The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-10-07
MOTHER ST. JOSEPH
She Was the Heroine of Calves
tons fragile Storm.
She Sheltered Nearly Thousand
Men and Women and saved Many
That Night I'm the Cells of the Con-
vcnt-Hov the Nun Averted n Panic


vent-How the Nun Averted Panic
Mother St Joseph. Superiorsss OF the
Ursuline Convent at Galveston, was the
heroine of its dreadful storm. The dseds
she performed on that awful night, says
the Houston Post" were CT such ma
ture as to entitle them to go down in
history with those OF the Joan CT Arcs
and the other grand women whose &C
hievements have outlived time
Probably 600 persons were sheltered in
the convent during the storm No one
was re.ls-d admittanee 10 the sheltering
institution CD this night Of highs. Ne
groes and whites were taken in without
question. and the asylum was thrown
open to all who sought 1t. Angels of
mercy went through the army of suf-
ferers whispering words Of cheer. offer
ing what seant clothing could be found
in this house of charity and calmly
admonishing the terror-stricken ersat-
ures to have faith in God and pray that
His holy will be done. In contrast with
the quiet. sanity. and loving spirit Of
the nuns the hundred or more negroes
grew wild as the storm ragged and shout
ed and sang in true campmeeting style
until the nerves OF the other refugees
were shattered and panic seemed i'm
minent. II was then that Mother Sups-
rioress Joseph rang the chapel bell and
caused a hush of the pandemonium-
When quiet had been restored the moth
er addressed the negroes and told them
that it was no time nor place for such
scenes; that il they wanted to pray they
should DO SO from their hearts. and that
the Creator of all things would near
their offerings above the roar OF The hur-
ricane which ragged with increased fury
as she spoke to the awe-stricken assem-
blage. The negroes listened attentiyely
and tried to subdue their prayers and
means.
The academy was to have opened for the
fall session on the Tuesday following the
storm, and forty-two boarding scholars
from all parts of the State had arrived at
the convent preparatory to resuming their
studies on that day. The community OF
nuns comprises forty sisters, and they. too,
were there administering cheer and deeds
OF mercy TO the sufferers, many OF whom
were more dead than alive when brought
into the shelter. Early in the storm when
people dragged themselves or swan to the
convent and asked for protection an at
tempt was made 10 keep a register of the
unfortunates. Their register reached near
ly 100 names and then the storm-driven
humans began TO arrive at the shelter in
crowds of twenty and thirty. They were
taken in through the windows. some were
dragged through five feet of water into the
basement, which long since had been aban-
doned on account Of the invasion Of the
gulf; others were rescued by ropes from
tree tops and snatohed from roofs ard 9TH
er wreckage as it was hurled in the mag
dening torrents through the convent yards.
Within this religious home and in cells
of the nuns four babies came into this
world. Four mothers VINO had braved the
treaeherous elements and were snatched
from the jaws Of tragic Death lay on cots
in nuns cells and four little innocents came
into the world Of sorrow when it looked
the blacklist. Truly it could not be said
that the quartette of precious ones first
saw the light of day in the cell of 4 nun
on this eventful night. 1t was the darkest
and most terrible night in the lives OF
their mothers, and yet the mingled sadness
and 10Y attending the births was beyond
power of man TO describe
Mother st. Joseph says she believes
it vas the first time in the history of the
world that a babe had been born in a
nuns cell IN convent.
The experiences of Mrs. William Henry
Heideman, one of the mothers. If they
could be reduced to words. would read like
the widest fiction. Mrs. Heideman was
thrown on the mercies of the storm when
her home went down and was swept away.
The family had been separated when they
started to abandon their home. When
Mrs. Heideman was carried away on the
roof of a wrecked cottage she lost all
trace Of the other members of the family,
but never lost faith and courage. The roof
struck some obstruction and the next in-
slant Mrs Heideman was hurled from her
improvised raft and landed in trunk
which was rocking on the surging water.
Cramped up in the trunk the poor woman,
suffering the agonies of ACCOMPLISHMENT,
was protected to a limited extent and
afforded some warmth. On went the
trunk. tossed high on the treacherous sea,
humping against driftwcod. suntil it was
hurled against the Ursuline convent walls
and she was hurried into the building.
The little babe was born a few hours
later, and while the good sisters and some
of the women in the building were attend
ing to the mother and child another chap
ter in this family history was being enact
ed Just without the convent walls. In
tree in the canvent yard young man,
brother vi Mrs Heideman battttiiGtd, With the
wind and destructive waters. while cling
ing fast to limb of tho tree which swayed
and bowed to the mighty wind. He knew
not where nc was lie COulu Ddreiy us
Germ the outlines OF the academy building,
but he did not know that it was haven
where shelter awaited him. While combat
ing with his chances of life or death he
heard the plaintive cry Of child near by.
Reaching out with one hand ne caught the
dress of a little tot who, ehildlike, cried
out: Me simmingi" The child had run
the mill race buoyed by the force of the
storm and had not had time to realize his
peril The child was Mrs. Heideman's 1T
tie son. y few minutes afterward a rescu-
ing party sent out from the convent in re-
Spouse to cries for help found the young
man and his nephew and brought them TO
the sheltering institution. The reunion OF
at least = part Of the family followed few
minutes later, 1t was a scene which a
mere mortal should not attempt to de-
scribe.
The story Of the happenings in the con-
vent that night will never be known, no
more than will that Of the storm at large.
But enough of it has been told TO entitle
Mother St. Joseph and her sanity women
to the highest honor and glory.
Butter by the Yard.
Probably Cambridge, in England. is the
NJ, ;,,t 81,