He doesn't receive the letter until after the baby, James Jr., is born. The letter is written over several days as he journeys home. Martha is devastated and desperate for James to spend more time with her. Martha writes back to congratulate him. December 16 - In the spring of 1849, disaster strikes St. Louis.
Flames soon engulf the downtown.
Fifteen blocks are destroyed along with twenty-three steamers. Eads is able to profit from the tragedy. Hired by the city to salvage the wrecks, he is overwhelmed with work. In 1852, Eads' mother grew ill and after several months she died. Eads urged his fatigued wife to rest at the water cure in Brattleboro, Vermont.