Stories of disasters in North America, mostly in the United States, in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Includes accounts of the Galveston flood, eruption of Mt. Pelée, the capsizing of the Eastland, San Francisco earthquake, Triangle Shirtwaist fire, explosion of the Mont Blanc, the Spanish influenza, and the Dust Bowl.

Fire in the forest --Born of battle -- Hell and high water -- Death beats its wings -- City of the sands -- Last days of St. Pierre -- Tale of two pleasure craft -- Terra infirma -- Depths of the earth -- Burnt sacrifice -- Windows of heaven -- The giant named t.n.t. -- Invisible enemy -- The whirlwind's reaping -- In strange guises -- Eye of the hurricane -- The dead hand of drought -- Dawn of a desert -- Shafts of irony -- Father of waters.