Emma Burke 1906 San Francisco Earthquake

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When one of the worst earthquakes ever hits the town of San Francisco panic ensues, but not for everyone. On April 18, 1906, at 5:15 am the city of San Francisco was demolished by a 7.8 magnitude earthquake which also led to many fires being started. There was $350m in estimated damages, and 400-750 people perished in the earthquake and fire. Around 490 city blocks were destroyed, causing 250,000 people to become homeless (A Brief Account, SF Tourism Tips). In the aftermath of the earthquake there were many eyewitness accounts written about it. The eyewitness account, “Comprehending the Calamity,” by Emma Burke and the eyewitness account,"Horrific Wreck of the City" by Fred Hewitt both describe the same event, but they both have very different …show more content…

Page 1 paragraph 2 of Fred Hewitt’s account states,“I was within a stone’s throw of that city hall when the hand of an avenging God fell upon San Francisco.” This is quote also relates to Emma Burke’s account, which on page 1 paragraph 2 states,”No one can comprehend the calamity to San Francisco in its entirety. The individual experience can probably give the general public the clearest idea.” These quotes show that Emma Burke and Fred Hewitt both experienced the San Francisco earthquake and were majorly affected by it because Emma Burke says that her individual experience can help people understand the earth quake, which means that she experienced the earthquake. Emma’s experience relates to Fred’s because he says that he was in San Fransisco when the earthquake hit. Page 1 paragraph 10 of the,”Horrific Wreck of the City,” states,”The first portion of that shock was just a mild forerunning of what was to follow. The pause in the action of the earth’s surface couldn’t have been more than a …show more content…

My first piece of evidence is from page 2 paragraph 9 of the,”Horrific Wreck of the City,” which states,” “The city is ablaze. We will all be burned. This must be the end of this wicked world. Welcome to the inferno.” Then on the other end, page 3 paragraph 3 of, ”Comprehending the Calamity,” states,”people with packs on their backs, and all so good- natured and ready for a smile! I never saw one person crying.” This shows that Emma and Fred have opposing opinions on the earthquake because, Fred is saying the world is ending and everyone will dies, which is a very negative outlook on the situation. But, Emma says that no one was crying and everyone was smiling. While Emma is optimistic Fred is pessimistic. Another piece of evidence on page 2 paragraph 8 of Fred Hewitt’s account states, ”Strong men bellowed like babies in their furor. All humanity within eyesight was suffering. No one knew which way to turn, when on all sides of them destruction stared them in the very eye.” But then page 4 paragraph 14 of Emma Burke’s account states,”The all-prevailing cheerfulness and helpfulness were encouraging signs of our progress in practicing the golden rule, and humanity’s struggle upward toward the example of our Savior.” So this further supports my point because Fred Hewitt talks about how even the strongest

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