p. 3 | The Story of Our Loss by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Aug 8, 1906

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 32, No. 30.

The Story of Our Loss.

By Editor

OUR BEAUTIFUL HOUSE . . . IS BURNED WITH FIRE.

JUST as passed the midnight hour, July 21, fire broke out in the printing plant of the Pacific Press Publishing Company, Mountain View, Cal. No one saw its beginning so far as we knew, unless it was some miscreant who kindled it. When it was first seen it had eaten through the roof in the northeast corner, in the photo-engraving room. From there in hungry greed it ate its way through a covered passage to the engine-room and tankhouse on the east, and through the main building to the south and west. It spread with inconceivable rapidity. Its red tongues flickered and danced and darted in demoniac glee, as on it sped from department to department, ravenously hungry and insatiate. In two hours the entire roof was in and the whole thing a blazing mass.

The plant was the completest and best equipped west of the Rockies. The building was 125 feet on the front, 175 feet on the back, by the railway, and 175 feet deep. The front part, 125x40 feet, two stories high, contained the business offices and salesroom on the first floor; the chapel, the reading-room, and editorial offices, on the second floor.

The arrangement was nearly ideal. The work moved from type-room to electrotype foundry and photo-engraving room, to press-room, to folding-room, to bindery, to stock-room, all on the same floor, and connected in the order named. The machinery was good, every machine in running order, and the office more than full of work. Now it is a desolate waste of ruins. Our big SIGNS machine, a rotary perfecting Cottrell press, printing from a continuous roll, the price of which was about $15,000, lies a broken wreck on its side. Steam pipes are twisted and distorted in grotesque knots and tangles. The fireproof vault collapsed. The big safe stands on edge in a mass of debris. Great piles of charred and steaming paper, two carloads or more, form a black mountain range on one side, and the burned manufactured stock a mountain on the other. A little portion of the front wall survives the shocks of earthquake and the searching, piercing, disintegrating power of fire.

The loss on the building, stock and equipment will range from $250,000 to $300,000. The insurance is only $100,000. It is not yet adjusted. We feel it keenly, coming, as it did, just after the great earthquake.

Books and Engravings.

Of our own books the loss is great. All our stock in hand is burned. One book, "Heralds of the Morning," was on the press, and an edition of 25,000 nearly completed, with some cases made in the bindery. All are lost, sheets, plates, cases. It may have to be photo-engraved, page by page, at Kansas City or Chicago. "Great Controversy" will go to Washington to be printed.

In the field are many book agents who will have to postpone their delivery from one to two months; but this they will do heartily, tho it will be a great disappointment to many.

One of our great losses is valuable cuts. Some of these can not be reproduced, and many belonged to our customers.

Our Periodicals.

A tremendous loss which will grow with the years is connected with the SIGNS OF THE TIMES and OUR LITTLE FRIEND. All our manuscripts are in ashes. This included manuscripts for several months' issues and for two books, at least, and perhaps four, which can not be replaced. Hundreds of drawings, the accumulations of fifteen years, are burned. This beside the magnificent drawings of "Desire of Ages," "Story of the Redemption," and "Mount of Blessing." Thousands of engravings, line and halftone, have gone up in smoke, or are in melted and twisted plates in the mass of debris. Thousands of photographs, gathered from all parts of the world, which the editor had been collecting for fifteen years, were licked up by the red tongues of the demon. The completest files of Advent literature to be found in the denomination, complete and partial duplicate files of the SIGNS and LITTLE FRIEND and Review and Herald from the first, are in ashes even to the last issue.

Our library, while not large, had many choice books, a number of which can not be duplicated, and which we have no funds to replace. With these were many of the editor's best books. Beside this are many facts, clippings, statistics, the gathering of a lifetime, treasures given by friends, which no money can replace. Our human heart aches and cries as we tell the story in part, and every day will reveal more and more the vacant places. There are two kinds of knowledge that an editor especially needs: that which he has stored in the archives of his own brain, which is a part of himself, and that which he knows where to find but which he cannot remember nor afford the time to memorize. For the latter he depends on his library, which if well selected is a constant friend. We feel that we have lost a friend.

But the editors have left them the great storehouse of all that is of worth in the moral field—the Bible—and the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, which is pre-eminently a Bible paper, will still be issued as before.

