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diff --git a/6716.txt b/6716.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4613ba2 --- /dev/null +++ b/6716.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1471 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Spirit of 1906, by George W. Brooks + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Spirit of 1906 + +Author: George W. Brooks + +Posting Date: March 11, 2014 [EBook #6716] +Release Date: October, 2004 +First Posted: January 19, 2003 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SPIRIT OF 1906 *** + + + + +Produced by David Schwan + + + + + + + + +Geo. W. Brooks, Secretary and Treasurer, Founder of the Company as +reorganized in the year 1905 + + + +The Spirit of 1906 + + + +By George W. Brooks + +Founder of the California Insurance Company (as reorganized in the year +1905) and who has continuously occupied the position of Secretary and +Managing Underwriter with the Corporation since that date. + + + +Published by the California Insurance Company of San Francisco 1921 + + + +Copyright 1921 +By Geo. W. Brooks + + + +Dedicated to the Directors and Shareholders of the California Insurance +Company in 1906 who so nobly, at their own financial cost, did their +"Big Bit." + + + +"On fame's eternall beadroll worthie to be fyled."--Spenser + + + + +Foreword + + +Whatever of effort has been given in the pleasant pastime of writing +these rambling and sketchy pages of reminiscences is dedicated to those +who in the hours of trial and tribulation felt with Sir Philip Sidney, +"Honor is the idol of man's mind" and determined to do that which honor +demanded knowing that if they lost their honor they lost their all. + +Reading between these lines, it is hoped there will be found some +intimation, some outline, of the character of the men who composed the +directors and stockholders of the California Insurance Company, who +acted well their part, who fought the good fight and held the faith, +whose stern sense of duty and heroic courage led them to lay upon the +altar of their idealism the financial sacrifices which they made. + +Theirs is the honor achieved. They neither faltered nor hesitated in +upholding and protecting their own individual good name, the fair name +of the Company nor the integrity of the financial institutions of +California, and they, like Bacon "May leave their name and memory to +man's charitable speeches, to the next age and foreign nations." + + + + +The Spirit of 1906 + + +The California Insurance Company having played one of the leading parts +in the reconstruction of San Francisco following the disaster of 1906 +and there being no record of its activities, I have, after insistent and +repeated requests from directors, stockholders and others, finally +yielded to their importunities to preserve for reference my impressions +and memories of that most important crisis ever known to fire insurance. + +From the time when Nero played the violin accompaniment to the burning +of Rome, down, through the ages, to 5:15 a. m., April 18, 1906, and up +to the present date, the San Francisco disaster is the most prominent +recorded in history. It was the greatest spectacular drama ever staged +and produced the biggest heap of the "damn'dest, finest ruins" the world +has ever seen. + +In transferring the records from the tablets of my memory to the printed +page, I am dealing with accurate historical facts of the California +Insurance Company together with my own impressions. The facts and +figures regarding the Company are incontrovertible. My own impressions +are but those which were felt by thousands of other San Franciscans in a +greater or lesser or more varying degree. These may be taken as merely +the local color, the object being to set forth for enduring vision, the +splendid performances of honorably disposed fire insurance companies +amongst which none discharged to policyholders the liabilities under +their contracts with any greater sense of equity, honor and liberality +than did the California Insurance Company. + + + + +The Morning of April 18th + + +In common with the other half million citizens of San Francisco on that +fateful morning, I was awakened from a sound sleep by a continuous and +violent shaking and oscillation of my bed. I was bewildered, dazed, and +only awakened fully when my wife suddenly screamed, "Earthquake!" It was +a whopper, bringing with it a ghastly sensation of utter and absolute +helplessness and an involuntary prayer that the vibrations might cease. +Short as was the period of the earth's rocking, it seemed interminable, +and the fear that the end would never come dominated the prayer and +brought home with tremendous import the realization of our +insignificance, of what mere atoms we become when turned on the wheel of +destiny in the midst of such abnormal phenomena of nature's forces. + +It was 5:15, broad daylight, and as I glanced at my watch those figures +were indelibly fixed in my memory for the rest of my existence. The +terror and horror which suddenly sprang like a beast of prey out of the +gray dawn and grasped our heart strings, came unheralded from a day that +otherwise promised all that should make life worth living. The night had +been particularly warm and inviting. So vivid was this impression of the +glory of the morning that I was possessed by a feeling of irony that +such a beginning should herald the inception of so bitter a calamity. +Fascinated, I stood gazing at a weathervane on the top of a house across +the street. It swayed to and fro like the light branch of a tree in a +heavy gale. I was jarred out of my inanition by a terrific shock. The +house lurched and trembled and I felt that now was the end. It was +afterward discovered that this crash and jar was caused by the falling +of a heavy outside chimney, attached to the adjoining house. It had +broken and struck our dwelling at about the first floor level and torn +away about twenty feet of the sheathing, some of the studding and left a +big hole through which the dust and sound poured in volumes, adding to +the already almost unbearable confusion. + +The first natural impulse of a human being in an earthquake is to get +out into the open, and as I and those who were with me were at that +particular moment decidedly human in both mold and temperament, we +dressed hastily and joined the group of excited neighbors gathered on +the street. Pale faced, nervous and excited, we chattered like daws +until the next happening intervened, which was the approach of a man on +horseback who shouted as he "Revere-d" past us the startling news that +numerous fires had started in various parts of the city, that the Spring +Valley Water Company's feed main had been broken by the quake, that +there was no water and that the city was doomed. + +This was the spur I needed. Fires and no water! It was a call to duty. +The urge to get downtown and to the office of the "California" enveloped +me to such an extent that my terror left me. Activity dominated all +other sensations and I started for the office. As all street car lines +and methods of transportation had ceased to operate it meant a hike of +about two miles. + +My course was down Vallejo street to Van Ness avenue, thence over +Pacific street to Montgomery. When I reached the top of the hill at +Pacific street where it descends to the business section, a vision of +tremendous destruction, like a painted picture, opened before my eyes. I +saw fires on the water front, fires in the commercial district and also +portentous columns of smoke hovering over the southern