THlE OUTBREAK OF THE FIRE



crossed the city that the water supply could not be utilized
that the fear of colossal disaster shook the town. The earth-
quake occurred on Wednesday, April 18. Two hours later
three stubborn fires were raging in the business section of
the city. On the hills, commanding a view of the lower city,
thousands and thousands gathered to witness the beginnings
of the gigantic conflagration that lasted three days. It was
indeed a beautiful sight-for those whose delight in the
esthetic can rise superior to temporal miseries.
    The smoke of San Francisco's burning was a lurid tower
visible a hundred miles away. And for three days and nights
this lurid tower swayed in the sky, reddening the sun, dark-
ening the day, and filling the land with smoke. In a dozen
different quarters south of Market Street, in the tenement
district, and among the factories, fires started. There was
no opposing the flames. There was no organization, no com-
munication.  All the cunning adjustments of a twentieth
century city had been smashed by the earthquake.    The
streets were humped into ridges and depressions, and piled
with the d6bris of fallen walls. The steel rails were twisted
into perpendicular and horizontal angles. The telephone and
telegraph systems were disrupted.  And the great water-
mains had burst.   All the shrewd contrivances and safe-
guards of man had been thrown out of gear by thirty sec-
onds' twitching of the earth-crust.
   "By Wednesday afternoon," says Mr. London, "inside of
twelve hours, half the heart of the city was gone. At that
time I watched the vast conflagration from out on the bay.
It was dead calm. Not a flicker of wind stirred. Yet from
every side wind was pouring in upon the city. East, west,
north, and south, strong winds were blowing upon the doomed
city. The heated air rising made an enormous suck. Thus
did the fire of itself build its own colossal chimney through
the atmosphere. Day and night this dead calm continued,
                          1350



1906