Little did we think when we placed as an illustrative motto on our Fire and Earthquake Number, "And after the earthquake a fire," that it would prove a prophecy of our own beloved plant; that we should ever see till its work was finished the lurid flames licking up its life blood. The eternal hopefulness of the human always puts the trouble on the other fellow and exempts himself. Now, as Job's friends told him, the affliction, the trouble, has come to us. Thank God, there has come with it warm expressions of sympathy from our brethren and friends, of which the following will testify.

Editorial from Palo Alto Citizen:

The sympathy of the printing and publishing profession everywhere, and especially that of The Citizen, is extended at this time to the Pacific Press Publishing Company, whose immense plant at Mountain View now lies in ashes. The company lost very heavily in the earthquake of April 18 and had just begun to get in good running order, when along came the fire fiend and destroyed everything but the institution's good name. All California must regret this unfortunate happening.

From the Schmidt Lithograph Company, Oakland, Calif.:

Oakland, Cal., July 21, 1906. Pacific Press Publishing Co., Mountain View, Calif. Gentlemen: We are just in receipt of your telegram in which you notify us that your plant was destroyed by fire. It is needless to say we sympathize with you and can appreciate your position, after the experience we had in losing our plant and all it contained, which was the result of a quarter of a century's hard work. We also hope that it will not take you very long to recover from this misfortune and that it will be only a short time before you are again established in a new plant, better equipped (if such a thing is possible) than the one which was just destroyed. Your consideration of our interests in your hour of distress is commendable and will enable us to look around elsewhere for some one else to do the work which you had in hand at the time of the fire. The opportunity may arise when we can be of assistance to you and would be pleased to have you call. Very truly yours, SCHMIDT LITHOGRAPH CO., (Signed) M. Schmidt.

From C. C. Morse & Co., Seed Growers, San Francisco, Calif.:

San Francisco, Calif., July 21, 1906. Pacific Press Publishing Co., Mountain View, Calif. Gentlemen: We have just learned the sad news of the loss of your plant by fire and wish to assure you of our sincere sympathy. Trust you will soon be able to erect another plant and continue your good business. Respectfully yours, C. C. MORSE & CO., Per Lester L. Morse, Pres. and Mgr.

From the Baptist Church of Mountain View:

Mountain View, Calif., July 22, 1906. Mr. M. C. Wilcox, Pastor Adventist Church. Dear Sir and Brother: The members of "The Memorial Baptist Church" wish to sympathize with you in your recent loss by fire, and tender the use of the church for holding services until such time as you have a house of worship. By order of the church. BARNEY JOB, Church Clerk.

From A. G. Daniells, President of the General Conference, and Prof. W. W. Prescott, Editor of the Review and Herald:

"Washington, D. C., July 21. "Wilcox and Jones: Terribly grieved over disaster. Services at your command. Difficult to go West after council. Wire if considered really necessary. "DANIELLS AND PRESCOTT."

From Elder G. I. Butler, Editor of Southern Watchman, and I. A. Ford, Business Manager of the Southern Publishing Association:

Nashville, Tenn., July 23. C. H. Jones: We are terribly shocked at news of your fire. You have our sympathy and prayers. BUTLER AND FORD.

From J. H. Kellogg, of the Battle Creek Sanitarium:

Battle Creek, Mich., July 21. C. H. Jones, Mountain View, Calif. Be assured of our most sincere sympathy in your great misfortune. Call on me for anything I can do to help you. J. H. KELLOGG.

From Sanitarium and Food Company, Sanitarium, Calif.:

St. Helena Sanitarium, July 22, 1906. To Pacific Press Pub. Co., Mountain View, Cal. Accept our heartfelt sympathy in your hour of deep affliction.

From the Review and Herald, Takoma Park, D. C.

Takoma Park, D. C., July 22. Pacific Press Pub. Co., Mountain View, Cal. Our workers unite in expressing sympathy. Can we do more? REVIEW AND HERALD.

From Mrs. M. E. Abbott, Clerk of Santa Cruz Church:

Santa Cruz, Cal., July 22, 1906. M. C. Wilcox, Mountain View, Calif. Dear Brother: I know not what to think or say, only that the "Lord's will be done." He who sees the end from the beginning knows what is for the best. "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God." Dare we to doubt His promises? Nay, verily. Then, my brother, what words of sympathy can we offer? Your views of the great lessons of the earthquake calamity are surely good and wise. And if the fire was needed too, to humble us as a people, and stir us to action, especially to waken our sympathy for foreign fields, then let us praise the Lord for the fire. When I knew about the third edition of the SIGNS I felt to praise God for the earthquake; and doubtless time will reveal the reason why we should praise God for the fire, too. May the Lord be your guide, counselor and comfort, in this great trial, is our prayer for you all. Your sister in Christ, M. E. ABBOTT.

