Descriptive Summary
Access
Publication Rights
Preferred Citation
Acquisition Information
Biography/Administrative History
Scope and Content of Collection
Indexing Terms
Descriptive Summary
Title: John A. Wright and Michael Maher San Francisco earthquake accounts
Dates: 1906
Collection Number: SFH 482
Creator/Collector:
Wright, John A., d. 1913.
Maher, Michael.
Extent: 2 folders
Repository:
San Francisco Public Library. San Francisco History Center
San Francisco, California 94102
Abstract: Four accounts of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire
Language of Material: English
Access
The collection is available for use during San Francisco History Center hours. Collections that are stored offsite should
be requested 48 hours in advance.
Publication Rights
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the City Archivist. Permission
for publication is given on behalf of the San Francisco Public Library as the owner of the physical items.
Preferred Citation
John A. Wright and Michael Maher San Francisco earthquake accounts. San Francisco Public Library. San Francisco History Center
Acquisition Information
Gift, 2018-10
Biography/Administrative History
John A. Wright, born Ireland, came to the U.S. in 1865. He worked as an attorney in San Francisco; he was married to Elizabeth
Strother and had three daughters and a son. Michael Maher, also born in Ireland, worked as a laborer at the Santa Fe freight
sheds near Spear St., San Francisco, and at the time of the earthquake was single. William Duggan worked as a stenographer
in San Francisco, at one time employed by Pacific Gas & Electric Co.; he produced the four typescripts in this collection.
Scope and Content of Collection
One folder includes two accounts, dated April 24 (six leaves) and May 3, 1906 (five leaves) by attorney John A. Wright of
2222 Washington St., San Francisco. The second folder includes an account (12 leaves) dated December 1, 1906 by railroad
employee Michael Maher of 234 East St., and another account (12 leaves) dated April 25, 1906 by an unidentified man who boarded
at 264 Fifth St. William Duggan worked as a stenographer in San Francisco; he produced the four typescripts in this collection.
Wright’s April 24 account describes Mrs. Wright (Elizabeth), children Sarah, Elizabeth and John preparing to leave their home
near Lafayette Square for a camp in the Presidio. He writes of rumors of the drunkenness of soldiers, firemen and police after
their exertions; the dynamiting of buildings, and tremors from the explosions; moving mattresses out of his house into Mrs.
Ives’ cottage, next door; borrowing a surrey and two horses from Mrs. McLean to take family and belongings to the Presidio.
On the way, they stop at house of Judge J. M. Allen, and with Allen’s brother’s family, they stay the night there. The next
day they continue to the Presidio, setting up camp on a hill facing south, opposite the golf club house. The Presidio grounds
are crowded with a throng of campers. After a night camping, they return to Judge Allen’s, and the women and children then
travel to Allen’s country home in Menlo Park, where they will remain for months. Wright’s office in the Mutual Life Assurance
building burned; his firm’s records of 37 years destroyed. Wright turned most rooms of his home over to the relief committee
as a clothing depot, his library becoming his law office. Wright’s May 3 account of the disaster repeats much of this April
24 account, and a note from Duggan indicates it was excerpted from a letter Wright sent to a friend.
Maher’s account traces his movements from the Miner’s Hotel, 261 First St. when the ‘quake hit, to the Santa Fe Freight sheds
(where he was employed) to the Ferry Building, where he was locked up for one night by soldiers for violating curfew. He
had helped his landlady, Nora Roach, her two daughters and other residents evacuate the hotel, which later burned down.
He describes a breadline, and his lodgings at the sheds at Spear Street near the wharf. Three days after the ‘quake, he crosses
to Oakland to buy food and clothing, and returns to the sheds by barge from Point Richmond. The second half of his account
speaks generally of the mood of the people; scenes of the fires; hordes of people moving west from downtown; the transport
of household pets; the dynamiting of buildings, and rainfall. Maher writes of the ransacking of grocery stores, sometimes
sanctioned by the authorities; the destruction of barrels of whiskey; the high prices charged to transport people and belongings;
grub lines and double-dipping. Maher describes the rebuilding activities downtown; the effects of the track laborers’ strike
of United Railroads; the graft exposed in City Hall, and his concerns about religious prejudice swaying public opinion of
the Mayor and others.
The anonymous April 25 account discusses movements of the Todd family; of the author’s landlady, Mrs. John Todd, as well as
of John and George Todd, who with Mr. Hollbrook, comprised United Special Delivery, a firm whose thirteen wagons aided the
evacuation of people and belongings during the conflagration. The Todd rooming house burnt down; the author, the Todds and
others moved into the Mission district, camped at Howard and 21st Streets, and kept watch in shifts in the ensuing nights.
Author witnessed the ransacking of a store, and the Army’s discovery of whiskey, which was emptied into sewers; he witnessed
men ordered by the Army to haul dynamite, and the fire, reaching 17th and Howard streets, being fought; he joined in the looting
of flour at Homestead Bakery, on 19th St., under gaze of soldiers; he violated a curfew, and was forced at gunpoint to bake
bread for other refugees; described a grub line, and greedy individuals. Account ends with good wishes for the new San Francisco,
almost identical to Maher’s close. Maher’s name is penciled on the first page, though this account seems to be written by
someone else.
Indexing Terms
San Francisco Earthquake and Fire, Calif., 1906--Personal
narratives.
Fires—California—San Francisco.
Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad Company—Employees.
Irish--California—San Francisco.
Lodging-houses—California—San Francisco.
Boardinghouses—California—San Francisco.
Lawyers—California—San Francisco.
Wright, John A., d. 1913 – Archives.
Maher, Michael – Archives.
Todd family.
United Special Delivery (San Francisco, Calif.)
South of Market (San Francisco, Calif.)
Mission District (San Francisco, Calif.)