Orphan Train Disaster

by Rachel Wesson

  Although grateful for his concern, she still tried to move away from him. She didn’t want to become the talk of the hospital, but he stopped her by tightening his grip.

  “If the events of the last twenty-four hours have taught me anything, my love, it is that life is short. We have to make the most of the time we have. I think it’s about time we went public with our romance. I am sick of hiding how I feel. Aren’t you?”

  Did that mean he didn’t see her as his sister? Or was she misreading what he was saying, again? She was so tired, her brain wasn’t functioning properly.

  “I don’t know what you are talking about Patrick Green.”

  “Really? So I imagine how you blush when I catch you looking at me?” He whispered, so close his breath seemed to caress her cheek.

  Her face blazed, she’d hoped he didn’t notice that. Her heart thudded in her throat as she inhaled his individual scent beneath the medical smell clinging to his doctor’s coat.

  “So, do you mind me doing this then?” he whispered. His eyes held hers prisoner as he slowly, very slowly, bent his head. She felt the warm brush of his lips against hers

  He’d kissed her. Right there in the middle of the corridor where anyone and everyone could see. It was only a slight touch of his lips on hers, but it was enough.

  Her heart fluttered, as did the flurry of butterflies in her stomach. She felt dizzy and then guilty for being this happy.

  “Still don’t know what I am talking about?” he asked. His eyes twinkled, the expression in them making her knees weaken. “Frieda, I love you. I have for years. And I think you love me, too.”

  He loved her. She wanted to shout it from the rooftops. But she’d thought this before.

  “You have a rather high impression of yourself, Dr. Green.” She didn’t know why she was protesting when she wanted to scream yes, she loved him.

  He clasped her hands in his. “I love you.”

  Her eyes widened in astonishment but she knew from his tender expression, he meant it. He leaned into her slightly, “Did you hear me, I said I love you.”

  She pulled her hand free and brushed a finger across his cheek. “I love you too.”

  He swept her into his arms, almost lifting her from the floor and kissed her once more. This time, his lips held hers for seconds before he pulled away, breathing a little harder. “I wish we were somewhere more private. Trust me to pick the wrong location to kiss you for the first time.”

  Although he was whispering into her ear, she worried someone might hear him. She let him guide her to where the volunteers had set up a counter providing hot tea and coffee with sandwiches for the staff. They found a seat, squashed together, and ate their supper.

  His fingers played with hers, squeezing them under the table. She looked into his face, his tender gaze causing her stomach butterflies to do cartwheels. He cleared his throat before whispering, “I love you, Frieda.”

  They might have been sitting in the busy hospital, but to Frieda it was as if they were alone in the world. Feeling guilty at being so happy, she glanced at him.

  “I don’t think I should be this happy. Not at a time like this.”

  “Frieda, you know more than anyone how a tragedy like this changes lives. If it wasn’t for the boat accident, you wouldn’t have come into my life. Something good came out of something dreadful.” He picked up her hand and kissed her fingers “ Maybe in time, this tragedy will change things so no other shirtwaist workers or factory employees will face such dangers daily.”

  She sat resting her head on his shoulder as his fingers played with her hair. Her eyes half closed as she relaxed. He loved her. Patrick loved her. A crash of crockery reminded her where they were. Looking up she saw a red faced nurse picking up pieces of broken china from the floor.

  She sat up straighter putting a slight distance between them.

  “Patrick, how are we going to come back from all this? What will happen to the children if Leonie doesn’t survive? Have you heard how she is?”

  “She’s still in theater. We’ll know more later or maybe tomorrow morning.”

  “Do you think so?” she looked in the face of the person she trusted more than anyone else in the world. Was he hiding something in an effort to protect her? “Do you think she will live?”

  He closed his eyes, perhaps so she couldn’t see the truth. “I hope so, Frieda. She’s in the best hands. Dad asked Lawlor to assist him. He’s the best surgeon in New York, next to Dad of course.” Patrick stood up and held his hand out for Frieda, helping her to her feet.

  “I best get back, but you, Dr Klunsberg, need to go home. Lily and Mother will be going out of their mind with worry.”

