September 8, 1900 - "...Do you hear anything from Galveston?..."

[82Rigger]

WASHINGTON, D.C.
SEPT 9, 1900
TO: MANAGER, WESTERN UNION
HOUSTON, TEXAS

WE HAVE HAD ABSOLUTELY NO CONTACT SINCE 4 P.M. YESTERDAY.
DO YOU HEAR ANYTHING FROM GALVESTON?


WILLIS L. MOORE
CHIEF, U.S. WEATHER BUREAU









HOUSTON, TEXAS
11:25 P.M.
SEPT 9, 1900
TO: WILLIS MOORE
CHIEF, U.S. WEATHER BUREAU


FIRST NEWS FROM GALVESTON JUST RECEIVED BY TRAIN
WHICH COULD GET NO CLOSER TO THE BAY THAN SIX MILES.
PRAIRIE BEHIND GALVESTON BAY STREWN WITH DEBRIS AND
DEAD BODIES. HUNDREDS OF CORPSES COUNTED FROM TRAIN.
LARGE STEAMSHIP STRANDED TWO MILES INLAND. NOTHING
COULD BE SEEN OF GALVESTON. LOSS OF LIFE AND PROPERTY
UNDOUBTEDLY MOST APPALLING.


G.L. VAUGHN
MANAGER
WESTERN UNION
HOUSTON


As I type this, hurricane Ike has lain waste to islands of the Carribean, and prepares to enter the Gulf of Mexico.

We on the Gulf Coast watch the progress of the storm with some anxiety.

But we live in modern times, and know of the storm's coming. We can leave the path of peril.

Yet on this September 8th, I feel an emotional bond with those who have lived by this Gulf in times past...in times when science was not advanced, and weather forecasting was the youngest of infants.

So, today I remember a Texas city of 37,000 Americans who, 108 years ago on this day, lay in harm's way, and did not realize the danger until it was upon them.

Between 8,000 and 12,000 men, women, and children of Galveston lost their lives that Saturday night, among them 92 orphaned children, watched over by 10 nuns of the Sisters of Charity, who, in their final hour, as their orphanage disintegrated, tried to calm the children by singing with them the childrens' favorite hymn...



Queen of the Waves, look forth across the ocean
From north to south, from east to stormy west,
See how the waters with tumultuous motion
Rise up and foam without a pause or rest.
But fear we not, tho' storm clouds round us gather,
Thou art our Mother and thy little Child
Is the All Merciful, our loving Brother
God of the sea and of the tempest wild.
Help, then sweet Queen, in our exceeding danger,
By thy seven griefs, in pity Lady save;
Think of the Babe that slept within the manger
And help us now, dear Lady of the Wave.
Up to the shrine we look and see the glimmer
Thy votive lamp sheds down on us afar;
Light of our eyes, oh let it ne'er grow dimmer,
Till in the sky we hail the morning star.


Every September 8th since the hurricane, the Sisters of Charity all over the world make remembrance by stopping whatever they are doing and singing this hymn.

In Memoriam: September 8, 1900 - the deadliest hurricane in U.S. history.

[DMZ-LT]

Thanks Steve. There but for the grace of God go we.