Faithfully Woven: A Firsthand Account of the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake
August 6, 2026
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On Wednesday, April 18, 1906, just past 5 a.m., San Francisco was struck by a 7.9-magnitude earthquake that destroyed 80% of the city and killed more than 3,000 people. Fires raged across the area for four days. Sister Laurentine, a novice at the time, wrote vividly of hours and days filled with prayer, heartbreak, horrors and the kindness of strangers.
Day 1: The Never-to-be-Forgotten Day
5 a.m. I was almost dressed as I had to be in the Chapel to open the windows before the Sisters came in for morning prayer. The first thing I did was to fall on my knees and pray. There were three other sisters sleeping in the same dormitory, and the noise was so great we could not hear one another pray. It stopped for a second or so, then commenced with violence. This time I prepared to meet Our Dear Lord for I was certain it was the last of us all. The earthquake lasted 55 seconds, but what seconds they seemed like hours.
Our beautiful home at the Mission soon was utterly destroyed.
The only place that escaped damage was the children’s refectory. The house moved over an inch off its foundation. Who can imagine our feelings when we saw, and heard everything falling around us? Again, picture us as we went from room to room, and saw everything in this awful state – plaster off the walls, pictures, statues and dishes broken. Every statue in the chapel was broken except the Sacred Heart, which did not even move from the pedestal. Oh! What a scene! Shall I ever forget it. (No, never)
Our dear Superior had a narrow escape. An immense press in her room came within a foot from falling on her. Sister Mary Ambrose was in the kitchen and was just starting the fire when the shaking began. She became so frightened she ran outside, and with that the brick chimney from the kitchen fell. There she was with these bricks falling around her. After the shock, Sister Superior told us to go out of the house as quick as we could and remain in the yard. As we were coming down there was another shock; well, we almost broke our necks getting down the stairs. Many of the Sisters jumped three or four steps.
When we reached the yard several of the Sisters cried out, “Oh, look the city is on fire!” which was only too true. Fire broke out about five minutes after the earthquake, and no water to extinguish it, for the main pipes had been broken. All day we remained in the yard as the house was unsafe. About eight o’clock we had a cold breakfast, but we could not eat; many of the dear Sisters were sick with fright.
9 a.m. Our devoted pastor, Father Cummings, came over to see if he could say Mass. So we ventured in the Chapel, and cleared away as best we could, and Father commenced Mass. There were many people from the Parish at this Mass. During the beginning of the Mass, there were two shocks, so Father turned and said, “We had better leave the chapel. It is not safe to go on with Mass.” We all came down to the yard again. Rev. Father then proposed to say Mass at the Sacred Heart Shrine. In a short time, an altar was prepared, and Father commenced the Mass over again, during which our dear Sister Superior recited the Rosary aloud.
The city by that time was raging with fire and was gaining great headway on account of no water. They tried to check the fire by blasting the buildings three or four blocks ahead. At twelve o’clock we had dinner. Sister managed to fry a little meat and potatoes on the stove in the laundry as it was not injured. It was not long after that when we received word not to light any fire whatever.
Sister Superior gave us recreation for dinner to cheer us up. During dinner, word was brought to us by a niece of Sister Leocadie that St. Ignatius church and the College were in flames. She had just passed that way and saw it. How our hearts sank at this news, full of pity for the dear Fathers. We then commenced to feel the danger for ourselves, but the Fathers and everyone coming in assured us we need not fear, as we were perfectly safe.
After dinner Sister Superior and Sisters walked around the yard reciting the Rosary and other prayers.
4 p.m. Sister Superior began to feel uneasy, so she called the Sisters together and told them they had better pack a few things in case anything should happen. Each Sister packed her own bedding, Sunday habit, apron, veil, prayer books and any to her little thing they would like to have. After this we had a cold supper, all longing for a hot cup of tea or coffee. During supper there was another shock, we all ran for the yard some Sisters with a cracker or piece of cake in their hands. We had to leave our plates for we had no water to wash them.
7 p.m. Rev. Father Tobin came over and walked around the yard with the Sisters reciting the Rosary, Litanies and other prayers. He told us to pray that our dear lord would turn the fire down towards the bay. He also gave us a few words of advice which in some way heightened our already heavy hearts. But, of course, the feeling of fear was still there. The whole city was like day from the fire, so much so that Rev. Father Tobin read his office walking up and down the yard. We spent the rest of the night outside in the yard praying until about three o’clock [in the morning].
