1162. Western National Bank (San Francisco, CA)

Bank Information

Episode Type: Suspension → Reopening
Bank Type: national
Bank ID: 5688
Charter Number: 5688
Start Date: April 18, 1906
Location: San Francisco, California (37.780, -122.419)

Metadata

Model: gpt-5-mini
Short Digest: 06a8c4b5

Response Measures

None

Description

Western National Bank's offices/vaults were inaccessible immediately after the April 1906 earthquake and fire; vaults were later opened and the bank resumed business in May 1906. There is no evidence of a depositor-driven run on this specific bank in the provided articles — rather a temporary closure due to the disaster (local shock) and subsequent reopening. OCR errors in articles corrected when extracting dates and phrases.

Events (5)

1. January 21, 1901 Chartered

Source: historical_nic

2. April 18, 1906 Suspension

Cause: Local Shock
Cause Details: Earthquake and ensuing citywide fire made bank offices and access to vaults impossible, effectively suspending operations immediately after the April 1906 disaster.
Newspaper Excerpt: There is a little damage to the office of the Western National bank on the ground, but its vaults are not even warm. The vaults were opened on Friday, after the fire had passed that part of the city. time lock was set for Monday.
Source: newspapers

3. April 24, 1906 Other

Newspaper Excerpt: The city treasury opened for business this morning at the Western National bank in the James Flood building. There were no panics or long lines of persons waiting to withdraw money. Many of the banks claim that since they opened for business their deposits have exceeded their withdrawals.
Source: newspapers

4. May 23, 1906 Reopening

Newspaper Excerpt: This morning at 9 o'clock commercial banks opened their doors for the transaction of regular business ... the Western National bank and the National Bank of the Pacific. Deposits ... were paid in full. Every bank in the city is now in a position to meet all obligations without undue strain.
Source: newspapers

5. October 31, 1910 Voluntary Liquidation

Source: historical_nic

Newspaper Articles (8)

1. April 24, 1906 The Herald and News Newberry, SC

Article from The Herald and News, April 24, 1906

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feel certain that the people will to act we with the banks and not try make a run. It was Dangerous Walking in many parts of the financial districts, for the walls and pavements hot and one stood in danger of off his shoes. are scorching very The heat But between the buildings is stifling. The the fire in this part is dead. building of the International Buildand Loan association is a wreck. The ing vaults are bulged, but the officials say that the securities are safe. The and of the London, Paris bank are all underwriters take stock on vaults the American right. When this fire they will probably find that it was not so hot as the Baltimore, and Boston fires. Chicago nearly It floor would damage a building taking a this or two, and pass on. The people lay to the lazy burning of the red wood. On the other hand there were centers of the fire whirlwind where everyruined. thing seemed to be fused, melted and Proceeding Up Market Street toward the ruined City Hall, I found the Grand Hotel razed to the ground. The walls of the Palace hotel are but the building is a loss. building is gone. standing, The Examiner building, The the steel frames of the Call highest in the city, saved it, and fire in its interior seems to have stopped short of its top. They may be able to save the walls. The ground floor, Pawhere the National bank of the cific was housed, is a complete wreck. their It is not possible to get at vaults owing to the wreckage. The Parrott building, containing the Emporium, the largest depart The store in the west, is gone. wall and a part of a the rest are ment front are gone, down. side This wall contained the quarters of the sucourt of California and the on the coast. best preme library The records Beand the library are destroyed. tween these big Market street build- old ings were a lot of small and structures of brick. The fire played ducks and drakes with these. Most of them cast the walls in the street and Market street all along is piled with hillocks of broken bricks, over which teams and pedestrians climb. In spots the soldiers were making idlers work, clearing a passage, but there are not enough soldiers just now to make the work effective. The New James Flood Building, Market and Powell streets, on the at the Baldwin hotel, burned ago, stood it site eight of years better Market than other big structure on 'street. any There is a little damage to the office of the Western National the ground, but its vaults even warm. are bank not on The the vaults fire were had opened on Friday, after passed that part of the city. Everywas all right and the time lock for Monday. The was thing set vaults re- of the Mercantile Trust company are ported safe. The same seems true of Deposit The Pacific Mutual ny. the California Trust Life building compa- buildand the Italian Marine bank ing are total losses, but the directors of the Italian bank say that they are not afraid of the condition of the vaults. About the same thing may be said of the Germania Savings bank and the San Francisco Savings Union, next door, on Kearney street. On Saturday afternon there were two conferences of Savings Bank Representatives. at the home of John Martin. They discussed the amount of cash on hand and the amount of Eastern holdings immediately convertible. Monday at 10 o 'clock I will meet for morning ployees all instructions. bank Interna- emWill High, manager of the tional Banking corporation, removed amount of specie to Oakland in an under a on tail large Saturday of marines, automobile. command A de- of Lieut. Lang, accompanied him. He offered Gen. Funston an advance of cash until the government funds ar-

