Isaac’s Storm Reader’s Guide #8

Isaac’s Storm Reader’s Guide #8

“Isaac’s Map” and “Suspicion”
An online version of this guide can be found at CooperHistory.com/map-suspicion

Summary
Pages: 98–108

In "Isaac's Map", lightning strikes Galveston's electrical power supply. The

city is unprepared. Isaac tracks the storm closely, measuring its power. A
few hours later, the Weather Bureau's mapmaker in Galveston, Theodore
Bornkessell, creates a daily map of the area's weather. As Bornkessell
creates the map, Dr. Samuel O. Young, the secretary of the city's cotton
exchange, watches with anticipation. He sees concerning patterns on the
map. He points them out to Bornkessell, who tells him that no warning has
come from the national Weather Bureau office.

In "Suspicion", the storm strikes Cuba. The Cubans have a clever system for
detecting hurricanes, but American officials prevent them from sharing
observations via telegram. Willis Moore is extremely controlling, going out
of his way to silence the Cuban meteorologists. The Cubans are outraged,
but there is not much they can do against the occupying Americans. The
two organizations view hurricanes from very different perspectives. Father
Gangoite, who is in charge of the Belen observatory, publishes his
prediction that a cyclone could form. He believes it will rain on the island.
He turns out to be correct.

Outline
 "Isaac's Map"
o At 3 a.m. on September 4 (four days before the hurricane hits
Galveston) a storm knocks out the electricity to the city.
o At 8:00 a.m., Theodore Bornkessell creates a weather map.
o Dr. Samuel L. Young watches Bornkessell make the map, and
shares his concern about a possible storm. Bornkessell tells him
that the national office has sent no warning.
 "Suspicion"
o The storm hits Cuba.
o A brief history of the Belen Observatory

Last updated on March 6, 2018 Page 1 of 2

 Isaac’s Storm Reader’s Guide #8

o The U.S. Weather Bureau announces its decision to censor

Cuban telegrams related to the weather.
o Father Gangiote predicts that a storm is headed towards
Galveston.

Discussion questions
1. The chapter is called "Isaac's Map", but he did not actually draw the
map. Why is it called his map?
2. Why do you think the author included so many details about the
storm that knocked out the electricity? (Hint: What does electricity
represent to these people?)
3. Harrison Baldwin – the class clown in military training we met on p.
35 – is put on leave for incompetency and is not in the city when the
storm hits. Why is this ironic? (You might have to look up what
"irony" means.)
4. Find the source for the story about Dr. Young detecting signs of a
coming storm (notes begin on page 277 and the numbers refer to page
numbers in the book). What is the author's source for the information
beginning with "For the last week..." on page 100? Do you believe this
is a credible source? Why or why not?
5. To understand the chapter on Cuba, you may want to read a little bit
about the Spanish–American War, which resulted in the United
States Military Government in Cuba. Why was Weather Bureau so
concerned with silencing Cuban meteorologists?

Last updated on March 6, 2018 Page 2 of 2