Galveston

“We need to get some men out here to fix the darn holes and hollows in the road, or they’ll just get worse,” Father said to Doc when he arrived at breakfast the following morning after bringing Suzanna home. I’m sure the thin walls did not shield her from his booming voice, even with all Mother’s shushing.

“Yes, but I’m sure it will be a while before that can happen,” Doc said. “With all the destruction, people are cleaning up their places.”

Not a day goes by that I don’t hear that constant hammerin’. It’s like an enormous flock of woodpeckers came in and are peckin’ from early morning to late at night.” Mother said. “I want my peace and quiet back again.”

“Not likely to get that back, Bess. You realize you live in town and couldn’t get away from the noise unless you move out to the country. Then you’d have to contend with the insects and animals and such. They’re pretty noisy too.”

“Doc’s right,” Father said. “There’s gonna be more and more of that as the town grows, what with the automobiles and who knows what other inventions they’ll come up with.”

“Sure enough. How’s Suzanna this morning?” Doc took a sip of coffee. “She’s got a long journey, but she’ll improve now that she’s home.” I followed them into our room.

“Good morning, Doc.”

“Were you still asleep, Suzanna?”

“Who could sleep with Father out there bellowing?”

Doc chuckled.

“I feel better, definitely better this morning. It’s good to be home.”

Doc examined her. “You’re looking healthy.”

“I’ll be comin’ every few days to see you. You can use the crutches, but I expect you won’t be up to it for a while.”

Mother had sent me down to the root cellar to get some peaches. I brought up two jars and placed them on the countertop.They sat in a ray of sun and were so bright and cheerful sitting there, I could almost smell them. My tummy grumbled.

“I know it ain’t much, but take these to Marilyn and tell her not to be a stranger.”

My mouth watered. I kept myself from objecting, but I couldn’t believe she gave him both jars. I was already tasting those peaches.

➰

Several days later, Suzanna begged Father to help her get into the kitchen. She ached to sit at the table with us. The crutches were propped up beside her. Señor Abel dropped by that day.

“I’ve come to deliver the newspaper’s first edition after the storm,” Señor Abel said proudly. “Suzanna, look at you, up and about!”

She nodded.

“It took us almost four weeks to get the shop running, but we finally ran copy last night.”

“Sit down, Abel. Let me get you a cup of coffee,” Mother said. “We’re eager to hear the news.”

He smiled. “You and your family are the news.” Unfurling the paper, he placed it before us on the kitchen table. The headlines stood out.

Storm Destroys Parts of Our Town — Girl Rescued — Cattle Horn Diner Lost

Devastation In Galveston: Thousands Die, Unimaginable Damage to the City

Mother’s face paled. “My uncle is the Mayor of Galveston, I wonder how he and his family are,” she said. “I’ll write them a letter. Is the post goin’ through?”

“Si, I believe it is, Mother Bess. They’ve just started it up again,” he answered.

“I haven’t asked you. Abel, how did you find your shop?”

“Well, we had about two feet of mud to clean out once the water dropped,” he said. “Mud clogged my press, most of my typeset was lost, and all the paper was ruined. The boys and I worked day and night cleaning out the muck, but in the end, the press couldn’t be repaired. So I went to Austin, and when I told them our story, they sold me a brand new Franklin Press and a new telegraph at a bargain. They even said I could pay in portions, seein’ as how the flood affected us. We brought them in the wagon, since the train wasn’t fully running yet. We got it all set up a couple of days ago.”

I opened the newspaper, immediately aware of the bitter scent of fresh ink and newsprint. I browsed the articles. The story about our rescue took up most of the front page. I touched Suzanna’s hand, and she leaned over the paper.

Our Heroes

People show astounding bravery in extraordinary times. Our town proudly celebrates two such men in our community. Frank T. Wilson and James E. Graves showed total disregard for their own lives to rescue Suzanna Hale, the daughter of Joe and Bess Hale, owners of the shattered Cattle Horn Diner.

The article described all the happenings and details of the storm’s destruction, including Father Suzanna’s rescue, and how the mighty oak fell, destroying the diner. It went on to include a short story about poor Mr. Hopper, who was never found.

“How embarrassing, most of it was about me!” Suzanna exclaimed.

When Señor Abel got up to leave, we all thanked him for his family’s help during this tragic time.

“You and your boys are heroes too, Abel,” Father said. “We’re blessed to be surrounded by such daring men and women. I am grateful, God willing, we will recover our losses.”

“You’re a loyal friend, Abel,” Father clasped his hand.

