New Toulouse

Dear Madam

The shipping news and Mr Mondieu’s snappy article make interesting reading, but I feel too much is being made out of this. New Toulouse has weathered many storms and our fine city has escaped largely unscathed. 

Perhaps we could focus on events in the city, such as the half-price drinks at the Green-eyed Fairy, rather than those hundreds of miles away. The storm may yet change direction or blow itself out. Even if the worst were to happen, I have full confidence that the levees will hold the water back. I am concerned to note that some citizens are piling up sandbags and feel that publications such as yours should quell, rather than incite, panic.

There will be no sandbags at the Green-eyed Fairy, situated snugly behind the levee in Rue du Bayou. Instead a warm welcome awaits. Drinks are half price during the inclement weather.

Yours, etc

Francesca Alva.

The overcast, greenish sky and unusually rough water, together with yesterday’s shipping report, have made some locals worry that New Toulouse is due for some nasty weather.

According to library staff, the Kate Chopin Library has been docked in “a safer location” for the time being. Those with books due back in the next few days needn’t worry about being fined for any days when the library is unavailable.

Over a party telephone line last evening, someone predicted that “The Flood” was on its way, but it is unclear whether the speaker was an engineer with inside knowledge of the city pumping system or the prophet of some doomsday cult. But at the corner of Royal and Nightingale streets, there are already sandbags in evidence at the Institute of Liberal and Technical Learning, and who are we to argue with the liberally and technically learned?

An unusual number of small birds have been seen about the city, chirping their fool heads off about who knows what. Taloosters already plenty equipped with firearms and liquor are stocking up on still more firearms and liquor, just in case. And, presumably fueled by the report of the storm-damaged steamer Calamares and its flooded cargo of coffee and bananas, someone has bought up all the available coffee beans, and currently there are none to be had on the open market. Look for cafe and restaurant owners to adjust their price for a cuppa joe accordingly. (There is still room for a would-be banana tycoon.)

Speaking of the Calamares, a new report has come in, just as we are going to press:

• Oct. 9: Steamer Calamares, running before the storm for home port of New Toulouse with a ruined cargo and fifteen sick passengers, reports heavy winds and seas, and all pumps operating at full output. When asked for a shipboard report, radioman Tucker said, “Captain LeBlanc says, ‘No! No time for that! Hey, Gremillion, what happens if you shoot it?'”

Jack Mondieu thought the sky was falling, but it was only a sticky projectile cast off by a chirpy bird.

Radio reports indicate that New Toulouse’s own Calamares, inbound from Guatemala with a cargo of coffee, bananas, and citrus, is leaking and in danger of sinking after encountering a storm in the Gulf of Mexico. Newly built by Workman, Clark and Co., of Belfast, and under the command of our very own Alcide LeBlanc, the Calamares is one of the newest, best-equipped refrigerator ships in the world. Captain LeBlanc’s parents are vacationing in the north and could not be located for comment.

The Tattler has compiled the following reports related to this treacherous storm:

• Oct. 2: Reefer Limon reports a tropical storm 100 nautical miles north of Grenada, wind speed estimated at 35 knots.
• Oct. 3: Weather station Kingstown reports a severe storm passing west of St. Vincent Island, wind estimated at 50 knots.
• Oct. 4: Steamer Argentine reports a tropical storm 240 miles north of Caracas, Venezuela.
• Oct. 5: Weather station Port-au-Prince reports a hurricane passing directly south, at some distance, moving northwest. Landfall on US Gulf Coast expected October 10 or 11.
• Oct. 6: Weather station Kingston (Jamaica) reports a major hurricane passing directly south, track estimated to be northwest, range estimated at 150 miles, winds in excess of 100 knots.
• Oct. 7: Weather station Havana reports a major hurricane passing 200 nautical miles west, storm track is north-northwest, landfall is expected between Galveston and Mobile on October 11.
• Oct. 8: Measured winds indicate that the storm is 300 nautical miles south of New Toulouse, landfall expected on Louisiana coast in 48–72 hours.
• Oct. 8: Reefer Venus, position unknown, reports heavy seas and hurricane-force winds.
• Oct. 8: Steamer Calamares reports storm damage, taking on water, sinking imminent, 100 miles southwest of New Toulouse. Cargo of coffee and bananas flooded, running north before storm to attempt grounding before swelling cargo ruptures hull.

