To~nsend Street . A few bull · ings re~ained ~tanding in tne burned district , but on:y a few . lhe bur~ed area covered approxi~eteiy 4.7 acre~ in tne hec: ,rt of tne cit., . Th<: t area e:.nbrC],ced 5~1 city bloc.l.{s of which t'ni.rteen blocks were ..;aved and 508 burnec'l. Tnere \'.r&s a total of "-<- , ldB buildings destr8yed by the ee:.rtht; __ ual-ce e-nd fi f ,

("1nd 200 , 00') 1 eop:e were rendered hone :Less . T.ne loss of re<:< l 2: _d personal property ~~vas es tlur' ted at 450J , "'JJ , vOJ , and tne ir.sur­Rnce coliected a~ounted to &b"'ut ~~OO , uvJ,OUJ . *

The kncv1n loss of life from tne e·"rthq_ua.c{e a~d fire v.as 4.98 , v,_;_ th 415 serious.ly injured. Nine death: were cu.u~ed by vio:c:ce , t.;ree of v,h:tch were bruught ur on unoffendine rr.en by over zealous ratrol~ . *

Tnose ~ho utilized tneir Kno~ledce and profited by ~ast ex~erienc~~ noted clo-ely the te~per of t1.e ~eople , &nd t~ey unlted in rssFrt­ing tltat the seis~ic dlsturbbnce ~ou:d have been for~otten &s soon as the da~age could berepaired had n~t the re:l disaster fo:lo~ed close on tne heels of the ee:rth~ua~e . **

. oOo . *San Fr~nci~co Rellef Survej, By Charlc~ J . C' Connor , pugss ! , 5. **History of t"le San J.'rc:nc~~co ~;_.rtl"i .... c:.£.e , ·By Jorm P. Youn~: , \...,:ur:le r_:: , race 8;..9.

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To say th~t tLe ut~ost confusion rei~ned in Lan Frfncisco duri~~ the thr8e days immedietely succeeding the e~rth~uake is putting it too !Ililclly . Tnere v.ere scene,:, of horror almost beyond the po~er of words to derict . De~th ~as on every ~&nd . Terror rei~ned even R bove sorrov. for the dead and dyine . Grief for destroyed homr>s , ruined property c..nd t!le loss of f<.->mily and friends. No one kne what mi~ht happen next and all seemed to a read the wars t. ·rnere seemed notnint; to turn to . Lven the ground upon ·which their homes had been bui ,~ t v:as rising c..nd f£ ~l­inr-; for there were sever;:;l ..:igh ter shocA.., durine the day. J:.dded to t~is ~ere the shriP\~ of the injured , the neepin~ of thE home­less , the bereaved a.nd t.e de~titute, <nd &bove all. , the derfenin0 .

ro~r of the flames eating their ~ay unimreded throuuh the vit£ls of human effort . There v.ere the era shing of' falline buL:.ding and the intermittent boom of the charges of dyn2mite which v.ere being set off by men inexperienced in the use of ex~:osives in a mad effort to foil the greedy f..f..ame~. Then add to rll this the phantom s!-1apes of hunger and tnirs t vvhi.ch ¥':ere nov; making the Lr presence kno%n End one has only a di~ pretense of the horror of the si tuc- tion in the beloved city by ·the Go~den Ge-l te during tne t~enty-four hour~ immedi&tely succeeding the first shock.

bout noon on the eighteenth the rocKi~€ of the earth subsided, thus lessening tne causes of terror and drebd . People vere ~ti:l fleeing or attemrting to flee fro~ ~h~t they considered ~ doomed city. Ferry boats ~lying bet~een San ~rancisco and OfklEnd, Alaned& &nd Berkeley were jammed ~ith people in a mad rusl1 to esc&pe. The hishvvo.ys ·to the south v.ere c rov;ded. with re t'u~ee!.:, eager to ~et a~ay--to re~ch a rlace of s~fety. Vhere thrt ~lace micht be, they Lne~ not . In tne clty the fire ~ti~l rbged.

The ~ork of de~truction continued al~o~t unl1indered. Dur~n~ -U-~S in tne fire , people were seen rus~ing tnrcueh the streets to~ard the ferries . Otherf strove to reach the hi~her ground to the ~est and south~e~t . Tne city was wra~ped in a thick, stifling cloc..:t\ of ~woke wh-ch seemed to be cons tt·n tly thickening . Added to the r'lc; gue of the smoke wo.s the stench of gas escc: j>.ing :·rom tne :er1ki'1,~ gas r:~a.Lns --sicken.:. 'lg c nd OVt:!!'l.OV. e r i!1b. In the burn­ine ri.istrict, gas mr:Lns v..ere shootint.: ur eeysers of' fla:.ne. TJnder sucn concitions it v.c;s no \\ODder tu t fren<:y < nd fri5ht seized uron the people ~nd sent t.nem ru~hin3, ~tru~gllng ond fighting along every avenue of escape .

