Hurricane Heroes in Texas Page 2

  “No, we’re tourists from Pennsylvania,” said Annie.

  “Well, welcome to Galveston!” said the woman.

  “Thanks!” said Annie. She turned back to Jack. “One question answered.”

  “Good, but we have more,” he said. He pulled out their Texas book and read softly to Annie:

  By the end of the 1800s, many considered the island city of Galveston to be the leading city in Texas. Its port was filled with ships. Its hotels and restaurants were filled with tourists. Its neighborhoods had nice homes and schools. The city seemed to have everything.

  “Sounds like a great place,” said Annie.

  Jack kept reading:

  But one day, all that changed.

  “Uh-oh,” said Annie.

  Jack read on:

  On September 8, 1900, Galveston suffered the worst natural disaster in U.S. history. A deadly storm, later known as the Great Galveston Hurricane, swept across the island.

  “Oh, man,” said Jack. A scary thought came to him. His heart started to pound. “What’s today’s date?” he asked.

  Annie turned back to the couple. “Excuse me again, do you know today’s date?” she asked.

  “September eighth,” the woman said with a friendly smile.

  “Nineteen-hundred?” Jack asked.

  “Why, yes. You didn’t know that?” the woman asked.

  Jack just shrugged. His mouth was suddenly so dry, he could hardly speak. He looked back at Annie. Her eyes were huge.

  “We got here just in time,” Annie whispered.

  “Right,” said Jack. “For the worst natural disaster in U.S. history.”

  “It doesn’t look like a day for a huge disaster,” said Annie.

  Outside the café, people were clinging to their windblown umbrellas. But no one looked scared. Some even laughed as a man chased his cowboy hat down the sidewalk.

  At the café counter, a policeman was eating a sandwich and joking with a waitress. He didn’t seem worried. No one seemed worried! Customers were cheerfully chatting with each other or reading newspapers.

  “What does the newspaper say?” asked Annie.

  “I’ll check,” said Jack. He jumped up and grabbed a copy of the Galveston Daily News from an empty table. He sat back down and scanned the front page. Near the bottom was a small headline:

  STORM IN THE GULF

  “Listen!” Jack said to Annie. He read aloud:

  The awaited Gulf storm has moved north over Cuba. The weather bureau reports no new information about the storm’s movements. Most likely, it changed course before reaching Texas.

  Jack put down the paper. “That’s so wrong,” he said. “It’s heading straight for Galveston.”

  “I don’t get it,” said Annie. “Why doesn’t the weather bureau know that a terrible hurricane is coming?”

  “I guess because in 1900, they didn’t have radar or satellites,” said Jack. “They didn’t have computers or TV or weather apps or—”

  “Okay. Got it,” said Annie.

  Jack picked up their book again. His heart was racing as he read aloud:

  On September 8, Galveston was completely unprepared for a terrible hurricane. For eight hours, raging winds and water rushed across the island. Thousands of lives were lost in the storm surge.

  “Thousands of lives? That’s terrible!” said Annie. “What’s a storm surge?”

  “It’s when high winds push the ocean water over land,” Jack said. He kept reading:

  Seawater from both the Gulf and the bay covered the whole island. Those who fled to higher ground had a better chance of surviving. Many found safety in tall, sturdy buildings, such as the Tremont House hotel and the Ursuline Academy.

  “Morgan’s message makes perfect sense now,” said Annie. “We have to help people. We literally have to tell them to ‘seek high ground now’ and ‘do not delay!’ ”

  She turned back to the elderly couple at the next table.

  “Excuse me, but we have information that a powerful hurricane is coming here today,” she said. “Everyone needs to seek high ground.”

  “Or go to the Tremont House,” Jack said. “Or the Ursuline Academy.”

  The woman smiled at them. “You’re both so sweet wanting to help everyone. We’re expecting a bad storm, but not a hurricane,” she said.

  “She’s right,” the man said. “And we’re used to bad storms here. That’s why many of our houses are raised up on pillars. It keeps the floodwaters from coming in.”

  Jack just nodded. “Okay. Thanks,” he said. He didn’t know what else to do. He couldn’t show them a book from the future!

  “Jack, we have to tell someone in charge,” Annie said. “How about that policeman? He should be the one to warn everyone.”

  “Okay,” said Jack.

  Jack put their Texas book into his knapsack. Annie grabbed their umbrella. They hurried over to the policeman.

  “Excuse me, sir,” said Annie. “We have reliable information that Galveston is about to have the worst natural disaster in U.S. history.”

  “That’s right, sir,” said Jack, trying to sound calm. “Everyone needs to seek higher ground or find shelter in tall, sturdy buildings.”

  The jolly-looking policeman grinned. “And where did you kids get your information?” he said.

  “Uh…someone told us,” said Jack. “Someone really smart.”

  “Well, shame on them for scaring you,” the policeman said. “I spoke to our local weatherman this morning. He said we’re going to have strong winds and some bad rain, but nothing more.”

  “But he’s wrong, sir,” said Annie. “We’re telling you the facts.”

  “I don’t want you to worry, little girl,” the policeman said kindly. “Why don’t you go have fun with all the young folks down on the Strand? They’re having a grand time watching the big waves roll in. I was just down there.”