➰

“Reports from September 30, 1900,” Mother spread the Gonzalez News wide and read out loud. “As reported in the El Paso Daily Herald, there were horrible stories that no tongue should have to tell. The destruction in Galveston was the most terrible disaster in American history. That says a lot, doesn’t it? Eight to twelve feet of water hit the coastline. My goodness.” She whistled low under her breath. “Six thousand to twelve thousand souls were reported lost, and seven thousand buildings were damaged. It left ten thousand people without a home.”

Mother put the paper down on the table. Her upper lip trembled, and she closed her eyes. “Can you imagine?”

“There was no mention of my uncle. I suppose everything is a mess down there, and they know little about nothing.”

Miss Marilyn came to call the following day. She brought a box of black-and-whites.

“Thank you, Miss Marilyn.” My sister and I each took a cookie.

Which side do you like best, Suzanna?”

“I like the chocolate.”

“Me too.”

“How are you feeling, Suzanna? Doc tells me you’re using the crutches, and your sister is helping you get around a bit.”

“Yes, ma’am. Ruth has been very attentive. Mother says I can start doing schoolwork again soon since I am taking less of that medicine.”

“Sit, I’ll put on the kettle,” Mother said. I’m so glad to see you.”

“That would be right nice,” Miss Marilyn said as she took a seat next to me.

“Bess, tell me about your uncle. Have you heard any news?”

“Well, Uncle George and his wife, Emily, have four children. I’m desperately concerned about them. I wrote a letter, but there’s been no news. I have half a mind to go down there and find them myself, but I need to stay here and take care of my family.”

“Oh, Bess, I wish there were something we could do.”

“My dear Miss Marilyn, you have done so much for this family. I don’t know how we’ll ever repay you and Doc.”

“Do I remember correctly that you used to live with your uncle’s family, Bess?”

“Yes, before I married, and he’s why I met Joe—in a roundabout way.”

“The summer before we met, I lived with them. My uncle has a fancy home in Galveston.” She put a finger to her cheek. “As I remember, it was on higher ground. I hope it survived. They gave me a room of my own while I was staying there. The house was well-appointed, everything in its place, and the staff kept it spotless.” She stirred her tea.

“It sounds lovely,” Miss Marilyn said.

“Uncle George was tall and sported a dark handlebar mustache—it must be gray by now. He had a square face and chin. Handsome, I’d say, although I haven’t seen him for years now.”

“What was he like?” Miss Marilyn asked.

Mother rubbed her neck, folded her hands in her lap, and took a breath.

“Where to start? I’d say he was peculiar. He’d get up every morning, take his constitutional, and then have breakfast. His gold watch hung on a chain that wound around his belly and tucked neatly into his vest pocket. I remember he checked the time every few minutes. He despised anyone being late and wouldn’t tolerate it in himself.” She cleared her throat. “My aunt would call us down from our rooms before he returned from his walk. God forbid, if we were late at the table, we were excused and went without. He was adamant.”

“Oh…h, even the children?” Miss Marilyn asked. “He sounds formidable.”

“Aunt Emily kept the table somber. There was no talking. It was like a funeral parlor. He wouldn’t excuse us until he finished his paper.”

“Why did you stay there, Mother?” I asked.

“He had a soft side, and he took care of his family. Besides, I didn’t think I had anywhere else to go. Your grandmother sent me there when she moved back to Europe after my father died. My sister Catherine, who was quite a bit older, was left here in Gonzales with some family friends.”

Mother got up and retrieved the boiling teakettle. She poured a cup for Miss Marilyn and herself.

“My mother wanted me to be exposed to the finer ways of life. She thought I might find a beau there. Little did she know I’d marry Joe instead of some highfalutin society man.”

“How did you meet Father?” Ruth asked.

“My uncle was a social climber in those days.” She wrinkled her nose as if she smelled something gone rotten. “There were gay parties, and they hoped to marry me off to some lawyer, banker, or wealthy businessman.”

“Oh, Mother, how romantic,” I said.

Suzanna rolled her eyes.

“They hired a seamstress for me. She sewed beautiful dresses with beaded skirts and intricate French lace around the necklines. There was a taffeta jacket with leg-o-mutton sleeves that were all the rage. I still have the clothes in the back of my wardrobe. I’d worn nothin’ so fine, and I guess I ain’t worn anything like that since.”

Her eyes twinkled at the memory.

“Would you show them to me sometime?” I asked.

“I suppose someday,” Mother said. “They’re packed in mothballs.”

“Please, Mother, tell how you met Father?” Suzanna asked.

“The first few parties were fun, but then I tired of them. I would rather have been in the garden or the kitchen. I was shy and would sneak out of the socials to stroll the grounds. Our corsets were so tight and uncomfortable that I felt like I couldn’t breathe. It was hot and stuffy, and the suitors expected me to act as if I didn’t have a brain in my head. The gatherings became unbearable for me.”

