F 869 
 
 S3 Z32 
 Copy 1 
 
 APH, 18- TO 21 
 
 I 9 O 6 
 
 San Francisco 
 
 AND 
 
 Vicinity : : = 
 
 HE 
 STORY OP THE 
 
 Great Oisastb 
 
 
 "\: 
 
\ 
 
\ 
 
ranoraiiia showiiiLT linsiness District before the I-'ire. 
 
Panorama of Cusiiiess District from Jones Street Reservoir a Her 
 
STORY OF 
 
 THE EARTHQUAKE AND FIRE 
 
 BY 
 
 WILBUR GLEASON ZEIGLER 
 
 Author of "It Was Marlowe" 
 
 Illustrated with nearly 100 half-tone Engravings from Photographs by 
 F. E. Strohmeier, A. Blumberg, and others. Used by permission 
 
 Published by Leon C. Osteyce. 2010 LInion Street. San Francisco. Calif. 
 Copyright. 1906 
 
 The Muidock Press, 1 580 Geary Street. San Francisco. Calif. 
 

 
 '•-^*^ is ^ 
 
 i>« 
 
 ^mtf-- 
 
 Map ..f San I'rancisc... Tlic darker i.drti.Mi.^s llic area Inirncd, or al)niit ilirLr-hitlis cil ihc City. 
 
 *-' )", :i . 
 
Story of the Earthquake and Fire 
 
 On Tiu'S(i:i.\. April ITlli. r.MKi. a hiisiiicss man of San l^'ranciscd asccndod for Ihe lirst tiino in five 
 years lo one of the npiicr sioiics of (he liigliesi sk\ s( ra]ici- in the \('ws])a])er Annie. He was a 
 <;i-oundlinu who liad kept liis ears as well as his feel lo ilie earlh. He was familiar wilh Ihe loeal trade 
 and had noted its tremen(hiiis inrrease; Ihe ad\ance of |iro]ierty \;ilnes in like ratio; and had lieard (he 
 {terpetnal rint{in<;' of the hr.nnners (d' (he artisans. ()n the erowiled streets he felt the stronj;- pnlse of 
 ])ros](erity. They were symptoms of snl)stantial <>row1h, sii;iis that a mighly metro]iolis was rearinj: 
 itself n])on the "hundred hills" of the ]ieninsnla : lint a full vision oi the thing itself, (he bud uufoldin;; 
 into the jierfect tlower, had ne\'er lieen all'orded him. 
 
 To all jKiinls ol' the comiiass, from his elevate. 1 stand, he looked wiili amazement and wilh wonder. 
 As thonuh till' wand of a miuhty arrhitert had l)een waved ovei- what had been shorlly hefoi-e liat 
 roof-tups and \aeant sjiaees of earth, helweeu the mountains on the \''i'esl and South, the hills on ihe 
 North and tlie waters on (lie East, solid and imposing .structures were now ei-owded close helow him 
 on all sides, and s])otted the niaiiv hills in wide circuit, — a comiiact, magnificent, moi'erii cit^•. It 
 seemed too sjdeudid to he i-eal. too siilistanl ial for illusion, lie was not a dre.imer, hiil he fancied lh,-it 
 he saw Ihe course of develi(|iiiienl : a naliiral. inevilahle transformation of the remaining humlile hahi 
 (atious into majesiic edidces. of wooden sliidls into strnclures of steel. — uuhroken rows aloni; the ave- 
 nues of trattic; mansions like (hose on Nob Hill s|irinkled througli the residential (piariers. 
 
In f(trty-ei<;lit lionrs llio iiictuio 1i;h1 (iKnificd lo uiif of (Icsolntioii. As t";ir as llio p.ves of llic observer 
 bad i-caclicd. and Ix'.vond the limit of liis vision, sprcail a iiiiii ( iiin|ili'lc and alisolute. vaster llian ;iny 
 llial man had ever looked ii|i(in. The fanii<'s of thr masier liiiilders llial liad assumed material form 
 and s«n'nied of (|iiality endui-inj; had \anislu'(l: a mi,uhl.\ t:ra\(> had liecii diii;; \>ui -till. n|i\\ai-d within 
 the edges of the diarnal liouse, even before the embers were rohl. the lieak ami ilieii the head-feat hers 
 of the I'hu'iiix showed, symbolical of immortalii ;, . the herald uf a i;i-eatei- mctriijiolis to siiriiifi' fi-om 
 the ashes of the old. 
 
 I left llie I'l-ess Chlb sliortly after ."> A. M. on Ajuil 1S(h. Only a few of the old ,i;iiard were thei-e. 
 .Inst twelve ln)nrs i)efore at a well attended special meetinj; of the members, we lijol hmly discnssed ihe 
 qnentioi) of a ciianf;*' in location. Onr liiilit hal bi'cn shut olV on one sid<> by a sky scrajier, and the 
 bnildin<; of another was threatened, to fnrlher darken onr (|iiarters. 'I'lie growth of the ("ity was bring- 
 ing some discomfiirl. There was a divided sentiment on the snl)ject. I! , who sat with me at that 
 
 early Imnr. was in favor of the change; 1 against it. As I o|iened the duor to lea\i'. he said Jokingly: 
 
 "Only a short time more in the old (|narlers." 
 
 In Ihe lighl of what transjiired. his words seemed like iirophecy. 
 
 it was an nnnsnal hour to be ont. The j)eaee of nninhabited sjiaces of earth |ire\.!ilci|. :ind the 
 dawn In-mbled in its lirsh blush. .\ glow was increasing over the i-angc culminating in Munnl l>jablo. 
 I bonght a new spajier of ;i liov and then turned down ruwcll Street. At Ihe cigar stand on the next 
 corner I sloiijied to get a lighl. and as I reached for the c(u-d on wiiich it snsiiended, 1 saw it swing 
 towai'd me. I missed it and fell against Ihe narrow lonnlcr. and the thought llaslied throngh my mind 
 that the swaying of Ihe cord was a fancy, and thai it w;:s myself that was unsb'ady. I gi-abU'd the 
 counter and hebl on. realizing that Ihe eailh was shaking. an<l then came to me the most terrible of 
 
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fears, the most siekeuing of sensations, like those which might l)e felt with the face of death close 
 leering into your own, its icy breath upon your cheeks, its agony becoming part of you. I thought of 
 the melting of the soliil llesh. and how the spark wiiliin it w<iuld pass, or was liicro to lie absolute 
 niiiliingness? My family, — I prayed only for their safety. 
 
 A tremendous and continuous crashing of glass and ci-ystal in the drinking and dining hall almost 
 under my feet sounded, and four men. rushing U]) the stone stairs, fell on their knees on ihe sidewalk, 
 one praying and another begging in a maiullin voice to be told hew to lnrmnlale a ](ra.\('r. 1 recog- 
 nized several prominent sporting men in the distressed gronji. Inii ii did not occur to mc at I he lime 
 that there was anything incongruous in this e.xhiliition. 
 
