Gray Letters 1906 11 24

The letter, dated 24 November 1906, is an account by Theodore Gray detailing his experiences in San Francisco during the catastrophic earthquake on April 18, 1906. In it, he describes the unexpected nature of the event, the time it occurred early in the morning, and the immense impact it had on the city. Gray mentions the initial shock at a quarter past five, highlighting how the light was just enough for people to see, but too early for the streets to be crowded, suggesting that if the earthquake had occurred later, the devastation would have been far worse. He reflects on the remarkable weather and the city's fast-paced life, and considers the potential for increased chaos and destruction if the earthquake had happened during the night, when artificial lights could have sparked additional fires.