part of the city. +Then like a blow in the face came the realization that all fire fighting +facilities were nil owing to the lack of water. One short hour previous, +San Francisco was sleeping peacefully in its prosperity, and now the +sight was appalling. Devastation, far as the eye could see, was spelling +death and destruction. + +My route was down Clay street from Montgomery to Sacramento. In that one +block I counted twenty-one dead horses, killed by falling walls. They +had belonged to the corps of men who bring in to the market with the +dawn the city's supplies. When I reached the corner of California and +Sansome streets (the California office being one block away on +California and Battery) I found a rope stretched across from the Mutual +Life Insurance Company Building to the site where the Alaska Commercial +Company building now stands. All beyond was policed. A soldier of the +regular army was on guard and no one was permitted to pass. Arguments +and beseechments to get to the office were of no avail. The necessity +and the emergency, however, stimulated my determination and aroused my +ingenuity. Suddenly, I ducked under the rope and ran a Marathon which +was not only a surprise to myself but also to the officers and the crowd +who yelled after me. I am sure that in this one block my speed record +for a flat run still stands unequaled. + +I reached the office and there found every intimation of a hasty +departure on the part of the janitor. The front door of the building +stood wide open. I rushed in, threw open my desk and hastily gathered an +armful of what I deemed were the more important books and papers. +Glancing around to see if there was any way of saving anything else I +again received a jolt by noticing that the fire was coming down a light +shaft from an adjoining building and through an open window into the +rear office of the "California's" office. In fact, furniture was already +burning in the president's room. This was no place for me. The only +avenue of escape was the way I had come, since so rapid was the spread +of the conflagration that north, south and east were already in flames. + +Upon reaching California street I rushed and headed west, and the +instant I had passed, the entire four-story outer wall of the building +located on the southwest corner of California and Battery streets (then +known as the "Insurance Building"), fell with a roar, completely +blocking the street over which I had just made my escape. Realizing that +my safety was measured by a matter of seconds, I was for a moment +unnerved. My legs trembled, my heart pounded and my breath came quickly, +and only by a great exertion of will induced by the thought that it was +time to do and not to hesitate, I made the effort and arrived safely at +the rope from which I had started. I shook as if with the ague. Sweat +and grime poured from me, but the shout that went up from the watching +crowd and the many friendly hands that sought mine, gave me my second +wind. + +I had already made up my mind that possibly the Liverpool and London and +Globe Insurance Company and Colonel C. Mason Kinne would allow me to +store within their vaults whatever salvage I had taken from my desk. My +trust in their courtesy was justified. I was made welcome and the +Colonel, in the name of the company, placed anything and everything that +it had in the shape of assistance at my disposal. + +As we stood talking on the corner of California and Leidesdorff streets, +a friend still living in San Francisco who had an office in the +Liverpool and London and Globe Building suggested to me that I had +better take an option on some of that company's vacant rooms. I spoke to +Colonel Kinne, a verbal agreement to that effect was made, and I turned +and smilingly remarked, little knowing what the future had in store, +that the California Insurance Company would resume business in the +Liverpool and London and Globe Building "tomorrow morning." + +I then stood and watched the firemen lower a suction pipe through a +manhole in the middle of the street and pump sewerage on to the old +Wells Fargo Building. It had about as much effect as a garden hose and +the supply was soon exhausted. The firemen stood perfectly helpless, +like soldiers without ammunition, in front of the enemy. The fire had +now about everything east of Sansome street and in the absence of water +it was only a question of one or two days at most when the entire city +would be in ashes. This was not alone my impression but the same ghastly +prospect impressed itself upon all those who were gathered in the +vicinity. + +The minutes had ticked off until it was now about 8 a. m., when another +violent shock occurred--a sort of postscript to the original 5:15 +trembler. It was of short duration but while it lasted it was decidedly +impressive. The crowd scattered and I with them, for we suddenly +realized that another wall might fall with a crash and that we might be +caught. This is the only reason I can assign for our agility in getting +away, unless it might be that we simply followed the first and natural +impulse of our overwrought nerves. + + + + +The Dominant Thought + + +As the various impressions and shocks succeeded one another, there +always came in the interim the dominant thought of the California +Insurance Company. This thought again became uppermost and I concluded +to at once get in touch with the president. I proceeded by devious ways +over bricks, past wreck and ruin, through the stunned and gaping crowds, +until I reached the St. Francis Hotel where he resided, and finally +found him in the lobby, which was packed by an excited throng of +humanity. If ever the St. Francis needed the S. O. S. sign, it was the +morning of this day. Everybody in the hotel must have been, with others, +in the lobby. + +The president was in his usual hopeful and optimistic frame of mind. He +had no fear whatever but that the fire would be shortly under control. +How this was to be brought about, he could not tell, but he was +perfectly satisfied that it would be done. I looked at the man in wonder +and admiration. Such colossal optimism was superb. To expect from fate +what appeared to me to be the impossible was indicative of a hope +sublime. I envied such a nature. It was not only a great asset but was +also a great solace in the face of an unprecedented disaster. But he had +not been where I had been nor had he seen what I had seen. + +Then my thoughts turned toward home and my depression increased almost +to despair as I walked past the wreck and ruin and through the crowds +who themselves were fleeing in indescribable habiliments and with all +sorts of futile treasures grasped in their hands. + +No water! Little, if any, police protection! In fact, nothing, +apparently, except Divinity itself, to prevent the conflagration from +finally burning to the ocean. A most sublime tragedy! It meant the +impoverishment and lack of homes to thousands; it meant the sweeping +away of accumulations of years of endeavor; it might mean starvation; it +meant beginning again to climb the uphill trail to success; and last, +but worst, it meant the tremendous death toll either from immediate +causes or from after effects. Even today, years after the conflagration, +many men and women live in San Francisco in a greater or less degree of +ill health, the seeds of which were planted by the terror and mental +strain which they endured on the morning of that day. + + + + +Progress of the Fire + + +The day passed. Neither I nor any other can remember all the details +which marked the hours of suspense. It is