  “You’ve been working as long as I have.”

  “Yes, darling, but I’m a man.” He winked to show he was joking. “Go on, go home. I will be fine. Come back tomorrow morning.”

  He leaned in to whisper he loved her as he took her empty cup. She wished he would kiss her again. Looking in his eyes, she could see he felt the same. Then he walked away, repeating his instructions to go home.

  She couldn’t resist. “Yes, Dr. Green.”

  Chapter 37

  On her way home, she met Gustav. He seemed to be walking around in circles as she’d seen him around the hospital earlier.

  “Are you all right?” she asked. He jumped as if she’d shouted. “I’m sorry Gustav I didn’t mean to startle you.”

  “You didn’t, Frieda. I was just deep in thought. I can’t believe it’s happened again. Just over five years later, and New York is dealing with another tragedy like the one I lost my Agatha in. You know what I mean. You lost your Vati and your brother. You understand, don’t you, Frieda?”

  His rambling worried her. He was usually a quiet man. When had he last had some water or food?

  “Yes, Gustav, I understand. Where were you going now?”

  “Just been checking in at the different hospitals, hoping to find my friends. Families I knew from Little Germany, they have girls missing.”

  “What about Alice? Does she know you survived?”

  “Ja. I ran to the orphanage. She stayed with Emily on Friday night as I was working on Saturday. I hugged Alice. But I couldn’t stay. I had to come and help other families get their girls home. I just didn’t think so many had died. Why? The fire only lasted half an hour, yet so many dead. How could this happen?”

  Frieda didn’t have the answers for him.

  “Why don’t you come with me? I am going to the Sanctuary. Lily and Kathleen will be there. They can send someone to bring Alice over. She must want to be with you. You can have some food and get some rest.”

  “I must keep looking, so many missing.” He was muttering again.

  “Gustav, please walk me home. I need a friend too. Leonie is badly injured and I have to break the news to Lily and Kathleen. And the children.”

  His eyes widened. “How bad?”

  “She’s been in theater for nine hours.” She kept her voice professional, afraid to show weakness. She had to stay strong, people expected that from medical staff.

  “Please, Gustav, take me home.”

  She knew he was too much of a gentleman to refuse her request.

  He offered her his arm and they headed to the streetcar. The journey passed quickly as Frieda related Celia’s story, and then the story of Isadore’s father turning up. Gustav knew Isodore and was pleased to know he had found his father.

  He said, “I sent Mr. Wegodner to the hospital. He’d looked just about everywhere else. It’s good they found each other.”

  Celia’s story also made him smile. “Shows that girl had spirit. She was brave, Frieda. So many of those ladies were brave. Not like the bosses. They could have done so much more, but they chose not to. Put money ahead of anything else. Even people’s lives.”

  “How do you mean?” Frieda asked. It was a way to keep him talking as they walked the rest of the way to the Sanctuary.

  “I was there when the firem
an came in to inspect the factory. He warned the bosses not to lock the doors on the girls, but he took no notice. Said he was afraid of thefts. As if those decent young women would be bothered with thieving.”

  Frieda assumed he didn’t expect an answer. She couldn’t agree as the hospital regularly lost property to visitors and patients. Still, she wasn’t about to argue with him. He kept talking.

  “The fireman and the other insurance man who came, they both recommended the bosses put in some sprinklers. I didn’t fully understand what those men meant, but the boss said it was too expensive. Everything was money, money, money. All those people, they are worth more than any amount of money, aren’t they, Frieda?”

  Relieved they had arrived at the Sanctuary, Frieda moved to open the door, but Lily had got there first. She pulled Frieda into her arms. “Thank God you are home. We were worried sick. Gustav, how good of you to bring her home. Come in, please.”

  “Lily, can you send someone to fetch Alice? She knows her father is safe, but I think she’d prefer to be with him. Gustav needs water, food, and rest. He was a hero; saved Maria, her friend Conrad, and some other people from the fire.”

  Kathleen came out in time to hear Frieda.

  “Frieda, darling, so glad you came home. Did you see my husband and son?”

