With Woody behind the wheel, true to the actual events, the giraffe truck stopped regularly at auto camps under appropriate trees with the top of the crates open to let Boy and Girl reach up and browse. .printfriendly.pf-aligncenter { Show more Image-purchasing questions? Kraft, Joy W. 2010. At 12:30 PM, a 30-foot bank of what looked like fog rolled in toward Long Island. A woman stands on the running board of an International D-40 truck to feed a captive giraffe in transport. Robert L. was completely crushed by the animal. font-weight: 600; Overall, says Magilligan, the Hurricane of 1938 and Irene dumped similar amounts of rain - between 7 and 10 inches in most locations, often within just a few hours. The three older kids were in school and my mom had to get them out to go home. The damage was horrific. My Mother remembers a tree falling through their roof in North Conway, NH. Kansas City, MO: Andrews McMeel Publishing. Instead of running away from the crazed primate, she stretched out her arms and caught it in mid-air and carried it back to its pen. How San Diego Zoo evolved into a powerhouse - San Diego Union-Tribune Recently, one particular work of historical fiction captured my interestthe fact that the title contained the word giraffes certainly helped, but upon reading the description I discovered that its based on actual events revolving around the San Diego Zoo in 1938. A Cherry & Webb employee drowned during the Hurricane of 1938 while trying to rescue the stores furs in the Providence stores [], [] waves in the hopes ofreaching the Pendleton, an oil tanker that had snapped in two during the fierce storm. I had read about the true story of the famous hurricane giraffes when I conducted research for my story on Belle Benchley, but I thank Lynda Rutledge for writing this work of fiction, which left me with the desire to learn more about them. } San Diego, already a world-class zoo, opened their WPA-constructed Reptile House and a zoo caf. By this time, the hurricane giraffes had made national headlines. But in many ways, the San Diego Zoo had been built on risk taking, and Dr. Harry Wegeforth, the zoos former director and then Belle Benchleys right-hand man, was darn good at fundraising. 670 views, 48 likes, 3 loves, 2 comments, 12 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from The History Guy: In 1938, the merchant steamer SS Robin Goodfellow was caught in the Great New England Hurricane. San Diego Zoo Centennial Timeline: 1938. https://www.sandiegozoowildlifealliance.org/timeline/1938/1938/ (accessed 2/9/2021). Our giraffe habitat lets you get amazingly close to these tremendously tall creatures. Begin or dive deeper into researching your family tree, Learn about the spaces, places, & unique story of your community, The largest North American Heritage collection after the Library of Congress. Found your piece on the Giraffes through researching the question So, is it true? as our Buddy read group was working its way through West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge. From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific Time, you're watching the live cam from the Safari Park. The storm forced the Connecticut River over its banks, inundating cities and towns with floodwater. Little did anyone now that in September 1938, during the final few days of their trip, these animals bound for San Diego would encounter what was then the most devastating hurricane to hit the upper East Coast, killing nearly 700 people. I dont want this story to evaporate from my memory. too many authors seems to be using this idea and with this book it definitely did not work for me. I Has it been made into a movie, or any chance it might be? The user is responsible for all issues of copyright. Cross Country. Location: Urban Jungle. 2016. Sweet memories. Lofty and Patches lived at the San Diego Zoo for nearly 30 years and had seven offspring, including Raffy, D-Day (born June 6, 1946), Rusty, Patty and Lofty Jr. From The San Diego Union, Wednesday, Oct. 26, 1938: alive and kickingaccent on kicking--the two much-heralded animals that blazed a publicity trail across the continent were unloaded in San Diego zoo yesterday. That isn't much compared to what Hurricane Harvey did to Houston last month, dumping up to 50 inches of rain, but our hills and narrow valleys channel the water, producing much . The storm, which originated near the Cape Verde Islands and had previously intensified to a Category 5 hurricane near the Bahamas, pummeled Southern New England with sustained hurricane-force winds and caused . Just finished this wonderful book!! The Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden. 