Two weeks later, on our homeward journey, we passed through San Francisco and, hiring a carriage, spent an hour and a half in viewing the destruction wrought in that great city. Buildings that were thought to be proof against disaster were lying in ruins. In some instances buildings were partially sunken in the ground. The city presented a most dreadful picture of the inefficiency of human ingenuity to frame fireproof and earthquake-proof structures. {9T 94.5}

På hjemrejsen to uger senere kom vi igennem San Francisco. Vi lejede en vogn og tilbragte halvanden time med at betragte ødelæggelsen, (95) der var sket i denne store by. Bygningerne, man troende var sikret mod ødelæggelse, lå i ruiner. I nogle tilfælde var bygningerne delvis sunket i jorden. Byen fremviste et frygteligt billede på menneskets manglede evne til at opføre bygninger, der er sikre mod brand og jordskælv.