Part III: Spectacle Summary and Analysis

The Pensacola swings from her anchor in the seas, still dealing with the hurricane's brutal force. Simmons realizes that only a confluence of storms could bring an event of so much intensity. Simmons realizes now that the storm is headed directly for Galveston and there is no way to warn the residents.

Saturday morning, two men stand on the Galveston beach, unaware of the other's presence. The first is Isaac and the other is Dr. Young. He is an amateur meteorologist and sees the same measurements and wave speeds as Isaac had seen previously. He knows immediately that a cyclone is headed their way. He telegraphs his family traveling that day to visit him by train to stay in San Antonio until the storm has passed. This fast action probably saved the lives of his family.

According...