After the British Isles leg of the tour , the team traveled through North America to San Francisco . After playing two matches against British Columbia there , the team returned to New Zealand . Roberts was ill however , and remained in San Francisco for several weeks with Wellington teammate Billy Wallace . After surgery to remove his infected tonsils , Roberts recovered well enough to travel back to New Zealand ; only a few weeks after he and Wallace departed , the 1906 San Francisco earthquake struck , destroying the hotel in which they 'd been staying
1906 San Francisco earthquake
1906 San Francisco earthquake
Fred Roberts (rugby union)