Yet in the midst of derth &nd de~truction ~l splendid s 1~:rit of heroi~m apreered among tho~e ~ho l1ad e~c&red. A:2. had not bec~me panic stric~en under the stress and strL:n of the occasion. ~en

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appeared seeming :;_y :'rom a 1::.. direct :..ons - -on foot , i.n c:.u tcr.:o'bi..:..n .. , rnd in cabs . Doctor5 , rich men , ~oor men, 5tron~ ~en and fr~il

en , eager to do ~h~t they cou:a to rescue the wounded and s2ve tne dead ~·r-,m bei"'"" 'hurned beyond recognition l.n the ru.:.ns . Policeutn , firemc~ , 2nd citizen volunteers ~ere tnere but they were al ..... o""t help:::..e""'~ · The firemen stood in cucgrin before the hydr~nts wnile the b roken water ~aln~ moched thew . The situ2ti n ~as one of bitter irony , but a:l who rewqined in ~o~~ession of their reason turned to ith & will and did their be~t.

Tnen there was another sicl e to gE.ze upon . The vul turt;S , v ho in tne guise of humo.n beings thrive u:ron '1 c:n misery and c..re eE,ger to pounce upon the v.eah and dei·ensele~s , grasped the op't-Jortuni ty to rob and loot . Fven the dead were n~t .eermitted to e~Cc ' pe tbe~e beatts in humc.n form . One in::t&Ece Y1as cited v.ne"e one of tnese vultures s tH ted to ~ ...,oldier perfol'ui..ns l:UE,rd du t.; , thh t one of the deed bod ie~ lyint: nenrb:t y,r.;.s nls :mother , P!"C e v.as 1 .. e r'ni t t Pd to t;;o to the body . Jl pparen tly OVf-'rCo.~e by ~r .i( f , .1e thrf:..w hi.nself c>cross the corpse . The \';<,rchful !::oldier a:..scoveted th~t tne goul v-,as chevvint; the diu.1ond e<· rnirg~ fro;n t!1E.: ears of tne dead wo~2n . A bullet from tl1e soldier ' s gun lmmediately ended the gaul's C8reer . Tne diarnond~ 'I'; ere found in the oc.n ' !:: I!I01~nth. *

is .is on ... y one of the extrerae c2s• ... . Oth~r crimes a~r;w~t a bad were re 1)0rted and no doubt there , ere ~nany otht=r~ v,h:cb \'>ere never dlscover·ed . The l.i~,llt i'l"lgered gentry wer·e t;Lere in pro­fusion . Begg2rs re:;..resentlng tr.em~elve~ a::. refugee~ were nuwer­ou.s. 'l'nere v,as much r.~ill.s.glnt of ::-tore~ and other bu~ine~~ hout.e..., . L~ter on there was considerable lootin~ of caillps and ~Ufply derots filled vitn ~Ufpli~s for tne refut:ee~ . Tne~e tLlev~s of every de:::crl; ti.cm were ~um.nc.: rily deal th ~'. i th \\nt=n cc... tured , but u~c.ny of the culpri t.s e::,cc._ped . For a tL1e, aft.:?r tl e ~':ock the v£ndc:.ls lundered c.: t •· 1..:1. 'The con fu~ Lon v;as so ._:rea t <: nd tr:e ca tc ~ tro ~he

so ::ippalliYJ.g ttl t little <ttertLm Y>i<•S c;iven to _,u·rd~n~_; 1 rc;}..ert) , &nd not until the ::.-oidler:::. ap ~ ec>r•: . .>d on tr~e scene v. a~ thel e any orga::.-' iz ed effort to ter li!:c; ie the ~c t i vi tie~ of tne c r i.minc-1 element.

The s tret t car ::.ine[ v:ere en tlrely out of corll.r:iss Lon <~nd Ll'iTIY of those who o~ned or conirol!Ed convey£nces cf &ny de:cri~tion ~ere ~uick to take &dV~tntr:tge of the s:.tu tlon . Cno.rges of tv.enty doll:-~ rs for c&.rry::.ng trunK~ F fev blocks v cr€ common . One werchc.~.n t .-,c.~ rerorted to hrt ve engo.ged c, te&ms ter with horse:., Lnd v.<.:g on , c. grce-ing to i'"-·Y nlm fift} do.L.:ai·s c:.n i-Jour . .1~n v~t·re re1 orted to hb.ve offered ~: 1u-!h c ~ t'lOJ . •JO to be ta~E...n to the ft.rr:, . Ar.otht:I • ·nty • 2 id "".< 5 • vJ for c:· t-u~boc.. t to tr.ke tnem to OoKland c: nd ~ ti.1.l another v.as seen to P'--Y ('.._ , ,..~.;o for ~m puto.!!obi.le in v.11ich to h·hen hls fr-mil

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~t-The t;;: n· Fr&nci~co fe:. rtnL.u; ~e < •,d Fire , Fy Jo_ r," e~ tiu:se!l \, ii.son , ... -c.:.ee ~31 .

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to a r•lr,ce of safety in the hills ~outh of the cl ty .

E:otle groce l.'~ and gene ec- l s torekee.t?er::..: '.'i:1o~e I': - ces of bu~ ine~ had not been destroyed acted the ro:~ of snylocxs by deuandLn0

outrageous prices for foodstuffs . One dollar 1er aozen was tnei r price for e5gs . One C:o: lar for c- .l.o&f of crec-.d C<nd "'- do i.l< r for a handfu! of coffee ~as the de~ru1d . Tne5e profiteer~ thrivea for & time , but ~fter tDe arrival of tne ~oldier~ the ~oo~s ~ere ~elzed ana distributed to the needy on~~ free of cherge, rL~ard­less of t.ne remo~str::nces of tlie ~hylocr.:s •

