cf-banner.jpg
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
"Isaac's Storm" #197520 03/17/08 10:12 PM
Joined: Dec 1969
Posts: 7,088
mombo Offline OP
Saint
OP Offline
Saint
Joined: Dec 1969
Posts: 7,088
Just finished reading the book entitled "Isaac's Storm" by Erik Larson. This non-fiction book tells the story of the hurricane that struck Galveston, TX in 1900 and resulted in the loss of approximately 6000 people.

One chapter in the book tells the story of a train that was headed for Galveston from the east. The train's route would take it to Bolivar Point where it would then be ferried across the bay to Galveston. On the day the hurricane struck the ferry from Galveston made numerous attempts to land at Bolivar Point to no avail and it had to return to Galveston. The train, that was carrying 95 passengers, then began backing up but was forced to stop 1/4 mile from the lighthouse. The water was so high it was entering the coaches. A man named John Poe from Louisiana and 9 other passengers decided to leave the train and head for the lighthouse. Poe and the other passengers joined almost 200 other people who had gone there to seek shelter. They were the last admitted. As the water rose the refugees were forced higher up the stairway. The train Poe and his fellow passengers had been on never got out of harm's way. They all perished.

OK, that's the lighthouse bit of the story. For the rest of it you'll have to read the book!

Re: "Isaac's Storm" #197521 03/17/08 11:14 PM
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,964
sandy Offline
Cruise Director
Offline
Cruise Director
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,964
Damn Mombo--it's tax season. Can't you give us the Cliff Notes version!!

Sandy

Re: "Isaac's Storm" #197522 03/18/08 12:07 AM
Joined: Dec 1969
Posts: 7,088
mombo Offline OP
Saint
OP Offline
Saint
Joined: Dec 1969
Posts: 7,088
Gee Sandy, got my taxes done long ago and received a nice refund. Haven't spent it yet though. wink

This book reads fairly fast. Quite a bit on the history of weather forecasting which gets a bit cumbersome. But as the storm progresses and the stories of some of the families emerge it's pretty fast paced.

Politics seemed to be the main reason why so many were killed. Lots of poignant stories of those who were perished and those who survived.

Erik Larson is also the author of "The Devil in the White City" - murder during the 1893 Chicago World's Fair and now "Thunderstruck" - murder and Marconi.

Re: "Isaac's Storm" #197523 03/18/08 01:16 AM
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 2,405
Shortcake Offline
Cruise Director
Offline
Cruise Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 2,405
I have the book Isaac's Storm on CD. I really enjoyed listening to it. Then when Joe and I were in Galvaston last November, we found ourselfs looking for landmarks from the book, such as the spot where the Orphanage had been! Which gave the trip an added adventure.


Stephanie


God may have created man before woman,
but there is always a rough draft before the masterpiece.

Forum Statistics
Forums39
Topics16,978
Posts184,640
Members2,579
Most Online10,155
Jan 14th, 2020
Who's Online Now
0 registered members (), 1,040 guests, and 4 spiders.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Newest Members
SafeHarbor, Toots, Bluffhill, phtate, TexLight2022
2579 Registered Users
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.2