2. April 24, 1906 The Herald and News Newberry, SC

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we feel certain that the people will act with the banks and not try to make a run. It was Dangerous Walking in many parts of the financial districts, for the walls and pavements are very hot and one stood in danger of scorching off his shoes. The heat between the buildings is stifling. But the fire in this part is dead. The building of the International Builda The ing and vaults Loan are association bulged, but is the officials wreck. say that the securities are safe. The vaults of the London, Paris and American bank are all right. When the underwriters take stock on this fire they will probably find that it was not nearly so hot as the Baltimore, Chicago and Boston fires. It would damage a building taking a floor or two, and pass on. The people lay this to the lazy burning of the red wood. On the other hand there were centers of the fire whirlwind where everything seemed to be fused, melted and ruined. Proceeding Up Market Street toward the ruined City Hall, I found the Grand Hotel razed to the ground. The walls of the Palace hotel are standing, but the building is a loss. The Examiner building is gone. The steel frames of the Call building, the highest in the city, saved it, and fire in its interior seems to have stopped short of its top. They may be able to save the walls. The ground floor, where the National bank of the Pacific was housed, is a complete wreck. It is not possible to get at their vaults owing to the wreckage. The Parrott building, containing the Emporium, the largest department store in the west, is gone. The front wall and a part of a side wall are gone, the rest are down. This contained the quarters of the supreme court of California and the best library on the coast. The records and the library are destroyed. Between these big Market street buildings were a lot of small and old structures of brick. The fire played ducks and drakes with these. Most of them cast the walls in the street and Market street all along is piled with hillocks of broken bricks, over which teams and pedestrians climb. In spots the soldiers were making idlers work, clearing a passage, but there are not enough soldiers just now to make the work effective. The New James Flood Building, at Market and Powell streets, on the site of the Baldwin hotel, burned eight years ago, stood it better than any other big structure on Market !street. There is a little damage to the office of the Western National bank on the ground, but its vaults are not even warm. The vaults were opened on Friday, after the fire had Everypassed that all part right of and the the city. time thing was lock was set for Monday. The vaults of the Mercantile Trust company are reported safe. The same seems true of the California Deposit Trust company. The Pacific Mutual Life building and the Italian Marine bank building are total losses, but the directors of the Italian bank say that they are not afraid of the condition of the vaults. About the same thing may be said of the Germania Savings bank and the San Francisco Savings Union, next door, on Kearney street. On Saturday afternon there were two conferences of Savings Bank Representatives. at the home of John Martin. They discussed the amount of cash on hand and the amount of Eastern holdings immediately convertible. Monday morning at 10 o'clock all bank employees will meet for instructions. Will High, manager of the International Banking corporation, removed a large amount of specie to Oakland on Saturday in an automobile. A detail of marines, under command of