. t>y no~:m .)f ll.pril ni~eteenth , San lt"rc~ncl:._co ' s Chi YJ!: tov.n was a furnace . F~~rl.i.t=r in tne da~· the rPs Lden t~ of th ·· t ·-~uc..rtLr n.: d t'r.c .:..r s imp:::..e· po,:, ~e~s ians bundled for der c...rt-.. a e. Thouseridsc.,f tne forlorn loo~in~ Oriental~ ~ere in ev:dence ~bout the ferry build­ing av,ai tirlL an op~ortuni ty to 6et out of the c~ ty . It \'vasrwt until the ear thc,;uc..ke hod snah.en tnP ricKety ho.r.es of' t.le Chlne~e to the e.'"'rth to be destroyed by f_L, ~.- , tnat the ;:uthorities of t:an F'rc_ncl~co rec:.LLzed v.hr::..t .uann(.r of ce Sc::.n Fr&rcL~co ' s Ghl·lato~·.n v.as . Some of the secrets of P.e much advertised C~ina to1 , , the mecca of ::.11 tourists in CCllifornia , in v ich ~J , ..~JO Cni1 '='~c were said to live , lay exxosed . *

hen the a. shes v.ere c.1.eaned av.ay a:ft8r t_;e i' ~re tl'.e ya\'>.n..:.n6 ;n-.~:... tL..­of tunnelb , ~h~ch the police a~d ~on[ ~u~~ect8d , ~ere r~ver:ed . Very fev. ~hich :nen r1~ - d ever st:en these un'ler grcm•-.d J'&ssac:es . Peo;.le v.ho v..:.sl ted trJe ruins of Cni11a toV~n F,fter the ee.rtn ., uahe and r.:..1 e

ere c::stu.isned ct the netv:orl: of tunnel.: wh1-ct'l l.'-1y P1

of •·hich v.ere e~tLJ< ted to be une hundred fef t deep . :.'-Jo one to the certairty ~a~ ~~ny :1ves wcreio~t there &s a resuLt of catastrophe , but t 1a t the nu,nber rc:n in to the hundr (;d!:. "/'.[ s c. '"or c l cert:_intv.

'The E.anFrtnC"i.~co d~· .!.ly nev.sp<...,ers , all of V1 • ..:.ch Y.t.>re burned ou ... , f- re ·:.Luick to ~c: .1{8 e:•n effort to res u ne operP ti'::r.:. On lhursdc:.y ,

the dc 'Y fo.:lm\inb tne e~rth~ual.e, trie n:.'rn.>z~ournrl~ .:..ssued a. s.r.c.ll combine: t ~vn sheA t b8a r L1g tltL head :_"1g Ca :1-Ch.ronic 1 e-LXf' .iner . T!'lis v.as ::;st ur. c. ~ nd J.rinted in the orr..:.ce of the O<r~.:..: . nd Triot.ne . "'he Oc-k:<·nd m'I\Spa;.,ers n< d t,er-ei·ou~l:.' off ered t.he u.:.e vf tLelr

i..rn ts c.nr~ e'-iui.r·men t to u e uni'or tun~ te uC...n r r;:-.r c L., c publ i::.hers c:nd the offer was c"uickly and thc..nkfully Fcce 1~ t, • ·rne ... an Frc-p­cLco pc..per·s v.ere r.rir.ted in Oc-~ .lc.Dd for ~·.>.ne tl .ftecr tr.t:' di...,­a~ter , but,·under theLr ov.n hec:cii . .. s . ~<-*

?ri::ocrJLrs conf>ed in tne:: city ~ ri~'"'n en the fifth flocr cf tne e-ll of JlJstl.ce v ere c: t flr:t trrn::-.!'er-red .i.n :.ro"1::o to t!_e Ccl Se­

rr:eD t of tr.e ..., trt.ct'Lire. L'- ter tney v.ere re .. ~ 8VE::d to the Bro~ cJv.ay ~ail end still lc--t€1" t.:.ey ~·i e::re cr.J·-JVE-Yt'd to Plc&tn· z • .... lEtnd, ",nence ;1cr·oss the bc-v to Orn.lc: nd End ~urroundi!l!S tc..v.ns •

. oOo. *The 2an Fr£ncisco Earth~u&he, Memoai a l Edition, EY Jc:rut~ Rus=ell

ilson , . -~e 173 . *~The San fr~pcisco E2rth~U6Ke , ~e~oric-1 £dlti0n , By J~ .e~ ~us~el~ V'.dson , 1-'r·~e J.56.

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The frE ,;,.!:: of tl_e ec. rthc.~ue.:.e \ .e::,e m: ny . \.ide f.i~~urE-s v.t..re T.' r'e in the streets. Street rai~V.<' Y~ V·• ·re tv.is 1~t:.C: out of "lne . SevrE rs and \'tu ter pipes \'ere burs ted . Rc- ilrcad trc: ehs tnrough-mt tr.e ~ ... r, I're>.nc.:..::.co Ic:y rE~ tr .:..ct v\ere tl/,isted end ot:t Qf :.ine .

e V :i mcic tlotel on Valencia ::.,tr·eet , a fo'..lr ::-tory v.ooden buL:!.r1 .:. •. sanK into t£1e b&seoent , a pi~e vf splintered tiwbE:r~ . -h-

~c_ny beautiful "lo:..1es were lnicl in ru.l.r1~. Ar.Jonb them '· c re the Ste:.n-:1 mc-nsl· · , the C. P . Huntington rP~idence and the HPnry Crocker res..:.(< ce . ·rhe old I.1 :. r.~.{ Hor:-.n.ins re~idence v.hl.ch y,c;:.~ being used as an art scnool b the University of CL:ifor2i& , c.n 1 the l"i:.l CrocKer residence cont&ining t~.e fi.1est co:lection of c-rt on the 1-' '· cific Cor ~.t v.ere de,.w~.ished .

