230 Portsea Street
New Haven, Conn.
Sunday Afternoon, Sept. 25, 1938.
My own dear little girl;--
That was one of the lovely surprises of my existence when the letter box yesterday (Saturday morning) contained your letter. It told so much -- everything, in fact, that Papa and I were eager to know. It was just like a visit, and we were delighted. I hope you have received our letters but we are told that the mails are very slow. We have not been able to get to New Haven. We were asked to keep out as long as we could -- the city is in such terrible condition and besides it was not safe on account of half-fallen trees and live wires. A man told me that he had to go to New Haven yesterday and he said you would hardly recognize the city. We have been so anxious to get your shoes etc. We go to Dr. Reade's to-morrow at 12.30, we could not keep the last appointment, so we have not seen him since you were with us. I feel splendid but I do not think the urine has cleared up enough to suit him -- but what improvement!! I did not believe it possible.
What with the war and the hurricane (the "gale," they call it here) there has been some excitement. There are no street lights yet and in the out-lying districts, no lights or telephones. We take a flashlight when we go out at night. In the center of town the lights are O.K. We have been trying to get Mary Brown but the telephone has been out. Central says it is working to-day but there is no answer.
We telephoned to Mr. Madeira yesterday and he had a sorry story to tell. All his cottages were destroyed but two -- his boat was smashed to "smitherines", [sic] part of the roof taken off of the main house and, all together, twenty-five thousand dollars damage done to his place and not a dollar of hurricane insurance. And to make it worse, the day before the hurricane, they had a gas explosion in the kitchen and they had to take two of the boys to the hospital on account of the severity of their burns. He did not say which boys. He was all shot.
People from the church have just come up from Cape Cod and they said it was dreadful -- all the bodies lying around and houses torn to pieces. In Stoney Creek, you are allowed to go as far as the Theatre. The looting has been very severe and to-day they gave orders to shoot to kill. In some places they came in motor-boats and carried off bureaus (hoping, I suppose to find jewelry and valuables in the drawers.) Now, no boats are allowed to approach the shores after dark. Mr. M. said tha[t] some of the boats were blown up into the back woods.
Mrs. Lovell, from our Church, is visiting in East Hartford and they have heard nothing from her as no news is getting out of Hartford. They have been using carrier pigeons with great success. Yesterday we went to the Dog Roast at Mr. Tuckers. From 4 to 6. They have no lights. We had a nice time. There were not so many at the Roast. Mr. and Mrs Houg [sic] Rogers, Floyd, Wentworth, Botthoff, Noyes, Gladding. Papa had a Fair Com. Meeting so something was accomplished. Mr. M said that Dr. Fischer died Friday but did not know the cause. We are wondering if it was shock from the storm. We will hear at the Ministers Meeting.
We will send hangers etc. as soon as we get them packed. The things will come along as we can get them. I am so glad to hear what you have need of. Am going to make the plum jam this week. Bought some more plums last night. [sic] to make double quantity. The mother and kitten are gone. I wish that they could have stayed a little longer, but she was so timid.
Will close and wake up Papa. He will post this on our way to Epworth League.
Lots and lots of love from your two parents and your two kittencats,
Mamma.
