Thomas Franklin "Huch" Barnard was a glass blower from Indiana. In early 1906, he took a job at a glass factory in San Francisco. Three months later, San Francisco was destroyed by an earthquake and the resulting fires.
Huch and his wife, Cleo, were among the thousands of people that took advantage of the railroad's free passage back home.

Oakland Cal Apr 20 06 Dear mother and all We have both excape safe and sound. We cross the bay today at noon and have got a nice place to stay. We are going to start home just as soon as we can. The bank that I had my money in burnt but we will get our money just the same. But we will have to wait till they get it fixed. We are expect our railroad ticket from our President Hays of the Union. The factory burnt also the house we live in. We are with Mr Lung and wife who lived in the same house. We are getting plenty to eat. I will wait till I get home to tell you what we went threw with and what we witness. Telephone to Loua and tell her we are all ok. Hoping this will find you all well Good by Huch and Cleo

Go to: Newspaper Clipping from Barnard's Indiana hometown paper

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