1906 earthquake Westin St. Francis

damage dining room 1906 fire subsequent great earthquake

the san francisco earthquake of 1906 badly frightened guests, did no structural damage hotel. john farish, mining engineer staying @ hotel, described experience: awakened loud rumbling noise compared mixed sound of strong wind rushing through forest , breaking of waves against cliff...there began series of liveliest motions imagineable, accompanied creaking, grinding, rasping sound, followed tremendous crashes cornices of adjoining buildings , chimneys tottered ground.

enrico caruso

the earthquake lasted 55 seconds. hotel page described pandemonium inside hotel: found floor crowded screaming guests running every way. elevators out of order guests headed marble stairs, broken , cracked , falling below. hotel manager, james woods, wearing bathrobe, tried calm guests, of them rushed outside onto union square. later in morning, opera singer enrico caruso , alfred hertz, conductor of san francisco symphony, hosting tour caruso, both staying @ nearby palace hotel, fled palace , came st. francis, restaurant still open breakfast. caruso carried him signed photograph of president theodore roosevelt, , swore never return san francisco; never did.

the earthquake did not cause major structural damage hotel, did begin series of fires along waterfront began sweep west across city. broke water mains, firemen unable fight fires. hour after midnight fire reached union square , gutted hotel.

when fire put out 3 days later, found st. francis had suffered little serious damage. copper cornice had been warped, , of enamelled facing bricks had fallen off in heat, otherwise building intact. reconstruction began immediately. small temporary hotel, little st. francis, 110 rooms, built in middle of union square, house temporary guests. hotel re-opened in late 1907.