to be presumed that others +like myself found various, and what then appeared to them to be +tremendous, things to claim their attention and then--the second day! + +The fire had now reached Van Ness avenue and again came the messengers +on horseback who shouted in passing that everyone must move. My home was +on Vallejo street about five blocks beyond Van Ness and it was generally +believed that inasmuch as that street was one hundred and twenty feet +wide that it would form a fire break which could not be crossed. +Backfiring had already been started to meet the oncoming conflagration, +but everything, including the elements, seemed to favor destruction and, +as time passed, the worry and fear increased. Owing to inability to +combat the fire, through the lack of water, doubt began to creep in as +to whether the width of Van Ness avenue and the puny attempts at fire +fighting would check the march of the flames. + +About this time the question dawned upon myself and neighbors as to what +we should do with the more precious of our personal belongings. Mr. +Joseph Weisbein, a friendly neighbor, since dead, and myself evolved a +scheme to bury our belongings in the garden at the rear of my house. We +assembled four trunks, packed these with silverware and wearing apparel, +and some of the hardest physical work I have ever done was in burying +these trunks, digging the hole with a worn out shovel and a broken +spade. Then, with the help of our Chinese cook, I brought out of the +cellar a baby's buggy which had lain forgotten and unused for several +years. We loaded it with bedding and other things and trundled it down +the hill to Lobos Park near the bay shore. Trip after trip we made +before we decided that we had all that was necessary or, rather, +absolutely needful for a camp existence. The next question was shelter. +After prowling around the partially quake-wrecked gas works, I found +some pieces of timber out of which I constructed a sort of framework for +a large A tent. I borrowed a hatchet from another refugee, a stranger in +adversity. The disaster had broken down the barriers of formality and we +all lent a willing hand each to the other. I secured some spare rope and +got up my framework. This was covered to windward with some Indian +blankets sewn together by those we were trying to make comfortable. +Under that hastily erected rude shelter nineteen people slept on +mattresses that night. I did not have the good fortune to sleep. Sleep +would not come to "knit up the ravelled sleeve of care," and through the +long hours I watched the intermittent flashes, heard the noises and in +the darkness went through the added suffering of overstrained nerves. + +A neighbor, J. F. D. Curtis, since dead, but at that time and for years +after the manager of the "Providence Washington Insurance Company," +passed the silent watches of the night with me, each of us smoking +ourselves blind and watching--talking but little, although thinking +and feeling a whole lot. We were a mile from the fire, nevertheless it +was so light that a newspaper could easily have been read by its glow +from the time when the sun set on the ruins to the hour when it rose on +the next day of horror. Curtis, turning and pointing to the flaming +city, inquired in quiet tones if the California Insurance Company could +pay the bill. I replied that as a stockholder in the company, I felt +that I was ruined and I feared that the company would "go broke." He +stated that he believed the Providence Washington would weather the +storm and if the worst came to the worst with me, he would like to have +me join him in the management of the company he represented. It was a +ray of sunshine. It was a beacon of hope. It was like a life buoy thrown +to a drowning man, and I shall never forget the encouragement that came +with his offer nor the gratitude I felt, and, although subsequent events +have shown that my first fears were wrong, my gratitude endures to this +day. + +The night passed and while we were eating a cold breakfast, principally +composed of sandwiches, the man on horseback arrived again; this time, +however, with the glad tidings that the fire had been stopped at Van +Ness avenue and we could return to our homes. It was afterward learned +that the salvaging of the section of the city beyond Van Ness avenue was +due to the excellent work done by two salt water streams pumped from the +bay by tugs stationed at the foot of Van Ness avenue and carried along +by relays of fire engines. So intense and so furious was the fire that +while one set of firemen, their heads covered with blankets, held the +hose, the second stream was used to drench them, also the engine. +Further proof of the fierce and terrific heat was shown in the +circumstance that houses one hundred and twenty-five to one hundred and +thirty-five feet across the avenue had windows cracked and paint +blistered. The last grand heroic stand of the fire fighters was made at +the corner of Van Ness avenue and Vallejo streets. + +A man was found with a wagon to cart our things back to the house and, +while we did not have much worldly wealth in our clothes, we were +prepared to pay liberally. Under the circumstances, when his modest +charge of two dollars was met we felt that he had earned it many times +and in addition, our gratitude. Arriving at the residence, we found the +sidewalks and the street in front of it three inches thick with ashes +and cinders. Now came the task of unearthing the trunks and with it came +the thought that had this section been entirely burned how difficult it +might have been to locate the place where they had been buried. +Necessity for action and to be up and doing was too strong, however, to +allow time for any such conjectures. There was too much going on to +dwell on post-mortems. That night the streets were patrolled by marines +from United States warships in the harbor, whom the government had +hurried to the scene of action with all promptness possible. + +No lights nor fires were permitted in houses. It was either retire at +sundown or retire in the dark. Whatever water was needed had to be +carried from the nearest well and even after the mains had been restored +to normal efficiency this practice was continued for fear that the +possibly broken sewers might contaminate or pollute the water. No fires +nor cooking were permitted in any building until every chimney and flue +had been passed upon by the authorities. + +In order to obtain water it was necessary first to procure buckets, then +carry it from an old well in Lafayette Square, some dozen blocks away. +Baths were forgotten and shaving was a luxury. It entailed severe labor +to secure water with which to prepare the necessities of life and to +maintain a reasonable degree of personal cleanliness. In common with +every other citizen our stove was placed on the curb and this was our +kitchen and dining room for over six weeks. As there was no oven, baking +and roasting had to be dispensed with, boiling and frying being the +established fashion. + +The second day after the fire, a food station was opened across the +street in an old carriage house which belonged to Mr. J. L. Flood. Here +lines would form to receive rations, the millionaire rubbing shoulders +with the laborer. The panhandler got as much as the plutocrat. The +disaster leveled all classes. A million dollars in one's pocket would +have been of little use. Nothing could be bought with it and it could +not serve as either food or drink. + + + + +Getting Back to Work + + +Betweenwhiles, as one crisis after another came and went, I