The San Francisco Earthquake: A Minute-by-Minute Account of the 1906 Disaster

Gordon Thomas presents a minute-by-minute account of the San Francisco earthquake that struck at 5:13 a.m. on April 18, 1906, drawing on eyewitness reports and historical documents. The earthquake remains one of the worst natural disasters in American history. Using previously unpublished documents from insurance companies, the military, and the Red Cross, along with firsthand accounts, the book examines how political powers attempted to conceal the extent of damage, how fire-containment efforts inadvertently spread the fire, and how the military executed people without trial. It includes personal stories from those who experienced the disaster, including tenor Enrico Caruso, banker Amadeo Giannini, writer Jack London, and actor John Barrymore, as well as accounts from thousands of ordinary people struggling to survive. The book offers perspective on how San Francisco has handled catastrophe in the past and how it may respond to future disasters.