Thursday, July 5, 2012

A Storm (The End)

This is Part 3 of this story, taken from accounts by my grandfather and great aunt, as well as historical record. (If you didn't read Part 1 and Part 2 go on over there and then come back here!)

The Storm of 1919 that decimated Corpus Christi, Texas, is the fourth most intense and deadly hurricane of the 20th century. It would have been rated a Cat. 4 hurricane by modern scales.The official death toll was upwards of 700 people, counting 10 ships at sea that were swallowed by the storm, but modern historians put the toll at closer to 1200.

Rosa's panicked shriek as her arms were ripped from Rob's waist still rang in his ears as the front of the hotel sheared away and he was carried away by the furious, sixteen foot storm surge. He worked to keep his head above water, while debris, other people, and even a horse battered into him in the frenetic ride to the sea. Frothy water slapped at him, driving up his nose and down his mouth. His arms flailed and his legs kicked as he struggled to stay above water and to grab at anything; anything that would keep him from being swept out to sea. His arms closed around part of a roof that sailed along next to him, but the force of the current raked his hands over the exposed nails and the jagged wood.

In a moment when his focus contracted to a single point ahead, he spotted his last chance, a three story building with the roof still above water. He made one last desperate heave for it as the water funneled him past. His bloody fingers just managed to latch a grip onto it, and with strength from an unknown reservoir, he pulled himself over the edge and onto the top. When he came to, the winds had subsided and the water was already receding. The devastation before him was untenable. His refuge was the only building he could see left standing, and then only partially, as the southwest corner of it had washed away. Rosa, Rosa, Rosa...was all that filled his head.



Mama, the girls, and little Henry felt the wagon lifting off the ground with the force of the wind just as the schoolhouse came into sight. She jumped out and pushed each child to the doorway. Others already inside held the door open against the wind and pulled them in the rest of the way. Mama sat on the floor, held little Henry in her lap, and slumped at the effort of it. The little girls were soon playing while the wind blasted the stone walls and the rain drove like darts against the covered windows. Oh Lord, let my men be safe, she silently prayed. Just let them be safe.


Maria was losing the battle, the sucking power of the sea still unrelenting and unsatisfied. She knew she was being swept past the Spohn Sanitarium, the city hospital, and she had seen people on the top of the long steps, but she was being pulled under again, not even sure if she was right side up or upside down. She felt something pull, grab her long hair and pull hard. Even as she was being lifted from the water with those tight holds on her hair, she didn't want to let herself believe she was being saved, and yet she was. Those two men who hauled her by her hair out of the water, nabbing hold of it as she was swept past, did not let go, and pulled her all the way inside, passing her off to others inside who carried her up the stairs to the second floor.




Rob stumbled through debris, trying to get his bearings in a landscape that looked more like one of the bombed cities he'd seen in action in WWI than that of a booming beach vacation spot. He found the sign of the Pavillion Hotel, where he'd spent such sweet days with his bride Rosa, but not one stick of the building was left. Not one.





M. C. and Father spent long hours huddled under the little outcropping, shielding the three newborn calves they with them. They felt the aberrant eye of the storm pass over, with stillness so profound M.C. heard a leaf touch the ground just beyond them. And then like a tag team match, the infuriated backside winds of the storm roared after them. When finally all was past, M. C. and Father ventured out with the calves. At the bloated river crossing, with no horse, wagon, or bridge, M. C. had an epiphany on how to cross, desperate as they were to find Mama and the other kids. Hay bales floated past and jammed at a narrow point. He and Father picked their way gingerly across, ferrying each calf with them.

"If I know your Mama, she took the kids and headed for the schoolhouse," Father said as they surveyed what was left of their empty home. "Let's head there."



Maria found safety with the others in the hospital, and they were plucked out of the highest windows by boat that ferried them to stable ground. Bleeding, battered, and bruised, she rubbed her belly gently and breathed a prayer of thanks.



Epilogue:
Among the rolls of the deceased in Corpus Christi in the Storm of 1919 were:
Mrs. Rosa Robnet, Rob's beloved bride
Jose Hernandez, husband of Maria
Pablita Hernandez, daughter of Maria
George Hernandez, son of Maria

Rob moved back to the east coast, mired in his own devastation. He healed from his physical injuries and began a law practice. He never remarried. 

