On the morning of Wednesday, April 18th, before ten o’clock, the news of the earthquake in California was received at Red Cross Headquarters from the War Department. Immediately the following telegram was sent to Judge Morrow, President of the California Red Cross Branch, and a meeting of the Executive Committee was called for that afternoon: WASHINGTON, _April 18, 1906_. _Judge W. W. Morrow, President of California Red Cross, U. S. Circuit Court, San Francisco, Cal._: Have just been advised of disaster. Can Red Cross be of assistance? CHAS. L. MAGEE, _Secretary_. Somewhat later in the day the following telegrams were sent to Judge Morrow, the Honorable Horace Davis, Treasurer of the California Red Cross, and to the Mayor of San Francisco: WASHINGTON, _April 18, 1906_. National Red Cross ready to aid San Francisco. Please confer with Mayor as to best means of assistance. Reply care of War Department. CHAS. L. MAGEE, _Secretary_. * * * * * WASHINGTON, _April 18, 1906_. _To the Mayor of San Francisco_: National Red Cross ready to aid San Francisco. How can most effective service be rendered? Please confer with Judge Morrow and Hon. Horace Davis of California Red Cross. Reply care of War Department. CHAS. L. MAGEE, _Secretary_. As it was found impossible to obtain a prompt reply to these dispatches because of the condition of the telegraph service, it was decided at the Executive Committee meeting to send to the Secretaries of the Red Cross Branches the following telegram: WASHINGTON, _April 18, 1906_. Make Red Cross appeal for San Francisco. Name local Treasurer. CHAS. L. MAGEE, _Secretary_. On Thursday, April 19th, no word having been received from any of the officers of the California Branch, the Hon. William H. Taft, President of the Red Cross, appointed as special Red Cross Agent, Dr. Edward T. Devine of New York, who had had experience in such relief work at Johnstown and Baltimore. Dr. Devine being instructed to proceed immediately to San Francisco, started Thursday afternoon. General Funston, Judge Morrow and Mayor Schmitz were sent telegraphic notice of his appointment. Judge Morrow reported by letter later that directly after the disaster he sent several dispatches to the National Red Cross, none of which were ever received.