 Then came a motion that seemed the elforl of an all jiowerful force (o loosen Ihe lirm founihitions 
 of (he earth, and a thundering crash arose, as the u|i|ier |iart of the froni of Ihf Columbia Theater 
 tumbled to the jiavement. It resounded tei-rifica lly. The top line of Ihe James I'^lood lluilding swayi'd. 
 i-eached tuit over the street, and then swung back into ]phice enliic 1 1 was such an inicanny pli'Mio 
 menon Iliat 1 doubted my senses. A heavy stone step of tlii' building within tlirce feet of where 1 
 stood was moved out of plumb, leaving a gajiing hole where it bad linnly sel. and almost tumbled lo 
 the Jiavement; open boxes of cigarettes against the wall of the staiul remained in place. Later 1 saw 
 a great Colonial platter, intact and still tijiiied carelessly and without fastenings against the walls, as 
 it had been before (lie earllnpuike ; while a heavy \ase with broad base that luid stood beside Ihe 
 platter, lay sliatleie<l on the lloor. The force had worki'd in a maiiiiei- to |icr|de.\ and aiiiiall. 
 
 There was sometl'.ing so strange, so mysterious, so awful in its coming, |U'esence ami dejiarture. 
 lis a|)|iroach liad been like one wilh mullled feet in im]ienelrable darkness, unheralded and unsus- 
 pected; its ](resence manifested b\ an energy of desi ructiveness. and mischievous antics as sliown in a 
 demolishing of the ajipaienlly indestructible, a tender handling of tilings fragile, and a signature like 
 the weird tracings of a freakish ](laneliet te ; its |iassing. like that of a peilmbed spirit. The odic 
 
Si,i;iiatiin.- nf l-'artlKiiial^ 
 April K), iS()j. 
 
 Sigiiatui'L' I if I'^arthciuake, 
 April _^o, iS(;S. 
 
 
 Si-nature of I'.artlKiuakc. April iS. 11,0'). 
 
 A signature like the weird tracings of a freakish 
 
 ])lanchette." 
 
forrc. (lisplaMMl in all its i^icw siiiiic I'lilliicss In Ili(> woilil niiiid. luiild imi have slnuk liicalcr tcridr in 
 llic lican <if man <ii- Icf'i a straniicr irail iif ruin. 
 
 Tile <-i>;ar ilcalcr. willi a face of frozen ai;iIalion. liad jnin])('(l over or lii-oUcn i1ii-ouil;Ii llic conntcr. 
 and loficllicr we jraincd tlic middle of ilie siiecl al the jnndion of Ikldv, I'owell and Mai-kel. and 
 slooil lliere, not darinj; (o nioxc in any diicctioji. Ii was so still a.uain, so |>i'acefnl 1 We saw the 
 tower id' the f(M'i-.v liotise far lielow. like a wiaillie in llie soft jiiay lijilil. and llie u|ijier red lini (d' llie 
 sun aliovc it. Tlie sk.v-|ioinl inji Call llnildinj; feniained apiuiicni 1 y iinalVeeled liy llie lollinji of llie 
 eaiili. In f;;cl. eveiy one of the sulisianl ial. p'.ojierly liuilt liiisiness l)nil;iini;s still loomed stalely and 
 unmoved iipoii l licit- bases. 
 
 Someone as jiale as dealli sli-elehed out liis hand and I shook it. i<>((i<iiiiy,iiij«- an idd foe. We had 
 noi sjioken l<i one another in leii years. He said in a lialf-wliis|i('r: 
 
 ■■Wasiri thai awfni:" 
 
 I dicl nol answer, Inil poiiiled to sevcMal tire-enyines enlerinji .Market Street froni all direrlions and 
 r<dlin<i to the East and Sonlh. 
 
 "Fire," I said. ".My Cod. how many alarms have rniij>?"" 
 
 It liapjieiKM] that fifty two were sounded in flie (irst half hour. 
 
 A milk -wafion jtassed. and I hailed Ihe drivei-. 
 
 •■Wliiili way?" I asked. 
 
 "l"]) .Market and Hayes to Fillmore." 
 
 "That's my direction foi- home." 
 
 "( 'linil) up." said lie. 
 
 He drew rein, and I •;o1 on the s(>ai beside him. 'I'lien he noticed ihal lie had lost his whip anii 
 an order book, and sayinj; that lie knew just where lie had <lrop|ied Ihcni. for il was where his horses 
 fp||, he jiiilled them around anil jrallopeil down Market Street and into I'oniili. This wa-; lo my 
 
jireal disi^nsl. and ai;aiiisf niv cxpnst nla( ions and oH'crs t<i ]iay for liis Idst aiiirlcs; I'oi- my anxiety 
 to icach lioinc iiiade the sli<>lit(>sf delay iiidicarable. He said money would not jiay for that book, or, 
 at any rale, lliat he conld not juil a price on it. and lie i-onlinned talliinji in Ihis sirain: 
 
 ■■Tiia( was a frightful shock. The horses were Irot tinji' alonji. wiicn llic wa.L^nn was lificd on iwo 
 side wiieels. as tiioiiiili |h(> olhei" Iwo had struck an olistacle. One horse fell on his knees, hut jumjied 
 np ininiedialcly. and llicn before tifly feet had heen rolled over, somelliinn- seemed to strike the under 
 side of the waiion-liox like a tjianl t ri]i-hanimer. It was a jolt that lifted nie fnnii the seat and nearly 
 threw me inio the street, lint I clnni;- on. Itolh horses wei'e thrown down, and ihey were Irendilinji all 
 over and whinnyin^L; with fri.uht, even after I had pit them on tlieir hoofs a.^ain. 1 saw the surface of 
 the street waving like a carpet with wind under it." 
 
 Several groups of men were in the middle of the streets. Some of them, half-dressed, were seated oii 
 the cable slot, putting on their shoes and stockings. Others Avere issuing, one by one. oui of ihe 
 smashed window of n resianrant. where a sagging of sills had tirmly set the (hiors. Smoke in ihin 
 rings and streaks was curling out beliind lliem. .\n exciied crowd was gathered in fi-ont of a pawn 
 shop around the corner of Jessie, some of them holding a man who it was said had just crawled out 
 of tlie shop window, lie had the miscellanecms contents of a showcase in a bag. and thicals of hanuinu 
 him were being made. The vandal was already stalking his prey. Later on, the regulars shot them down 
 without t inie for |ira,\('rs. 
 
 Two llimsy board stiuciures. holding chop houses on their lower floors, had faced each other at Ihe 
 corners of a narrow little street running oil' Fourth. IJoth of them had fallen outward and were 
 heaped in a conunon ruin. Their dried old timbers were erossed and pi lei] 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 ]>itiful cries from the ruin, the flames were driving back some bnive men who were trying to rescue 
 unfortunates pinned and penned in the veritable bonfire. 
 
