Isaac's Storm - Erik Larson [113]
6 Ninety-six and a half inches: Tannehill, 72.
7 Hurricane Camille: Pielke, Roger A., Sr., 2–3.
8 Camille’s rain fell: Ibid., 3. Hugh Willoughby of the Hurricane Research Division, in reading the manuscript of Isaac’s Storm for accuracy, called this an urban legend.
Galveston: Louisa Rollfing
I based this entire chapter on Louisa Rollfing’s autobiography, in the Galveston Collection of the Rosenberg Library.
The Levy Building: Isaac’s Map
1 At three o’clock: Galveston News, Sept. 5, 1900.
2 At the police station: Ibid.
3 Isaac heard the first clap: Daily Journal.
4 One of the newest arrivals: The New York Times, Sept. 11, 1900, 3. (See “Vessels at Galveston.”)
5 Isaac sent a man: Young, 1.
6 Throughout July: National Archives: General Correspondence. Letters: James Berry to Official in Charge, Galveston, July 5, 1900; Isaac Cline to Weather Bureau, July 9, 1900; James Berry to Official in Charge, Galveston, Aug. 16, 1900; Isaac Cline to Weather Bureau, Aug. 19, 1900. Box 1423.
7 He told Secretary: National Archives: Letters Sent. Moore to Wilson, Sept. 15, 1900.
8 Baldwin left: National Archives: Administrative. Box 7. Slip Book. Aug. 29, 1899–Oct. 23, 1900. No. 425.
9 Moore promised: National Archives: General Correspondence. Telegram, Aug. 20, 1900. Box 1473. See also letters (No. L.R. 7510-1900): Acting Chief Clerk to Official in Charge, New York, and Acting Chief Clerk to Official in Charge, Galveston, both of Aug. 22, 1900.
10 He telegraphed Moore: National Archives: General Correspondence. Telegram, Aug. 20, 1900.
11 For the last week, Young: Young, 1.
12 “He agreed with me”: Ibid.
Cuba: Suspicion
1 Through Dunwoody, Moore persuaded: National Archives: General Correspondence. Letter, Moore (as acting secretary of agriculture) to Gen. T. T. Eckert, Western Union, Aug. 28, 1900. Box 1475.
2 Cuba’s meteorologists had pioneered: Douglas, 230–36; Hughes, 13; Tannehill, 63.
3 “It was at first very difficult”: National Archives: Records of Surface Land Observations. Records Relating to Hurricane Display Systems in the West Indies. Report, Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 1899. William B. Stockman. Box 1.
4 Internal memos flew: National Archives: General Correspondence. Box 1470. The saga begins with Stockman’s report of July 31, 1900. At one point, Moore’s office advises Stockman, “it is thought well to suggest care on your part that you may not allow your work to get beyond your strength; and thus impair, through physical disability, the excellent record made by you at Havana.” Garriott’s wonderfully crafted note is numbered L.R. 7057-1900. Moore’s note is scrawled in pencil at the bottom of a memo slip in the same file.
5 It was paramount: National Archives: General Correspondence. Letter, July 6, 1900, Stockman to Official in Charge, St. Kitts.
6 He spent a good part: National Archives: General Correspondence. The complete story lies in Box 1471. It begins with a letter from a secret informant to Stockman, dated Aug. 8, 1900, and ends with Moore’s terse letter of Sept. 6, 1900, two days before the Galveston storm.
7 On August 24, 1900, W. T. Blythe: National Archives: General Correspondence. Letter, Aug. 24, 1900, Blythe to Moore. Box 1475.
8 On August 28, Willis Moore: National Archives: General Correspondence. Letter, Moore (as acting secretary of agriculture) to Gen. T. T. Eckert, Western Union, Aug. 28, 1900. Box 1475.
9 “This conduct”: National Archives: General Correspondence. See clipping, Sept. 2, 1900, in Box 1475.
10 “A very bitter opposition”: National Archives: General Correspondence. Letter, Sept. 5, 1900, H. H. C. Dunwoody to William Stockman. Box 1475.
11 On Saturday, September 1: National Archives: General Correspondence. See clipping from La Lucha, Sept. 1, 1900. Box 1475.
12 On August 31, Julio Jover: National Archives: General Correspondence. See clipping from La Lucha, Sept. 3, 1900, containing Jover’s dispatch of August 31. Box 1475.
13 The next day, Belen’s Father Gangoite: National Archives: General Correspondence. See clipping from Diario de la Marina, Sept. 2, 1900,