It is my first hurricane season in New Toulouse, so I was unsure what to expect. I listened to the stories of past storms from high-water veterans while acquainting myself with the provisions of different emergency shelters in the area. I read the Tattler and community announcements for warnings and information and prepared as best I could. Nothing, however, could prepare me for the disastrous sight I awoke to this morning. I stood looking in disbelief of the chaos that nature brought upon me and began to shake with tears. Not even the worst has come, yet this tempest has undone what I have worked so hard to manage for so long.

I am, of course, speaking about what this rainfall and humidity has done to my hair! The sandbags, THEY DO NOTHING! I realize that the Mayor and Police Chief just roll out of bed and into their smoking jackets or whatever it is that they wear and go about their day, but hope that this concern will be part of the preparedness planning before more Taloosters’ hairdos are undone by this frizzy misfortune.

Signed,
In Distress

As the rain begins to fall and the skies thicken, Cavalco, the farrier, jockey, and factotum of the Old Spanish Stable, waits patiently while the pig family takes the last bites of the weeds behind the stable. The padrone of the stable and sheriff of New Toulouse, Pazzo Pestana, hoped his pigs would help abate the weed problem. (Photo credit: Pazzo Pestana.)

The grand opening of Gamaliel’s Vintage Toys & Dolls is delayed by troubling weather, which didn’t stop Mr. Gamaliel from composing verse. (Photo credit: Nikita Weymann.)

A ship bound for New Toulouse was lost in a terrible storm. Below is the report from the Court of Inquiry.

Shipwreck report
Charlotte Amalie, Saint Thomas
July 19

Finding and Order of a Naval Court held at the American Consulate at Charlotte Amalie, Danish Virgin Islands, on the 18th day of July, to investigate the circumstances attending the loss of the American barque, “MIELLE,” of Galveston, on the Island of St. Thomas, on the 10th day of July, and to inquire into the conduct of the master, officers, and crew of the said ship.

The “Mielle” was an iron sailing vessel, barque rigged, of 954 tons register, official No. 14.386, built at Port Glasgow in 1876, and owned by Messrs. Chadwick & Theobald.

From the evidence given before this Court it appears that she sailed from Grand-Bassam, Ivory Coast on or about the 1st day of June, bound for the port of New Toulouse, with a cargo of livestock and a crew of 18 hands and 4 cowboys all told.

That they experienced variable weather during the passage, nothing unusual occurring until on or about the 8th day of July, when they encountered strong winds and heavy seas, which continued until and after the ship ran aground.

It appears that the course was altered from W.N.W. to S.W. in an attempt to seek shelter in the lee of St. Thomas Island, but the evidence is conflicting as to the exact time she was steered S.W. The latter course was steered until about noon, when the ship did run aground and went to pieces on the north shore of St. Thomas. From the evidence before the Court it appears that beyond the trimming of sails no precautionary measures were taken with the object of preventing the ship from driving on shore. After breaking the ship against the shore the crew did take refuge in the wreck, and emerged on the 11th day of July, and made their way by walking to the Port of Charlotte Amalie. The fate of the cargo is unknown, none was recovered, but reports indicate that an unknown number did survive and were salvaged by the local populace.

The Court, having regard to the circumstances above stated, and to the whole of the evidence produced before it, finds as follows:

That the master, Mr. Terrence Romero, did find himself overtaken by a storm of exceptional size, and was taking on water due to the exceptionally heavy rainfall and the height of the waves. Mr. Romero was unable to predict the course of the storm, nor any reasonable guess as to the best quarter to run before it, and did make every reasonable effort to save his crew. Mr. Romero was not in default for driving his ship ashore, visibility during the storm being so poor as to prevent any sighting of the land or aids to navigation.

That the master, mate and crew did make every effort to preserve life and property, and that all of the crew and passengers did survive the incident, and all of the cargo was lost.

The Court, in pursuance of the powers vested in it by Section 483 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, therefore orders:

That the casualty of the ship “Mielle” and the cargo on board was due to the storm itself, and not worsened by the actions of the master.

That a copy of the report, or a statement of the case, upon which the investigation was ordered having been furnished the master, Mr. Terrence Romero, that he retain his Master’s certificate without default.
We exonerate him from all blame.

(signed)

E. COLE, Judge.