3. April 26, 1906 Durango Semi-Weekly Herald Durango, CO

Article from Durango Semi-Weekly Herald, April 26, 1906

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later and learned that the grocer nad resumed the practice of extortion The soldier then sent a man into the store to buy a joat of bread, and the grocer wanted a dollar for it. He then reprimanded him again and warned him and the grocer then nail ed boards in front of his store and refused to sell any goods at all. With the butt of a rifle the soldier smashed the baricade and was attacked by the grocer, his wife and boy. Other soldiers then came to the assistance of their comrade and fired several shots killing the grocer, his wife and boy." SAN FRANCISCO, April 23.-The disaster proves conclusively that modern steel structures will withstand earthquake shocks, and the citizens of San Francisco feel this is the. best argument for the rebuilding of the city. Street car service was resumed in the outlying districts yesterday. Hag ard laborers are preparing the tracks Market street, where hoped will be running in a on cars it few is days. The vaults of the Western National bank, in the James Flood building were found intact, as were those of the Union Trust company and these institutions will résume in a few days, when the financial stress will be alleviated somewhat. The walls of the Call building, Fairmont hotel, mint, postoffice and half a dozen other steel frame buildings are sound enough to stand with repairs. All other walls left standing will be torn down. When the work of rebuilding be gins there will be employment for thousands of laborers. No one can gain admission to the city, however, without a pass from General Funston has the practical value of been so automobiles Never demonstrated brought from Dozens of these vehicles towns have and rush about surrounding into service been the pressed carry- city wherever the streets are open, ing the injured, infirm and supplies to camps and hospitals. They have been the means of saving thousands of lives. SAN FRANCISCO, April 23.-Toof the sights to light. some day's sad cleaning debris The brings start- numbodies found is If the average of ingly ber of large. human number keeps up, corpses found this morning the death list will run over 3,000. Martial law is still in active effect. The breaking out of fire in the huge coal bunkers, causing the Ferry house to be threatened this morning, _put thousands of people again in a state of panic, which the soldiers had much trouble to allay. Numerous concerns have opened up headquarters in Oakland and have will assured their employes that they provide for them until regular busi ness is resumed. Several banks have opened up of nces in Oakland. CHEYENNE, Wyo., April 23.-Up have noon today 40 relief trains San passed to here on their way to Francisco. Six of these specials pass- this during the night, and 12 the ed forenoon. These trains have right of way even over the Overland Limited. SAN FRANCISCO, April 23.-After at of the burned district the inspection the insurance men decided total noon damage is $300,000,000 of which $175,000,000 is insured. The health officials estimated that Sixcorpses have been burned. 500 teen dead wagons are employed today electJames Phelan, ex-mayor, committee was chairman of the finance ed Bricks from the ruins are stacked 10 feet high along the curb lines. Lumber is beginning to arrive. The physical condition of the peoOF and their spirits are excellent. 23. S ple PORTLAND, Ore., April shocks $3 -Sharp earthquake % So 53 SO were felt at 1:16 this morning Grant's Pass and Glendale. or % however. to 50 at There was no serious damage, S FRANCISCO, April 24.-Gov dispatch SAN this morning sent a list of Pardee General Funston giving a accept towns to in California who would home refugees the San Francisco 500, othSome towns will take foot ers less. 1,000, and all together they up 40,000 FRANCISCO. people. April fared 24.-The bet SAN on the harbor has of the shipping any other interest bunkter than city, and while the coal destroyed, doomed have been practically the coast ers for the west and fuel the ships have been enabled to get mail towns time. The Pacific and leave for on China will leave list, tomor- alsteamship with a small passenger crowded row she was booked for seekers, though mostly with pleasure up the cabins, for Honolulu, who have now given WASHINGTON. trip. April 24.-General loss of San much Greeley Francisco will says today that the be

