Table of Contents Setting the Stage 4 The Earthquake 6 Running for Safety 8 Fire 12 Destruction 14 Tent Camp 18 Returning Home 20 Discover More 26 Glossary 30 Websites 29 Index 31 3
Setting the Stage The San Francisco News Tuesday City Suffered Enormous Loss Issue 7 Volume 11 from Quake and Fires April 24 1906 While last Wednesday's earthquake earthquake caused buildings to collapse and people to flee across open cracks in damage came from the fires that followed the followed The quake lasted only two ground minutes but fires raged for three greater days Flames reached a mile high into the sky Thousands of people have escaped and have been housed in a tent city built for those who have been left stranded and homeless homeless Others scrambled onto ferryboats ferryboats that took them to safety It is estimated that 3 000 acres of the city have been flattened and that at least 500 people have died Today those who have survived and remain here are in shock over the 4 devastation devastation
Many of the buildings on the cross street of Post and Grant Avenues in San Francisco were destroyed in the earthquake Fires added to the destruction of the city as well On April 18 1906 at 5 12 in the morning an earthquake shook the city of San Francisco California Witnesses describe the ground as moving like an angry ocean during the quake with a waving and buckling motion that caused many of the city’s buildings to shake and fall apart The quake also caused several fires to break out and spread destroying much of the city The force of the earthquake was felt all along the California coast and even into the neighboring states of Nevada and Oregon 5