was still +constant to the idea and still felt my responsibility to the California, +and from time to time as circumstances permitted, was strenuously +endeavoring to reach the directors and stockholders. The president, in +spite of his optimism, had fled from the Hotel St. Francis and gone to +the home of his mother on Clay and Larkin streets. For the same reason +he left there and went to the yards of the Fulton Iron Works where his +yacht "Lady Ada" was laid up, got her off the ways and tacked over to +Tiburon where he remained for some time. Finally word was received from +him that the directors of the company would hold a meeting at the Blake +and Moffitt Building on the corner of Eighth and Broadway, Oakland, on +May 2, 1906. Who really located them, scattered as they were, and finally +got them together, has remained an unexplained mystery. It must have +been either the president or Chief Clerk Shallenberger. The late Mr. +James Moffitt, a stockholder in the company and the owner of the +building named, kindly secured for us two rooms in that building for an +office. They were on the third floor facing Broadway and the location +and the habitat of the company was disclosed by a canvas sign which, +banner-like, hung upon the outer wall proclaiming this to be the office +of the California Insurance Company. For furniture, there was a flat top +desk and a typewriter (both secondhand) and the balance of the equipment +was handmade, of ordinary lumber, by a local carpenter. There was not +very much cash among those thus assembled, but, fortunately, the company +had maintained a deposit in an Oakland bank and this was immediately +available for checking purposes. + + + + +First Meeting of the Board of Directors + + +Quietly and almost silently the directors gathered. The only emotion +apparent was that of the usual caution shown by men of large affairs who +meet to face a crisis. The president called the meeting to order and +stated that the object of the gathering was to inform the directors that +the company was heavily involved in the conflagration which visited San +Francisco on April 18, 19 and 20, 1906, that the amount of which +obligations was at present unknown, that they overshadowed the resources +of the company and that ways and means would have to be devised to +finance the California through this crisis. + +The fire maps of the company were entirely destroyed and it was not +advisable to open the safe in which the records of the company were kept +until it was sufficiently cool to prevent danger of combustion. In light +of these facts, it was impossible to immediately ascertain the actual +amount of the company's obligations. + +In response to an inquiry as to the probable extent of our liabilities, +I, as secretary of the company, ventured the statement that I believed +they would reach a total of $1,500,000 net, explaining that I based this +estimate upon the company's income and the average rate. I also knew +that the larger part of the entire liabilities in San Francisco were in +the burned area and that if the safe did not afford protection it would +mean the loss of the company's records, leaving it without means of +ascertaining the amount of the loss until claims were filed. This would +cause a delay of several months before the exact total could be +developed. I explained that the policy contract allowed sixty days for +filing claims and expressed the thought that this limit would +undoubtedly be extended by legislative action in view of the magnitude +of the disaster. + +In the meantime, in the April 27 edition of the Examiner, on the first +page, extending over its entire width, had appeared the following +statement: + +"The California Insurance Company Will Pay in Full." + +This was discussed and the meeting began to assume a more lively +interest and the members to more actively participate. Director W. E. +Dean offered a resolution that has passed into history as being, +possibly, the most noticeable ever adopted by the directors of a fire +insurance company. It is a question whether a motion under like +conditions had ever before been put or carried or ever will be in the +future. This motion was seconded by Director Mark L. Gerstle. It was as +follows: + +That the action of the president of this corporation in publicly +announcing that the California Insurance Company would pay all its +losses in full as ascertained and adjusted, be, and the same is hereby +confirmed and ratified, provided that each of the directors of the +corporation affixes his signature to the matters of this meeting. Unless +such ratification be unanimous and evidenced by the signature of each +director to the matters of this meeting, the above action of the board +be null and void. + +The signature of each and every director was subsequently affixed to +this resolution and it then remained a matter of detail to find how +funds were to be procured to make this resolution possible of +fulfillment and something more than a mere matter of words. + +In the absence of any specific or definite information as to the amount +of the company's indebtedness this action of the directors was a most +magnificent exemplification of nerve and integrity and a superb +testimony reinforcing the axiom that a California man's word is as good +as his bond. + +The board might have instructed its secretary to make the best +compromise settlements possible and have wound up the affairs of the +corporation. The public mind was in a receptive mood to accept such +compromise settlements and such action would have resulted in extreme +financial advantage to the stockholders at the time when the resolution +was passed. No one at that time believed that the California would +discharge its obligations on a parity with the largest and strongest +insurance companies in the world. Indeed the public announcement that +the company would pay in full was regarded as ridiculous and +unbelievable and was generally considered in the light of an extremely +sagacious bluff. + +The directors of the company were not bluffers; they were made of +different stuff. They did not hesitate. They were in deadly earnest and +absolutely meant to live up to their spoken word and the world knows how +they redeemed their promises. + +My original estimate of $1,500,000 fell far short of the final net +payment which amounted to $1,840,000, but long before this had developed +the stockholders were too deeply involved to think of turning back even +had they desired to do so. Staunchly and loyally they stayed and paid to +the end, building a monument to their good name that turned the sneers +of welshing competitors into envy and admiration. + + + + +Second Meeting of the Board of Directors + + +In the advance of the company, the next historical date of importance +was May 11, 1906, when the succeeding meeting of the Board of Directors +was held at the home of Director Mark L. Gerstle, 2350 Washington +street, San Francisco. Again, I was called upon to bring bad news. I was +compelled to inform the Board of Directors that all the records of the +company had been destroyed as the safe which contained them had been +smashed by falling walls and the contents absolutely obliterated. The +only thing recovered was some rolls of silver coins melted together by +the intense heat. I also reported that three hundred and fifty claims +had been filed for an amount totaling over $650,000. + +The loss of the records was a very serious matter and complicated +proceedings to a degree apparently almost insurmountable. Lost in the +destruction of the safe were some $900,000 in re-insurance