4. May 2, 1906 The Evening Statesman Walla Walla, WA

Article from The Evening Statesman, May 2, 1906

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DISSATISFIED WITH TREATMENT THEY WERE WERE DRIVEN LIKE CATTLE RESENT PROPOSED ABANDONMENT OF CHINATOWN How To Raise Momey For Rebuilding of City Is Still Agitating the Business Men of San Francisco-The Plan of Asking the Government To Guarantee Municipal Bonds Is Still Urged. run when individual banks resume that the bed of Mokelumne river in SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., May 2.business. Depositors' checks are honthe vicinity of Woodbridge, has fallen Some plan by which the federal govored in sums of five hundred dollars to twelve feet since the earthquake and ernment may lend its credit for the remeet immediate needs. that Tracy lake in San Joaquin county building of the city still has strong is drying up. The falling of the water advocates. At a conference last night of Candles Now Permitted. in both cases is of benefit to farmers. General Greeley, Sécretary Metcalf, The order of Mayor Schmitz permitOakland Men Object. Mayor Schmitz, ex-Mayor Phelan, and ting the use of candles until the elecThe plan to place relief measures at Dr. Devine, a plan was presented in tric light service is restored, has Oakland in charge of the regular army detail to Metcalf in order that the secadded greatly to the comfort of resiis meeting with the opposition of Oakretary may lay it before the president dents of the unburned district, and land officials and committees, who when he returns to Washington. On to tent dwellers who have been obliged claim that army officers are unfamiliar unaided credit San Francisco will reto extinguish lights at ten o'clock. with conditions and unable to properly quire fifteen or more years to rebuild: Able Bodied Men Seek Work. cope with the problem of caring for the with government aid it can be rebuilt Cutting off provisions from able large refuge colony. A bitter fight and in a quarter of that time. While probbodied men has caused at least 2500 much bad feeling are expected. ably there will be much opposition in men to seek work in clearing streets, The San Francisco Salvage ConWashington, the supporters of the plan for which they get two dollars a day. are determined to secure a fair hearstruction company, capitalized at $1,Five thousand men are now at work 000,000, associated with the Contracing before congress and they are hopeon the ruins: and the number is augful that the desired aid be secured. tors' Construction company, filed armented daily. The state labor commisticles of incorporation today. A numEmergency Payments from Banks. sioner today began the organizing of a ber of Los Angeles capitalists have Emergency payments to bank deposlabor bureau which is expected to filed articles of incorporation of the itors have been arranged by the clearprovide work for 20,000 men in a very San Francisco Building and Wrecking ing house bank in the mint. Certified short time. Company. checks will be accepted for duties on Oakland Saloons Reopen. perishable goods in bond and for taxes. Street Cars Running. The Western National Bank opened toOwing to the subsidence of the exToday trolley cars started on Marcitement attendant on the influx of vast day for the purpose of paying city emket street from Valencia to the ferry crowds of refugees and the restoration ployees. and two other lines in the burned disof order the Oakland city council has City's Credit Unlimited. trict are running. The restoration of decided to permit saloons to open toW. H. Crocker, of the Crocker-Woolthe Bryant street power house in a worth bank has returned from the least, day from 8 to 7:30 p. m., no drinks to few days will bring a general resumpbe served to soldiers and liquor not to where he saw many leading financiers. tion of trolley service on the cleared be carried from drinking places on the He reports unlimited faith in the fustreets. ture of San Francisco backed by unpenalty of revocation of license. The Chinese May Leave. saloons are still closed in San Franlimited credit. Eastern banks offer to There is considerable fear in busicisco and beer peddlers are not perpurchase all San Francisco securities ness quarters that valuable Chinese for sale and furnish all needed cash. mitted to deliver goods to houses. trade will be lost by the removal of No Run on Banks. The California promotion committee is the Chinese populace to Seattle anu No disorder SO far has attended the receiving many letters from eastern other coast cities. opening of the clearing house bank people asking for details of the situaThe Chinese are indignant over the for the limited payment of bank detion and opportunities to locate here. way in which they were forced from positors. Every confidence is shown All express the belief that great camp to camp by the military authorichances for business success are prein the stability of the banks and there ties. Unless permitted to occupy old is no indication that there will be a sented. A report from Stockton says