I liad soon onnuj^Ii of horror, ami urged ilio driver l<i turn liis te;mi. \\'<> r.idled ii;i Market Street. 
 Atl'i-ijilited ]]eo]ile lined it. s]ieecliless, starinji and a |i|iai eiil ly a|i|iiclieiisi\ c nC sdiiie more liorrihlo 
 calaniily in I'dllnw. 'I'he sii;lii of liic \\ rei k (d' llie ('ily llall aliiinsl hmk my Incalli. My lirsl glimpse 
 of it was across Maisliall S(|iiaic'. wIh-ii' slill slaiid Ihc iiKiiiiimciils llial piii-tray the I i-mildoiis limes 
 of early da.xs when lliis spoi was a wilderni'ss of sliitlinii sand. 1 looked al llie i-uliinda. il still 
 li])lield its black dome intact, siirniounted liy llm (ioddess of l.iheily: 1ml. on ilic li:ilt' rroiilinii toward 
 lis. the .series of ascendinji colnmns tlial once ^raci'd ilie splendid pile, and I lie Inickwork aizainst 
 whieli thev had lieen implanted, had been lorn nil', like the peel from llie side at' an oraiii;e. The sletd 
 ribs of a skeleton wer(» re\('aleil. a po\ciiy of const rml ion exposed; and llie^real biiiidinu. extending 
 its wings on all sides, was an iire|iarable niin. The iiiganlic pillars liial fronted Ihe low. circular 
 porch facing the avenue, had been top]ded from I heir bases anil thrown out ward. They were of hollow 
 iron, lilled with concrete, mortar and bricks; ami Iheir contents and the f(diai;e (d iheir cajiiials were 
 scattered across the street and into the sipiare. The rubbish b(d'ore Mie bra/.en doors of lliis entrance 
 was higher than lliesec(md sioiT windows. Wil hiii. as il ap]jeared la ler. I he |dasl<'ring of the corridors 
 strewed the lloors as compleKdy as though barrels of cemeiil had been expimled along iliem; the chan- 
 deliers were down like twisted brush heaps; Ihe lloors of i he conilrooms. ollices and chambers had 
 stink to tlie basemenls. and the tiles <d' the loriidois were iipheaxcd. broken and scattered. 
 
 "How many millions gone there?" asked ihe practical milkman, poiming. 
 
 "Six." I said, and the thought of il staggered me; biii .iflerw ard. when the lire piled up ihe losses 
 to half a billion. I ihonghl il a ]iicayune mailer. 
 
 Wo turned into Hayes, ami at Fulton and Oilavia saw a block i)urnitig. I left the wagon and wont 
 to it. Half the block was consuined before the lire was subdtied. but the iieo])le (ui all sides treated it 
 as a small matter, conipared with the eiirtlninake. 1 notii-ed afterward, (lose to Ihe edges of the eon- 
 (lagratioii. that the householders nearest it, still guarding goods which could not be moved. a|i]K'ared 
 
perferlly i^tclid :uid iiulirt'erent, while the excess of anxiety and fright was disidayed by those whu 
 were many lilociv'^ froni llie tire. 
 
 II was well llial lliis liniiil sjiacc was i)]ai-ed there diirin.u Die day; for its open expanse a<-ted as 
 a hai-rici- lo slay the <;reater lii-e of Ihe hiter day and ninht, Ihat sprcnd westward from St. lunalins 
 (."olle<;e. The nse of water, even willi llir favorahle i;a]e. nii.ulil not alone liave prevented the conlia- 
 uration from rca'-liini;' the ]'arl<. 
 
 'I'lic cix'ir aniliorilirs slood al tjicir posts, conscions of the Inirdcn ihrc.wn npon llicm. willin;.; and 
 read\ to l)car il. and seelvini; llir<i\inh llic darlcni'ss and liiindini; jialhs of liii' ('ily i>csolati' to <-atih 
 glimpses (d' and follow sonic i;ni(iinji' li,i;lit. The order of !» o'riork A. M. of \\'('dncs(hiy, iilacinfi' the 
 ('il,\ nndrr .Mililary piMiIrd ion, showed how close tin' ear of ilic Mayor was lo il-; iieai't l>eal. how 
 tinel\ altnncd he was to c\cry ii\ic \ihration, and how the end ine\ilable ninst iiav Hashed liefo-re 
 him, even as ■•llic kin_<4 tell in his lircast Ihe iihantoni of the knife, long ere Kavaillac armed him.self 
 Iherewit h." 
 
 The first order <omini; from .Mayor Sdimilx, was to ]ire\-enl the sale and nse of iMpnii-, and soon 
 came ihe now fanmns order directing gas and electririlx |o he shot olf. ■.ili/.ens to keej) wilhin doors 
 after dark, to refrain from lighting tires, and stating Ihal < linie was lu he snpjiressed by ihe ritle. 
 The ]ioi-tion. of niosl startling impoil read as f<dlows; 
 
 "The Federal li<io|is, ihe mendiers u( the regulai- |Milice force and all llic special police (dhcers, 
 liax'e been anlhorized by me to /,/// any ])erson fonnd engageil in the tooling of ]iro]ieriy or in ihe com- 
 mission of any other crime." 
 
 It was an or<ler demanded by the occasion and Ihe hoar, ll w .as like a command from ihe absolute. 
 Theie was to be no ]iarley, no he;iring, no trial, no jippi-al. The crime and the bnllel ! ll bore frnit ; 
 for after the lapse of a few days noi a bnrglary was allempied, not a robbei-y reporled ; m\irder was a 
 lost art. A week after, a prominent criminal altorne\ said: "There is no li(dd for me here. The only 
 
lawyer who will be engaged in the practice of criiniiial law is tin' ono who for a voar has boon defending 
 his own case for bigamy and perjury, and that will be his sole suit." 
 
 It was a period of peace, and I'an, the sylvan <!od. was aliiiosi Icinpted lo slalk llie streets. 
 
 Dnring the fire, looters were shot down in many jiaits (if the City, no inei-cy beint; shown where a 
 crime was commilted in llie \ lew n( a soldier. In one inslanic a rei;nlar with a jprisoner in char^t^ 
 ap]ieared in the icnl of a rommandinu ollic-cr. The prisoner was a lio\. pale, treniblinn and callow- 
 looking. 
 
 '•\\"liy did yon bring him here?" asked the ollirer. 
 
 "He was canglit looting." 
 
 "Why didn't yon shoot him on llie siiol '.' liwinild have sa\rd ns the ironbie of linr\iiig him." 
 
 ••\\'(dl. I diilli'l see him |ooii;ig. Jmi ilic i row d did. and lln'v |ioiiileii him out ;ind I cauglil him." 
 
 '•Had work," said the ollicer. c<i(dl.\. 
 
 The observer could not delermine whelhi-r the ollicer was serious, or iliai lu' hail spoken only to 
 frighten the boy; bnt he turned away with a si<kening feeling. 
 