'jetpack-lazy-images-js-enabled' Thanks to amazon first reads and @lakeunion for the e-Arc . No images or content are primarily intended to shock and disgust. Two giraffes miraculously survive a hurricane while crossing the Atlantic and end up in New York. San Diego, CA: Zoological Society of San Diego. Woodrow Wilson Nickel, aka Woody Nickel, almost 18, happens to be on a New York dock in 1938 when the hurricane-battered SS Robin Goodfellow limps into the harbor. } Behind the wheel is the young Dust Bowl rowdy Woodrow. They were given names Lofty and Patches, the winning entries in a naming contest. The author certainly did her research into American life in 1938 and she wove every bit of what she learned into this novel. Connect to database. West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge was inspired by the true story of two giraffes in 1938 that "survived a hurricane at sea, then were driven cross-country for 12 days in little more than a tricked-out pickup truck to become the first giraffes in Southern California." Clinics then ran out of typhoid vaccine. A treasure for sure. 1938, near the Cape Verde Islands. Seattle, WA: Lake Union Publishing. The 130-foot storm-ravaged cargo ship finally reached soggy and mangled Brooklyn on September 23. Apparently they subsisted on pancakes that the cook made for them for three days until they got to shore. In normal conditions this would be a rough trip, especially for temperature-sensitive giraffes, which were placed in crates and forced to endure whatever the high seas threw at them. How I got into. Copyright 2023 Rumble. Born in the wild country of southeast Africa, these babies, less than three years old, set sail from their native shores last summer and were 54 days at sea. border: none; Giraffes Proud Parents at the San Diego Zoo. Los Angeles Times (August 28, 1952): 15. He has often bragged, When the Missus gets tired of waiting for me to write she just burns up the wires. Explore Jim Widmer's photographs of the Friday fish fry dinner tradition in Wisconsin. Photo courtesy Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection. San Diego Zoo. The AMC breached the contract once, after the Great Hurricane of 1938 required downed trees to be [], [] Snow called the High Tide Storm of 1723 one of the big four New England storms. Lion Country . and actually care about the dangers they were experiencing. He remembered the 38, too! West with Giraffes - Sharon Virts | Author https://www.thetiebar.com/?utm_campaign=BowtieLove&utm_medium=YouTube&utm_source=LanceGeiger. } /* If html does not have either class, do not show lazy loaded images. . Erosion from the Great 1938 hurricane. What happened on that ship during the storm is almost too crazy to be true. . As a travel writer she loved the idea of a road trip. They were on their way to San Diego Zoo in California. Looks like a granny, dresses like a schoolmarm, swears like a sailor, and still charms snooty zoo galoots with their fancy educations. Rutledge even includes reference to Benchleys encounter with an escaped baboon. The trials and hardships of an old man, a young man, and a dreamy eyed girl are laid out for all to breath in through the action, imagery, and emotion of life during the hardest of times. Gawky Giraffes to Leave Athenia Today for Coast. Paterson (N.J.) News (October 10, 1938): 35. New York: Scribner. Book Review: West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge SUBJECTS Animals Clothing and dress Hats Automobile industry and trade Indoor photography Men Zoos Delivery of goods Signs and symbols Automobiles Transportation Trucks How to Purchase a Copy Buy The Image For commercial or non-profit use, please contact Image Sales. San Diego's Hurricane Giraffes | In 1938, the merchant steamer SS Robin The storm totaled about 26,000 automobiles and blew over 20,000 electrical poles. Determined to meet his cousin at that Brooklyn dock, he arrived only to find that his cousin was killed on board the Goodfellow during the hurricane. Lofty and Patches became national figures when they made the last lap. I absolutely loved this book! Hooray Lynda Rutledge. As very few images of the actual event are available in the Public Domain, images of similar objects and events are used for illustration. They find it in two giraffes who miraculously survive a hurricane while crossing the Atlantic. On board the ship were some unique passengers: two Giraffes. First giraffes arrived at San Diego Zoo by truck in 1938 2016. https://www.sandiegozoo100.org/100-animals/lofty-and-patches. display: flex; align-items: center; The Great 1938 Hurricane submerged coastal towns under eight feet of water. quite the fun adventure! Lofty and Patches, giraffes | San Diego Zoo 100 Eighty-mile-an-hour winds lashed the coast and the torrential downpour caused rivers and streams to overflow. For commercial or non-profit use, please contact Image Sales. West with Giraffes. } Now get that head back in its hole, ignore those know nothing scientists, and relax. [], [] three other Category 3 hurricanes since the colonists arrived: the September Hurricane of 1869, the Great New England Hurricane of 1938 and Hurricane Carol in [], [] Coventry. Getting to see a giraffe in 1938 was a pretty rare occasion. . The youngest child, just turned 2, was with her and a tree limb fell and gave him a bad cut on his head. The giraffe is in a large crate on the bed of the truck which appears to be inside a building. The first part of their journey involved sailing aboard a ship from Africa. 