5. May 3, 1906 The Sun New York, NY

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this thing in by mendamis proceedings and the emarts are etemed The water supply in gradually on the increase The electric light company hav the got up are lights for illuminate the streets is getting ready to furnish private lights to the Western Addition The am bargo on candles ## night lights has been whilly removed one may birth candles all night if he wants for but PM oil lamps are will under a affict barn Next to the street CAFA the lighting fa cilition have been the first of the public conveniences to recover Lotte Other, manager of the telephone company. ANY that his corporation has between 18,000 and 19,000 telephones in the burned district The cables have been restored, the mechanica are back at work, They and they have plenty f supplies are ready at a moment's notice to begin restoring NOT to the an who have found tempurary quarters in the residence distrief. however, the widden whife in the eeo nomics of the city has changed flate and houses into places of business Therefore, before the company attempts to restore residence service agents will make a thor. outh canvase and get out a new telephone book In some wave Han Francisco people have felt this loss of telephone service more keenly than that of any other small convenience Before the Are San Francisco had more telephones in proportion to the population than any other city in the world except her fallen neighbor San José The burned district is not only clearing out it is becoming even gay, if is assuming he aspect of a country fair or a Spanish fiesta The ruine. on Market street are lined with soda water stands. lemonade booths sandwich wagons Some time last night a small army of fakirs arrived with souvenir postal cards of the earthquake and fire Somewhere they had managed to have crude engravings made of photographs of the ruins and to print them on postal cards These went like mad at 10 cents a card. One Kearney street pawnbroker. picking up a litte money while he rested had set up a lemonade booth before his place For a counter he used his safe, which he had hauled out of the ruins and set up on the street to cool About the Mint and post office there were about forty fakers. selling relies of the fire at prices running from 25 cents up. The articles consisted of broken china, flower pots, fused glass anything and everything so long as it seemed to have been burned. And so long as these things have the appearance and come from San Francisco the tourists fall for the game and carefully preserve them as mementos of San Francisco Then there are signs of encouragement It gives a San Franciscan a thrill to read on the blackboard before the Flood Build ing that the Western National Bank's safe deposit is "open for business" or that Mago & Sons will erect a twenty story building on "this lot On the death list Coroner Walsh is still an alarmist He thinks that hundreds of bodies still lie in the débris When the burned district is cleared away he said to-day. 'there wi be at least athousand additions to the death roll. would not be surprised if the number reached 1,500. Great numbers of people perished in the lodging houses that collapsed. believe that the bones of more than a hundred people will be found in the ruins on the northwest corner of Fourth and Minna streets. There a crowded lodging house fell in a heapland. according to my information. the only person who escaped from the building was a bartender in the saloon below The Brunswick at Sixth and Howard li streets was another death trap for twenty or more. The northwest corner of Fourth and Shipley streets is sure to add a number to the list. A few got out of the Valencia h Hotel in the Mission. but there were many killed at that point Down in the fish market district hundreds of men were at work at time of the earthquake Several structures collapsed. and the workers had no time to save themselves li The rage of the gene al comm ttee over S what they deemed at first to be Secretary el Taft's unwarranted action in spending in the relief money for supplies in the East p has cooled down upon receipt of the exn planation from Washington, which showed m that the Secretary had no option. On the first receipt of this news one local paper came out with headlines asking What did Taft do with it?' and the other papers T knocked some Now there is appointment. but an understanding. and Chairman Phelan has virtually apologized In the hurry and excitement of the of first days. " he said, we never considered lo the source of the great number of blankets and tents and the great quantity of provisions which Secretary Taft rushed across los he country to us ti wish to offer through the press this pr explanation of our impatience and to state di hat Secretary Taft's message elucidating as he conditions of the Congressional g is G wholly satisfactory. te Stripped of all expectation of cash aid to rom the Government the relief fund 14 re $4,237,731.85 Mayor Schmitz has apm pointed ow a special sub-committee to look nto the matter of rebuilding with special reference to the Burnham plans or to any of ther general scheme. C Although City Engineer Woodward has jo under consideration man plans for altera in ion of the width of some streets in the by

6. May 5, 1906 Los Angeles Herald Los Angeles, CA

Article from Los Angeles Herald, May 5, 1906

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BANKS READY TO OPEN SAFES Millions of Dollars Will Await San Francisco Depositors Next Monday Morning By Associated Press. SAN FRANCISCO, May 4.-The Crocker-Woolworth bank and the Union Trust and Mercantile Trust companies will open their safe deposit boxes on Monday morning next. These three banks are opposed to keeping their customers any longer in delay. The city treasury opened for business this morning at the Western National bank in the James Flood building. Conditions were normal in banking circles; there were no panics or long lines of persons waiting to withdraw money. Many of the banks claim that since they opened for business their deposits have exceeded their withdrawals. A prominent banker said today that he felt sure that before the end of the month all commercial banks would resume their regular banking business.

