The San Francisco Calamity by Earthquake and Fire


Read by LibriVox Volunteers

(4.4 stars; 6 reviews)

The first half of this book describes the devastating earthquake that hit San Francisco in 1906, and the subsequent destruction caused by fire. Various eyewitnesses and victims give their account on the tragedy.

In the second half, a number of different other earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are retold, like the eruption of the Vesuvius that destroyed Pompeij or the explosion of the Krakatoa, together with scientific explanations for the causes of earthquakes and the eruption of volcanos. (Summary by Availle) (13 hr 45 min)

Chapters

Preface 8:46 Read by Availle
San Francisco and its Terrific Earthquake 45:34 Read by Bellona Times
The Demon of Fire Invades the Stricken City 31:36 Read by Kathleen Nelson
Fighting Flames with Dynamite 16:17 Read by Kathleen Nelson
The Reign of Destruction and Devastation 29:55 Read by Kathleen Nelson
The Panic Flight of a Homeless Host 28:17 Read by Kathleen Nelson
Facing Famine and Praying for Relief 32:56 Read by Kathleen Nelson
The Frightful Loss of Life and Wealth 19:14 Read by Kathleen Nelson
Wonderful Record of Thrilling Escapes 19:08 Read by Kathleen Nelson
Disaster Spreads over the Golden State 10:20 Read by Kathleen Nelson
All America and Canada to the Rescue 18:46 Read by Kathleen Nelson
The San Francisco of the Past 14:42 Read by Tom Crawford
Life in the Metropolis of the Pacific 12:10 Read by Tom Crawford
Plans to Rebuild San Francisco 19:21 Read by Tom Crawford
The Earthquake Wave Felt Around the World 10:02 Read by Bellona Times
Vesuvius Devastates the Region of Naples 35:49 Read by Ann Boulais
The Great Lisbon and Calabrian Earthquakes 21:02 Read by Ann Boulais
The Charleston and Other Earthquakes of the United States 15:28 Read by Ann Boulais
The Volcano and the Earthquake, Earth's Demons of Destruction 19:55 Read by Ann Boulais
The Theories of Volcanic and Earthquake Action 42:48 Read by Availle
The Active Volcanoes of the Earth 30:43 Read by Robert Parker
The Famous Vesuvius and the Destruction of Pompeii 36:40 Read by Kathleen Nelson
Eruptions of Vesuvius, Etna and Stromboli 37:58 Read by compozr
Skapter Jokull and Hecla, the Great Icelandic Volcanoes 16:41 Read by Availle
Volcanoes of the Philippines and other Pacific Islands 33:49 Read by Laine S.
The Wonderful Hawaiian Craters and Kilauea's Lake of Fire 30:08 Read by Laine S.
Popocatepetl and Other Volcanoes of Mexico and Central America 15:39 Read by TriciaG
The Terrible Eruption of Krakatoa 33:08 Read by Kathleen Nelson
Mount Pelee and its Harvest of Death in 1902 - Part ONE 34:13 Read by compozr
Mount Pelee and its Harvest of Death in 1902 - Part TWO 26:27 Read by compozr
St. Vincent Island and Mont Soufriere in 1812 20:43 Read by Guero
Submarine Volcanoes and their Work of Island Building 20:34 Read by Availle
Mud Volcanoes, Geysers and Hot Springs 36:46 Read by Denny Sayers (d. 2015)

Reviews

Really two books connected together


(4 stars)

The first half of this book is a reaction, about two weeks following the San Francisco earthquake. The second half is a history of global vulcanism and other geothermal events. The two don't seem to have much to do with each other, IMO, although each is interesting on its own.

yowza manzino (i.e. Great)


(4 stars)

I'm sure I've listened to more than 100 books on this site, & many chapters of this book are easily the most incredible & fascinating of all I've heard. HOWEVER, some of the San Fran chapters are the opposite, so much so, I fast forwarded thru them.