  Annie whirled back to Jack. “The Strand!” she said. “That’s the lowest ground!”

  “Oh, no!” said Jack. “We have to warn them!”

  “Thanks for the tip,” Annie said to the policeman. Then she and Jack raced out into the driving rain.

  Water was rushing down the sidewalk. Jack struggled to open their huge umbrella. But the wind yanked it from his hands and carried it down the block.

  “Oh, no! There goes the umbrella!” said Jack.

  “That’s okay,” said Annie. “We’re already soaking wet anyway!”

  With the rain pounding them, Jack and Annie started down 25th Street toward the Strand.

  “The storm’s getting bad!” shouted Annie.

  “And it’s going to get a lot worse!” said Jack.

  The wind pushed them down the street to the waterfront.

  Clam shacks, candy stores, and gift shops lined the boardwalk along the Strand. A crowd of sightseers, young and old, stood on the beach, cheering the huge waves.

  The waves hit a long pier, and seawater shot into the air. The water splashed against the bathhouses on the pier, where swimmers changed their clothes in sunny weather.

  Annie and Jack dashed across the Strand to the beach.

  “Listen, everyone!” shouted Annie. “You’re all in danger! A huge storm surge is coming! Leave the beach!”

  “Run to high ground!” shouted Jack. “Now! Now!”

  “Uptown!” yelled Annie. “Go uptown! Now!”

  Jack and Annie both yelled as loudly as they could. But no one seemed to hear them over the roar of the waves.

  Jack moved closer to the crowd. “Listen! Listen, everyone!” he yelled. “A terrible storm is coming! The worst natural disaster in U.S. history!”

  “Jack!” Annie screamed. “Jack, look! The storm surge!”

  Jack turned around. Out at sea, the w
aves were gigantic! The storm surge had begun!

  The giant waves slammed over the pier. They completely destroyed the bathhouses. Their broken wooden planks crashed into the sea.

  The people on the beach screamed. They tried to flee from the incoming waves.

  Jack and Annie ran with the crowd of people across the Strand to the boardwalk.

  The surging waves rolled after them. Seawater swept over the beach and across the Strand. It covered the boardwalk and flooded the shops.

  Jack and Annie began wading with the crowd up 25th Street. The water was knee-deep and rising fast.

  People rushed out of flooded stores and houses. They carried pets, children, and suitcases. They joined the others heading toward higher ground.

  Jack saw a toddler slip from a man’s shoulders into the churning seawater.

  Jack grabbed the boy and pulled him out of the water.

  “Thank you!” the boy’s father cried. “Are you alone? Do you need help?”

  “No thanks!” shouted Jack.

  “Buddy! Bailey!” a girl screamed. Her two small dogs had slipped out of a basket.

  Jack and Annie scooped up the dogs before the water could sweep them away. They carried them back to the girl.

  “Thank you!” she cried as they handed her the trembling dogs.

  “Help!” someone yelled.

  An old man was clinging to a lamppost, fighting the wind. Jack and Annie each put an arm around him. He pointed to a young woman, and Jack and Annie helped him wade through the water to her.

  “Thank you!” the woman yelled. “Do you need help?”

  “We’re fine!” said Annie.

  Jack and Annie forged on through the wind, rain, and rising seawater, helping anyone they could. Roof shingles and tiles flew off houses. Shutters flew off windows.

  A fierce gust of wind knocked Jack and Annie over. They fell into the floodwater. They struggled to get back on their feet. They fell again. They got up again.

  They used all their strength to keep moving. The street was like a river now. The seawater was above their waists—and still rising!

  “Avenue L!” shouted Jack, pointing at a sign. “That’s where the tree house is! It’s a safe place to be for now.”

  “Okay!” said Annie. “We can climb up and figure out how to be more helpful.”

  As others kept moving up 25th Street, Jack and Annie turned onto Avenue L. The avenue was flooded now, too. They pushed past barrels, boards, and branches. Wreckage floated everywhere.

  “There’s the fence!” said Annie.

  The top of the iron fence barely showed above the floodwater. The blue house was still standing. The tree house was still in the oak tree.

  Jack and Annie hauled themselves over the iron fence and swam toward the oak. They grabbed low branches and clung to them. Jack looked around. The rope ladder was missing!

  “It’s up there!” said Annie.

  The wind had blown the ladder over a branch. It was much too high to reach.

  As Jack and Annie clung to the tree, lightning flashed in the sky. Thunder boomed.

  More wreckage floated past—shingles, shutters, and fence posts. A big wooden door crashed into the tree trunk, barely missing Jack and Annie.

  “We’ve got to get away from here!” yelled Jack. “Before we get hit by lightning! Or something crushes us!”

  “Look! Someone’s waving!” cried Annie. “From the porch of the blue house!”

  A tall, thin woman was calling to them from her dry porch.

  The woman held up a coil of rope. She beckoned to Jack and Annie and shouted. Jack couldn’t understand her words.

  “She wants to help us!” said Annie. She waved back at the woman.

  The woman threw the rope out to them. The end floated on the water near the oak tree.

