The earth shook the sky burned Author:William Bronson At first it was a deep rumbling, like distant thunder, then a blast as deafening as an explosion. The streets undulated like waves on ocean, buildings shook to their foundations and tons of stone crashed to ground. The tremor lasted 65 seconds. Fire burned for four days. And when it died away old San Francisco was gone. It happened on a quiet mo... more »rning in 1906.« less