policies. +This meant restoration of this data from the records of the re-insuring +companies and at that time this looked like a superhuman undertaking. +However, I immediately detailed two employes with instructions to devote +their entire time to this angle of affairs. The companies met the +situation with every courtesy and finally after several months' exertion +all of the reinsurance was located, with the exception of about $18,000. + +I do not like to harbor the thought, but nevertheless I feel that some +company or companies, possibly still doing business, know that they owe +the California some part of this re-insurance, which goes to show that +in the insurance business, as in other enterprises, there are those who +cannot bear the light of day. + +About twelve months after the "Big Fire" I remember having received a +re-insurance claim from a company whose home office is in New York. As +this particular company was one of the very few that declined to respond +to the request to assist us in restoring the lost data, I thought it the +better part of wisdom to ask it to furnish the information previously +requested, holding up their claim in the meantime while awaiting their +reply. It never came, and their claim against the California still +remains unpaid. The conclusion is too glaring to need further comment. A +few similar instances might be recorded but they are best forgotten. + +This meeting also made history. It levied the first assessment of $40 +per share on the six thousand shares of capital stock of the +corporation. This would bring in $240,000 and was subsequently followed, +month by month, by seven others, until the total assessment had reached +$305 per share, amounting in all to $1,830,000, of which $1,800,000, or +98 per cent, to the everlasting glory of the stockholders of the +California, be it said, was paid. + +The resolution bringing this about was as follows: + +"Notice is hereby given that at a meeting of the directors held on the +11th day of May, 1906, an assessment of forty (40) dollars per share was +levied upon the capital stock of the corporation payable on or before +the 13th day of June, 1906, to Mark L. Gerstle, assistant secretary, at +the principal place of business of the corporation, No. 2350 Washington +street, San Francisco, Cal. Any stock upon which this assessment shall +remain unpaid on the 13th day of June, 1906, will be delinquent and will +be advertised for sale at public auction, and unless payment is made +before will be sold on the 2d day of July, 1906, at 2 o'clock p. m. to +pay the delinquent assessment, together with cost of advertising and +expenses of sale." + + + + +The "'Dollar for Dollar" Resolution + + +It became my duty to inform the directors that a meeting of the +representatives of all the fire insurance companies interested in the +conflagration was called for an early date at Reed's Hall, Oakland, and +that I understood the principal object of this meeting was to secure an +expression of opinion as to the method to be adopted in settling San +Francisco losses, whether seventy-five cents on the dollar should be +paid or settlement on a 100 per cent basis be made, and I requested +instructions. This was merely pro forma as the company had already +announced its position publicly as being in favor and promising to pay +cent for cent the full obligation of its contracts. The board gave me +the instructions I had expected. + +The meeting at Reed's Hall was a most memorable one. The late Geo. W. +Spencer, at that time manager of the Aetna Insurance Company, presided, +and to his fair and impartial rulings and usual courtesy and dignity of +manner, is attributable the fact that there was not considerably more +friction than developed. Even as it was, the discussions were acrid and +verged at times close to personalities and the oratory, especially on +the part of those who advocated the "six-bit" policy, was both perfervid +and vociferous. However, the representatives of the companies that had +made up their minds that their honor and contracts were worth dollar for +dollar had little to say and were not influenced by the alleged +arguments of the "six-bit-ers." + +They felt that in the last analysis there was no logical, honest +argument for the discounting of payments unless it were a case of +absolute insolvency with individual companies. It was maintained by the +opponents to the "six-bit" policy that the insuring public had paid for +what it assumed to be valid contracts and was entitled to just indemnity +and payment in full. Finally, the roll call came to ascertain the sense +of the meeting--seventy-five cents or one dollar. The roll call was +thrilling in the intensity of feeling it developed and in the position +in which it revealed each company's standing, whether for an honorable +fulfillment on the one hand or a dishonorable scaling of losses on the +other. Alphabetically, the California Insurance Company came early in +the list and I voted with those who felt their obligation to be one +hundred cents on the dollar. The position which the California would +take had been awaited with considerable interest. The public +announcement that the company would pay dollar for dollar was still +recent and this announcement had appealed to nearly every person at that +gathering as a promise which the company was absolutely and physically +unable to perform. The registering of the vote called forth quite a +demonstration. Laughter, smiles and sarcasm predominated in the part of +the hall where I was located. For a moment I was the center of +attraction. + +Despite the embarrassment and annoyance under which I labored, I felt +that I was called upon to defend the good name of the company and, +gaining recognition from the chairman, I said that the manner in which +the "California" voted seemed to cause some of those present +considerable amusement and that, individually, I didn't see anything in +it that was funny; that it was more of a tragedy than a comedy, and that +it was a solemn and serious matter for the company of which I was the +representative to go on record for the second time, publicly, as +pledging itself to pay so tremendous an amount of money out of the +pockets of its stockholders; that I was present at the meeting to carry +out the expressed instructions and wishes of these same stockholders and +that they intended to be scrupulously careful in keeping their promises, +backing their words with their deeds and dollars. This statement brought +from the dollar-for-dollar companies a gratifying amount of applause and +the "six-bit-ers" sank into silence. + +As the days passed and the "tumult and shouting" died, it gave a certain +amount of satisfaction to find that amongst the jeerers and sneerers at +the memorable Reed's Hall meeting, those who had battled most vigorously +for the horizontal cut of twenty-five cents were those who afterward +developed into the worst welshers and shavers in the entire history of +the loss settlements of the San Francisco or any other conflagration. +The "sparkling" Rhine, the "still" Moselle, the far-famed "Dutchess," +the German of Freeport, the Traders of Chicago, the Austrian Phoenix, +the Calumet, the American of Boston and others soon after sought the +seclusion which a receiver or cessation of business in California +grants, and like the Arab, they folded their tents and silently stole +away. + +At the termination of the meeting, President Chase of the Hartford, +President Damon of the Springfield, Chairman Spencer and several others, +all leaders in dollar-for-dollar ranks, some of whom are