1906 San Francisco Earthquake | The Last Stand | 3

American History Tellers

Wondery

Society & Culture, Kids & Family, History, Education For Kids

4.7 • 18.3K Ratings

🗓️ 8 November 2023

⏱️ 45 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In the wake of a devastating earthquake that rocked the city of San Francisco, thousands of people were left homeless. The military set up temporary camps in western parts of the city to house the destitute, as far as possible from the fires continuing to rage downtown.

But chaos continued to rule. Overzealous National Guard troops on the lookout for troublemakers shot innocent people attempting to scavenge much needed food and water. Army troops rousted people trying to save their homes from the fires, determined to dynamite any building they could to halt the blazes.

By the time a soft rain extinguished the final flames, the devastation to San Francisco was immeasurable.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Wonder. Imagine it's just past midnight on April 22nd, 1906, more than three days after a devastating
0:20.4	earthquake brought chaos to San Francisco streets.
0:23.7	You're a relief worker with the Red Cross, and since the quake you and your friend have been using
0:28.2	his automobile to transport injured victims to and from makeshift hospitals and shelters.
0:33.0	Your friend Heber Tilden is a well-like merchant who owns a produce market on Sacramento Street.
0:38.5	And tonight you and Tilden are driving back into the city after a brief visit with its family.
0:44.8	It's late, but you're heading to a field hospital anyway to help transport more wounded citizens.
0:50.2	Passing through the Mission District, a large red cross flag flying from a pole on Tilden's car.
0:56.0	As you approach, three men standing at the intersection of 24th and Guerrero streets,
1:01.0	they hold up their hands ordering you to halt.
1:04.0	Hilden slows down and points at the Red Cross flag.
1:07.2	The men look at each other, then step out of the road and wave you through.
1:10.8	You glance over at Tilden as he speeds on.
1:13.0	Who are those guys, you suppose?
1:15.0	They didn't look like cops or soldiers.
1:16.0	I didn't see any uniforms.
1:18.0	Probably part of the so-called citizens patrol.
1:20.0	You know, the mayor's idea to turn regular Joes into police at least they recognize the flag
1:25.9	A few intersections later. There's another roadblock and again three men in plain clothes stand in the street waving their arms.
1:34.0	Ah, another one.
1:35.0	Looks like these guys are armed.
1:37.0	Well, I'm not stopping. I've got to get to the field hospital.
	...

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