  Annie plunged into the floodwaters. Jack followed. They both grabbed the rope. The water was up to their necks! They held the rope tightly to keep from being swept away by the current.

  The woman on the porch pulled them toward the house. Hanging on to the rope, Jack and Annie slowly plowed through the water.

  When they reached the steps, they dragged themselves up to the porch. The woman dropped the rope and opened her front door.

  “Come in!” she cried. She pulled Jack and Annie into her house. Then she slammed the door against the storm.

  Jack and Annie staggered into the house. They were both shaking. Their shoes and stockings were gone. Their wet clothes were torn.

  “You poor children!” cried the woman. “I was waiting for my husband to arrive. I saw you clinging to that tree! Come sit in my parlor. Don’t worry about the furniture. Rest! Dry out! You’re safe now!”

  “Thanks…thanks,” stammered Annie.

  “Yeah, thanks,” breathed Jack. He and Annie followed the woman from the entrance into a lovely sitting room. They sat down on a sofa and tried to catch their breath.

  “I’ll get you some towels and blankets,” the woman said.

  As she hurried from the parlor, the wind howled and rattled the door. Rain pounded the windows.

  Jack thought the hurricane sounded like a monster trying to break into the house. He remembered the giant waves attacking the pier, tearing apart the bathhouses.

  “I still have our necklace,” Annie said, panting.

  “Good, good,” said Jack. He had his knapsack, too. He looked inside. The Texas book was ruined.

  Before he could tell Annie, the woman came back, carrying towels and two quilts. She handed the towels to them, and Jack dried his hands and face and hair. Then the woman wrapped one quilt around Jack and one around Annie.

  “My name is Rose,” the woman said, sitting down. “You must tell me who you are.”

  “I’m Annie, and he’s my brother, Jack,” said Annie. “We’re visiting from Pennsylvania.”

  “We just escaped from the waterfront,” said Jack.

  “The waves got super high,” said Annie.

  “So where are your mother and father?” said Rose.

  “They’re—they’re—” Jack didn’t know what to say.

  “They’re at the Tremont House Hotel,” Annie said quickly. “I know they’re safe.”

  “Oh, but they must be so worried about you!” said Rose. “I wish they knew you were safe and sound with me.”

  A baby started crying upstairs.

  “That’s my daughter. I’ll be right back,” said Rose. She hurried up the stairs.

  “Rose is so nice,” Annie said. “And she’s really strong—she pulled us both in.”

  “Right,” said Jack. He was relieved to be in Rose’s nice house, but he was worried about the others still out in the storm.

  “We have to help more people,” he said.

  “I know,” said Annie. “We’ll just rest here for a minute…and figure out what to do.”

  Rose came into the room with a baby in her arms.

  “Lily, meet Jack and Annie!” she said. Lily looked like she was about a year old.

  “Hi, Lily,” said Jack and Annie together.

  Lily stared at them with huge brown eyes. She had dark curly hair and rosy cheeks.

  “She’s so cute,” said Annie.

  “The howling wind scared her,” said Rose as she sat down with the baby. “So, what did you see out there?”

  “Huge waves,” said Jack with a sigh. “They covered everything. The streets got flooded fast. Everyone was trying to escape.”

  “Oh, my,” said Rose. “My husband, Lucas, should never have gone to work this morning. I told him.”

  “Where does he work?” asked Annie.

  “At a music store that’s just off the boardwalk,” said Rose. “I’ve been expecting him to arrive home any minute.”

  Rose stood up and walked to the
window and looked out. “The water’s getting higher,” she murmured. “Lucas better hurry.”

  Jack felt bad for her. He remembered the waves destroying the boardwalk.

  The wind shrieked. Thunder rumbled.

  Lily let out a wail.

  “There, there, baby, don’t cry,” said Rose, gently rocking Lily in her arms. “Think of this as a big adventure!”

  A gust of wind shook the house. Lily kept crying.

  “Hush, baby, hush. Papa will be home soon,” said Rose. She started singing to Lily:

  Hush, little baby, don’t say a word.

  Papa’s going to buy you a mockingbird.

  If that mockingbird don’t sing,

  Papa’s going to buy you a diamond ring.

  Lily stopped crying and looked at Rose. “Pa-pa…,” she whimpered.

  “He’s not here now, darling. But he’ll be home soon,” said Rose. She turned to Annie and Jack. “Lucas sings that song to her all the time….” Rose looked out the window again. “He would do anything to keep Lily and me safe. I don’t understand why he hasn’t come home yet.”

  “What can we do for you?” asked Jack.

  “You helped us,” said Annie. “We’d like to help you.”

  “Oh, you’re both so kind and brave,” said Rose. “You sound like true Texans.” She took a deep breath. “I’m certain Lucas is fine. He’s got to be fine!”

  “I’m certain he’s fine, too,” said Annie.

  Suddenly a huge blast of wind blew open the front door.

  Jack and Annie leapt up from the sofa. They rushed to the door and tried to push it closed. The wind pushed back.

  Jack felt water wash over his bare feet. He looked down.

  Seawater was streaming through the open door!

  “Jack, look out!” yelled Annie.