~o~e of the noted nostolrie~ destro)ed by the fire ~ere the celebrated Pe.lace Hob.: , the L.t . f'r<nc..:.s Hotel ~.nd ttE' Falruont Hotel . The United S t& te.., Sub-l re; snry v:as aes troyed but tne United ~tates ~-nt ~itn nearly ~~ou , JJO , OOJ in coin and butlior stored in it~ VFUlts \';( s but s .... i..;l ~ .t dt.r.lcged . rhe C.5..ty Hal.:. v,, ~ ~evere.:..y d< ":c:~ed by the e; ... r·tnqua.K£ but e ~c a ped t"'r flc= ['&_'lege to btate _~:;rop(.,r ty vi&S e::.;t.!..me: ted C~t fl , OOO , OlJu . Tne Jc&deu of Sciences , the Gro.nd Ol'era Hou_e , H<:l of .;u!:.;tlcc , 1d ..,~ech;:.,nic ' s P?vilion ~ere all destroved .

Ar.10ng tne noted but::ine:.:,.:: buiJ..C....i •, lS to be destrc..yed ViProe +,r.e F .... ood Fuilding , the Miil~ Bul~ning , the ~~reck~es Bui~al: 6 , theCrocher

BuLi..ding , the Phelqn Bul:din~" the krcta'1t ' s Exch< n1

E; , ... ,he l.r•r.orium , the tmi0n Tru::..t BuL .. dir.6 , tne Pc:.rrott Builc _, <md tne 'I'elegr;:,~·h B'li .:_,..in:: . I'he hor.Jt.~s of the three f.< lly Nev. sr-'c..; er!:. , the Call Bu il.di , '":he Chron Lcl e Bu.:..tdlng c...nd tl!e Exa;11iner Build-ing \·,ere also f ,._; tnose con!:.UJ.ed by the G.evc.!.:tL ting f~&..1es .

One of the s~~t yictures~ue and ~tubborn fi0hts of t~e entl::e

t1!l'ee day~ of 1' ire fit; .. t .ne; v, &~ :.12de on Te..lq;rc.. ' •n Hl.:..l . .'.ior e :t;h::tn a huncrPd houses , occu1~ied me- ini.y ty Itr·~ic..ns vvere perched on the southern c_,nd eastern slop~s of' t.h,tt pinnacle . ':'ne h.:ll v;8s cjttac.t:ed by tne fire on tne north c' nd v:e:...t 3.ides . There v,C'.S no chc: .. r~ce for c-s~itonce c..s t .. ere "t",o.s no ~ '.;::.tt:r _pescure and. evcr·y ave. :labJ..e ;ncn IH·S busy in tnc v~ l.:.cy~ be:.m • . Tr11 .... re v,a::, E

·,ell with ;::_ f.Ut.lF on the top of the hLi..i <nla re!...:dents or,st:r,­lzed a buc.r{~.:' t br: .T !"of'le . I'!1e little b<. nd ;:+- ~ire fit,h ter~ wei·e ~lov; ly (l tlven bc1.C'..:. , JU t t11ey did n0t· '-1U .l. ftt a cr .LticLl ..r.orr:ent tne v;&ter :n thE: J..l \\<' ... 3 exhausted . 'i:r.• 1 lE:: It&:.lc.:n ru .. ..:. ,lent::. cc: 1-ltd for as!....i!...t&nce , ere.~ ed in t.he door~ of t , t..ir ce.:l.: r~ <md bebo.n to roll out bc-rrel!... of red v.ine . ::aci'..~ and beddir15 v.c-r8

. ouo.

-;(-The San Fu4nc i!... co r~<- · r·tn~. uc: .ke , •1lC!:.lOl"iol .~...td i tion , "Sy J cnJe~ ~.u~~ ell Vilson , f.vr~e J6 .

-7-

oc...n:ed in tne v, ine , nd u~ed for be:: ti.n5 out the r l.re r.,nd ntmt5 over the exposed pc.rts of the cott<1.ges . T 1e v. int a.cco:.~.t)li.sned the hl~o~t i~nos5ible. The ho~e~ ~ere EbVtd .

Tov~ard the end of l•r-ri:;_ it Vvo~ dU:cover·ed that the Government fortifications at tne entrHnce to the Golden Gate hLd not e~c~~cd injury fron1 the earthc.ueke . At Li.me I-oin t tne e'!lpl.:. ceuen ts on ti-Je: big ~uns were tv.i eted and crc:,cked 2nJ t;he concrete floors ~·nd halls of the ern~lacements sho~ed un~l~takable cvlde~ce of not h&v­ing v,ithstood the: ~neck . Cona.i.tl:.ns Vicre equ',.ily bud at the old fortificntirms be: cK 0f Fort ~oint. ·:ne: ~rent t •. irtet:n i.nch LUnE on both siae~ of the Golden G<jte, £(ld c.:.r,.:..tltut.!.ng its J.< in de!'en~e , had bc>en rendered 1 rc.ctic~~ly useless . Tne nE-~v:.ng .:>f thP e[rth

