September 7, 1900 first light of day, Pearl felt the first pang and knew the baby would be early. Two weeks earlier than she had thought, and before Bryan Canon would be home. Oh, well, the name would just have to wait, then, until he got back from Galveston and the medical seminar.
That evening, un-named baby boy arrived, and as the family gathered, Pearl shared the news: "We wait until Bryan's home for the name."
As the sun went down on Galveston that night, the weather-man decided to ignore the exaggerated reports coming in on the wire from Cuba. "Those folks always want to make a big deal of almost nothing", he said to his helper. By morning, clouds had an ominous roll, and the surf was doing a "storm-in-the-Gulf" style of breakers. He rode his horse through the town to warn folks, specially along the beach, but it was already almost too late. Landfall at 5:00 p.m., storm surge at 14', winds measured at 145 before a gust took the wind gauge. 8,000+/- died in the heaviest storm to hit the US, as Galveston was destroyed.
In the medical school, Bryan had come the week before to learn a new surgical procedure. Now, Dr. Canon, sleeping in the Old Red building, was on duty in an improvised emergency room. The school building survived the storm, along with a few Galveston landmarks such as the Bishop's Palace, most being the work of Nicholas J. Clayton, the architect now even more famous.
Finally home, Bryan was the first to hear Pearl's announcement: "The name for my first son is to be Clayton. He's the man whose work kept you alive!"
Next up: Clayton, Aggie engineer.
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