Page 39 - RedWhiteFleet_interiors_Sep10

up to me and saying, ‘Do you know anywhere that I can put LEFT: The 1906 earthquake and the
my parents?’ I’d say, ‘Yes, I’ll fix it so as they can go aboard a massive fire it caused destroyed most
passenger ship out in the Bay. There is a full crew aboard and of the buildings and infrastructure of
[they] will sit like a king.’” San Francisco, and left over half of
its population of over 400,000 people
Operating as a trusted friend to the citizens of San homeless. The Crowley maritime fleet
Francisco, the company’s call to action was repeated over was integral in transporting the flood
eighty years later following the region’s 1989 Loma Prieta of refugees to other shores around
quake. As always, this well-known generosity of not only the Bay.
Crowley but also of his entire crew became a defining RIGHT: Looking out toward
trademark of the company that was rapidly becoming Alcatraz Island, whole blocks of
synonymous with San Francisco and its Bay. destroyed buildings stretch down
to the Bay in the aftermath of the
earthquake and fire. The section of
waterfront visible in this photo is
where the Red and White Fleet made
their home base at Pier 43½ many
decades later.

IN CROWLEY WE TRUST
Ordinary citizens of San Francisco weren’t the only ones
who trusted Crowley in their time of need. With much
of the city on fire and looting a major concern, banks
turned to Crowley to keep their deposits safe. The Bank
of America (known at the time as the Bank of Italy) was
one such bank that called upon Crowley to safeguard
their holdings. Using milk cans, Crowley’s crew spirited
the bank’s currency deposits onto one of their vessels
and then parked the ship in the middle of the Bay. “It
kept [the money] away from robbers and anything else,”
Crowley stated. “It was the safest way it could go.”

ABOVE: Looting was a major issue during and after the catastrophe.
Safes, like those pictured here, were targeted by robbers, so Crowley
boats were enlisted to keep bank holdings safe onboard during the crisis.
38 • Red and White Fleet Milestones • 39