From F. M. Wilcox, of the Boulder Sanitarium:

Boulder, Colo., July 22. M. C. Wilcox, Mountain View. Calif. Deepest sympathy Boulder church and sanitarium. Courage. Joshua nine one. F. M. WILCOX.

From Geo. McC. Price, Editor The Modern Heretic.

Los Angeles, Calif., July 22, 1906. Elder M. C. Wilcox, Mountain View, Calif. Dear Brother: Language would be weak to express the sadness we all feel down here at the dreadful news of the burning of the Press. We trust that the way will open up for the continued publication of the SIGNS without much loss of time, and that ere very long the books, pamphlets, and tracts will again be issuing from the Mountain View office as heretofore. The money will come to rebuild, but I suppose a thousand things have perished which money can not replace. GEO. McC. PRICE.

From A. Winegar-Simpson, M. D., of the Glendale Sanitarium:

Glendale, Calif., July 22, 1906. Elder M. C. Wilcox. Dear Brother: We are sorry indeed to hear of the destruction of the Pacific Press, and while we can not understand just why these things come, yet we know that through it all God designs to teach us precious lessons of His great love for us. Praying that the Lord may guide you at this important time, I am Your sister in the work, A. WINEGAR-SIMPSON.

From G. W. Pettit:

Portland, Ore. Greatly sympathize in your loss. G. W. PETTIT.

M. W. Hodkins Co., manufacturers of gloves and mittens, West Oakland, write:

"We read of your disaster in Saturday's Enquirer with a sincere feeling of grief. We hope that it was not as bad as the newspaper reports make out. Extending you our sympathy in your loss."

The Union Lithograph Company, Oakland, through their president, B. S. Hubbard, write:

"We are sorry indeed to learn through the press that your magnificent plant has been destroyed by fire. Since we have gone through two experiences of this kind within four months, we are in a position to sympathize with you. If we can do anything for you, do not hesitate to call on us as we fully appreciate the service you rendered us a short time ago."

Blake, Moffatt & Towne, Oakland:

"We are sorry to learn through the papers of the entire loss of your plant at Mountain View by fire, and having only recently gone through the same experience we deeply sympathize with you. No doubt you will take steps to replace the plant immediately, and meanwhile we shall be pleased to accommodate you in any way that we possibly can with the limited means at our command at the present time."

A. Zellerbach & Sons, San Francisco:

"If there is any way that we can be of service to you, do not hesitate to call upon us, as we stand ready and willing to aid you in any manner possible."

Through Mr. James J. Taylor, the Everett Pulp and Paper Company, of Oakland, writes:

"Through the newspapers we have been informed of the very unfortunate catastrophe which has overcome you, and we beg to confirm our telephone message advising you of our willingness to do anything within our power that would in any wise assist you under the very unfortunate conditions at present existing. Allow us to assure you that our plant is at your service and that everything within reason that we can do for you will be most willingly performed."

The Pacific Rural Press, through the business manager, Mr. Edgar Rickard, writes:

"We desire to express our heartfelt sympathy in the loss of your plant. If there is any way we can assist you, pray command us."

California Ink Co., per Mr. H. P. Roach:

"It is with sincere regret that we learn through the daily newspapers of the complete destruction by fire of your beautiful plant at Mountain View. We can fully sympathize with you in the loss you have sustained, and take this occasion to inquire if there is anything that we can do to assist you in any way. We trust that you will not hesitate a moment in calling on us if you find that we can help you in the least."

From Mr. L. B. Woodruff, Mayfield, Cal.:

"Deepest sympathy in your affliction. My plant at your service."

Mr. Ev. E. Carreras, printers' utilities, San Francisco, writes:

"It is with profound regret and sorrow that I have read in this afternoon's paper the account of the destruction by fire of your very, very complete plant, truly the best on the Coast. Too bad; wish there was something I could do for you."

Eaton & Company, San Jose: "Expressing our sympathy for your loss, we are respectfully yours, "A. C. Eaton & Co., "R. F. Telfer."