Day 2: Heartbreak and Humanity
Rev. Father Cummings came over to say Mass. We received Holy Communion. During Mass, Father Tobin heard the children’s confessions in the hall, and they received during Mass. One little girl was so happy after going to Confession that she came up to me and said, “Sister, when I am ready to go to our Lord, it won’t come, and when I am not ready it will come, so now I am always going to be ready.”
After Mass, we still remained in the yard, which was black with flying cinders. Thursday came, Father Cummings and Father Tobin still telling us we were safe, there was no danger. The fire was then nearing Valencia Street.
9 a.m. Thomas, our working man, succeeded in getting an express man. He told Superior he thought it would be wise to leave the place, there being no danger as yet, but on account of so many old and ailing Sisters it would be safe. This wagon took mostly all our bundles which consisted of Chapel things and provisions. Just then Captain Seymour came along with his conveyance and offered to help us. We gave him a few more bundles with the old and feeble Sisters who were unable to walk, and he drove them to Dubois Park.
What a parting this was, all crying to break their hearts to leave our beautiful and peaceful home. Many are the happy hours our loved community spent together in that dear old Mission on 16th and Dolores St., now to be broken. No one can realize what it was unless they went through it themselves. No one but God alone knew our feelings on that dreadful day.
We all left in bands carrying our bedding with us. People were running wild in the streets looking for those near and dear to them who were lost. Just before leaving, two dear young women with their infants, a few weeks old, came in and asked if they would remain with us until Father came to baptize the little ones. Both had fled from their homes.
On my way to the Park, I passed a young woman who did not look to be more than twenty, and who seemed to be mad with grief. I also noticed she was carrying a white bundle. She struck me so that I watched her, then a soldier stopped and said something. With this she screamed something terribly. After a short time, he walked on with her. I was told by a lady in the way that this dear young woman I met was carrying her dear and only infant, three months old, and it was dead. A brick had fallen on its head and killed it instantly. The soldier noticed blood on the white bundle so asked her what she had. She thought he was going to take it from her so screamed and begged him not to do that. She told him she was trying to get to Alameda as she had friends there, then she would have it buried. He let her keep it as she promised to bury it, then he showed her the way down to the ferry.
We were almost at the park when I saw another young woman running wild up one street and down another calling, “Willie, Willie!” I stood and watched her while the Sisters with me went on. She ran over to me and said, “Oh Sister, pray that I will find my little boy, six years old, my only child.” She then told me her husband worked a good distance from town and had already left. She was up and dressed as she intended to do her washing. When the earthquake commenced, everything in the house began to shake and fall. She became so frightened. She ran into the bedroom, caught hold of her little boy, and started to run; at least she thought she had him. She was so dazed she did not know what she was doing or where she was running. When she ran a great distance, she turned around and saw her little boy was not with her. She ran back again to the house and looked all over for him, but he was no place to be seen. How she made such a mistake she could not understand. She was sure she had him. If I should live to be a hundred, I shall never forget the sight of those two dear young women, so sad it brought tears to my eyes. I never heard if she found her boy or not.
Well, at last we reached the park. Nearly all the Sisters were there already, as it was after eleven when our band left. Sister Superior, however, and a few Sisters did not leave the place until about three o’clock in the afternoon. They remained and packed a few more things and sent them to a friend’s house. We stayed on the hills all day surrounded by people of all classes, nothing to eat but crackers and fruit. Some of the Sisters were so sick they would not hold their heads up, so we made beds out of the bundles and had them lie down. That afternoon two ladies came down with a big pot of hot tea and served the Sisters themselves. You can imagine how we enjoyed it.
4 p.m. Mr. Hoffman, who lived next to the Convent, came all the way to the park with his sore foot, which had been hurt by a brick falling upon it, to tell us we were safe and out of danger. The fire, he said, was going down Mission St. past 16th. This was like a message from Heaven. We fully intended to go back to the convent and spend the night in the yard. Sister Superior and some of the Sisters were up at the German Hospital when this gentleman came, and when they returned they were so happy to hear this news. Several of the Sisters then went down to watch the fire as far as they could get, as ropes were all across the streets.
