The Story of an Eyewitness


 On April 18,1906 , San Francisco was wrecked by a powerful earthquake and for the next few days was consumed by fires that destroyed a large portion of the city. Jack London writes a hair-raising description of the San Francisco earthquake of 1906. The earthquake destroyed many buildings and also started fires. The fires spread quickly throughout the city. The fires lasted two days, Wednesday morning until Thursday night. The fires destroyed almost all of the buildings, hotels, stores, and houses in San Francisco. People tried to leave the city with all of their belongings. San Francisco has many steep hills. People tried to make it up the hills with all of their belongings. They had a hard time carrying their things up the hill so they ended up leaving most of it behind. Many people became homeless. The United States Government tried to help these people. Business men and bankers started to rebuild the city of San Francisco.Jack London, a reporter for Collier's Magazine, gives a firsthand account of the devastating 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire. He observes the spreading disaster as he travels the city mostly on foot. London sees and interacts with the residents and firefighters desperately struggling to salvage their city. He uses grippingly vivid imagery to take readers right into the roaring furnace and help them witness the overwhelming destruction it caused. Told in linked vignettes, the account follows the fire through its two-day journey and offers a small kernel of hope as it closes.