7. May 23, 1906 The Spokane Press Spokane, WA

Article from The Spokane Press, May 23, 1906

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People Stand In Line To Take Their Money Although No Apprehension Is Felt by them. o'clock and at 9 it extended down SAN FRANCISCO, May 23.Jones street and then down Golden This morning at 9 o'clock commerGate as far as Market and back cial banks opened their doors for again towards Jones. Old women, the transaction of regular business young clerks, begrimed teamsters unhampered by clearing house reand pretty stenographers, were strictions. Gold in plenty filled the vaults and there is as much money there, all as cheerful as a crowd of theatergoers waiting their turn at in the banks today as ever in the the box office. history of San Francisco. The A young fellow in working stability of the financial situation clothes stepped out of line to give is such that there is not the slighthis place to an aged woman in a est evidence of a money panic and every bank in the city is now in shawl who tightly hugged to her breast her little yellow covered a position to meet all obligations without undue strain. book, and others followed suit, and soon the woman was far up the While the official date for the formal opening of saving banks is line. Many brought lunches and next Monday, many savings insti- stools prepared for a long wait. tutions opened this morning and When the doors opened the first 10 mutual savings banks opened for persons were tolled oti and allowed unrestricted business with $20,000,- to enter and two paying tellers with their money benches heaped 000 in money and active securities in the vaults. with gold quickly passed out coin, The California Safe Deposit & and but few withdrew total deTrust company opened in its old posits. A few large withdrawals were quarters, corner of California and Montgomery streets. This bank is made, but mostly by persons who needed funds for building purposes. the one to first have temporary Most of the depositors merely quarters completed. The Humboldt wanted money for present pressbank opens tomorrow morning. About 30 percent of the Huming needs. boldt's loans were in the burned Meantime two receiving tellers district and the bank announced it were taking care of those who wished to make deposits. will return all insurance money Officials of the bank predict busito borrowers for rebuilding purposes. ness will resume with normal conWith no more rush or excitement ditions by tomorrow. At Market street the line at the than was usuual attending settling day before the fire the Hiberian paying teller's window was smaller bank, the city's largest saving in- than at the receiving teller's, and atitution, threw open its doors at the same was true of the Western 9 o'clock this morning. Every look National bank and the National Bank of the Pacific. Deposits at and every action of hundreds in the Mutual Savings bank were line before the doors opened betokened confidence. comparatively small, and judging The line began to form at 6:45 from the line at the paying teller's

8. May 24, 1906 East Oregonian : E.O Pendleton, OR

Article from East Oregonian : E.O, May 24, 1906

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San Francisco May 24.-At a secret meeting of the board of fire underwriters held at Oakland, definite action was taken in the matter of fixing insurance rate for San Francisco. It was decided to double all rates. Some members favored fixing different rates for the burned and unburned sections, but a flat rate for the entire city was finally decided upon and all special rates abrogated. The lines of depositors around the savings banks are materially smaller today, and more deposits were made than withdrawals. As a result of the opening of banks for unrestricted business building operations are given a great - impetus. The construction of scores of new frame buildings begun this morning. Banks All on Solid Ground. At the Market Street bank the line at the paying teller's window was smaller than at the receiving teller's The same was true at the Western National bank and National Bank of the Pacific. Deposits at the Mutual Savings bank were comparatively small, and judging from the line at the paying teller's window. the heaviest run of any of the downtown banks was made there. All demands, however. were paid in full. At the Crocker Woolworth bank over $50,000 in gold coin was paid in today before 11 o'clock, while the withdrawals were very small. At the Union Trust company the deposits exceeded the withdrawals tenfold. Protest Cancelling Bonds. The lobby committee on special session of the legislature today decided against the proposition for the legislature to extinguish $177,000,000 worth of unsold San Francisco bonds. Assurances are received from financiers that the present outstanding bonds are saleable. and the money is needed im-