---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In San Francisco, two people actually saw…"
description: "\"“In San Francisco, two people actually saw the earthquake. Jesse Cook, the police sergeant on duty in the produce market, saw it a moment after he beca..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/800/gordon-thomas-85149_investing_in-san-francisco-two-people-actually-saw_691638.jpg"
---

#  In San Francisco, two people actually saw the earthquake…

![“In San Francisco, two people actually saw the earthquake. Jesse Cook, the police sergeant on duty in the produce market, saw it a moment after he became aware of panic among the horses all around him. Years later Cook recalled: “There was a deep rumble, deep and terrible, and then I could see it…” quote by Gordon Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/800/gordon-thomas-85149_investing_in-san-francisco-two-people-actually-saw_691638.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/800/gordon-thomas-85149_investing_in-san-francisco-two-people-actually-saw_691638.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/800/gordon-thomas-85149_investing_in-san-francisco-two-people-actually-saw_691638.jpg)

> ““In San Francisco, two people actually saw the earthquake. Jesse Cook, the police sergeant on duty in the produce market, saw it a moment after he became aware of panic among the horses all around him. Years later Cook recalled: “There was a deep rumble, deep and terrible, and then I could see it actually coming up Washington Street. The whole street was undulating. It was as if the waves of the ocean were coming towards me, billowing as they came.””

[Gordon Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-thomas/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A vivid eyewitness description of an earthquake’s physical sensations and the panic it caused.

**In simple terms:** Seeing the quake felt like ocean waves moving through the street.

Key Takeaway

Observe and trust your senses during crises.

Themes

earthquake panic observation

Mood

anxious dramatic

Type

narrative descriptive

When to use this quote

- disaster response
- emergency training
- city planning
- public safety

Key Concepts

seismic activity human perception urban chaos

Questions to Reflect On

- How do personal perceptions shape our understanding of natural disasters?
- What can authorities learn from such vivid descriptions?

A Different Perspective

Eyewitness accounts can be subjective and lack scientific measurement.

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## More by Gordon Thomas

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