Law and Order
“The local guard, Company E and Company C, of Petaluma…joined forces, and patrolling the streets, gave the desolate scene a warlike appearance.”
—Tom Gregory, 1911
The need to maintain public order was crucial. Company E and Company C of the Petaluma Fifth Infantry Regiment, National Guard of California, patrolled the streets and Santa Rosa was placed under martial law.
Santa Rosans would later express pride in the fact that no citizen took advantage of the disaster, but there were several reported incidents. One described attempts to break into a safe lying in the ruins of the Press Democrat building and another reported attempts to rob the damaged winery at Fountaingrove. There were stories of thieves stealing jewelry off of dead bodies. However, violence and disorder were kept to a minimum. The City Council acted quickly to maintain order. Among their directives was a freeze on price increases of over 5%. Merchants found in violation could have their goods confiscated. Mayor John P. Overton also ordered the closure of Santa Rosa’s saloons, and for several weeks the down went dry.
