San Francisco Is Burning: The Untold Story of the 1906 Earthquake and Fires

A detailed account of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake reveals how hasty and corrupt construction practices made the city more vulnerable to damage and relates the experiences of such survivors as a naval officer who helped save the city's piers and wharves, unscrupulous mayor Eugene Schmitz, and erudite city boss Abe Ruef. 100,000 first printing.