ad de~troyed t.te ae.:...J..cEte c ' Q~'..J...:t~~=>nt UeOD w.lch tne Lt-~vy t.,Uns were OJlerc- ted . -~:-

e e)...,er.!..ence in Sen Fr~ ci:..:co vas< testi.d 0niv.l for tr.e . 1cdern 5teel bui::i r ~ . A ~core of tne~e str~ctures "t:re in t~e cuurse of cu11s tructlJn in t11e c i. ~y &,...td nor e of theu ~ u.'f'en d frvra the: erlrb14uc:.ke ~ - wcn: . Tne cora. :eted :r.odern :... teel bu.::.ld.:.ur;~ were found to be u.Lr.o:::. t .:r tact . In "' .i.. ,:;::. t every L ·s tc.11ce , tr!c C< rthr.l'<'' ve see.ned not to lvve d<·.r:ac:~d tne ... 1 . Corn~ci!:. <''ld trl!ll!'.:_.~~:;.·;:...,_- , ut t:..~ ~teel frc- nes v.ere ~n f ..... U~'lb c-nd a~ stro'1u < s evE:.r . 'lne ,;e by ec:rt:w ... ua!.e did not cv.G1f1nr~ , 1.·itn .J...OSS by firE: . In <-...l.L but

ft=-Vv Of tne L1odern S tee.J.. structUrfJ::O the .interior v.-ood\';Ork v. [ ~ c18S­troyed by the fLa~es .

At 'bout .3 : ..JU 1 •• , April e:.c.teent.1 , c:t the cr .ll of 'J~yor Buge.·ne E-ch .. !Ltz , a nu .b of cLtize:::1!:: of' ban i'nnc.:..~co a~:.-err;bled in b: r12.ll of Ju.3 t.:ce fu1 a conft• r·e:nce . '.)u t of tt, :.s g<; tr.er in~ cr.!.g.~ ' ,:ted tte celebrated co~~lttee of fifty a.1oLnted by the ~c:yor . **Duri~g tLe deliberctti0nS at the ~eetin; , the ~pro~ch uf the f~re CO~Ielled the Co.n.r.ittee to .!:ove , fir~t to thE' r.::.<....zc: c...cross L1r str~E-t frr n. the He-ll o f Jut..tice , tnence to tne Fcir·ruont ~.ote.L . t-l.::.n~ for Jeh-­.::.YJg v~itn tne criticc-l ~iturt:on ·xist.:.r:.~ :.n t!le cLty were Jutl.lned by the Co.mnitLee End !peedlly rut ir.to 8Xf'C;..~t.:.on ')D tne P-r;~uin~: dey .

he f the eYiste.~ce of the Cou .. .:.ttee i.ns_.i.red e: dE:t:ree e J0'1~ tne ~ufferer~. 'I'ne self-.i...J1,osed dutlu. of the

effect u 1 on the ue:r,b€:rs tl'.emselves t.:.n~ .e ~d h t tue r·Jor tn l:"nd

.:.ne-

r<nklin 'lc:.:l 0

~· r Sutter . Tn.!.~ tc- l.J...

.oOo. *IT'.p Doo_Jed CLty , By F'r.::nK 'Ihu ... ,.srn. Se<r.i.t, J t , ~<· c,e :31 .

~H:-?.r~. t()ry. ·-;f ~fr Frc_ •!ci.~co , J.Jy Jctn fl . YrJunc , : c..;~~s ~ '

':) ~'-'·

-5-

occuJ.led lJ_ tne Co~ Ji t tee dur ir.c tnc f·n.,u.:. 1__: days dur ~nt: -..>.ich tne rebui~r c:ty Government practic:lly cea~ed to functl0n; the duties of t~1e c ~ ty of C . cic.:s devo.l v ins u_;,on the ex tr:::.. uff ic ial body appointed by thE. m8yor.

!·t the meeting of t he Cor..1.ni ttee ~n the Fro.nr.l·~n He<.ll on the nl~eteeLth , de~· :1~ of f ~l~n fon ~er:icL ~~th the Eituatlcn

ere worked ou.t. ?very corcelvab:.e reciul1 ·euent v;as con~idered <nd .~-rovl::-ion r..1rde to rr.E:'et i.t . t::ub-co , .. ~Ji.ttees >.ere r.~ 1 o.L tt.d Por tne fol:o~in~ ~ur~u~~~ : *

e:if of tLe hur..ery Hou:...ir.g Relief of sick ~nd ~n~u

£nd ~edic2~ Sur~~ie~ ei.ief of' t':e Cl-J.~nese suf'fer·ers Tr~ns 1 ortation for refuge0s c: tiL,en J.ol::..ee ~uxLlcry Fire Der~rt~~nt Fest8r£tlon of C~ty ~£ter Su~;l Fo::~ torE.tlon of L.:t,ht E '1d T"E<.er•hcne ..-ervice ie~torrtiun of ft<ttoirs

fires in dv,el: Lt of trrnsportrtLon of Clvi: Govtrnment of Juoicirry

·'"''"'.J!liJticn of rct<•il tr::de Rc:.ouJ:Iptlon of ~-~~ole:.& le trc:.de Se.ni tr ti on

ir!ances

·rr1e oriec:inal co J.r.itt.ee of f'i.t.y :r;re :.:· r'l"" srJscLal officet:i by tt1e ~ryor v.ith fu~l !:'O•'•E.r to relr·escnt h ' .. , .'1d v. ith 1 01'.fr- to 1€­~uisit.i..on :nen , ~1.1p 1.:..:.es, VE..nic ... cs c.n' ::., ... t~ for ,.ub~ic use . For the L.rst time si. ·"ce the disc:,stE'l' in t~.e eF>rLy .• :or-nir.r of trw ei.;t teen th the \~ ork &::::su'.€'d ~ c. •• Je se.rJb~c: nr e of ~ys tE:.JJ .

