San Francisco Mint After the Great Quake of 1906 1 1

[Mike Meenderink]

While damaged the mint escaped relatively unscathed. The surrounding area in the immediate area of the mint was completely destroyed by fire. The photos below are originals taken 2 days after the fires were extinguished. Many people died in this horrific disaster. The fires reached temperatures hot enough to melt steel and vitrify stone. It spread so quickly many had no chance of surviving and died in their homes in terror. 

On April 18, 1906, at 5:13 a.m., an earthquake estimated at close to 8.0 on the Richter scale strikes San Francisco, California, killing an estimated 3,000 people as it topples numerous buildings. The quake was caused by a slip of the San Andreas Fault over a segment about 275 miles long, and shock waves could be felt from southern Oregon down to Los Angeles.

San Francisco’s brick buildings and wooden Victorian structures were especially devastated. Fires immediately broke out and–because broken water mains prevented firefighters from stopping them–firestorms soon developed citywide. At 7 a.m., U.S. Army troops from Fort Mason reported to the Hall of Justice, and San Francisco Mayor E.E. Schmitz called for the enforcement of a dusk-to-dawn curfew and authorized soldiers to shoot to kill anyone found looting. Meanwhile, in the face of significant aftershocks, firefighters and U.S. troops fought desperately to control the ongoing fire, often dynamiting whole city blocks to create firewalls. On April 20, several thousands of refugees trapped by the massive fire were evacuated from the foot of Van Ness Avenue. The army would eventually house 20,000 refugees in more than 20 military-style tent camps across the city.

By April 23, most fires were extinguished, and authorities commenced the task of rebuilding the devastated metropolis. It was estimated that some 3,000 people died as a result of the Great San Francisco Earthquake and the devastating fires it inflicted upon the city. Almost 30,000 buildings were destroyed, including most of the city’s homes and nearly all the central business district.

 

Edited April 24 by Mike Meenderink

[Henri Charriere]

Most reasonable collectors can expect to hear absolutely ridiculous or outrageous comments from me from time to time.  With this post, I dare not disappoint them, particularly those who have me on"ignore" but are, nevertheless, intensely curious as to what I have to "say." Some of you who live on the West coast are familiar with unrelenting drought, the threatened survival of the Giant Sequoia trees, wildfires and the tsunami that slammed into Crescent City, CA., after an earthquake in Anchorage, AK in 1964 (not long after it became a state.)

As distinguished member zadok is sure to come across this comment, I should like to introduce briefly the topic of "atmospheric rivers" which the majority may memberd have only heard of, but Northern Californians have actually experienced. I do not wish to assign blame but merely advance a theory:  it is my contention that mega-tons of water emanating from the skies north and west of the state, saturate the ground and, with no place to go, sit atop unstable ground. With all that pressure bearing down on fault lines, including the SAN ANDREAS, it is my feeling something must give and, when it does, depending on evolving conditions underground, it would not be unreasonable to expect that the state, riddled with tectonic plates unused to accommodating sudden unyielding pressure from above, and with nowhere to go, will yield likely at a most inopportune time time. To my knowledge, this threat has not been acknowledged much less addressed.

Re Topic: great reminder some 118 years, after the fact. As Bob Hope would say, Thanks for the memories, Mike!  Great job!

Edited April 25 by Henri Charriere
Die polishing.