Earle Talbot letter re: 1906 Earthquake, 1906-04-25

to move together out of town. So went down with the statement that I was to move them (270) to Raymond. - Things worked out in the best way ultimately resulting in the securing of a redcross Auto for Grandma and a cement wagon for the furniture trunks etc - to be taken to 115 Walnut. That house is in good shape - and provisioned - Cooking everywhere in the street of course on account of chimneys - they have a good stove to work with, and will move when it is possible to do so. 270 is in charge of the Agent with everything of value locked up.- It will need a lot of work, and I suggested that in case of a necessary removal, some things could be taken to 1819.

It took a whole day to get things fixed up. Then I went for 1819, and attended to fixing leaky skylights against the rain etc. Met Jacobi in the house - he is going to look after it, but will not move the family back this summer. If I had failed to find any of that family I meant to

put someone in there to look after our interests for the time being. Had a couple picked out but they could not come anyhow. I stayed at the Hooper's during that time and went foraging with Frank and Oscar Beatty. Mr. H. was taking things very cool-like and the family could not make him go to the ranch.

The kitchen chimneys will be the first thing to be fixed all over the city, by an agreement of the contractors - ours soon after J. A. Hooper's.

Have seen Mr. [Peering?] {Above the line: "(Wells Fargo Bank)"} at his home and told him what was to be done - am writing him to make it official - the chimneys and glass must be done at once, the balcony can wait pending your decision. I was afraid of that old bulkhead at the rear, and found there had been some settlement there, but nothing very serious. I don't know how the lease reads, but imagine that if the house is habitable, they are bound to hold it. It can be made so, easily.

By waiting from 2:30 to 7:00 I got a train from 3rd & Townsend to Palo Alto.

It isnt necessary to tell you all what the Nob Hill end looks like - the blackened Fairmont (structurally intact) and the hollow

-roofless shell of the Flood house {above the line: "Pacific Union Club now"} - The fact that the ruins of a fire Engine and a big Auto are in the street there will show how it went: Vestibules and staircases of marble remain, and piles of brick and pipe.- Went down Powell to Geary, to Market, and down 3rd. All the "(class A") buildings are structurally intact although gutted by the flames. Call building the most natural of all The Palace {above the line: "Hotel"} has all its walls standing but is hollow. Union Trust building scorched out, but vaults all intact. Merchants Exchange building - (S.P. offices) and our former offices, burnt out,- the Kohl building on Calif. and Montg'y, has lower floors burnt out, but our offices on floor 11 are absolutely unharmed - a good omen.- It pays to build well. But me for a tent and a big pine tree.

This much for the state of affairs down there: The people are energetic, determined and cool - there is no hysteria about it. They are cheerful.

-it makes one proud of them.- They are by this time all cared for in some shelter - temporary - they have an abundance of good food properly distributed - the sanitary conditions are excellent. The policing and discipline is splendid - No lawlessness is tolerated, and all offenders are shot.

In short, the city is going to take up its affairs again at once - and build up its bread -earning business - After that and gradually we are going to have homes - a better city, and a cleaner city - It is no place to go to now nor a place to view, except {caret:"for"} those who needs must be there.-

(Aunt Alice had not moved our things from Cousin Florence's {above the line: "1601 Van Ness Ave at Calif St (Pope)"} I have no reason to think they had time to save half of her lovely things let alone ours - I am sorry for her - and hope she is well and safe- )

Everyone is at Burlingame-, but I could not stop over there, having taken a week as it was. Such a trip for Aunt Sophia - after all these years of quiet!

The center of the Earthquake was an old geologic fault or break line which runs through Portola valley and out into the ocean - near Colma - the slip was longitudinal this time and about four {above the line:"8"] feet - That is they had to lengthen some of Hooper's fences that much to make them

- meet. Josselyn's house must have been right over it, for it was flattened out like cardboard. Killing their gardener - They are living there or in Menlo now. Hooper's lower house - (the dining room house badly shaken - Prestons also very badly - so Frank says - Norma very nervous, which is bad. -

Stopped over at the University to collect my things and have a long talk with Daddy Marx He has a lot of encouraging things to say - and one is that the difficulties here will be speedily adjusted -

I wonder what you are going to do? dont make any definite plans to do anything but keep quiet and save money until we get straightened out some. there are two months yet nearly. Write one soon and let me know what the news is -

Much love to you all - .

Earle.

Dont mind the awful scrawl of this letter - the time flies when one has so much to say and the hand will not follow the thoughts with that dexterity "indigenous" to the clerical.