M. C. helped in the recovery efforts and even weeks later, found bodies washed up into the river flats, so coated with oil from breached oil storage tanks and in such bad condition there was no way of ever identifying them. He and Father worked ceaselessly with the others until all the dead were recovered and buried, many of the unidentifiable in mass graves. Mama prayed a prayer of thanks everyday for the rest of her long life that her family was spared. M. C. didn't like to talk about that time, but he made sure his children and his grandchildren, including me, respected the power and fury of nature.

Maria wanted to die herself when she found out her entire family was gone. She couldn't imagine what she had left to live for. But her suspicions proved correct and she was already pregnant when she was pulled by her long hair out of that killer storm. Even though she'd miscarried several babies before the storm, this new baby held onto life in her womb as ferociously as she had in the storm. She had a son, and named him Jose, after his father.

61 comments:

  1. This is so chilling that I was holding my breath until I knew that this time Maria did not loose the baby. Life is amazing. She was saved so little Jose could be born safe and sound.
    I like the way you write. I hope that we will get to hear about more happy endings.

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    1. Munir: Thank you so much, my friend- happy endings are what I love, too.

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  2. I think in pictures...and the ones you paint are so vivid. Sometimes I feel that the Lord's intent and actions are like spiderwebs laid one upon another, each thread connected to thousands of others, each moment dependant on the one before. Every day, together, we weave this tapestry.

    This was stunning. (and I too, rejoiced at little Jose!)

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    1. Chantel: Thank you. This was difficult to put into words because what happened is still so very real in many people.

      I LOVE your analogy with the spider web, layer upon layer. And it is all a beautiful tapestry, isn't it?

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  3. I just backtracked to part 2 to refresh my memory and the first thing that struck me was seeing 46 comments! What does that tell you about your storytelling expertise, Shelly? People really care about the people in your stories.

    I was stunned in the denouement when it turned out that Rosa died and Rob survived. In chapter 2 it seemed like the opposite would be true. I think it's important for us to note that Rob never remarried. In our modern day and age, with the high divorce rate and relatively few people upholding the sanctity of marriage, we should remember how it was in the early part of the 20th century. Being joined together as husband and wife was regarded as a sacred covenant and it was not uncommon for a man or woman to spend the rest of their lives alone after losing a spouse. It came as no surprise to find that you are related to some of the main characters in this drama, dear Shelly, and I pray that we all get through another hurricane season safely.

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    1. Shady: You are so right about marriage being different then. To only have been married a week, lose your wife, and then never be married again? That is a commitment not many have these days. Thank you for your always kind words, my friend. And yes, my prayers are the same, that we make it through this hurricane season with no problems!

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  4. I agree with Chantel,Shelly, this was stunning, and your writing so beautiful. If really draws us, the reader, in. Thank the Lord that Maria's baby was delivered safely, but what a tragedy for her to lose both her husband and two children. How terrible to think that ten ships were lost at sea, and all those lives lost. This was such a brilliant series of posts and Shelly writing at her very best!

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    1. Thisisme: Your kind words make my heart shine! Thank you, friend. I just don't know how people like Maria survive such extreme tragedies, but they show us that life truly does move on and all we can do is make the best of it. I wish I could have found out what happened to baby Jose. Perhaps one day...

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  5. wow..pretty incredible story. puts my life in a different perspective.

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    1. Annmarie: It really does make me thankful for what the Lord has given me. My grandfather never really liked to talk about it much, but my great aunt wrote an account of it, and I'm so grateful she did.

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  6. Very, very well done, indeed, Shelly. As to "happy endings," this story is characteristic of life as a whole. There was sadness, but truly no endings; for life went on for the survivors, and new beginnings are evident, as in the case of the child of Maria and the late Jose.

    Thank you for this presentation.

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    1. vanilla: So true- a key to success in life is finding the ability to go on ever after heart rending tragedy. Thank you for your kind words!

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  7. Well done, Shelley! There are no completely happy endings after a story like that, but one thing I've come away with: always, always respect Mother Nature and her strength. I couldn't help but be saddened by the ones in this story who didn't make it.

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    1. karen: After Katrina, I don't think we will ever try to ride out any hurricane that's Cat 3 or higher. There's too much at stake, as we've learned from the lives of those poor people. Thank you!

