Capt. Fay's Journal Report

Captain Fay's original Journal from 1906, in manuscript, is one of the few that still exists.
The typewritten "Experience" reports that have survived are actually a distillation of Journal entries used as stipulated testimony in scores of fire insurance cases in Federal court beginning in 1907.
Two investigators, named Schindler and Platt, were hired by attornies for one of the insurance companies to investigate the spread of the fire, and the dynamiting of insured buildings. It is clear that Schindler and Platt were very interested in the condition of the fire house telegraph and telephone systems, as well as the water supply.
By comparing his manuscript Journal entries, and the typewritten "Experience" report of Capt. Fay, Schindler and Platt severely edited or rewrote – and none too accurately – fire journal reports before they were signed by the officers, and submitted to the Court as stipulated testimony.
What follows is a faithful and accurate transcription of the Capt. Fay manuscript taken from the original Fire Department Journal.

Just after the Earthquake the Fire Alarm and Telephone being out of service I recieved a verbal order from Battalion Chief Conlon to poceed to the quarters of Eng Co No 30 and while there we recieved a still Alarm of Fire on Oak St near Stanyan St. a defective Chimney was the cause we returned to quarters of Eng Co No 30 and recieved orders from Battalion Chief Conlon to Patrol the District and tell the Residents not to light fires in there stoves or fire place for there Chimney might be defective while on Patrol we moved the Patients from the Park Emergency Hospital to the quarters of Eng Co No 30 the Building being unsafe i then recieved orders from Battalion Chief Conlon to proceed to the quarters of Eng Co No 21 and to Patrol that District and to tell all Residents not to light any fires in there stoves for there was no water supply for fires Mains broke after Patroling the District a couple times warning them all i proceeded to the Conflagration when i arrived there i reported to Battalion Chief Dolan he ordered me to place my Engine at the Hydrant in front of Jefferson Square on Eddy St near Octavia St and to lead the hose though Jefferson Square to Octavia St down the said Street to McAllister St there to connect to Eng No 24 and lead along Octavia St as far as the Hose of the both Companys will strech we worked the stream to Birch Ave and back to Fulton St down the said Street to Gough St and back to Octavia St and down McAllister St until it was brought under control and checked. the Officers in Charge in this District was Chief Shaughnessy Battalion Chief Dolan Battalion Chief Maxwell and Asst Battalion Chief Captain Gallatin after that section was brought under control I was ordered by Battalion Chief Dolan to take up my Hose and report to Chief Shaughnessy at Larkin and Ellis Sts when i arrived there i met Chief Dougherty who ordered me to go and try a Hydrant on cor of Hyde and Ellis Sts to see if there was any water in it there was none so he ordered me to connect my line of Hose to Eng Co No 1 at Hydrant on North West cor of Larkin and Ellis Sts and lead down Larkin St i led to Turk St up the said st to Polk st with the aid Eng Co 24 line of Hose we worked down Turk St to Leavenworth St the Fire was beyond Control in that block so i was ordered by Battalion Chief Dolan to Eddy and Hyde Sts in the mean time my Engine was placed at a Hydrant on South West cor of Offarell and Hyde Sts and a line of hose led down Hyde St maned by Truck men. i worked my line down Eddy St half way to Leavenworth St and back to Hyde St up the said Street to Ellis St and at 10 OClock April 19th i was ordered by Battalion Chief Dolan to take up my Hose and to proceed to Van Ness Ave and Offarell St the Officers who had Command was Chief Shaughnessy Battalion Chief Dolan and Battalion Chief Maxwell on arriveing at Van Ness Ave and Offarell St i placed my Engine to the Hydrant on the North East cor of said Streets and Chief Dougherty drove up in his buggy and asked me if there was water in that Hydrant and i told him there was but seeing the fire so close and there was no protection for my Engine i changed my location to the North West cor of Franklin and Ellis Sts and led my line down Ellis St to Van Ness and worked my stream half way between Geary and Post St in Company with Engine Co 25 until it was brought under control and checked i was then ordered by Chief Shaughnessy to take up My Hose and proceed to Sacramento and Franklin St the Officers in command was Chief Shaughnessy and Battalion Chief Dolan on arriveing at Sacramento and Franklin Sts i placed my Engine on the end of a double up line and led my line down Sacramento St to Van Ness Ave i worked my stream in that vicinity until i was ordered disconnect my Engine and Hose for they was going to blow up a Bldg on the cor of California and Franklin Sts. then placed my Engine on Calfornia St between Franklin and Gough St i then reported to Chief Dougherty who ordered me back to quarters the Fire being under control arriveing at quarters 400 am April 20 45 hours away from quarters

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