 The same observer told nii' of seeing two men cauj;h( i-ed hani'ed with articles <f \alue from a 
 sl(U'e which they had I'Ulered. They were marched up llie si reel ;ind faced around confronting the 
 soldiers who liad them in charge. .\ \olley of tircarms rang out. and llie !iil]irils pili lied forward on 
 their faces never to rise again. 
 
 .\t saloons and groceries the Hernials and National tlnards icdled barrels of liquor and kegs id' beer 
 out on the sidewalks and eiuplied Iheir contents into (he sewers. 
 
 In kee]iing with the \iolenc(> usimI in the proiei lion of ]uopeily and life was llie work of llie brave 
 men in rescuing uiifortuiuites amid the ruins of the eaitlnpiake. and in the maw of the lire; in minis- 
 tering lo the injured, in relieving the luumdess and hungry and in caring for the dead. Th(> hercdsin 
 displayed were subject for an epic; for oine all men were brotheis. and millionaires and paupers, tiie 
 righteous and llie depraved, met on terms of e(iuality in this humane labor. 
 
Long before noon the fire had driven out tli(> inhaliirants of the lower Mission. Thev trailed awav 
 in all directions, stolid sufferers tarrving and dragging iKnisclidld g,„Mls and leading children. .Some 
 reached ajijiarent i)oints ,>i safety onl.v to be driven ont later, others, thinking the entire city was 
 
 '' '"''•• •""' "'='• '"J Pl:"<' "^vas safe outside the limits of (Joldeii Cate Park, inunediately sought its 
 
 shelter. They came straggling out the streets of the Western .Addition with dire tales of disaster and 
 warnings. 
 
 "The Grand Opera House is gone." they said, "the Call r.uilding. the Hialto; and nothing would be 
 spared." 
 
 By noon their (light along the direct route to the park was inteiruiited ; for a reckless woman on 
 Hayes Street, n.'ar .Market, had kimlled a tire in a (h'fective chimney, and with the destrurtion of her 
 home followed a local .-ontlagration of thirty blorks, indepiMu^ent of the ..ne started dire.tlv bv the 
 earthquake. St. Ignatius Church, a million-dollar struct ur.'. was ablaze by noon, its ni.inv spires 
 pointing like torches into the sky and its interior of treasured paintings and works <,f art rruinbling 
 into ashes. 
 
 Westward spread the tlanies. ont Oak, Hayes, (irove, Fnltoii and .\l<-.\llistei- Sti-eets. Thev were 
 fiercely fought by the tiremen. Fortunately, an abundant suj.ply of water was in this (pmrier, and 
 the wind was so(m blowing fiercely from the ocean. I'.y night the westward ju-ogri'ss of ihis lire was 
 checked at Octavia StriH-t; but in the meantime it had spread in the opposite direcii.ni. envel(.p,.d the 
 Mechanics I'avilion and City Hall, and was sweeping on with uplifted lances of llanie and banners of 
 white smok.' to join the like battalicms from the .Mission. When they met, the south lini' of Market 
 Street, with all that lay close bi'hind and far beyon.l it. was a smoking mass of i-irns. The north 
 line of the street was still intact, but it crumbled at Ihi' combined assault, and th.' Ilanies had free 
 course to meet those cinuing from the smoking region of Sansome and Post. It.-low the latter streets 
 lay a rich wholesale district that, with the exception of one solidly built block, had be.Mi utterly 
 
(lestrovpd. This liimk wiis cdvci-cd liv the Mills lliiilijiiiii. I'lc SHuk i;xcli;iiii;i\ Ilii' 'l"cli'|ili<iii(' I'.iiiid- 
 inj;;, the l?i'ii()kl\ ii Ildlcl. Ihc I'irsi N';ilioiinl I!;iiik ;iih1 many siihslaiilial whulrsalr Imiiscs. 'I'hc tire 
 had Idisti'i'cd il <'ai!y in ilu- iiinrniiii;', Iml passed on. Il was miw iMnsidcrcd scenic, ami even Ihc 
 furnishinjis of ihc liltlc Imici !iad liccn rclnriiod by six o'clock, and owncis and Icnaiifs were (nn 
 gi'iiliihitiiif; lliciiisplves on IlH'ir csiaiic lint llwy connlcd on a false show of jicnci-osii \ . Al nine 
 o'clock ihal iiij^lii Ihi' tin' came l)ack. as thoniih il had foiuotlcn soniciliine in iis wild |iro^i-css. and 
 (iiiished liic wmk thai il had Ihrcalcncd in the niorninj;-. 
 
 As the cveiiiiij;; cainc on, the fecliiiji that piedoniinated was one of jianieky feai'; not of the lire. l>ul 
 of a repetition of llie earthquake. It was licid <>ven hy lliose who, close lo the edue of ihi' luirnin^ 
 district, \val(died the iirogress <d' the llanies. with a'l liope <;(ine of sa\ine their homes. That loss 
 a]>peai'ed iiie\italde to many: and llic\ were resi^neil. foe life was mil I li;<'alened. l!nl no inie eonld 
 foi'eteil what wnnld !"■ Ihe result of amilhei- con\nlsiiiii of the crust of (lie earlh. TIick' would lie no 
 warning monitor, and there was no avenue of escajie. iOvei'.\(me leali/ed il. .\s ihe order had cdiie 
 foriii proliil)it inj; tiu! use of lif>'lits, not even a candle was to milieale the eomine- daikness lichiiid 
 ;ionie ](orlals, and this increased the <irea(l (d' heini; anywhere eX(i'|il in spaces open lo the sky. In 
 main' districts tew souiilil iheir beds. The memory of tlie sound u( ci-cakini: and crasliini; licams and 
 walls was too vivid: ami so Ihe dwellines, even far dislani from I he tire, were as empty of life as 
 the tond)S on ]>anrel Hill. Whole families, rather Ihan trust to darkened interiors ri'ccnily earlh(|nake 
 racked, lav on (lie pavements, on Ihe doiu'sle|is and in yards where no i himneys ihreaieiied to fall. 
 Fortunately. Ihe air was lialmy, Xatnre had nexcr heen more s<'rcm'. and tired wcuneii. children and 
 men, some with no coNcrinji' ''Ul their apparel, do/.ed on Iheir umiunforiaMc resiini: places. 
 
 \\\ ni^lit h>]\>x the lire hla/.ed wilh a splendor never ei|ualled and a desi ruct ixeness twenty limes 
 fji-ealer than iiny conflajiration of modern limes. I'^roin a distance, we saw the ('allaj;han and Muridiy 
 l)nildiii;;s hurn like Iniilded lionlii-es of a hundred feet in hei<;hl ; the -lames Fl 1 structure of twelve 
 
stories, a solid muss of Manic, ic.-niiiji tlic wails iim rninlilod ; llic SI. I<''ranris, lifliii;;' liiglipst its erack- 
 linii crown; and tlirdiiiih tlic .Missimi a wide wall of tire, bending and sweeping on before the wind 
 lilu' a living tiling eager for its \m'y. Tlie intonations of crashing dynamite at times came to our 
 cars, lint no otiier sonnds. Cinders, cold and bhuk, fell around us at the distance of a mile from the 
 <onllagiation. 
 