T.ht"' scrv~ce.s r·erfor ... E..d by the .Je .. Jbt. r ::- ,,f tne:. co .. l!.i tt.ee of fift <.nr1

r f t:le sub-co.:..:"Ji.ttee :... worh:illf" undertneJJ c nd t:le enert,;, c..nd L'ltellicer-::ce d.i.srlaycd in t~,c ,•t.rforr:.~ nee .)f the !ir&ct..:.c:L.y ::.elf­,,_llotted task::. of the rJer.lbe -, .·.:>Uld fl..:.l rr.c-ny chr.ptt:'rs . To t~_e.e xP~ , the c..:.ty of ~an Fr&~c:-~o >~es < debt of grrtitude .

On T.1ur~d<y, A')r.:.l nineteen , 'L ~te<:dJ :.:,tream of refugees rolled c-long tr:.e streE. ts teru!iY_t t::. :. t Go:den Ghte I'< rt~_ . .Wo.r~f- nur..;b• rs crossed the b · y :o OaL:c:nd o.nd other east. bEJ- c:.ties . Il ost i::nrosslble to obt<.i>:: conveyances of any descrir)tion at <n

-".rlce in ::.rn!i'ranci~co and t.:ose v.ho v.ere so rortur..· te < s to m)ve saved so:ne of t!'eLr cffect5 r·nCl desired to tJJVe t!1cm , vwre ur:rble to do so .

oOo.

*Hi~tory of San FrFncisco , By ~ohn P. Y0ung , rages b38 , b~9 .

-9-

Un • "'1' t;ne _ _ fin' , "e\'• adults heeded t.ne de .. lcr.c...::_ Of ' 1 lpt-tJ.te On tfw E'i•,!lteE·ntn , bu J tne follo~inu ~E Lar~e nuiJbE:rs of :-E:Ol.le g~ tt"ered in t!'le J.-2-lh::.. Lnd oren .t lc-ces in tr.e v.·e~ te1n 1 ~trt of the city, r.nC: .. m tr~e h~ L:;_.:; b~ en. of the .... L ::_.::_, n

re destitute cf provisi0n~ . Corner ~roceries h2d been ~~ert b~re of everytnine et-' to b:e . Fortune: te :_y , be fore tne r:e~cl becF ... t.C

too press:D~ , =u 1 ;li~::_ ~~~·e ~uurir.g in fro~ ever~ dirSct~ur .

e~ ru..,hea to ti1

distributed . _ .-~ted rrran~~~ents for bread to teers ~ere eLgf r to ns::.i~t . of t:nselfisrmPss. alacrity. Physlci~~s

J.J.\,. c rb"

;o-ltnou,)l fire~ co11ld be ::_een in

n

• ;!-

B:y even Ln5 o.r t ~; r ll t V~•riouS rJlc C1 .., , ~hE danger of it~ ~. rAfdin~ to and to a lc:. rge f;~ rt of the

tn,· re 1N s no furt:~.er

~ VeL Nes~ /venue L ::_ i o.n D i strict •

'l'ne f inane iE~l ins t i. tu t·.:..ons of tbe Ci t.y V·(. re t< dly cr ir,plt:d. ~~ot by :;_oss of fun(1._ , ')ut beet.JSE' tht•ir run.as , securitlE::s c: .... na recoras ere stored ln \ '"".t!..; buried in tr1e c.e..l.ris "-nC: P('CP~S to '!.,hem

\\ou:::.d r:ot be fO~~i[Jle for .;~pr:.y dro:.s. Cc.sh to tneet l!laturlr~~ oblif,&...: tions v1as not availc: ble. !Jo :~per or securities v ere "'cces ~ i blE: . U'1dE•r t.,ese circuJ~st::;rJct-s on .... y onto: cot~rst: v;l1~ch :A.tued ,:-rcctic:-1

c:.s follm,ed . '1overr:or P<·rdee dec...:,.._. red P.1 rii n:.netPcnth , n entietr. , c-nc t1.enty-fl.rst le~r_l holi.cl;:~'::. c-v1d on t.r1e :cttE-·r d.<·te ne r1oc:c:-i:rPd their contl .. uarce for t..:.r·ty 6.<. :•~. Hl.:.:.... r nc blE.d t:.t: houses to de<•l with the roblerJs confro!ltir~·~ tnE..-u:.-~*

On Srtu:-c1 'y , April tventy-fir..,t , t!~.e 1-'o. t Off.i.c:e resl.l~.ed deliv.or of !::r l: .._. ' reglstrc- tion burE::c:u v;c..s 8St~~b:id1ed c .1d recc-.,e & ~ort of cle• in._. 1~ouse for t!'Iose wno held tE::I:!l orc._r i:::..y ce· sed to n· ve c. ny addre~s.

