Two Quarto (ca. 26 x 20 cm or 10 ¼ x 7 ¾ in). Pencil and typewritten text on creamy wove paper with “Ira Barker Dalziel, Veterinary Dentist” letterhead. 1 & 2 pp. “Queen Bee” transparent mark. Fold marks, minor tears along fold marks, otherwise a good letter.

A historically significant collection of two rare letters written by a survivor of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. Striking in the early morning of 18 April 1906, the earthquake caused the destruction of most of the city and is still the deadliest earthquake in the history of the United States. The author was a San Francisco resident named Irvin, who apparently worked for local veterinarian dentist Ira Barker Dalziel (both letters are written on paper with Dalziel’s printed letterhead).

The first letter is to Irvin’s grandmother, written very shortly after the main shaking. He talks about the state of the city, saying that “the whole town is burning up and there is no water.” He also mentions a “Dr. & [Miss?] Morrison” who have left San Francisco for the moment. He closes the letter by reassuring his grandmother, he is “alright but may lose [his] trunk.”

The second letter is to his mother, written a few days after the earthquake. Irvin talks about conditions along Van Ness Avenue, which was used as a firebreak by the US Army in preventing the spread of the fires consuming the city. He describes one side of the street as being “burned clear to the waterfront.” He also details how he used all his money the day of the earthquake to buy food.

Overall, an important and rare firsthand account of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.

Text of the letters (spelling original):
April 17:
“You will hear reports of an earthquake here, but don’t worry about me. The whole town is burning up and there is no water, So I am going into the country. the Dr & [Miss?] Morrison have gone, but he is coming back again. I am alright but may lose my trunk.”

April 21:
“Dear Mamma:
“I suppose you are almost frantic about me, so am writing a line to let you know I am safe, sound and have plenty to eat. I wanted to telegraph you as they have an office at the Ferry Building I heard, but to get there would be an awful trip. We are located at the flat on Van Ness and it is burned on every side except for a few blocks in the back and a couple on this side of the street. The stable was burned the first day. The other side of the street is all burned clear to the water front and it is just a mass of ruins, falling walls and dead clear to the ferry. I wanted to try and get there last night but I had been working like a Trojan and had not had any sleep for two nights, and was just about to give out, and every one advised me not to try. I gave a mail man a letter to you yester day, said he would mail it first train out.
“I saved all my things and they got most of the Dr’s. but had to move several times to keep out of the way of the fire and just moved back to the house, which was badly scorched, last night. We bought up all the bread we could find the morning of the quake and everything else as long as our money held out, so now we are broke but have got enough to eat, while every one is hungry, will close as I ought to be doing something. Let Grandma know I am all right. I don’t know what I will do after this is over but don’t worry. If it is necessary I can come to Seattle, as they will let people ride for nothing any place.
“A mad dog just went up the street with a lot of soldiers after him. I am awful glad you arenot [sic] here, [for while I am all right the sights you see and the suffering, is awful]
<…>
“Don’t worry, for we are the luckiest of the lucky and have a house to sleep in and plenty to eat.”