Great grandpa (a native of San Francisco born abt. 1860) was in the militia during the 1906 quake. The policy was shoot to kill for any/all looters.
He was on Front street doing checks and came across what was said to be a saloon we were told as kids.
Great grandpa went into this "saloon" (aka "wine rooms" as they were called ... 
) and the place was ablaze and he spotted a grandfather's clock burning on the wall.
He salvaged that clock from the quake and carried it with him. My late father restored that clock and today it is hanging somewhere in a siblings house I hope.
I have many stories about that quake as most of my family were living there on Folsom street and out by Mission Dolores when it hit. Quite the fine mess it was.
Many of the "refugees" left San Francisco and moved across the bay to Oakland/Berkeley where many of them still live today.
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