alive and some +of whom are gone, gathered around and congratulated the California upon +its attitude. Individually, it gave me a feeling of pride and +satisfaction to be the representative of a company which manfully stood +up to the rack with the best traditions of American fire insurance. It +may be well to recall to mind as a historical fact that it was at this +meeting the term "dollar-for-dollar" companies was born. + + + + +Coming Back to San Francisco + + +Early in June we made arrangements to vacate our quarters in Oakland in +the Blake and Moffitt Building, and on the 5th of that month the +California was moved to an office in San Francisco. This was a temporary +frame structure erected on identically the same site which the company +had occupied prior to the fire, and where the magnificent new skyscraper +known as the "Newhall" Building now stands. As things go now, it was not +much of an office either as to style or appearance, but it was roomy, +light, well ventilated and comfortable and in every respect preferable +to the two crowded rooms that had so hospitably housed us in Oakland. +The return to San Francisco heartened us. The daily trip from the city +to Oakland and return had been a hardship, in addition to the time lost +when every minute was too precious to be wasted. Less time was lost in +crossing the bay than in getting to and from the Ferry. The street cars +were not in operation and I was compelled daily to make the walk over +the hills and through the ruins threading my way through the ashes and +over brick piles a distance of quite two miles, from my home to the +water front. This twice a day for six days a week, and often seven, was +exhausting in the extreme, so the wear was not altogether mental. The +thought was very often in my mind that I had about the most trying job +of anyone in the business. Other managers seemed to me to be paying very +little attention, if any, to the detail of settling claims and, of +course, had nothing whatever to do with providing the sinews of war. +They were fortunate in being able to pursue the even tenor of their way, +their entire business and time being occupied with current routine, just +as if nothing of an extraordinary nature had happened. This condition +arose from the fact that the companies in the East hurried to San +Francisco and Oakland all the adjusters, both near and alleged, that +they could obtain from any portion of the United States and a few from +abroad, in order that the losses might be promptly taken care of. The +home offices saw to it that the funds were provided. The special agents +and field men of these offices were not disturbed in their usual work +and were rarely, if ever, made use of at headquarters to make +adjustments. With the California it was quite different. Our entire +field force was called in and promptly clothed with authority to adjust. +This left our agency plant entirely unprotected as to cultivation. +Financially, we were in such a crippled condition that we felt we could +not afford the expense of employing independent adjusters. These were a +luxury in any event and some of them, alas, would have been dear at any +price. The thought often comes that perhaps this policy was poor +economics. This was a golden opportunity for representatives of the +"dollar-for-dollar" companies to secure valuable agents, as carrying +capacity was in large demand to replace those companies that had either +failed or made unsatisfactory loss settlements. That there was an +abundance of the latter admits of no dispute. Possibly, we might not at +that time have been able to secure many of these valuable connections, +even if we had had the field force requisite for the required technical +work, for the reason that doubts were still expressed as to our ability +to fulfill our promises. + + + + +Duties of the Secretary + + +In the California Insurance Company office, the position of secretary +was closely akin to that of the celebrated "Pooh-Bah." Attached to the +office was the duty of collecting the assessments on the capital stock, +adjuster in chief, the underwriting, a court of appeal on technical +points in disputed settlements, a diplomatic agency and encouragement +dispensatory with and for the stockholders. The latter item took +considerable time. Singly and in groups they fired their questions: "How +many assessments will there be?" "How much do you think the losses will +total?" "How soon will you know the amount?" "When we do get out of this +shall we be as big as any other fire company or bigger?" This was the +daily grind. But since it was their money and they were laymen, their +anxiety was as pardonable as their courage was commendable. + +The president occupied an office on the other side of the hail, directly +opposite mine. The one door was lettered "President" and the other +"Secretary." + +One of the stockholders cornered me and demanded a full and explicit +statement of conditions. I gave him the facts and frankly confessed that +the prospect was not alluring. He bade me goodbye with a long face and +went directly across the hall into the office of the president. In a +brief while, he returned, his face wreathed in smiles, and quietly said +'that the president's office was "Heaven" and my office was "Hell"; that +I was a "gloomy Gus" anyway, but I couldn't help it and he pitied me, +but as for the president, he was the right man in the right place, and +he knew our exact position.' I did not make any reply. The optimism of +the president was a very great asset and in those days optimism and hope +were at a premium. + + + + +Turning of the Tide + + +Finally the tide turned. Several months had elapsed, however, before it +became generally known and admitted and the insurance world had hammered +into it the conviction that the California was truly "Californian." At +this time our field men were again in the saddle and the agency of the +California was not only readily accepted whenever offered, but eagerly +pleaded for by connections which materially contributed to subsequent +success. + + + + +Adjustments + + +There are millions of stories with regard to the adjustment and +settlement of claims during this period. All kinds of pressure, all +kinds of seduction and all kinds of bribes were offered the adjusters. +There appeared to be in the minds of many a conviction that this was the +time to make a claim against the insurance companies; that everything +was burned and that with the upset conditions any old claim could get +by. Stevedores, laborers and others not generally credited with an +excess amount of worldly wealth gayly and festively swore to proofs +showing the loss of family plate, ancestral pictures, silk underwear, +ball gowns, evening clothes and jewels. There was no possibility of +disciplining these perjurors and it was up to the expertness of the +adjusters to defend their companies from being looted. + +There were all kinds of attempts to defraud on the part of other +policyholders. One instance in which the California was interested was a +proof for a $16,000 loss on a policy covering on stock of dry and fancy +goods located in a building on Market street. I received a visit from +the policyholder who made a request for prompt payment. I explained that +our funds were being raised by assessments which were levied once a +month and that, if agreeable, we would pay him sixty per cent of his +claim and the balance in sixty days. This appeared to be satisfactory +and he left in a happy frame of mind. Thirteen thousand dollars of the +risk in question was ceded to other companies and we naturally