  “Yes, Kathleen, they were both working hard. Patrick ordered me to come home and rest. I didn’t want to, but he insisted and used his position. I had no choice, but to follow his orders.” Despite her own indignation, she was stunned to see Kathleen smile.

  “Good, he was right. You’d never have listened otherwise, would you Frieda? You look like you are about to fall over. Come in and sit near the fire. We’ve been working in shifts, helping people through the night. We have had lots of visitors. People find sitting by an open fire and a pot of tea rather comforting. Don’t they, Gustav?”

  Frieda watched Kathleen put their visitor at ease. She was so kind. Gustav looked slightly more comfortable. He stared around him before glancing at his soot-stained clothes.

  “That they do. Are you sure you want me to sit down? My clothes are rather dirty.”

  “Please sit down, Gustav. Lily has gone to rustle up some food.”

  Frieda let them talk around her as she tried to form the words to tell them about Leonie. Kathleen glanced at her and then took her hand. “Frieda, what is it? You’re whiter than a sheet. Sit down.”

  “Leonie. It’s Leonie.”

  Kathleen screamed bringing Lily and Cook racing. Horrified, Frieda checked the stairs but the children didn’t appear.

  “What’s wrong? Why did you scream?” Lily put her arm around Kathleen who was sobbing quietly.

  “Leonie….” Kathleen squeaked.

  Lily paled as Cook grabbed Frieda’s hand. “Is she dead?”

  “No, but she’s very seriously ill. They found her last night at the bottom of the elevator shaft. Richard has operated and we just have to wait.” Frieda left out the fact Leonie was still in theater.

  “What shall we tell the children?” Kathleen asked, regaining her composure.

  Frieda sighed. Those children had been through so much already. “Do they know about the factory yet?”

  Lily and Kathleen exchanged a glance. “We told them Leonie had probably gone to a friend’s rather than come straight back here. We knew there was some confusion and we hoped the news would be good. They stayed up waiting until the early hours but finally fell asleep a while ago.”

  Frieda gripped her hands together. How could she destroy the children’s lives? “I think you should tell them when they wake up. They need to be prepared, but it seems pointless waking them now. What do you think?”

  The women nodded. Cook excused herself, her eyes watering. She reappeared with a stack of sandwiches she must have made earlier and a pot of tea. Frieda matched Gustav sandwich for sandwich. Then she had a slice of cake on top. Yawning, she thanked Cook and Lily.

  Kathleen moved nearer, gave her another hug and kissed her on the cheek.

  “Freida, go to bed. You need to rest, Patrick won’t be happy if you don’t. Gustav, if you want to rest here a while, you are very welcome, isn’t he, Lily?”

  Gustav stood up. “I need to go back to help.”

  Frieda knew he was exhausted. She had to think of a way to make him rest. If he stayed here, at least he would have some company if he wanted it. He’d be warm.

  “Gustav, as a doctor, I’m telling you to rest. You can explain to Lily and Kathleen the type of help the survivors and their families will need. Those who have lost people will also need help, some girls used to send money home to Russia and other countries.” Frieda saw he hesitated. “A policeman said they have run out of coffins. The city isn’t ready for this scale of emergency.”

  “Oh my goodness,” Kathleen made the sign of the cross.

  “It was horrible, Kathleen. The bodies had to remain on the streets with blankets over them. They are bringing in coffins from Brooklyn. They set up a temporary morgue on the East River, just like they did with the General…” Frieda’s voice broke. Kathleen rushed to her side.

  “Frieda, you need to lie down.”

  “I will, but please look after Gustav.” Frieda looked sternly at the man who looked like he would sleep on his feet. “Sit down.”

  Gustav sat back down.

  “Lily and Kathleen will be interested to hear what you told me about the firemen and the inspectors. They have some influential friends who could make use of the information when the inquiry happens.”

  Gustav frowned, “Don’t have much faith in inquiries.”

  Frieda shared Gustav’s view given how little had been achieved in wake of the General Slocum fire, but she had to believe in the system.

  “Patrick - Dr. Green believes things will change now.”

