Father and Daughter Die in Separate Fires

I wish I had a photograph of Ernest Cerf to go with the following newspaper clippings. Descendants of Ernest Cerf, please send me a scan of a photo of him that I can share with everyone. 

Oakland Tribue, August 25, 1908

BIG FIRE SWEPT TESLA

Hotel, Coal Company’s Store and Other Buildings Are Destroyed

DEAD MAN IS WELL KNOWN IN CITY OF SAN FRANCISCO

            TESLA, Cal., Aug. 24. – A fire which broke out in the Tesla hotel late last night caused the loss of one life and the destruction of much property before it was extinguished.

            Ernest Cerf, manager of the Tesla Coal Company’s store, was asleep at the hotel at the time and was burned to death before help reached him. His residence was in San Francisco, where he leaves a family. His brother [should read his son], Marcel E. Cerf is a well-known attorney of that city. The hotel and several adjoining buildings, including the coal company’s store, a saloon and a few small residences, were consumed by the flames.

SWEPT THE TOWN.

            The burned property all belonged to the San Francisco and San Joaquin Coal company, for which concern Cerf was the buyer. The fire broke out at 3:30 this morning, and, despite the efforts of the volunteer fire department, burned itself out, destroying a considerable portion of the town, which depends upon the Carnegie Brick and Cement Works for its existence. It is believed that the property loss will reach $7500. It is understood to be insured. The buildings burned are the hotel and bunk house, saloon, butcher shop, ice cream parlor and pump house.

NO CHANCE TO ESCAPE.

            The fire causes no stoppage of activities, as arrangements have already been completed to house and feed the men.

            Cerf, who was sixty-five years of age, was asleep in the second story of the hotel. The frame structures burned like tinder, and he was unable to escape. The cause of the fire is unknown.

San Francisco Call, 26 August 1908

ERNEST CERF IS BURNED TO DEATH

Meets End in Blaze Which Destroys Hotel and Business

Houses in Town of Tesla

Flames Rage for Hours Despite Efforts of Volunteer Fire Brigade

            TESLA, Aug. 25.---Ernest Cerf, manager of the Tesla coal company’s store, burned to death in his apartments in the Tesla hotel at an early hour this morning by a fire which destroyed the hostelry, as well as a butcher shop, vegetable store and saloon adjoining, and started a grass blaze which raged through 100 acres of pasture land nearby and was not brought under control until nearly noon today.

            Cerf was awakened when the fire was discovered in the hotel and, rushing out into the hallway, held a short conversation with Dr. H. L. Swanger, who occupied apartments nearby. He returned to his room, presumably to attempt to save some of his property. Dr. Swanger and a chambermaid, who were the only other occupants of the hotel, escaped from the building after throwing a portion of their belongings out of the windows, but Cerf did not reappear, and in the excitement attendant upon the fire his absence was not noticed until it was too late to attempt to rescue him.

            His charred body was found in the ruins of the hotel when the fire had burned itself out. It is presumed that he was overcome by the heat and smoke in his room and fell unconscious before he could return to the open.

            Cerf was 63 years old. He is survived by a widow and eight children, who live at 2821 Steiner street. One of his sons is Marcel Cerf, a well known San Francisco attorney. Another is Cedric Cerf, a prominent student at the University of California.

            The oldest child, Charlotte, is a teacher in the Polytechnic high school, the second, Barry, is an instructor at the University of Wisconsin. The four others are Emile W., a mining engineer; Rebecca and Lorraine and Mrs. James A. Forster. Cerf was a native of Touraine [sic], France, and had been connected with the Tesla coal company for many years. His body was shipped to Oakland.

            The fire, which is believed to have been started from smoldering coals in the kitchen stove, broke out between 3 and 4 o’clock this morning, and burned for several hours despite the efforts of the volunteer fire department. The burned property all belonged to the Alameda and San Joaquin coal company. It is believed that the loss will reach $7,500. There was no insurance on the buildings.

Note: The town of Tesla is located in Corral Hollow Canyon, twelve miles southeast of Livermore and southwest of Tracy in Alameda County, California.

San Francisco Chronicle, Aug 26, 1908

Oakland Tribune, July 8, 1959

MISS CERF, 79, MISSING IN RESORT FIRE

            Miss Rebecca Cerf, 79, member of a distinguished California family, is missing and presumed dead in the fire that destroyed a Norwegian resort hotel June 23.

            Twenty-four tourists died in the Stalheim Hotel blaze.

            Miss Cerf, who lived at El Cortez hotel in San Francisco, left April 22 for a tour of Europe. Herbert Leland, San Francisco attorney who is a close family friend, said he has ascertained she was a guest at the hotel when the fire broke out.

            One of the survivors, Mrs. Sidney S. Kahn, 65, of 1880 Jackson St., San Francisco, said Miss Cerf rode in the same bus to the hotel and was staying in the same wing of the hotel. It was destroyed.

            Miss Cerf was the sister of the late San Francisco Superior Judge Marcel E. Cerf. Her nieces include Mrs. Charles Cushing, wife of a University of California music professor.

            A native of San Luis Obispo, Miss Cerf was graduated from the University of California in 1902. She lived for years on the family’s extensive ranch near Stockton. During World War I she served with the Army Medical Corps.

            She was active in charitable groups and a member of the Women’s Overseas Service League.

           

Oakland Tribune, July 12, 1959

REBECCA CERF DEATH CONFIRMED

            The death of Rebecca Cerf, member of a distinguished San Francisco family, in a Norway resort hote fire June 23, has been confirmed.

            She was earlier reported missing and presumed dead. Confirmation was received by attorney Herbert Leland from the U.S. State Department. No details were available.

            Miss Cerf, 79, was the sister of the late Marcel E. Cerf, San Francisco attorney and former Superior Court judge; the late Prof. Barry Cerf of Reed College, and the late Cedric E. Cerf, a Stockton rancher.