Isaac’s Storm Reader’s Guide #9

Isaac’s Storm Reader’s Guide #9

“Captain Halsey’s Choice”, “A Matter of
Divination”, and “M is for Missing”
An online version of this guide can be found at CooperHistory.com/choice-matter-missing

Summary
Pages: 109–116

In "Captain Halsey's Choice", Captain T. P. Halsey of the steamship

Louisiana takes his ship out to sea on September 4, four days before the
storm hits Galveston. He is not afraid of a storm. The Weather Bureau has
not issued a storm warning. Even if a storm is approaching, Halsey is
confident because he has been in cyclones before and he has "modern"
technology to back him up.

In "A Matter of Divination", which takes place on the same day as "Captain
Halsey's Choice", the storm's edges hit Florida. The Weather Bureau
assumes that the storm will keep moving north and then east, as most
storms typically do. That morning, Cuban meteorologist Julio Jover
publishes a report in a newspaper stating that the storm is a hurricane. The
storm's odd qualities fool the Weather Bureau into believing a moderate
storm has passed through Key West, which is an island off the coast of
Florida. On September 5, three days before the storm hits Galveston, the
Weather Bureau sends a message stating that the storm is headed
northeast, away from the Gulf of Mexico and Galveston.

In "M Is for Missing", which takes place on September 6, Joseph Cline

(Isaac's brother) sends his daily weather observations to the Weather
Bureau office in Washington, D.C. At the national office, clerks and
meteorologists create a map using data from around the country. They
show on their map that the storm has traveled to Tampa, Florida. It has
not. Unknown to them, it is heading west towards Galveston. Where the
information from Key West should have been included, there is only an
"M", indicating the information is "Missing" (see p. 101 for an explanation).

Last updated on March 6, 2018 Page 1 of 2

 Isaac’s Storm Reader’s Guide #9

Outline
 "Captain Halsey's Choice"
o Captain Halsey takes his ship out to sea from New Orleans,
unconcerned about a potential storm.
 "A Matter of Divination"
o On September 4, the storm's edges hit Florida.
o The Weather Bureau assumes this means the storm is headed
north.
o Meanwhile, the storm rages in Cuba, and meteorologist Julio
Jover calls it a "hurricane".
o The storm heads west, towards Galveston.
 "M Is for Missing"
o On September 6, Joseph Cline sends his reports in to the
national office of the Weather Bureau.
o The clerks and meteorologists at that office use reports from
around the nation to create a map.
o The mapmakers assume that the storm is headed north.
o The storm hits a high-pressure zone (an effect of the national
heat wave) and makes a turn west, towards Galveston.

Discussion questions
1. The name of this part is "The Serpent's Coil", which is named after a
book of the same title written by Farley Mowat about smaller ships
that survived great storms. Based on that information, what do you
think will happen to Halsey?
2. Why did the Weather Bureau believe the storm would head north?
3. What made the storm turn west?
4. In a flash-forward on page 114, Jover talks with Dunwoody after the
storm has devastated Galveston. Imagine you are Jover. How would
Dunwoody's words make you feel?
5. Why is the information from Key West "Missing"? (See p. 101 for an
explanation of these letters.)

Last updated on March 6, 2018 Page 2 of 2