filed +claims with the reinsurers for their proportion. The following day a +friend who was acting as chief adjuster for another office which was one +of the re-insurers on this risk, called upon me regarding this +particular claim. He laid upon my desk a photographic album and called +my attention to a large photograph of the building wherein the stock was +located. It was a two-story brick and the picture showed that the entire +front of the second story had, as the result of the earthquake, been +thrown into the street. This was taken before the fire had reached the +property. He stated that the authenticity of the photograph was +absolutely guaranteed and that in event of litigation, the testimony of +the photographer was available. He further stated that acting for the +re-insuring company, he would not follow the California for more than +sixty-five cents on the dollar. I borrowed the photograph and at once +sent for the claimant. He called the next day. It was found on +examination that he had made the statement to the general adjustment +committee that the property was not damaged prior to the fire. +Unfortunately, no affidavit was taken from him to that effect. With the +photograph before me, I realized at once that the claim was not an +honest one. I explained that the larger part of our policy had been +ceded to other companies and that some of them demanded, earthquake +affidavits with every claim; that while I regretted to put him to any +inconvenience, it would be necessary for him to produce this testimony. +He looked me squarely in the eye and said, "I'll sign it and swear to +it. Not a brick in the whole building was disturbed." He attached his +signature to the affidavit. I showed him the photograph and then stated +that we should be compelled to penalize him to the extent of thirty-five +cents on the dollar. As a matter of equity, there was little, if any, +liability under the policy. He shouted, "Fake!" "No," I replied, "simply +a matter of contractural rights and of justice. The picture is +absolutely bona fide." He left, emphatically stating that he would at +once "go to the bat." I suggested that he submit the matter to his +attorney. Fortunately for him, he had a wise one who promptly advised +that he accept the terms offered. + +This is another angle of the settlement of the San Francisco losses--no +more nor less in fact, methods, and manner, than that with which other +legitimate companies had to contend. + +Another instance is recalled of a claim for a thousand dollars covering +on lodging house furniture in a building on Sixth street, with the loss +made payable to the owner of the building. I supposed that the policy +was collateral for payment of rent. It developed that the claimant was a +widow with one child. She was without a cent in the world, and called to +request payment. By this time the company was running short of ready +funds to such an extent that instructions had been issued to adjusters +that all claims hereafter would take the customary sixty days before +payment. She stated that the fire had canceled her lease, that she had +seen the payees and that they would waive the claim and that she was +absolutely destitute and would be willing to take whatever we would +offer, if she could get the cash. The position of the company was +explained to her with the result that she felt that we were working for +a discount. But it was not the intention of the California to take +advantage of people's necessities and we informed her that such was the +case. Her claim was a just one. I accepted her proofs, paid her +twenty-five per cent cash and the balance at the end of thirty days. +These are but isolated instances among many. + + + + +Special Meeting of Stockholders + + +Another historical meeting was held August 9th. This time at the office +of the company. It was a special meeting of the stockholders. Three +assessments had been levied of forty dollars each, amounting in all to +$720,000. This money had been paid out in settlement of claims. This was +the first meeting of the stockholders proper since the fire. The +directors realized that in response to inquiries from the stockholders +who were principally interested that they were entitled to a report as +to the progress made and the policy to be adopted for the future. Over +ninety individual stockholders were present and in order to accommodate +the crowd, the employes removed their desks and chairs, and during the +time of the meeting adjusted losses and discharged their duties on the +sidewalk in front of the building. The early-comers had seats. The +late-comers stood, but so interesting was the meeting that discomforts +were forgotten. The president made a very full and analytical report, +finishing with the announcement that another million dollars would be +needed to continue the splendid work and accomplish the final result of +bringing the California through the disaster with justice, equity and +fairness to all its contract-holders. The atmosphere was charged with +optimism and enthusiasm and amongst all the speeches made, and they were +many, not one bore any intimation of regret or of any desire to do other +than march steadily ahead. Mr. Ignatz Steinhart, at the time manager of +the Anglo-Californian Bank, careful, cautious, shrewd and a hard-headed +financier, in his speech practically struck the keynote of the whole +meeting. He said in substance: + +"I have lived here many years and I expect to die here. I love San +Francisco and I know you all feel the same and it is my honest +conviction that the directors of the California have adopted the proper +and only course and that its stockholders will stand behind them, and +that, the company will pay its losses at the rate of one hundred cents +on the dollar without discount. I now present a motion that it is the +sense of this meeting that the Board of Directors be given all that they +request and that all their actions are hereby heartily ratified, +approved and confirmed." + +There was not a single dissenting vote. At this time a stockholder +enthusiastically jumped on his chair and proposed three cheers for the +company and the management. The clerks on the sidewalk and some of the +passers by rushed into the crowd to see what was the cause of the +commotion. When the meeting adjourned, the confidence of all was +renewed. The barometer of their enthusiasm and determination had risen +and smiles and handshakes put the period to the gathering. Seldom, if +ever, has an Irish dividend meeting been held and disbursed with such a +wholesome feeling of satisfaction. It was more like a "melon cutting" +than a preparation to excavate to still lower depths their pocketbooks. +Never was the true California spirit more faithfully portrayed. + + + + +The Final Supreme Effort + + +The annual statement of the company at the end of the year showed beyond +the peradventure of a doubt that the company had kept the faith, but it +was left with a very attenuated surplus. Then business began to grow by +leaps and bounds. The bread which had been cast upon the waters was +returning and another problem now confronted the company--to protect +the reserves on the rapidly increasing income. This required a working +surplus and meant more assessments which seemed to be adding insult to +injury. The stockholders had already provided the funds to pay losses +and to now ask for more money for any other than loss-paying purposes, +gallant as was the spirit of those directly interested, seemed +dangerous. The directors and some of the more prominent stockholders met +informally and