 ^lost of the men. leaving their families on llicir iiii]iroviscd beds, walked llie streets, going from jioint 
 to poini fo watch the progress and mark the <<inrse of the tire. The regulars who had been jilaced in 
 charge of the city within four hours after the first tremble, paced the pavements; their signals sound- 
 ing through the still air. At sight of an occasional <andle in dw(dlings. there followed the loud pounding 
 of the bult of a gun on the door, or the rap of a ram rod on the w indow. and a stentorian conuuand to 
 e.xtingnish the light. 
 
 llefore miilnight tlie refugees, who hail crowded into I'liion Si|uaie. as a |ilace of secnre encampment. 
 were for their own sahation ordered out. 'i'lieir tliglil was a stampede like the frightened denizens 
 of a town before a \ii-torions and pillaging army, 'i'ruiiks and li<inseliold goods, faithfully guarded 
 during the da\, were abandoned ,-is there were no coineyances to move them, or were dragged by hand 
 along the walks. scia|iing tli(> cindered surface, sounds from their cont inue<i fiei|uency during two days, 
 likely to abide in memory. \\'onien. loaded with bedding, trailed along the st reels ; and men. stagger- 
 ing with heavier burdens, pushed (Ui for other open s|iaces. \{ the thought of losing their most treas- 
 ured belongings, some grew frantic and alteni]ited to stop the wagons loaded with goods from the 
 stores along Kearney and I'osl. ami use them for their own ]iurposes. In several instances they suc- 
 ceeded; in others they bribed the <lrivers. at ten dollars a trunk, to increase their loads, '{"he great 
 buildings around the sipiare, one by one catching lire, lighted u]i the jiifiable scene. 
 
 It was the morning of the second day ami a summer warmth jirevailed. From Fillmore Street, 
 which was soon to shake olf its quiet and pro\incial air and become the i>rinci]ial busin(>ss thorough- 
 
fare of ilu- cliaujicd city. I limriccl ilnwii Tui-k to Icnrii from iicrsonnl oIisitn :ii ion wli.ii llic day in-oiii- 
 isetl. Moi-(> jieojile than usual lillcd ilic walks, 'riicrr were hand shaUinus as friends and ai-i|nainlanrrs 
 met, and some pleasant words of giteting, and again sorrow was shown omt liittcr experiences told. 
 One sad gron]i i-aught my attention. Women wei-e \v(>eping around a ralihi who was trying to comfort 
 them, while out of one of a row id' Hals, down niailde ste])S. sj)lit and sliaken. a rollin was being borne 
 toward a delivery wagon. Tlii' dri\er nionnled his seal and drove away ahme— he and the dead. 
 
 1 turned from tJeai-y into l.ai-kin. The lire was on Lea\('n wiul h. two blocks dislanl. <»u l.arkin a 
 disturbed condition of alVairs existed. The doors of man\ (d' ilie shojis on eiihei- side of ilie street were 
 wide o]ien. Some of these groceries were entindy gulled; oiheis had crowds bid'ore ilie connt<'rs and 
 behind them. They liad been opened foi- ihe pillai;e id' Ilie |)ulilic. and ihe owners were aiding, livery 
 man. returning to the sidewalk, had his aians oi- hands full of ]iio\isions. Tlie\- coniinned tiling in 
 and out. some with boxes and baskets. 1 1 was a case of liid|iinu .\ nurself lo w hal .\ mi could w ilhoul limit . 
 I saw men looking half starved, wiih laces drawn and ha^uard. those of lost homes, and possible hist 
 families, eating hungrily of canned goods and drinking from bollles. Wnmen also, smiie wiih i(dics 
 of tinery about them, smh as a treasured seal-skin coal o\cr a shabb\ borrowed dress, stood there 
 eating. .\ number of men wei-e under Ihe iidluence of licpior. some ho|)elessly so. 
 
 I reached a neighboring corner, one block m'arer the lire, aiol iheie encountered a <iow(l ai a corner 
 grocery. The double door was locked and barieil and a man in uniform, (diher a soldier <u' tiremaii. 
 Stood (lose before it. The restless crowd was (lamoring lo be lei in. and ihe guardian was otfering 
 resistance. They were yelling: 
 
 "You can't save the place. Let us in. (live us the stiill instead (»f letting the lire gel it. Itreak dow ii 
 the door." 
 
 The windows looked lenipling, filled wilb imported goods and bottles beaiing r<iieign labels. Some- 
 one was foriibly pushed against the glass front. It broke; and then as the altenlicuis of the 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 made to prevent the sacking that followed; for even the man who had kept 
 the iiioh at hay, said almid, as he walked away: "The stuff would have been burned anyhow. Ifs bet- 
 ter to let "em have it." 
 
 The air was growing intensely hot; it smell gnoj^g pa of fire, and cinders, warm and white-furred, 
 fell thick upon the sidewalks. On a flight of broad steps I)efore a mansion en the corner of Leaven- 
 worth and Geary i^trc^ts, a drunkard overcome by his potalinns of whiskey, slept despite the roar of 
 the conflagration and ihe giufl' calls <if a half-intoxicated (•<iiiiiiaiii()n. The flames burst through the 
 rear board walls c)f a livery stable, diagonally ai-ross the street, out of which issued llie owner and his 
 employe<^s, like rats deserting a sinking shi]). I looked down (leary Street. I t was like peering into the 
 ckior of a furnace. The e.vesight could penetrate but half a block, between blazing buildings lining 
 either side, because of the concentrated white heat. One knew that the way led straight onward for 
 more than twenty blocks through a region which could be aptly compared with nothing but hell, but 
 devoid of the s]iiri(s of the damned. 
 
 Up Leavenworth I went to Sutter, and a bloik below it to the edge of the flery mouth. I saw the 
 S(iuare bay windows nf the I'leasanton tipjied and adorned with flame. A block higher u]) on the street 
 I travelled, the furnishings of the Kmjiire crowded the walks, that massive structure itself standing as 
 tliougli fearless of a any withering touch. Nevertheless, it fell later with its cringing neighbors. The 
 old Ci-ocker house was as ein])(y as though attaching creditors and loud-mouthed auctioneer had swept 
 its floors: but its late occnjiants sat on its wid(> stejis. its jiorches and lawns, liesitating about their 
 exodns. 
 
