The Earth Shook, the Sky Burned

A Moving Record of America's Great Earthquake and Fire: San Francisco, April 18, 1906 [Illustrated Edition]

William Bronson

• Publisher: Papamoa Press
• Year: 2017
• eBook ISBN: 9781787204645
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: American Civil War History
• Index: History

The Earth Shook, The Sky Burned is the dramatic, complete account of the San Francisco earthquake of April 18, 1906. In the early morning of that day, the sleeping city was rocked by a violent earth tremor that ravaged buildings, heaved streets, and terrified drowsy residents. But worse was to come: the devastating fire that swept across the city for three days. Nearly 30, 000 structures were destroyed, and over a quarter million people were left homeless.
The Earth Shook, The Sky Burned is a blow-by-blow account of the four days of devastation, not only in San Francisco, but in its adjacent communities. Among the huge cast are Enrico Caruso, who vowed never to return after the quake; John Barrymore, reportedly shaken from a tryst with a young actress; General Frederick Funston, who directed attempts to halt the spreading fire; and Amadeo Giannini, who saved the Bank of Italy's gold reserves in his horsecart and founded Bank of America after the fire.
Illustrated with over 400 on-the-scene photographs, this memorable book reflects the indomitable spirit and vigor of the people who built the West.
"Bronson covers every aspect of the disaster in lucid sinewy prose and the selection of a brilliant gallery of pictures…This must rank as the most moving and comprehensive account of the great disaster ever published."—Los Angeles Times
"A fascinating book, and the pictures are magnificent."—Chicago Sunday Tribune
"The Earth Shook, The Sky Burned will make you quake in your boots. The extraordinary story that began on April 18, 1906, has never been told better than what you will find between these covers."—Michael McCone, Executive Director, The California Historical Society

LIFE GOES ON

Workingman’s family spreads bedding in Lobos Square. (Bear Photo Service)

THE rest of the nation had swung into action before the ashes had a chance to settle. Food, medicines, cots, and blankets were the vanguard of hundreds of tons of relief supplies that would pour into the City. In the matter of a handful of days $8 million had been raised to help San Francisco in the staggering task of starting anew. And in the months to follow, another million would be added to that. Never before had the American public responded as it did in 1906.

Harper’s Weekly said this in answer to those who might have wondered why the response had been so generous:

“It is because all warm-hearted Americans who have known her, or have read her history, have long looked upon San Francisco as Columbia’s most lovable and fairest child...the civilization evolved by the Argonauts...was so blithe, so jocund, so exhilarating; so naive in its exultation, so artless in the frank expression of its just and contagious complacency, that no warm-blooded visitor could find room in his soul for criticism, much less detraction, but felt a responsive shiver of admiration and affection...So when it came to pass that these men and women who seemed born for rejoicing were staggered all at once by an appalling cataclysm, is it any wonder that the nation’s heart was wrung?”

Sailors help relief officials hand out emergency supplies while the fire still rages. Orderly breadlines replaced scenes like this even before the fire had ended. Food was commandeered from wholesale and retail stocks, but before many days, ample supplies came into the City by rail to forestall any possibility of famine. (Edward Zelinsky)

Could Harper’s Weekly have been far wrong about a city where the people thronged to the only remaining theater—the Chutes out near Golden Gate Park at Tenth Avenue and Fulton Street—only eight days after the fire to see and hear and laugh at Orpheum performers in a show complete with trick cyclists, a blackface skit, and a one-act Carmen in memory of the last performance at the Opera House. A new march by E. M. Rosner called “Greater San Francisco” was dedicated to Mayor Schmitz and played for the first time at the same performance.

Could Harper’s Weekly have been far wrong when the world read Lillian Ferguson’s story in the Examiner, written the day after the fire ended?

“It was raining yesterday when I passed an Italian woman sitting on a pile of bricks that was once the home of a friend of mine. In her arms was a wailing infant.

‘No milk here since the earthquake scare me so hard, she explained in difficult English, pointing to her breast.

‘A fat, motherly young Irishwoman with a bouncing boy on her arm stopped on her weary journey to the ferry.

‘I’ve got enough for two,’ she laughed. ‘Give me the kid. There darling, take your dinner.’ And Italy drained the milk of human kindness from Erin’s fount.”

Aid from the coast cities arrived first—cars from Los Angeles, Seattle, Stockton, and Sacramento reached the City before the fire died out. From Vancouver to San Diego, food was on its way. Within the week, trains arrived from all over. Some of the boxcars carried signs:

“FOR THE CALIFORNIA SUFFERERS

FROM DENVER, COLORADO MORE TO FOLLOW”

“FROM BURLINGTON, IOWA”

“FROM BUFFALO, NEW YORK”

“FRESH MEAT FROM COALINGA”

A. R. Springer, chairman of Sacramento relief, arrived with a steamer and bargeload of provisions and the message that he was ready to carry refugees back to the capital city and then return with more supplies.

At the beginning, the Army handed out supplies with no a...

Table of contents

• Title page
• TABLE OF CONTENTS
• AUTHOR’S NOTES
• ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
• PROLOGUE: APRIL 17, 1906
• EARTH IN AGONY
• SKY ON FIRE
• THE LONG DAY: APRIL 19-21
• “THE DAMNDEST FINEST RUINS”
• LIFE GOES ON
• SWATH OF DESTRUCTION
• ROCKS AND HISTORY
• FROM THE ASHES
• EPILOGUE: SMALL SCARS AND MEMORIES
• REQUEST FROM THE PUBLISHER