:Jot clOfl€. he:...;. San FroncLco ~uffe ed fro~_: trtc ecrthc._ua.:"..e . o-=~..l<nd vvc.. ~ scvere..i..y ~lie. 1'-~n , ~;evere<l 1.:.. ves 'f ere ~os t c: nd CO!"!l}s.ra t.:. vely fe·,\, c:hi.nneys rer:lained st:;nj_i.ng in t ... lt.. c.i..ty . bfrr..eley fc-rcd :..i.ttLe [loi-tor t!lFn cid O<:.~..:.<"nd . P.lvLo , l-T!".yvard , ~c.·~.i.nvs, Ce>strovillc , I J ro, lunterey , Hol:::..i~t·~ , ii.lr'. , 1: .... <"'!::.., Alc..rnedh, Un Prf8.e: , N ~E, .... isun, VPll"'jo, •,:< t_ :z , ,.., .es , Stocn.ton , .... _erced, .:.ot: B<nos·, .::.<lcr·a.Jent )' >~ ci1ic urove , 'Y c:t..:onvl-:..Le , He~lc..sburg , G~"yser·vl.l.:::..e , Clover~1 ' l~ , Ho1:. 1 i 1 U.1.i~·~ , p::..ebs&n.ton , Ben.:.c~c, , ~.Ln Fc.:.h::..o , •. c.,n (uent.:..'1 , ..... Lus.Llto , )?i. .... A~t:- , nedv.ood City, Satt<. Cruz , t.a.n ..,'"'~-, [rnd ~:-c:nta fo'""c:~ wert: dc.'.nc:c::;· a , ..,o,.~e seve>re.l.y and otnE-r s slir~tltly _r~.,;-*