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  8. Quite a saga. It's been said already but your words paint such vivid images. I almost felt it hard to breathe throughout much of your story. Excellent job.

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    1. Stephen: Thank you- there was so much to the whole thing it was hard at times to know what to leave out and what to leave in. Makes me even more respectful of hurricanes.

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  9. I was so glad when I saw that part 3 was available. Even though I survived through Hazel just wind is certainly not as devastating as the power of water and wind. I personally cannot even begin to understand how terrible it was for them in the raging waters. The story needed to be told and I thank you for allowing us to follow along.

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    1. Odie: You are so kind- thank you. I was worried that I was saddling you all with too much to read. As bad as the wind is in a hurricane, I think the water and storm surge are even worse. Hopfully no hurricanes this season!

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  10. Reading something like this makes statistics come alive. We grow callous when reading the a certain amount of people were killed in a disaster, but putting a personal story and name with the number pays great respect to those deceased...Great read, Shelly. You are a great writer!

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    1. Sweet Tea: Thank you so much for reading all the installments! And you are right- it's so easy to kind of dismiss large scale tragedies when you see them on the news, but it's always good to remember the people behind the numbers.

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  11. Really good! I liked it, I felt it and I thought about it. This was no piece of fluff, that's for sure. Great job!

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    1. Pat: Thank you- it was an adventure writing it!

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  12. So many souls who had to suffer the loss of a loved one.

    Like everyone else who complimented your writing skills, I just have a little question...are you an English teacher? OR just a super-duper pickituponyourown writer?

    I was enthralled by every word.

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    1. Christine: Thank you for your sweet words. So much devastation is hard to comprehend. And yes, I am an English teacher- :)

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  13. Oh......so sad about Rosa and that Rob never remarried. So happy that Maria did give birth to little Jose after her terrifying experience and losing her family. I do have to agree with your grandfather to be aware of the fury of nature; that was a good lesson for him to pass down to his family.

    A very haunting story but thanks for sharing it with us Shelly.

    betty

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    1. Betty: I was so sad when I first saw that Maria had lost her family and that Rosa had also not made it. Still, good came out of it all-

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  14. I had goosebumps reading this - and it was sad to find that so many of your main players did not survive the storm. The same Nature that can be beautiful and restorative can be chillingly destructive.

    Nice work and thank you for writing this.

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    1. jenny_o: Thank you so much for sticking with it and reading each past as well as your kind comments. Yes, we can never take the forces of nature for granted~

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  15. What a wonderful end to the story I was so happy when I saw the last part here today, and I was worried about Maria as if she was a real person so that tells you what a fantastic piece of story telling it was............

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    1. Jo-Anne: I would love to find out what happened to Maria and baby Jose. He could still be living, so perhaps...

      I got involved with all these people in doing the research for this, and there were so many more whose stories I couldn't fit here. Thank you for reading!

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  16. Dearest Shelly,
    Oh, what a writing; although this is a tragedy which I feel as if it would be happening to myself in the future, your depiction of the this story is amazing!!! Actually the paragraph starting "M. C. and Father spent long hours huddled under the little outcropping...." I couldn't help but read several times.
    Oh, the Epilogue"or denouement, hehe". I sure was moved by the part as well ;Rob mired in his own devastation... never married; and totally agree with you and Mr. Shady.
    Well, Maria might not be able to have guts to live if it wasn't for her baby... It sure was a miracle, isn't it!!! It was wonderful that God had given the boy to her. Well,it is not the same for my experience, but the part "She couldn't imagine what she had left to live for" reminded me of my hard time mentally. After 6years fertility treatment not working, I had been thinking "what is the meaning for me to live". Sort of lost the point of my life. Haha, enough is enough for my comment.
    Wishing you a wonderful weekend, my friend.
    Love you always from Japan, xoxo Miyako*

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    1. Orchid: You are always such a faithful friend to read these long posts. Thank you! I am so sorry you had to go through what you did with the fertility treatments and with feeling the way you did afterwards. I am glad you are better now, and I hope you know how very much you enrich all our lives just by being you. The world is a much better and richer place because of you, my dear friend, Miyako! Hugs and love to you~

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    2. Oh, Miyako, I'm sorry you had to experience those years of hope and disappointment. You are such a beautiful friend. We are all so lucky to have you in this world.