Mr. Thomas H. Doane, Secretary Pacific Coast Paper Company, Oakland, writes: "We sincerely trust that the account of your loss as we heard it has been exaggerated. If we can be of any service to you in any possible manner do not hesitate to command us. Your misfortune is not only a loss to yourselves, but to the community in general at this time. Mercantile enterprises in San Francisco are under obligations to you for the assistance you rendered them in the last three months in getting their printing out when all other resources were exhausted. . . . We are sure you will arise like a phoenix from the ashes and will make stepping stones out of all obstacles in your path. Wishing you every success."

Melvin, Hillis & Black, of San Jose, write:

"Pacific Press Publishing Company, Mountain View, Cal.—Gentlemen: We were extremely sorry to hear of the great disaster which you suffered Friday night, and we assure you that you have our sympathy. Coming at this time so soon after the San Francisco disaster, we realize the difficulty you will have in getting new material immediately. If we can be of any assistance in helping you fill your orders we will be glad to render what we can. We, with the aid of two or three platen feeders, could probably handle all your platen work, as we operate five jobbers day and night. We could give one or two feeders employment with our own work. Again expressing our sympathy, and trusting that you will be able to obtain new machinery and material with the least possible delay, we are very truly yours, "Melvin, Hillis & Black, "Per Howell D. Melvin, Manager."

E. J. Shattuck Company, printing and lithographing, Oakland and Alameda, write through their secretary, Mr. L. S. Allstrum: "Dear Mr. Gage: I just learned this morning of the misfortune which befell your fine printing plant at Mountain View. This has been an unfortunate year for printers. We extend to you and the firm you represent our sympathy, having come through a similar experience ourselves. Can we serve you in any matter, will be only too glad to do it."

FROM THE TOWN OF MOUNTAIN VIEW.

Mountain View, Cal., July 25, 1906. To the Pacific Press Publishing Company, Mountain View—Gentlemen: Having been duly appointed by a citizens' meeting and delegated for the purpose, we have the honor to very respectfully tender to you the heartfelt sympathy and good will of the people of Mountain View and community, by reason of your great loss caused by the destruction of your publishing plant by fire on the 21st inst. The community feels that it was a public calamity as well as a great loss to those personally in interest, and the people, through this medium, desire to convey to you expressions of sympathy, and to assure you of their good will in the premises, as expressed by a series of resolutions, a copy of which we are pleased to present to you, as expressions of public sentiment, in behalf of yourselves and the great institution, the printing and publishing plant, destroyed. With appreciation and esteem, we have the honor to be very respectfully, etc., J. Weilheimer, B. E. Burns, William P. Wright, Walter A. Clark, A. B. Rogers, Committee.

Preamble and Resolutions.

Whereas, The destruction of the plant of the Pacific Press Publishing Company on the 21st inst. by the ravages of fire, is deemed and felt by the people of Mountain View and the community to be a sad loss to the management and to all persons in interest therein, and also a serious loss to the industry and commerce of our community; and desiring to tender expressions of sympathy and good will to those who have suffered direct personal loss; therefore, be it Resolved, That the people of Mountain View assembled do hereby deplore the great loss and extend our deep-felt sympathy to those who have suffered personally by the calamity, and we do hereby pledge our active co-operation in any matters possible that may be required by the Pacific Press Publishing Company in rehabilitating the destroyed institution; also be it Resolved, That a select committee of five citizens, of which the Chair shall be one, be appointed to communicate these sentiments to the management of said Publishing Company, with fullest assurance of our desire to lend any aid or assistance within our power in the premises. The above is a copy of a resolution unanimously adopted at a citizens' meeting held in Town Hall, Mountain View, on July 24, 1906. (Signed) William P. Wright, President J. Weilheimer, Secretary.

From Duehrsen-Wehr Co., San Francisco:

"Telegram just received. Please accept our heartfelt sympathy for your loss. Our limited facilities at your disposal."

Mr. E. M. Drake telephones from Santa Barbara: "The Donahoe Printing Company offer their plant at your disposal."

Mr. De Pew, publisher of Sunnyvale Standard, called and expressed his sympathies and offered the use of his facilities.

Many others, among these many business firms, have sent representatives to express their sympathy and to proffer offers of help. Among these are the Sunset Magazine, the Sunnyvale Standard, Mr. Nace of Santa Clara, the Mountain View Leader, Pacific Manifolding Book Company of Oakland, Out West Printing and Engraving Company of Los Angeles, Bank of Mountain View, American Type Founders' Company, C. B. Collett & Sons, and many others. For all these we are deeply grateful.