1906 San Francisco earthquake

"The steel railroad bridge across the , having five spans resting on concrete pillars, was directly on the line of the , crossing it obliquely. It affords a striking example of the power of the temblor. Here one side of the river bank moved away from the other eighteen inches. As a result the bridge was pulled apart at one end, the concrete abutment sliding away beneath the tremendously heavy plate girders which rested upon it, so far that the latter had little more than the edge to support them. Beyond, one of the massive concrete bases of the bridge spans—some fifteen feet through in either direction—was cracked from side to side and the truss resting on it shifted, and the whole bridge was twisted out of alignment."

"On the third day after the shock appointed a State Earthquake Investigation Commission, naming as its chairman the head of the geological department of the , , and including in its membership , of the , Professors and , of the State University, , of the , , of the , , of , and Mr. Gilbert, of the ."

"The line of the fault of the earthquake which visited the California coast on April 18, 1906, extends from a point below , , in a northwesterly direction, touching the coast at on the western boundary of the , and thence follows the coast line to , a total distance of approximately 200 s. The area affected comprises a strip on both sides of the fault line averaging 30 miles in width, or about 10,000 s. Within this area all structures and public works were more or less damage, the injury varying from a few cracks in the plaster finish to total collapse and destruction. The effects of the earthquake were most violent in close proximity to the fault line and decreased in intensity in proportion with the distance from it. The city of San Francisco occupied a central position on the fault line and consequently felt the maximum effect."

"A steam schooner was taking refugees from the water-front by means of a gang-plank of two rough boards. A mother with her baby in arms was stepping cautiously down when a burly Swede behind gave her an impatient push. She lost her balance and fell, drowning with her baby before help reached her. Without an instant's delay, a soldier shot the Swede dead in his tracks."

"Why not quench the fire at its start with water? Alas! there was no water, and this expedient was a hopeless one. The s which carried the precious fluid under the city streets were broken or injured so that no quenching streams were to be had. In some cases the s had been so damaged that the fire-fighting apparatus could not be taken out, though even if it had it would have been useless. A sweeping conflagration and not an ounce of water to throw upon it!"