Suddenly the fire turned up 17th Street. Of course, there were no hopes for us then. They watched it until the laundry caught fire, then the kitchen and chapel. They came crying up to us. We could imagine the sad news they were bringing us.
Our beautiful convent was a mass of flames, and we could see them leap high in the air. Who can imagine the anguish of our hearts at that awful moment? Not an eye was left dry.
Just then two soldiers drove up with a wagon full of provisions and called upon Sister Superior to take charge of distributing the food to those who were in need. This helped to distract our dear Superior who was already beside herself.
7 p.m. Several of the Sisters went up to the German Hospital to spend the night in an old shed. All the old Sisters stayed there as they were not able to go on. Some had mattresses to be on, others sat up in chairs. As Sister Superior was naming the Sisters for the German Hospital, she missed old Sister Aloysius. She could be found no place. We looked and looked for her, but she was not in sight. We did not know what to do.
Just then two young girls came up and asked if we were Notre Dame Sisters. We told them we were. Then they told us they were looking for us, that an old Sister had wandered off and lost her way and could not get back. When Sister went up to bring her down to the hospital, she laughed and thought it great fun. Between eight and nine o’clock the superior of the Franciscan Sisters at St. Joseph’s Hospital came down and asked those that remained in the park to spend the night with them, so we did. Sister sent down their conveyance to take some of our bundles, and a few of the ailing Sisters; the rest of us had to foot it. Off we started in bands.
There were so many infants born in the park; mothers and infants died. The doctors told us it was a pitiful sight to see those mothers cling to their dead babes when they took them away. There were a number of sad cases like this.
Many of the dear Sisters became completely exhausted before reaching the Hospital. In the first band that started, dear Sister Catherine of the S.H. became so exhausted she was not able to go on. The other Sisters who were with her didn’t know what to do, so finally someone came along and almost carried her. After that, the second band started carrying bundles as before. I was in that band. Sister Rose Julia, who had been very miserable for some days, became exhausted. You can imagine our distress. There were still two big hills to climb, and how were we going to get Sisters over? Just then two young ladies came and offered their assistance, so they took Sister by each arm and helped her on. She was nearly dead when we reached the Hospital. The dear Sisters at the Hospital had a nice little supper prepared for us.
Needless to say how much we enjoyed it. It was twelve o’clock that night before Sister Superior and a few Sisters reached the Hospital. No words can express the kindness we met with from these dear Sisters and from everyone. It brought tears to every eye. The dear Sisters had to cook outdoors themselves, and not only this, but there were three hundred patients relying on their care. I will not say any more about the kindness of everyone because as I said before I cannot find words strong enough to express it.
The new wing of the Hospital was not in use so we occupied that. The dear Sisters supplied us with mattresses, and we slept on the floor. We all had to wash in the same water and use the one towel. The second night we were there, orders came not to use a single candle or light of any kind. One of the Sisters went down to ask permission to use only one candle, as it was impossible to attend the sick without a light, so she obtained the permission. We had our meals before the Sisters themselves, and they waited upon us. One dear old Sister told us that it was impossible she could not do enough for us, as we were all Sisters working for the same end, the honor and glory of God.
Day 3: Hope and Help
The holy poverty by which these Sisters are surrounded, that is their own community, is simply grand. It did our poor hearts good to see it, the blue plates, cups and saucers. Well, we stayed at the Hospital all day Friday. In the afternoon we had Way of the Cross and Benediction. The Way of the Cross was simply heavenly. I never heard anything like it before, the prayers the Father said at each station. The singing of the Benediction was beautiful, partly in German and partly in Latin, sung by Sisters and Fathers. After Benediction, Sister Superior sent three other Sisters and me down to the German Hospital to bring her a few things that she had left there the night before.
On our way back a young boy ran up and asked if we had a badge of the Sacred Heart to give him. Neither of the two of us had any with us, but we told him if he would remain there until we came back, we would get him one. So, we walked all the way up to the Franciscans Hospital for the badge. When we reached the Hospital, we found we had none, but I had one on me. I made the sacrifice to give it to this dear boy. We went all the way down again and found him waiting for us. When we gave it to him with a little medal, he told us he was not a Catholic, but he was so frightened he felt this badge would protect him.
When we came back, we had supper. After supper we made the Holy Hour during which there was another shock. The Sisters all ran out in the yard and finished the Holy Hour outside. Some of the Sisters went to be down that night but the greater number remained up.
