Lizzie Borden Society Forum

April 18 2006 will be the hundreth anniversary of this 1906 disaster.
Somewhat removed from 1892, unlike the Johnstown Flood of 1889.

Any interest in this?

RayS @ Wed Jan 11, 2006 8:36 pm wrote:April 18 2006 will be the hundreth anniversary of this 1906 disaster.
Somewhat removed from 1892, unlike the Johnstown Flood of 1889.

Any interest in this?

For me, a little bit. I'm writing a book on some tennis players who grew up in San Francisco. Don Budge, a top male tennis player, wrote in his biography that his mother had been a beautiful redhead but the day after the quake her beautiful red hair turned completely white. I wonder if that's really possible? I've heard of it happening but it seems so unreal.

Photographer Ansel Adams was a four year old boy when the quake hit. It knocked him off his feet and broke his nose. I wasn't alive then.

My Dad soaked his work pants in gasoline then put them in the washer. He was looking into the drum watching it fill with water when he saw a spark. My sisters said they saw him running out of the garage after the explosion with his black hair as white as snow. I guess it does happen.

The washer never worked right after that.

-1bigsteve (o:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/ansel/peop ... quake.html

Is this the source for the *earthquake nose*?

I'm trying to Google "Seabiscuit" because there was a link to live film of the quake's aftermath. Can't find it tho.
I was looking for Seabisquit after I read the wonderful book.

Kat @ Thu Jan 12, 2006 11:46 pm wrote:http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/ansel/peop ... quake.html

Is this the source for the *earthquake nose*?

I'm trying to Google "Seabiscuit" because there was a link to live film of the quake's aftermath. Can't find it tho.
I was looking for Seabisquit after I read the wonderful book.

I first heard of his mangled honk in his auto-bio. You might punch in "Seabiscuit" + "San Francisco" + "Earthquake" and see what google brings you, Kat. I just did and got all kinds of sites including "awesomestories.com/ movies/seabiscuit/seabiscuit".

My dad remembers Seabiscuit and I enjoyed the recent movie. Cool story.

-1bigsteve (o:

Do you happen to know if there is a mortality list from the quake in 1892? There is a family story that one of my great uncles died then. In 1896 his mother died and 3 sisters and a brother signed legal papers stating he had been missing 4 years, that he had not been heard from since then and was presumed dead. The family story was that he went out west to work with the railroad there.
Interestingly, I recently found a census record in San Francisco, 1920, that is the exact name and birthdate and birthplace as this great uncle who supposedly died in 1892. Hmmmmmm, have I dug up a family skelton??? Cheated out of his inheritance or for some reason a black sheep??? If I could find a mortality list and him on it, that would put these questions to rest...

I don't know much about the earthquakes in San Fran., Elizabeth, but there was a strong one on April 19, 1892 that destroyed many brick buildings. You might be able to find something at http://www.sfmuseum.org/alm/quakes2.html

They have a list of San Fran. quakes. You might go to google and punch in Earthquakes + 1892 + Mortality + "San Francisco" and see what you can find. Someone may even have the name of the man you are looking for.

-1bigsteve (o: