Grace Under Fire: The Heroic Defense of the San Francisco Mint
The 1906 San Francisco Earthquake
On April 18, 1906, the deadliest earthquake in American history struck San Francisco at 5:12 a.m. The quake triggered a massive fire that raged for three days, incinerating over 28,000 buildings and killing an estimated 3,000 people.
The Mint and Its Significance
Amidst the chaos, a group of brave men defended the San Francisco Mint, safeguarding $300 million in gold and silver, equivalent to over $6 billion today. This act of heroism may have saved the U.S. economy from collapse.
The Firefight
As the fire approached the Mint, a small crew of employees led by Frank Leach, a political appointee with no firefighting experience, fought back against the inferno. They sealed off windows, extinguished nearby fires with water from a courtyard well, and used internal fire hoses to douse the flames.
Arrival of Reinforcements
Worried about looters, Brig. Gen. Frederick Funston dispatched a squad of ten soldiers to aid in the Mint’s defense. Along with day-shift employees, the Mint’s defenders numbered around 60. They cleared debris from the roof, preventing it from igniting, and fought to keep the fire at bay.
Through the Flames
As the fire intensified, Leach divided the men into squads and stationed them throughout the Mint. They fought with water hoses and buckets, melting the glass in the windows as the fire breached the walls. Despite the hail of burning cinders, the defenders held their ground, preventing the fire from consuming the Mint’s treasure.
Aftermath
By midafternoon, the fire had passed by the Mint, but the roof was still ablaze. The men extinguished it with water and sheet copper. When the smoke cleared, Leach found the Mint remarkably intact. “The fight was won,” he wrote later. “The Mint was saved.”
Legacy of Courage
Frank Leach and his men were hailed as heroes. Leach was promoted to director of the mint in Washington, D.C., and his men remained loyal to him. Their bravery and resilience epitomized the spirit of the city’s recovery from the earthquake and fire.
The Old Mint Today
Decades after the earthquake, the Old Mint became a National Historic Landmark and served as a numismatic museum. In 2003, the city of San Francisco acquired the building and plans to transform it into the San Francisco History Museum, a tribute to the city’s endurance and the heroism of those who defended the Mint.
Survivor Tales
Each year, a dwindling number of earthquake survivors gather to commemorate the event and their own resilience. They share their memories of the disaster and the profound impact it had on their lives. Their stories remind us of the strength and courage of the human spirit in the face of adversity.