Day 4: Sadness and Separation
Saturday came. Oh, that was a sad day.
In the morning we had three masses and Holy Communion. After Mass we came down to breakfast. Before starting to eat, dear Sister Superior gave us all a parting advice. She began by saying that before dinner we would all be separated. At these words every Sister broke down, and dear Sister Superior herself. She also said that wherever we were sent, we should accept it as coming from the hand of God. It was His Will for us, and to be humble, submissive and obedient; nothing would give her greater pleasure than this. After this Sister Superior gave us her parting blessing. Every Sister cried like a child. We clung to dear Sister Superior until she said, “Well, now my dear child, you have to go as the conveyance is here.”
After breakfast we washed the dishes and set the table for the Franciscan Sisters as they had not had their breakfast yet. Word then came to us that a Franciscan Father by the name of Father Augustine was going to hear confession, and any Sisters who would like to go he would be ready, so we all went. He gave each Sister such beautiful words of encouragement.
While Sister Superior was at confession, word was brought that there was a gentleman in the parlor who wanted to see her. When Superior came out, she found it was Sister Louise Marie’s father who came with his conveyance to help us. Sister Superior told him she would be most grateful if he would take some Sisters over to Alameda, which he was only too glad to do. So off they started with broken hearts. It was like a funeral procession. That good man made four trips back and forth to Alameda with the Sisters. He was completely exhausted when night came.
The band I was in was destined for Watsonville, not knowing that the dear Sisters there were in a bad state themselves. Before we left, a wagon drove up and wanted to know if we had any baggage they could take, so Sister Superior told them yes. Thomas and a few Sisters carried down some bundles and threw them into the wagon.
A doctor, dressed in his white suit, was watching the whole performance. When everything was in the wagon, he called to the driver and asked if he had anyone to guard the things. The soldier said no. Just then Sister Superior turned to him and said, “Well, you know, Doctor, I intend to place three Sisters on the top of these bundles.” The doctor laughed and made quite a joke of it, throwing up his hands and calling out, “Never mind, drive on. You do not need anyone to guard this baggage; you have three Sisters who are well able to do it.”
Another wagon drove up and asked if we had any old people they could help. Sister Superior told them yes, she had three very old Sisters, two of them over eighty. She began to put in a few more bundles and the old Sisters, sitting on the top of them. When he saw this, he said, “Remember, I do not want any young people; they have to foot it. I only want the old folks; besides, I have to go around and gather up all the old people I can find.” Sister Superior said, “Oh no, I am not going to send the young people, but I have to have someone to take care of these three old Sisters. She turned around and saw Sister Agnes, so she said, “You are just the one, jump in here and look after these three Sisters.” So off they started. Sister Agnes says she will never forget that ride. In the midst of our grief, we had to laugh.
At the hospital, when we needed water, we had to go out to the laundry, which was a good distance from the Hospital. We had to go through a room that was called the dead room. Inside the door we saw a long object with a sheet thrown over it, but being so tired we did not take much notice of it. One Sister wanted to cross over it, so she pushed it several times with her foot to see if she could move it. Just then two more of our Sisters came up and told us that it was a dead man. They were on their way to the laundry but could not find their way. A working man asked them what was the matter; they told him they were after water from the laundry but could not find the way. Then he showed them the way saying, “You will have to pass through the dead room and will see a dead man there covered with a sheet, but do not be afraid; he will not hurt you because he is dead.” Thanks be to God we had all the water we needed when we found out what this white object was.
On Friday, three of our Sisters went down to the German Hospital at six in the morning and remained all day to catch the baggage left there. In the afternoon, when four other Sisters and I went down after a few things of the Superior’s, one of the Sisters told me she felt very sick. I asked her what made her sick, so she told me that four men came out just a few minutes before we arrived carrying a dead man. They carried him out to one of the hills, threw him down on the ground and came back to the Hospital. We were told afterward that there were two or three more dead bodies inside, and it was supposed they were going to carry them out on the hills and bury them.
We met another poor old man on our way, who had been sick for three months in some Hospital. Mrs. Kelley, who lived near us, was his cousin and had been very kind to him. She, of course, was burned out, and he had been looking all day for her, but could not find her. He told us he did not intend to stop looking for her until he found where she was, because he could never forget her, for her kindness to him. I believe he found her late that night in someone’s house.
