 1900
Galveston Storm
More than 6,000 men, women and children
were killed. Among the dead were 90 children and 10 Catholic
Sisters at the St. Mary's Orphanage. Only three boys
and a hymn called "Queen of the Waves" survived
from the orphan's home.
Prior to the Great Storm, St. Mary's Orphan Asylum stood
on a beautiful beach just three miles west of the city
of Galveston. Established by the Congregation of the
Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, the orphanage
was home for 93 children and the 10 Sisters who cared
for them. The orphanage itself consisted of two large,
two-story dormitories with balconies facing the gulf.
Between the dormitories and the gulf were large sand
dunes supported by salt cedar trees.
On the morning of September 8, 1900, rain was falling
and the winds were increasing in strength. The island
community had experienced many gulf storms before, but
this one was to change Galveston forever. Around noon
Sister Elizabeth Ryan, who had gone into the city to
collect provisions, returned to the orphanage. She had
declined pleas from the Sisters at St. Mary's Infirmary,
a hospital also founded by her Congregation, to stay
there until the storm passed.
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By mid-afternoon, the waters of the
gulf had eroded the sand dunes and approached the front
steps of the dormitories. The Sisters brought all the
children into the girls' dormitory because it was the
newer and stronger of the two. To calm the children,
the Sisters had them sing "Queen of the Waves," an old French hymn.
The water continued to rise, eventually entering the
dormitories. The Sisters took the children to the second
floor and again had them sing "Queen of the Waves."
By late that afternoon, the waters of the gulf filled
the first floor of the dormitory. In an effort to protect
the children, the Sisters tied the orphans to themselves
with clothesline. Each Sister tied to herself from 6
to 8 children. It was a valiant, yet sacrificial effort.
With winds around 150 miles an hour and a 20 foot storm
surge, the Sisters and children heard the crash of the
boys' dormitory as it gave way to the flood waters. Again
they sang the hymn. Eventually, the girls' dormitory
collapsed.
Only three boys were able to escape: Albert Campbell,
Frank Bulanek Madera and William B. Murney. The 10 Sisters
and 90 children who died in the storm were buried wherever
they were found, still tied together.
Despite this great loss, the Sisters of Charity of the
Incarnate Word continued their mission and one year later
opened a new St. Mary's Orphanage within the city limits.
It continued until 1965 when orphanages were giving way
to foster homes.
Today our Congregation has spread
the ministry of Jesus Christ to communities throughout
Texas as well as to Louisiana, Utah and California.
In addition, the Congregation has overseas ministries
in Ireland, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Kenya. Wherever
we are in the world, on September 8th, we sing "Queen of the
Waves." We sing and remember the Sisters, children
and all those who faced the incredible tragedy known
as the Great 1900 Storm.
To find out more, visit the 100th anniversary
of the Galveston huricane official web site by CLICKING
HERE.
 "Queen of the Waves" on
CD. Click
here to order your copy.
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Click
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of the Waves" song book. |
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