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sitting on the grass, eating lunches, or starting out across the sea to the west.  Some men had telescopes and it was one of these who suddenly shouted, "They're coming in!" Everyone jumped to his feet to look.  A few moments later we could see the smoke on the horizon and then, one by one, the warships came into view, sailing majestically toward the Golden Gate.  As they passed, everyone began cheering.  Men threw their hats in the air.  I remember the flags and pennons gleaming in the bright sunshine.  It was an incredible sight, so many great ships passing beneath us.  I felt a surge of pride, perhaps for the wrong reasons, but it must be remembered that that was the era of "gunboat diplomach" and a nation's greatness was largely measured in terms of its military strength.

From the heights, we could see the skyline of San Francisco and I tried to picture what it must have been like in the city on the day of the earthquake.  I shall never forget that awful morning.

To me, an earthquake is the most terrifying of