 1 <liiiibc(l the hill to California and Hyde and glam-ed at the Fairniount. The demon that sent his 
 f(ukcd tongues into the crowded haunts of the heathen, the narrow streets and alleys of Chinatown, 
 was to be no more merciful to works modeled on the lines of Creek nuister builders. That luagniflcent 
 
building stood like a ii'iuiilc iiivinhitc. mid sccinin-ly IpcvoikI I lie loiicli of :ui.v ("loiiioiilal ].o\v.>r. No 
 (.110 wiml.l have hccti disturbed as to its safety h.v an oidinar.v tire of all the eueiirliug dwelliu-is. separ- 
 ated as they were by streets on f<i\ir sides; but the fury of llie coullasratiou seemed su])eriiatural. It 
 must have laughed at the stolid and niu-oncerned asjiecl and attitude of that iniposiu'- pile. In fact. 
 niauv attributed its huriiinji to the tonh of rlic incendiary: Imt jiroofs are lackin.u-. and so was motive. 
 The richest pari of the city was to fall, and the appninlcd a.i;.Mii simjdy summoned tlii' jicwcr siilli 
 eient. The Fairimmnt c;ni,i;ht the sjiarks. iinrscd them for a sjicll and soon st 1 a denuded frame of 
 
 discolored stone. 
 
 It was admitted that all the city from the water front out to \an Ness .\\enne was docmied. There 
 was no salvation for it said Those who marked the pi-oyress (d' the tire. I'.ni li(i|ie was slnmn- fur what 
 lay bex'ond the bare sjiace of ime hundred nml Iwenty ti\c led ilml marked ilie nxcniie. There was 
 talk of dvnamile for the tweiity-tixc cimlinuinis blocks that lined its e:isiern side Irnm X'allejd to 
 Market — (wo miles of splendid mansions, churches, skyscraiiini: :i|iarlme;il houses, hotcds. ilnb build- 
 ings and homes endeared to those who dw(dt within them, backed by the business blocks of Tolk street, 
 to be bbiwn in air; — hei-oic treatment iike that ap|died at .Moscow —enough blocks, if grcniiied togetiier. 
 to make a rich city of itself. Later, the phm (d' ilearing this iiclil\ luiill spai-e cif earth was moditied. 
 the situation demanding that it be carried <iiil,\ partl.\ into etfect by the desi rnct inn nf scatlered 
 buildings in the area described. 
 
 r walked out California Street as far as (Viilral A\einie. .\n un(|uiel feeling was |ii"ev;ilent Ihrough 
 the entire distance, disidii.vcd by groups of peo]de talking in low voices, sei-iously and with furtive 
 glances to the east i-rn sky in which the smoke was lifted. Sume wcr(> ]iackiiig trunks in halls and on 
 the porches; wagons ]iartly tilled were ba<ked U|i tu the walks; piles id' hiiuselndd udods were in places 
 heaped in readiness to be moved when the occasion demanded it. They were taking time by the fore- 
 lock, anticijiating the worst; and what, according to the rated sjieed of the contlagiai ion, ctuild not 
 force them out before another dav had dawned and faded. 
 
That evening in my home quarter the neighbors fled like sheep, despite the fact that thirty burnt 
 blocks protected it and the fire was a mile away. It was like the street of a deserted village, sans the 
 grass, the decay, the rot of the timbers. But the air was rife with startling rumors: the fire from the 
 Mission would rliiiih Ihe hills and envelope us; the wind would carry embers for miles to ignite roof 
 tops; the efforts of the dynamiters had failed. To be alone, the sole survivor of disaster, was not to be 
 considered for a moment. We joined the struggling caravan to higher ground, unbuilded and "open 
 to the glimpses of the moon." Until late into the night we watched a sea of flame just beyond where 
 the (lark, unlmrned district terminated in the house-top line of Van Ness Avenue; this block line of 
 spires, towers. <npolas, chimneys, flat and jiointcd roofs, and vacant sjiaces, showing against the blaz- 
 ing sky like the edge of a gigantic broken-toothed, cross-cut saw. We heard the frequent crash of 
 dynamite; i-eports that marked brave desperate work; we saw the fire, fiercer than any that ever 
 swejit a Hioiintains wooded side, crawl backward and uji Nob Hill to destroy every landmark that had 
 been circled in the afternoon and. in the wondrous panorama, noted the bursting of flames from every 
 ajierture of the Flood residence, which, after hours of burning, showed by its glowing windows, 
 clearly marked, that its stone frame survived entire — an empty sliejl of a palace. 
 
 T missed one of the party, and found her alone near the corner of the tent crying silently in sadness 
 and bitterness of heart — a San Franciscan weeping over loss, not in the sense of personal ownership 
 of anything that was gone, but of the material monuments marking memories, the utter leveling and 
 obliteration of tlie scenes connecting childhood, youth and womanhood. It was the disjilay of a tender 
 sentiment already felt, or later to bt> keenly exjierienced, by everyone whose nativity was her(>. I. of 
 a distant state, could not fully comprehend or ajipreciate it. Tt is a loss restricted to the native sons 
 and daughters. 
 
 .Ml night the embers tell upon iis as we slept, imt there was no change in that markeci line of 
 housetops. The tire was greedily (le\ouring all left within the limits to which, by the bravery and 
 
heroic endeavors uf the lireiiien. SDldiers, ami civilians, it had hceii ivstricted ; but, so far as the city 
 west of Van Ness Avenrie was concerned, the danger was past. Throngh the night we heard the call for 
 telegraph operators to r(']iiirt at a stated place for diitv. It sounded strangely in the still air, as 
 though every one of them wonld be r('(iuirc(l to do ilic grcni wmk of cdnveying the words of a Inuidred 
 thousand sulferers to distant friends. There was a free disti'ibution from automobiles of news|iai)ers — 
 the combined "("allClironicle-Kxaniiner"' — and a rush to get them as they were scattered broadcast 
 through the streets. All day. as of the day before, the sci-aping of dragged tr\inks over unswept pave- 
 ments sounded, this time in the rdurii to saved linnn's: all day the calling. ]iacking and rolling of 
 furniture over the streets continued. The autdnmbilcs. as (in Wednesday, went willnnil restrictions 
 on sj)eed. through all streets, soiinding like mad things, llying from what they dreaded or speeding 
 onward in answer to summons that brooked of no <iela\. There were none used for any length of time 
 by the curious, every one as it appeared on the streets being appropriated by the civil or military 
 authorities. 
 
 Friday found the tire cdnlined In limits that adtnilled of no exlension for it, except along llie seawall 
 toward the ferr\ liuilding. .\t three 1'. .M. word came lliere lo the lirainli jiostoflice llial the entire 
 water-front would soon be ablaze. Clouds of smoke from I lie norlli, diifliiig across the ojieii s|iace 
 from which the streets converge, gave gi'ound for the warning. The wind blew it along with increasing 
 density. .\t that time the office was packed with peo]ile. sending word of their safety to distant 
 fi'iends. Wiiolows were f.laninied down with wailing faces close ngainsi (liein: doois were liiiiriediy 
 shut as the crowd filed out, and work for the ]ireser\at ion of the ,nail was begun. I'.iii it was not a 
 case of the city burning to the water's edge; the lire failed in its last sally and died oiii befoi'e it 
 reached the (piarter threatened. .\i'd «o the lower < lot k. lUai once faillifiil iiiarkei- id' the llight of 
 time, stopped by the tremor of the earth, starfes with its dead face up Ihe bi-oadest trail through 
 the ruins. 
 