. oOo. ~mlt.tory·or San Fre:nc:.sco , By Jonn P . Youn&, P<·t.,e 81.,1 .

~~~-:us lory of t..En Frenc. sco , By John F. You11 ,

**~~'T'he Do 1J•leci Ci L., ' ny Frank\. Tn0J1}'Svn '-eC.ti' i6.' '

1.0-

t.te 845 .

e..::_ 6'1 , 7v .

o sadder infor·,p t:on v.r E rece L ved than tr .. & t the State 1' sylum for the insc:.ne & t AgnE v. , nenr ...:.o.n uO~. e hod collap~ed £nd ninety­six r~t- nts Ki:led . * Th8 Leland St&nlord G~~veri~ty ~t P2lo /lto ~~ severe:y d~m&~ed , but ~ort~n te~y , due tu tne eFr~y Lour at ~Lich the e2rth~uakc occurreJ , no :ives ~ere lo~t .

At San Jose t~e daw~ge was ~ore severe . T~o bui:ctilb~ in tn~t city were destroyed by fire as <.< res·.dt cf t:.e e&rtnc~ur.l.e , ~cverc:.l other bu:l~in ~ ~ere wr~c~ed by the shoch and hc-d to be rebu~lt Lnd 2 lc..rge number or bu_;_:.dl::-1_,~ v,cre duue:.5ed , but r:ot bey.>. d re­ralr . T .. e r.u .... ber of tersors kil:ed in tllct t.::ity Y.a:; r.i~teteen .

ColfEny B of trw Flftn Inf<:c:ttr; , ~~,~tL.mLl Guard ofCc;_ifornlE , stationed r- t San Jose , rerorted for cuty aluost im;.wdir te:y c.fter the shock and en the ro:.lov.inr; auy 'tics rel"1forced by Com.:." ny H, ~econd Infar.t ry , N . G . C . The~e t..-.• o cor ~. c:•nles v orr:cd in conjunction v,ith the locc-1 IJolice and rendered el<"cellent ~erv!.c ,e . Compc·ny B v.as hicnly corJn8nded by the civil euthot i ties of E:an Jose for the efficient serv l..ces rendered ..:.n t.ne e.ner_jer1cy 3·* J, line of I-ic!-:e ts surrol.Anded tne bu.si11ess di~trict v.here we:tllE.. o.nd. ~ V=•te :::...as~ v.indows had been demolished by the eartn~u~ke c':nd bU<-' rd ~ ~~ere s t2 ticJ~ed to protect priv:,te and rt:bl ic rroperty V1.:_tnin the city. rne need fo ~dditi0nal militlry ~ . sslstapce in~an :ose hc:v:n~ ra~sed , Co~~c..ny ~ of the Second Infc...ntry \·,as re. ~ eved fro:!! fur tr1er &c t ~ ve duty .1c..y ninth and ordered to return to its hJ~e ~t~ti~n . Com~nay B ~f tne Fifth Inf~ntry remc..iDed Gn ect.:_ve ~uty 8t its no~e ~tLticn unti: }nay nine teen th v;nen it was relleved fro:.n duty in the fiel.d ana dis -m i s s e d • -~(-~-~~

In Santa Cruz , tr.e da r.abe V12:.:, sli~n t end v,c..~ cor1f .ined pr inci_r..&.Lly to the loc~l po~er 2nd ~ightinb system . Tte Fourth DivisiJn of the 1\laval YIL.::..i tic:: ste<ti,;ned tnr~rc. , 1.~erfor.:1ed zuard Pnd l atrol duty in the city tne nlt.nt of .April elgnteenth by re~.ue~t of tne :Jc=yor .

At SantR .80!;..E , the C'ltct>trofhe , th '.t:,h !.ess ln extent , v:as gre< ter in degree ti.~ ... ""'.hat of Elor. Franc~- co . Tnere -· nre s iJ< ty-four ::.1. ve lost and f Lfty- one persons sericu ..., l; injured ./- The cl ty differed from most towns of sirnil8 r size :.n th£· t it -== s more com. act:y bui.:. t . ~11 its business houses were close:y froured ebout the center , hel'e the county Court Hou.se stood , ~o v.hen thc-' t gruur of bus:.ness block~ ~as tu~bled int o blazing ruLns , there v.ere no suburb~n stores to suprly the ;re~sLne needs of the ~oment . rhe ertire bu~ine ss district cf the city ~as destro)ed . ~&nital'y conditions in the little city rem&lncd ~ood and under an energetic local ra:i f co. ­mittee ~:l ho~eless reorle ~ere ~rovided ~ith -~Alter . Co~~~nic~~io

. oOo . ~:-.Ad~utant GenE::r<"l Rerort l9Z.,.o , :Lc_,e 55 . **Adjutbnt General fieport 1906 , J~~es 6 , 40 . ***AdJutint Genercl Beport l9u , ~a~~s 5) , 6~ .

f- '"'noort of :v1a.ior-Generc:..l A. V • ...r.•.elv , U. S . J ., p<1ge 15 .

-1.-

~lth the out~!de "orld ~2~ s~eedily re-e~t~blis •. ed and food~tuffs re shipped in . These matters we~e handled entirely by the lo Hl

relief com~ittee .

By 9 : 30 1- • .• • , April eiehteentn , Co..npe;ny F of tile f~::: ... tn hef",i.Ut..nt of Infantr; st· t - u1eC at Sc..nta R( & 18E on liuty i.n it~ ho:ne c.l.ty . Prm~, a.rr:rauni tion , ctnd un i forl!ls had bE:en re!3cued tro.:1 tne ruins of the ar.Hory ~nc r~uE. rds wet·e I·OS ted C1 t tne County Treasur .. , Ear,.\.~ ana in the business di~tri ct of the city . Co .. Jp·ny C of ?et< ... t..JE- v,esordered to the cl_Ssistc.r-.ce of Corr.p<.ny E and c.rri.ved f.t San ta Rosa &t ~ : 50 P . • o.:. .

of tr .. e eigh t een tr .. . :* Compan.:.es C c nd F in con~unct ion v.i th the locc:'l r alice re rfor..Jed .->V'.rd. c.;n<i patrol au ty in tne city and he nd:::..ect the situation ln a rno~t creditable ~anner . Co~pany C ~as re:Leved fro~ active duty -~1ay sixteenth and Co ... ! Emy E ·we:,s relieved :.~cy tv~ en t v- t 1.:..rd .

BPrkeley ~ab 1 rzctically uninjured by the eb r~h~uaKe , but it became a refugee for more thc.n ~ tnousand rPfu~ees frou Sen Fr~ncisco . relief ~UPJ•lies were forv,arded to the BPrkeley re l L. r co:n;:1 i t tee !.'rou1 t h"" r:ene.r·a l sut1plic s shipped to Sen Franci!:.co . The relief v:cs c:.bly and sat i sf&c tor i ly he:mdled by a lacE l co~.nl t tee , the on-Ly mi.li tar assistc-"'1ce rec.._ul.red having been rend.ered by Co.!.pat,y P, Veteran~ f.e5:erve , :r . G. C. Th~t co~:1pany perfor.1ed gua.rd a t ., in the city , guc- rd ln.:, refugee camps o.nd surp:L s unt!l L1·,y tni t( e.1th v.t1en tney ~ere re~ieved . **

Oakland and Alameda for t un te:y esc~~ed ~erious injury from the errth­quake and were srared the co.la·11it.y a:· fire . The two cl.tie~ v.ere r illed v, i. th refucSees frorr. E>~ Frc. nc i sco , tne nu:t:bE. r ~1r.v Lnc been vvrlously esti~;ted fro~ 5J , vJO to 100 , 000.

The si tuntion in Oakland was 1;ro.;li•tly tcu~en ~n h<.·nd by en enercetic relie f co~~ittee . Lrrge ~uantit:es of re~l2f -U~plies ~~re shiJp~d d lr ect to the East Bay City and v.henev~ r tnese v.ere def .icl.en t in ~uantity , they were ~uppiemented by sup~licd bil l ed to ~an FraLc:~c o. The need o:: troops in the l!;c..st Ba.y distr.l.ct becc.:ce a.p_r->2rer.t 2t once and Governor PLroee , w~10 had et>tab.l.lsned tem.~:or:c:.ry net~.L:uu.rtE:•r s :.n the c~ty h&ll ~t OBklanl , ordered ~"'1e b~ttalion of the Second Infantry , one,battalion of the Fiftn Infc:.ntr,~ , ~md Troop D Cavalry , to be stationed tnere . The Firs t Ret:im• 1 t of Infantry v;as also or de red to report for duty ln tne Bay oi~ tr ict and arrived in Oe.l-.:.:. · nd Apr .i tt.en ty-second 2nd tv.ent y-fourth . Upon arri vEl of the troops of the First Infantry in Oa~land , ~he b2ttalion of tne Second Infantry ~hlch had been ::.:.taticned ln t.1 t cit~ , ,.,rs ordered to ~.an Franclsco . The troops of tne NEtional Guard Ln ~uty in oa~l~nd and Alameda v·ere re­l i eved at v2rious d:tes f r om Mc:y 12 to :ay . 5 , l906 .

• c Oo .

*t~ j utan~ Gener2l Report 1906 , page 8 .

**Ad j utant General R~rort , 19~6 , ;~~e 11 .

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