1997. The country had endured a Great Depression, filling the landscape with Hoovervilles and shantytowns, WPA and CCC projects, and migrants searching for a better life. i loved the idea of the story, a road trip from new york to california with two young giraffes, the only part of the book that is non-fiction. The Great Depression lingers. View this selection of cartoons by William Donahey. Wendy Eckart. Upon discovering that two of the passengers were giraffes, a whole new set of stories quickly developed. Photo courtesy Archives and Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center, University of Connecticut Libraries. And high winds knocked down an estimated 2 billion trees in New York and New England, devastating forests. Who was the editor on this one? Fantastic, and such a good read. My grandparents were on their honeymoon and when they returned to Salem, CT from Niagra Falls, the whole region was in disarray. */ Those Giraffes, caught in a storm that killed hundreds of people, were en route to San Diego, California, and the storm was only the beginning of their cross-country journey. Above, Bushnell Park in Hartford after the storm. Giraffes at Lion Country Safari remained outdoors and kept their heads down during Hurricane Irma. I was so excited to read this book but couldn't get past the first third. The physiological demands of that long neck get support from a gene involved in strengthening bones and blood vessels, researchers find after inserting the sequence in mice. Lofty and Patches. San Diego Zoo: 100 Years. A giraffe could look into a second-story window without even having to stand on its tiptoes! . In October 1938 the first breeding pair of giraffes arrived at the San Diego Zoo from east Africa. The Great New England Hurricane - HISTORY Baby Giraffes from Africa Reach San Diego Zoo. Los Angeles Times (October 27, 1938): 14. The Great New England Hurricane of 1938 - National Weather Service Subscribe for more forgotten history: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4sEmXUuWIFlxRIFBRV6VXQ?sub_confirmation=1. 1. It touched me more deeply than anything Ive read in years!! When they finally were in their new house, a picturesque building that resembles a fairy-tale illustration, every connected with the job was ready to fall apart except Mr. and Mrs. @media screen { From the Archives: Chinese spy balloon sparks echos of Japanese balloon bombs during WWII. As the giraffes leave quarantine, Woody jumps back on the stolen motorcycle and follows them. In the novel West with Giraffes, Woody Nickel, is a seventeen-year-old dirt-farm rowdy, pure as a cow pie, cunning as a wild hog bound to escape the Texas Panhandle (and any law enforcement that might be looking for him). The story begins with a centenarian named Woodrow Wilson Woody Nickel sitting in his nursing home watching a TV documentary on the near extinction of giraffes and other endangered species in Africa. 3rd ed. Swiss Dr Dies In Giraffe Crash On Safari - ananova.news San Diego Zoo's timeline is best viewed on a desktop. Estimates vary, but at least 400 people died that day andmaybe as many as 800. No one thought of padding their stalls, and they learned bout mal de mer during the last days of the voyage when the big September storm swept the Atlantic coast. Get help and learn more about the design. Afterward, the hurricane left only three. I too felt the love for the giraffes and all animals really. Sometimes the men even stopped under appropriate food trees and let Lofty and Patchesstretch stretch their necks up for an afternoon snack. Oct. 25, 2022 4:50 AM PT In October 1938 the first breeding pair of giraffes arrived at the San Diego Zoo from east Africa. According to Benchley, they were one of the few breeding pairs in captivity. Benchley also once caught a rattlesnake by grabbing it by the back of the head. Thank you so much for the feedback! But by 1925 there were reportedly only five giraffes in the entire country. If you liked. As the giraffes were rolling out of sight, Woody runs as fast as he can through the flooded streets, passing dozens of reporters, and eventually steals a motorcycle to keep up with the truck bound for the quarantine facility. The Hurricane of '38 | American Experience | PBS } San Diego's First Giraffes - The History Guy 82nd Anniversary - September 21, 1938. even Maggie the orangutan. In Hartford, the river reached 35.4 feet, 19.4 feet above flood stage. z-index: 1000; position: relative