1906 Letter written by Curtis Wright, Jr., of Oakland, California to Wright Family in Carthage, Missouri

Selected letter/document from 2006 "Letters of History" Exhibit (Now closed)

PACIFIC SPRING BED COMPANY
INC.
MANUFACTURERS OF
LEGGETT'S PATENT STEEL SPRING BED

GUARANTEED NOISELESS, DURABLE, SANITARY

Oakland, CAL. Apr. 17-06

My dear folks:
I just left a telegram at the telegraph office telling you that we were safe and sound and that there had been no damage done at the factory to speak of, account the earthquake which occurred at 5.15 this A. M.

However as there is no telling when the mes[s]ages will ge[t] through I am writing this at my first opportunity, as I know that in all probability the reports will be greatly exagarated in the East.

At 5.15 I awks [wake] suddenly and found my feet, apparently higher than my head. I immediately realized what was the matter and jumped an picked up Curtis. I was almost thrown off my feet but got him on the bed with Helen. I knew that the inside of the house was probably safer than outside as bricks were rolling off all sides of the house. It seemed like the shock lasted a life time but I suppose that really lasted 15 seconds. Then there were several lighter ones.

After I found that we were safe my first thought was of the factory and I came down here as quickly as possible. Found building and oven airtight. Springs were thrown every which way and it looked as though a cyclone had struck us, but there wasn[ ' ]t even a window light broken. -- There is not a chimney left standing in town, so far as I have been able to see and two of the bank buildings are practically total wrecks. Broadway is a sight. The sky scaper apparently suffered less than any of the big buildings. In fact I cannot see that it is damaged at all excepting for several small cracks. Central bank is a total wreck above the 3rd. floor. Almost every plate glass in every store is smashed to pieces.

I was up town before six o[ ' ]clock but could not get a message off to you. Have been down several times since and finally got the Postal Telegraph to take the message and transfer it. Best I could do. -- The water mains were broken but they have g[o]t them in shape do that we have water now. You can guess it was a sight to see the people rushing around in neglige costum[e].-- So far as I can learn there were not over six people killed here in Oakland. Four of them were in a hotel which collasped. -- But San Francisco is in terrible shape. Was talking with a man who had come over from there and he states that Market St. from Palace hotel way up past the Emporium is a total wreck. Buildings are on fire and they are dynimiting [sic] them trying to check the flames. If his reports are true thousands of pe[o]ple have been killed but everyone is so excited that it is impossible to get authentic news. -- One thing is sure, this is the greatest calamity that has ever visited this country and one that it won[ ' ] get over for a long time. -- I don[ ' ]t know just how far along the coast it reached and it may be that it was harder in some places than right here -- One block north of us

the ground has cracks in it that you could stick your foot in. They say that there are places in Market st. S.F. where a man could fall through. The street car tracks are twisted in every shape and there will be no transportation for several weeks.

A very large building which was recently build on the water front below the factory is nothing but a pile of trash. Hardly a trace of a wall left standing.

None of our dishes and cut glass was broken but the people up stairs suffered quite a loss.

Not a factory in town is running and we are included in the list as it is impossible for the men to do any work, they are all so excited.

I have had it figured out that the eruption of Mount Vesuvius would create a disturbance throughout the country but I didn[ ' ]t suppose it would come so near home.

However this is an occurence of a century and I guess it isn[']t as bad as a good twister in the East. A person is just about as safe in one place as in another in this world I suppose, but I am afraid that this will be the cause of keeping home seekers away from this part of the country.

Helen wasn[ ' ]t badly frightened as she didn[ ' ]t realize what the danger was until she saw the damage it did. I must confess I was scared for I couldn[']t understand how any building could stand the shock.

There is a pall of smoke all over the Bay, coming from the fires in S. F. -- As I was writing this we had another shock that made me jumpt [sic] from my chair. Wish the blamed thing would stop. We have been having one about every half hour but of course light ones.

Must close and write to the Seattle folks.

Affc [Affectionately]
Curtis

Letter written on April 17, 1906, by Curtis Wright, Jr. of Oakland, California, and sent to members of the Wright-Powers families in Carthage, Missouri. The factory he visits is the same as given on letterhead. On the first page margin is pencilled:
"All wires are down so communication with city is impossible."

Anyone accessing page and using letter for educational purposes should acknowledge this letter with the following citation as to its source: From the Powers Museum Founding Collection (Carthage MO), Wright-Powers Family Correspondence Collection, gift of the Marian Powers Winchester Estate, 1981. Any commercial use of this image and text without written permission is not permitted. (All rights reserved by the Powers Museum.)