It was oil a hot sidewalk tliat the tirst tent was I'aised in the hiirnt district. ( >ii the next day sliel- 
 ters of a little more permanent ( harader were beiu<; made with rough poles covered with sera])s of 
 sheet iron dragged from the ashes. They were the initial steps of the period of rebuilding, and taken 
 before the confiagration had ceased burning along the sea-wall. 
 
 In the face of the calamity, there were but few who did not sup|iress their feelings of distress over 
 their losses. A few days after the fire I was for several hours with an accpiaintance who said nothing 
 of his having been deprived of a monthly income of si.x hundred dollars, and the next day I learned 
 of it from a mutual friend. The resolute and indomitable spirit of the age had a chance to display 
 itself fully; and with the talk of the richer and greater San Francisco of the future, there is a union 
 of tireless etfort to realize it. 
 
 Some, possessed with the spirit of humor, displayed it like Xero fiddling over the ruins. One refugee 
 in Jefferson I'ark had his tent labelled: "\\'ell Shook," and the next one to it was "Shook Well." A 
 curb stone kitchen had the sign "The Outside Inn," and it looked it. A piano ou a wagon bore these 
 words: "I'layed on by many; the last time by a fireman." The sign of Dr. Lamb was not a hundred feet 
 from one of Dr. Slaughter, and the jiasser might wonder if, for purposes other than consultation, the 
 former might be led to the latter. "We moved because the elevator stopped running" was a notice 
 placed on a jiile of bricks — all that remained of the building formerly occupied by the man who was 
 thus advertising. "Earthquake 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 public property re(|uire(l 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- 
 
ers. lie was onlcird to toss bricks with tlie otlier iikmi. and be worlicd tiicrc until liis identity was 
 established. Ai a meeting of tlie l)en<h and bar to devise ways and means for lioldiiig coiirt. the (jues- 
 lion \\as liroaclieil as to whether exem|il inn for the judges and their oilic ers from such impressment 
 sliimld not be obtaincil from (Jeneral Funston; liul it was coMsidcred iliat any move to this end would 
 be a recognition of the military power over the civil and was to be avoided. 
 
 The opjiortunily to make the most of what Xatui-e lias liberally jjrovided in the way of sublime sur- 
 roundings and liarbor unecpialled has been fully recognized, and a i>rojec1 for the "city beautiful" 
 developed. A congested growth of sky-scrapers is no longer prolialih •: for the ai-ea for business pur- 
 poses has wideneil and ilie retail and wludesah' disti-icts been divided. Homes with wide spreading 
 lawns, hotels with spaces for out door eniei'iainmcnt. parks f<ir recreation and liroad avenues, will 
 grace and adorn the levels and the hills wiiere dwellings and Inisine.-is ImildiTigs were once crowded 
 together close to the edges of the walks. 
 
Obscrvatorw Straw l)rn-\- llill, ( loldcn Cu\.\^ Park. San I'ranciscd. Damaged l)y i-"arlli(|uakc. 
 
Nob Hill, from Sutter Slrci-l mid (iraiil Avenue, before the I'irc. 
 
Nob Hill, Xortii from St. Mary's CatliL-dral. after the Fire. \'an Xes.-; Avenue Bread Line in the foreground. 
 
1-iic .iljoiit lllc United Stales Mini, lillli Striel. 
 
The Mint, San Francisco— Withstood both Earthquake and Fire with scarcely any Dama 
 
 .ere. 
 

 
 .»-:/.^" ■«--'• .%xi^Z^^. 
 
 V. M. C. A. lliiililin<r. .Mason and Ellis Streets, after the Fire. 
 
Tile Burned District as seen frnin ]\incon [lill. San I'rancisco. 
 


 
 
 ■•:i^ 
 
 > 
 
 - J 
 
 Looking Niirlh dii Sansome Streut, from Uiish Street, San l''raneiscu. a tier the l-ire. 
 

 ^::v-"V 
 
 
 15 
 
« 
 
 •^.r -'.' — -I 
 
 Turk and Market Streets, San Francisco, after the I'ire. 
 
Valencia Street Hotel before the Earthquake. 
 
 Copyright. 1906. C. E. Perry. I'sed by Permislon. 
 
\ alencia Street Four-Story Hotel Destroyed by Earthquake. Thirty People Killed. 
 
Lookinjr duwn L.tiiiDnua Siiicl ai'icr the Fire. 
 
(lokinij- down .Market Strcft. fnmi Kleventh Street, after the Fire. 
 
riic Xcw ruitufficc, San I'Vancisco — did not suspend business cxce])! for a tVw hours to figlit fire. Grant 
 
 lUiildinLr at left. 
 
Jefferson Square Camp of Refugees. 
 
^'i^^^^.. , 
 
 Ruins of the Grand Opera House. Destroyed In- I'ire. 
 
Result of Karlh(iiiake on IMission Street, opposite Postoffice. 
 
Russia)) Hill, showing Houses Saved from l"iie. 
 
Break in the Stn-et near Water l''ront, caused by KarllKiuake. 
 
Mission District riltc-r tlic lire — sliowing uiiliuriicd portion, lot)kiiiy lrt)ni Ashl)inv Heights. 
 
■s. ^ 5 
 
 ^ 1 1 
 
 _v ^ ^ 
 
 O^J 
 
Central IJank, I-'ourteeiilli and 15road\vay, (Oakland. 
 
Tlie Mission District lUirning, as seen from Market Street, near Dolores Street. 
 
 Copyright 1906. A. Blumberg. Alameda. Cal. Used by permission. 
 
'.-^^f. 
 
 t 
 
 Jewish Synagogue, SuUcr Street, between rowell and Stockton. 
 
t 
 
 ^■^- ^ 
 
 
 W 
 
 ;-.v-:C' 
 
 Lincoln School, l-"iftli Street. Danianed hv Mre. 
 
 
 r. -^ 
 
 - > 
 
;/. 
 
 f. 
 
 ■j~i 
 

 
 
 
 
 SillMBK^E3fyF 
 
 
 
 TO^Ktff 
 
 
 L.abur Day l\-ira(lc. Sc])tcnilx'r _^, nph. lnokins; Xcirtli on \'an W'ss Avemu'; jo.cxki men in line. 
 
City Hall before the Fire and EartliquaUc. 
 
City Hall, San l-rancisco. Daniaycil by EartlK|uake. 
 
■H 
 
 
b/D 
 
 ■I. 
 
/^irtpKHaii' 
 
The Business District of San Francisco Burninj;-. as Seen from l-'ainiionl iloiel. 
 
 Copyright. 11106. A. Blumberg. Alamoda. Cal. Used by piTinission. 
 