discussed the situation and the concensus of opinion was +that the honor of the company demanded that it continue to the end to +accomplish to the fullest that for which so many financial sacrifices +had been made--to take any other course, to discontinue, to fall down, +or to break faith with those who had given us their confidence would be +suicidal. In this deduction proof was given of the sound judgment and +business acumen of those who bore the brunt of the burden in those hot +days of battle. They took the position that the reputation which the +company had already builded was an asset of almost unlimited value and +realized that the peak of the mountain was just a few steps further +on--that summit from which the company could look out upon the valley of +success and reap the full reward for all the sacrifices its stockholders +had made. Plan after plan was submitted for financing, change after +change was suggested, but for a time concerted action seemed almost +impossible of attainment. Finally, I called upon the largest stockholder +and treasurer of the company, Mr. Geo. L. Payne, in his office at the +Payne Bolt Works. I laid before him the plan of increasing the capital +stock from six thousand shares to ten thousand shares by the sale of +four thousand shares at sixty dollars per share which would realize for +the company a total amount of $240,000 of which $160,000 could be +applied to capital, bringing that item up to $400,000, and $80,000 to +surplus. While this did not make the surplus as much as was desirable, +we were used to economies, to making every dollar count. This has always +been a feature of the management of the company. With this sum and by a +continuance of conservative methods and proper management we believed it +possible to provide for all contingencies. Mr. Payne listened quietly, a +pad of paper before him and a pencil in his hand. When I had exhausted +every argument and made the best possible statement of the exact +conditions, he stated that he realized fully the gravity of the position +and then came the flood. He said that, if it became necessary, he, as +the largest stockholder in the company, would endorse the proposition to +the extent of taking the entire issue. The balance of the consummation +of the idea was merely a matter of detail. Another meeting of the +stockholders was called and of the many meetings that we had gone +through, this stands out brightest of all. The plan was presented and as +might naturally be expected invoked little enthusiasm and did not appear +to interest anybody. Mr. Payne quietly rose to his feet, explained the +position of the company as he saw it and then shocked the assemblage +into activity by making public the announcement of his willingness to +take the entire issue of additional stock. That was a flash of +optimistic lightning the bolt of which apparently struck every man in +the room. They sat up, took notice, and awoke to the fact that they were +possibly missing something worth while. The outcome was that Mr. Payne +was only able to secure his pro rata as the entire issue was promptly +over subscribed by the stockholders, it being understood that the right +of subscription should be confined rigidly to stockholders of record. +Never in my business career have I seen the value or virtue of a leader +expressed in so forceful a manner as in the effect of Mr. Payne's offer +upon that meeting. It was the greatest evidence of applied psychology +that ever it has been my good fortune to experience. + + + + +Recapitulation + + +These memoranda I have written years after the happenings which they +sketch. They are drawn from the records of the company and from the +tablets of my memory. Those upon which I have touched were amongst the +higher lights, they are vivid in recollection and as well remembered as +if they had taken place at a recent date. + +Those were strenuous times. Times that not alone tested the dignity and +honor of men, but rocked them to their very foundations. Only the +admittedly honest and honorable men survived the experiences of those +days without blotch upon their escutcheons. It is naturally to be +presumed that the minds of those who passed through those days of +reconstruction recall many deeds of heroism, of sacrifices made upon the +altar of duty. Each has the surmounting of his individual trials to +remember, but amongst all that was done as the result of the San +Francisco conflagration there is, in my opinion, nothing carrying +greater, honor or higher integrity than the work and sacrifice of that +gallant band of men who were directors and shareholders of the +California Insurance Company. They were the pioneers and the sons of +pioneers who braved the hardships and terrors of desert and sea--the +founders of this great commonwealth. Incidents and happenings which have +passed from public record will still live in the memory of those who +played a part. The wonderful rehabilitation period, with all that it +meant of physical and mental suffering, but typifies today in concrete, +stone and brick the sturdy and stalwart spirit of those men who were +made absolute pioneers by the ash heap of 1906. Some of these have gone +to their last accounting, but for those who are still serving, and still +tugging at the oar, there remains but to guard the heritage which they +bequeathed--to bring upon the results of their work a continuation of +their ideals. + +The spirit of 1906, glorified by San Franciscans, which alone made +possible the resurrection from the ashes of that "city loved around the +world," sitting serenely upon its seven hills by the portals of the +Golden Gate and whose destiny is oblivious of fire and earthquake, is +worthy of more than a passing tribute. Its example should thrill and +encourage those who are inclined to falter. It is a beacon light to +those who are to continue the struggle with the petty details and the +larger duties of everyday life. And among the contributors none are more +to be admired or borne in reverent respect than the directors, those men +who held either large or small investments in the "California" and were +true to their trust. + + + + +Conclusion + + +Whether the end justifies the means depends upon the judgment of the +critic. It is possible that there is too much of personality herein, but +in justice to the writer, it must be borne in mind that no attempt has +been made for literary style; that the task imposed upon him was +attempted solely to comply with the insistence of others and that the +use of the first personal pronoun is the readiest vehicle of expression. + +No special mantle of credit rests upon his shoulders. If there be any +such garment it drapes the shoulders of every man connected with the +company from the humblest employee up through the heaviest stockholders +to the highest official. It overlaps and falls with becoming dignity on +the shoulders of those who are fellow citizens and fellow Californians, +who shared with us as we shared with them the heat and burden of the +days succeeding the never-to-be-forgotten disaster of April 18, 1906. + + + +The Spirit of 1906 is a book of the Primo Press, San Francisco, printed +in April, 1921 + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Spirit of 1906, by George W. Brooks + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SPIRIT OF 1906 *** + +***** This file should be named 6716.txt or 6716.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/6/7/1/6716/ + +Produced by David Schwan + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. 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