“You could have had a perfectly wonderful time.” I said twirling around the room.

“Ruth, you are a true dreamer. How come you don’t have a sensible bone in your body, and you–being from this family? I don’t know.” Mother said. “Suzanna, I still can’t fathom why you followed her out into the storm.”

Well, we knew where Mother stood on that account. I expected more punishment to come, and plopped down to listen.

Mother shook her head. “You asked how I met your father. During one especially warm evening soiree, I longed to leave the room when I heard my uncle say, ‘Now, where did Bess go? Charles White is looking for her.’” Mother sighed and shook her head. “What a nightmare! I couldn’t imagine spending another evening with Charles. He was a dull, old, and a widowed banker to boot. A long nose and already going bald.”

Mother blushed, and we laughed.

“Every time I saw him, he bragged about how much money he had. So when I heard he was looking for me, I sidestepped quickly out the French doors. I spent the evening among the oak trees that bordered the property, watching falling stars in the sky. I made my decision to leave that night.”

“But who would you stay with Mother?” Suzanna asked.

“You know, girls, it wasn’t the place for me. But it served a purpose. I realized it didn’t fit me to stay there, so I told them I missed my sister, which wasn’t far from the truth. They sent me home shortly after that.”

“You stayed a time with Catherine’s friends, didn’t you?” Miss Marilyn asked. “I believe I remember that.”

“Yes.”

“Here in Gonzalez, that’s when you met your Joe at a country dance. We all know the result of that.”

“That’s it?” I asked.

“Afraid it is. We didn’t have a long courtship. We got married at the church, just Joe’s folks, my sister, and the preacher. Catherine moved to Chicago to live with our mother’s sister after we married. Then we opened the diner, and that was that.”

Within a week, the postman brought the letter Mother had been waiting for.

September 24, 1900

George Washington Grover Estate

1520 Market Ave. Galveston, Texas

Dearest Niece Bess and family,

Here in Galveston, we are grieving the loss of many of our cherished friends. The destruction has been unprecedented. By the grace of God, our family came out of it unscathed. Emily, your cousins, and our grandchildren are well. Still, we are emotionally drained by the treacherous scenes we come upon in the city. Emily volunteers in the hospital and clinics, tending to the wounded. I help by searching for the dead that lie among the tattered buildings. It is as if the devil himself visited our door. The stench and illness are overwhelming. Thankfully, the ocean breezes blow the odor away, letting us rest from it occasionally.

Our dear friend, Mr. Issac Cline, came by the house on Sunday morning to warn of the impending tragedy. He saved us. He himself almost drowned. His wife, Cora, who was with child. was hiding in the attic. When the water reached her, she crawled to the roof through the dormer, where she gave birth to their little girl, Allison Hope. The story gives us all hope in these bleak times.

Our home survived with only minor damage. I received your letter and am glad to hear that there was no more loss of life in your area. Poor little Suzanna, I hope she will recover in her entirety. It sounds like you all have an excellent doctor in those parts, and he is taking good care of your dear daughter.

We are sorry to hear about the loss of the Cattle Horn. As you mentioned in your correspondence, it may be time for you all to move. But don’t come this way. There’s nothing left of our beloved city.

Kind regards,

Your loving uncle,

George Washington Grover and family

Later that evening, I listened from my bed as Father and Mother sat at the kitchen table talking in the late-night silence. “It sounds just awful. You know, I was talking to the men at the feed store, and everybody has a horrific story about Galveston.”

“Do you want some more tea, Joe?”

“No, thank you. Many of the elegant mansions, your uncle’s mercantile, and basically all the city of Galveston was flattened. It was just terrible.”

“Do you think I should go help my family?”

“I know you well enough to know you want to do that. You’ve been busier than a moth in a mitten, what with Suzanna, Ruth, and me. You’d better stay home and take care of what we have here. It is not the time to go down there. I can’t have you gettin’ sick.”

Father coughed for a long time. I imagined him holding his side. It hurt him every time he coughed or sneezed. He would hold his side until his coughing fit was over.

“They’re saying this has been the most deadly storm ever, and I believe it to be true,” Father said. “Thank the good and great Lord for letting us live; it could’ve been so much worse.”

“I am so glad you survived. What would I do without you?” Mother asked.

“You know, Bess, I’ve been thinkin’ about what you said the other day. It’s too noisy here in town. I figure maybe you’re right,” Father said. “With the Cattle Horn gone, we should move out to the country. The boys at the store say there’s good money in cotton. Maybe we should get us a farm.”