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    3. Oh, Dearest Jenny;
      Thank you very much for your sweet words♪ Really glad that you left me such a kind words. I wished to appreciate here and Dear Shelly, I hope you wouldn't mind it.

      Love you both from button of my heart, xoxo Miyako*

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    4. Oh, Miyako, I really hope you know how very dear you are to us and everyone who knows you here. What a treasure you are!

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  17. Dear Shelly, your story had me on the edge of my seat. With so many devastating storms in our recent history, your words have an intense and gripping relevance. One thing that shines through is how people will come together to save others, perfect strangers who need help. Then there are those brave heroes who will bury the dead and help the community rebuild. And through God's grace, new life arrives.

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    1. Jenny: In reading through the different accounts, I was struck by how many survivors actually decided to stay in the area, even though they were left with nothing. The cleanup was a superhuman effort and took a fortitude that I don't even know if I have. And I totally agree. Even where there is death, there is always new life, if we wait a little and look for it.

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  18. Shelly - Hope you don't mind me adding my own little reply to our dear friend Miyako. Miyako - I am so very sorry and humbled to read about your years of fertility treatment and hoping for your very own little baby. You must have been so very sad my dear friend. Please know that we all love you, and appreciate your friendship so much. Sending big hugs to you x

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    1. Oh my!!! Dearest Diane,
      I've just read your thoughtful words and couldn't help but leave a message to you. Thank you very much for your warm words♡♡♡  How blessed I am with you friends!!! I AM always thankful for the friendship from overseas which I would never have. I was thinking I would be kind of lonely when I got with my age now. Haha, I'm a little bit in tears.
      Truly LOVE YOU ALL♡♡♡

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  19. Devastating.

    I do so admire how you tell a story.

    Pearl

    p.s. Have you read Their Eyes Were Watching God?

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    1. Pearl: It was one of those things for the survivors that made them or broke them.

      I <3 Zora Neale Hurston. If I taught high school English, that book would be a centerpiece of my curriculum!

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  20. I was really hoping for a miraculous turn where everyone survived. But life is just not like that, is it? So we have to look for the miracles that do occur. How wonderful to have these accounts so that these people and their lives are not forgotten. Great writing!

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    1. Nancy: And there are always going to be miracles, large and small, if we just look for them. What you said is precisely why I wanted to write this, to, in some small way, memorialize those who are largely forgotten already. Thank you, my friend!

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  21. How terrifying and tragic. So sad.

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    1. Missed Periods: I just can't imagine living through the aftermath of that kind of devastation.

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  22. But beautifully written, I'd like to add.

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  23. Dear Shelly, I got to the end and breathed a deep sigh for you'd captured me and thrust me into the eye of the storm. Thank you for the ending and letting me know what happened to these people I've come to care about. Peace.

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    1. Dee: Thank you so much for sticking with it all the way to the end! I would love to find our what happened with Maria and little Jose~

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  24. Wow, what a story! It's a feat to tell stories of people in the past and make us care as if they existed beside us in the present.

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    1. Theresa: Thank you for your kind words. Stories like this are easy to tell.

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  25. I have chills and goosebumps reading this. Wow, what a sad story!

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    1. Lydia: It's hard to believe all those people went through, and then were able to move on despite it all.

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  26. Shelly, I can see you as a best selling author of historial romance novels! Seriously. You are so darn good! I can tell others that I knew you in your early blogging days before you became famous!

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  27. I'm happy Rob never remarried. He was loyal in his heart to the end. And that Mama was able to keep her one baby soothed my heart so much after reading this awful account. This was absolutly beautiful! I hung on every word. Very well written! You should compile a book!

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    1. Crystal: I can only imagine Rob's heart never healed, even though his body did. I am working to find our more about Maria and her baby. I just have a feeling she was an amzing woman!

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  28. Hello Shelley, I got goosebumps reading this. That a wonderful story, and yet so sad and terrifying. In those days there wasn't much warning on how extreme a storm was going to be..
    Today we get many warnings, how hard it was to live then..
    I am thrilled to know that Rosa kept her child, a boy and named him after his father. Then they had each other. xx

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    1. Crystal Mary: There is such power in them that it's hard to fully understand it without enduring one. I am so thankful she and the baby survived- I hope to find out more about what happened to them. Hugs to you!

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