Emma Burke 1906 Analysis

In 1906, an earthquake hit San Francisco, California. More than 3,000 people died. The earthquake that hit San Francisco was one of the largest earthquakes in northern California. It struck the coast of Northern California. "Horrific Wreck of the City" by Fred Hewitt and “Comprehending the Calamity:” by Emma Burke are both about the same thing but the two authors opinion on how this disaster affected people are completely different.

“Comprehending the Calamity” by Emma Burke and “Horrific Wreck of the City” by Fred Hewitt are two historical articles that both describe the destruction of the San Francisco earthquake in 1906 and how it affected the people. Hewitt says on page 1, “No pen can record the sufferings of those who were crushed to death or buried in the ruins that encompassed them in an instant after 5:13 o’clock Wednesday morning.” Likewise, Emma Burke says on page 2, “The fallen chimneys had torn through the ceilings into two of our rooms; the flat tin roof had thus been bent down, and now acted as a funnel. We heard an ominous drip, drip, and then a steady splash.” These pieces of evidence show both of the authors believe that this horrible earthquake destructed the city of San Francisco. Emma Burke says on page 2, “I was one of the fortunate ones, for neither personal injury nor death visited my household; but what I saw and felt I will try to give to you.” Likewise, Hewitt says on page 2, “...Sufferings of those who were crushed to death...” These

But the authors have different views on how the earthquake affected people and what it made people do. Emma burke has a very optimist thought about the earthquake whereas Fred Hewitt has a pessimistic view on the earthquake. But overall, both authors are describing the horrible tragedy of