^ww 
 
Palace lli)t(,-l, San I""ranciscu, aflcr the I'ire, with .M( ina<lni>ck lihjck on ris^iit. Walls willisiooil both I'irc and 
 
 l^artluiuakc. 
 
Bread Line on I'olsoin Street, San Iram-isi.- 
 
Clav Street and \'an Xess Aveiuu', where the I'ire was Checked. 
 
Lapp Strc'cl, near Sfvc'iUi.'cntli, Damaged by l'".artli(]iiakc. 
 
Cottages cm ("mlilcn (iatc .\\emie. near llyck' Street. W'reckeil h\' l-".artlii|uake. 
 
Looking down Sntter Street, San I-Vancisco, after the J'ire. 
 
n JM K ^ r s 
 
 Tlie fames I-looil lUiildiiii;' after the I'ire. IluililiiiL;" was gutted hy the I'ire. ]n\i ai)|)arently iwt otherwise 
 damasred. 'Jlie Citv Treasurer now has his office here tosrether with Western National Bank. 
 
'J'lic Result of tin- EartlKjuake on the lilock between Seventeenth ami luLjliteenth. lookini,' Xortli on 
 
 Howard Street. 
 
Califdrnia Theatre. lUisli Street, near Kearnv. 
 
Union Square, Hotel St. I'Vancis, and Dewey Monument alter tiie lire. 
 
Temporary Hotel St. I-"raiicis, built in L'nioii Square after the Fire. 
 
People flccini^ frtjiii tlic flames resting in L'nion Square. All Uuiklings shown liere afterwartls burned. 
 
Looking down Fell Street. Showing how closely ])eo])lc clung to their homes, only leaving when fire was 
 
 a few doors away. 
 
 Copyi-ight, 1906. A. Blumbeig', Alameda. Used by permission. 
 
(jrace Lluiich, on California and Mocklon Streets. 
 
The 1 111 riling- of the iMiipdriuni. All the lUiildings shown here were Destroyed by 1-ire. 
 Used by permission. 
 
United States Cii'^tom Mouse, corner Sansome and Washington Streets, withstood lire and Kartluinake. 
 
The C'all lUiildinij. seen tliroucrh a tanHe of m 
 
Mii-scuin, Golden (late I'ark. Damaged In l'".arllu|uakc. 
 
Lookiii!/ Xortli on Kcanu- Slrccl. fnnii l'ii>i. alter tin,' 1-ire. 
 
Montgomery Street, lookiiig Xortli from California Street. 
 
 Copyright, 1908. A. Blunil..rg. Used by perm Lssion. 
 
Montgomery Street, looking' South fr(.)in California Street. 
 
 CoDyright, 1906. A. Blumberg. Usud by permission. 
 
Residences of Messrs. Flood, Huntington, and Crocker before the lire. 
 
• I I i.n I ij T f I — i' ■■ ■ r 1 r 
 
 '■ • — ■ ' ' fc 1 ■ • ■ » • |i 
 
 The ruins of the Crocker and Flood Palatial Residences. These Residences with their ^Tagnificent 
 Furnishings and Art Ireasures represent a loss of Millions. 
 
The -Music SUuul, Golden Gate I'ark, DaniaRccl In- ManluiiiaUe. 
 
o 
 
 CO 
 
 c 
 
 bJ3 
 "S 
 
 3 
 
he Break in the Street on \ an Ness Avenue, near \ allejo Street, caused by karlliiiuakc. 
 
 Mains broken here. 
 
 W alci- 
 
The Burning uf the CaU I'.uilchng. as seen from Kearny Street. The Mutual Savings Bank liuilding 
 
 in the foreground. 
 
 Used by permission. 
 
Monic of Clans Sprcckcls, when- I'iic was Checked, on \ an Xcss Avonnc, corner Clay Street. 
 
St. Dominic's C'lnirch. nusli ami Stciiicr Streets — \\ ri-ckcd 1)\ {•'.ariluniakc. 
 
St. Ignatius Clnircli, Hayes Street and \'an Ness Avenue. 
 
>V f^-^L "" ' v^ SkS6xt^;:^*<^V '";-.;!-'•« jT,*.*^* v»ii<i.7 
 
 Ruins of Chinatown District. 
 
Ivfpairing Tracks on Sutler Street alter llie I'ire. C'liaiiging Line Ircmi Cable to Electric. 
 
Montgomery Jilock, 
 
 Montgoniei-y and Washington Streets — Escaped I'ire thongli all 
 were llnrned in same Block. 
 
 )lher Buildings 
 
Ruins of Hibernia liank Building and Prager"s Department Store — Jones, McAllister and Market Streets. 
 
\';in Ness Avenue, the New Uiisiness Street, looking from Geary Street North. Deeeniher. i()o6. 
 
A portion of the City not damaged !))■ either Fire or Earthquake — Looking East from Alta Phiza. 
 
.^C'lUi-ii Kill', .\iasiiinc jiail, with Jewish Synagogue nn the left, (ieary Street, near I'illnidre. .San I r.incise<.i, 
 
 Damaged by Earthquake. 
 
p 
 
 Sunset District, looking from Ashbury Heights — Unharmed by Fire or Earthquake. 
 
Looking South from Alta I'laza — A iwrlioii of Residence Section wliicii escaped i'ire. 
 
u o 
 
 ■^ -Si 
 
 o > 
 
 ■■J ■' 
 
 ijc" :i. 
 
 
 
Kebuikling San Francisco — Laying l-'oundation for l-'ireproot Liuilding al <.'alilornia and .\lari«.i Sireels 
 
Showiii"- the l-"our I'.lDcks Iruiii .SixtcLiilh In I WL-iiUctli MiTi-ls Rebuilt Since tlio I'ire. Taken .\in-enil)er. i()o6. 
 
liu Xl-w Loup at llic l-'crry for Car Scrvici.-. Compk'k'il Xovcinhcr, \<jo(> 
 
.Market Street. l)et\veen Eiylith aiul Ximli, Rebuilt Since l-'ire. i'rom ])lu)tograi>li taken .\ii\eiHl)ei'. njo;>. 
 
Some New Buildings on I-'illmore Street, the Principal Ikisiness Center, Immediately alter the Fire. 
 
Stanford Library, Stanford University — Damaged by Earthquake. 
 
\ lew showing a ])f)rtion of the Asylum for the Insane at Agncws. Wrecked by l'.arth<|nake. 
 
Another portion of tlie W rocked Asylum at .\s;ne\vs, showing Resuks of Earthquake. 
 
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 Sonoma County Courthouse, Santa Rosa, before the Earthquake. 
 
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 Sonoma County Courthouse, Santa Rosa, after the Karthquake. 
 
\\ flis lurgu Uaiik liuiltliiig, bantu Kuiu, Ucsiroycd by L;i; Ui'ii^ui' v. 
 
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 Hotel \ cndonie .Annex, San Jose. Wrecked by ICarthquake. 
 
St. Patricks Church, i^an jose, Destroyed by Earthquake.