...destruction of the very heart of the city. Dynamite u'as lavishly used, and many of San I'rancisco 's proudest structures were crumbled by man himself into...there was no withstanding the onrush of the flames. — Jack London, "Jack London's Eyewitness Account." Collier's they knew the Van Ness Avenue dynamiting...

...the suck. Wednesday night saw the destruction of the very heart of the city. Dynamite was lavishly used, and many of San Francisco's proudest structures...successful stands were made by the fire-fighters, but every time the flames flanked around on either side, or came up from the rear, and turned to defeat...