  “I agree Frieda. Please tell us Gustav after Frieda says goodnight.” Kathleen gave Frieda a look she usually reserved for Little Richie when he was misbehaving.

  “I’m going.” Frieda kissed them all on the cheek and left, dragging her feet up the stairs. Images of Leonie tormented her. She tried to push them away and think of something nicer. She would think about Patrick and his kiss. As soon as her head hit the pillow, she fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.

  Chapter 38

  Sunday evening, March 26th.

  “Lily, what can we do? I feel so helpless sitting here.” Kathleen stood and paced the room. “I can’t believe they won’t let us visit Leonie.”

  “It’s safer for her to be kept in isolation. You know that. You’re the one married to the doctor.”

  Kathleen paced more, irritating Lily who was finding it hard enough to concentrate.

  “Kathleen, can you please sit down.”

  Kathleen ignored her.

  “What are all those families going to do now? Not just the ones here in New York, but the ones in Russia, Germany, and Italy who depend on the money their girls were sending home. I can’t bear to think about it.”

  “Kathleen, look at this. I knew we had our doubts about Mayor Gaynor being elected.” Lily held up the newspaper, but Kathleen wasn’t capable of reading. “We thought he was another pawn of that Tammany lot; if he got elected he would give jobs to all his friends and cronies who owed him something. We judged him badly, didn’t we?”

  That was an understatement. Mayor Gaynor had proved everyone wrong, and shocked New York by appointing relatively unknown civil servants to prominent positions. He based his appointments on who he felt was right for the job, not on how they voted or who they knew. Charlie had told her that more than one Tammany Hall official had cursed out both the Mayor and James Gallagher. The Mayor for not playing the politics game and Gallagher for not being successful in his assassination attempt on Gaynor. Despite shooting the Mayor at point blank range, Gallagher didn't kill him.

  “Look at what he’s said, ‘The appalling loss of life and personal injuries call for larger measures of relief than our charitable societies
can be expected to meet from their ordinary resources. I urge all citizens to give for this purpose by sending their contribution either directly to Jacob H. Schiff or me for remittance to him.’”

  “Shiff? As in the Wall Street Investment banker?” Kathleen asked, coming closer to read the paper over Lily’s shoulder.

  “Yes. The mayor has given one hundred dollars of his own money. This is something we can get involved with, Kathleen. The committee will need volunteers.”

  Inspector Griffin walked into the room just at that moment, “That they do, Lily. Forgive me for interrupting, but Cook let me in. You ladies didn’t hear the front door.”

  Lily couldn’t believe this was the policeman she had known for years. His disheveled appearance suggested he hadn’t slept and he seemed to be ten years older than the last time she’d seen him.

  “Inspector Griffin, sit down, you look awful.”

  “Thank you, Lily, for being so frank.”

  “Diplomacy was never her strong point, Inspector. You of all people should know that.” Kathleen did better than Lily at hiding her shock. “Here, sit closer to the fire. Cook will bring you something to eat and drink. What can we do?”

  “Lily, Kathleen, I don’t know where to start. I’m so glad you are here. I couldn't go home to the wife. She’s upset like most New Yorkers, but she doesn’t comprehend just how horrible it is.” Inspector Griffin stood up again. “I don’t rightly remember why I came here. I had something to tell you. What I’m doing here. There’s so much to do. I should get back. I just…”

  Lily brushed tears from her eyes at the sight of this powerful man dissolving into a mess.

  Kathleen stood up, and taking him by the arm, guided him back to a seat. “Sit down and rest for a few minutes. A cup of tea and a sandwich will make you feel a little better. Then you can remember what it was you needed to tell us. After that, you can go back and face whatever is waiting for you.”

  Lily waited until Kathleen had left the room. She sensed kindness or sympathy was the last thing he needed from her. She opted for a businesslike approach. “Inspector, I can only imagine the sights you and your men have had to deal with. One of our girls, Leonie Chiver, is fighting for her life. She was found in an elevator shaft or something. Her siblings are upstairs, and God only knows what will happen to them if she dies.”