APRIL 18, 2014, 5:12 am

AT THIS VERY MOMENT, AS I SIT AND WRITE, 108 years ago the earth beneath San Francisco shook with a ferocity that no living person could recall ever occurring before. The earthquake was not "great" by recent standards, 7.8 on the Richter Scale but in a city that knew nothing of seismic engineering standards, built on hills, and sand, and fill, it was devastating. A strong foreshock preceded the main shock by about 20 to 25 seconds. The strong shaking of the main shock lasted about 42 seconds. Within a short while, fires began, which joined together and became unstoppable until they reached Van Ness Avenue some days later, leaving San Francisco a pile of ashes and rubble. 3,000 people died.

At this very moment, a gathering is taking place at Lotta's Fountain, at the corners of Geary Street, Kearny, and Market Streets. It's an annual affair since 1907. In 1906, it was the place where people gathered together for news and to get water - fed by one of the few water mains that had not ruptured.

It used to be that survivors of the quake would gather there in memorial for the dead and in celebration for the people and the city that survived and rose from the ashes. Now there are but two survivors remaining, too old to make the journey to the fountain, but San Francisco remembers that day, almost as if it were yesterday, and celebrates them and the City by the Bay.