★★★½
GENRE: History
SUBJECT: Earthquake, fires, early 20th century emergency support
Setting: San Francisco, CA
CHARACTERS: Enrico Caruso, John Barrymore, General Funston, Dennis Sullivan, Amadeo Giannani, Eugene Schmitz
DATE READ: December 1 - December 12
NO. OF PAGES: 256
Off the Shelf (pre-2013)? Source?: no, library
PLOT:....................................................................4.00
CHARACTERIZATION:.......................................3.00
TOPICS: ...............................................................3.50
STYLE:..................................................................4.00
ORIGINALITY:.......................................................3.00
ADDICTIVENESS:..............................................3.50
OWNERSHIP:......................................................3.50
Threshold Quality.................................................3.50
Average..............................................................................................3.50
In April 1906 just as Fire Chief Sullivan is ready to make a presentation asking for more modern equipment, a 8.3 earthquake rocks the area destroying the water main system. The fires which are results of the gas main ruptures rage out of control for days because there is no water to douse them.
The army was deployed to battle looting but often after the Mayor gave orders that anyone caught raiding could be shot, often place anyone in danger whether they were looting or not.
Numerous notable personages were in San Francisco at the time of the earthquake/fires - Enrico Caruso, John Barrymore, Del Crespi (future major league pitcher). The author took personal stories
This book really had my attention with the small stories telling of various survivors at the same time telling of the devastation - 135 aftershocks, 490 city blocks, 28,000 buildings were leveled.
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