“Girl you need to get back to the boat,” the tug crew member said. “Let someone else help. Go on, love. God bless you.”
Frieda knew she had to rest, if only for five minutes. She couldn’t keep going. She spotted a young boy not too far from the boat so swam over to help pull him to safety. But when she got to him, she saw he was already gone, face down in the water. She still grabbed him and pulled him to the boat. He was someone’s child and they would want to bury him.
Chapter 69
“Where is Teddy? Have you seen him? Has anyone seen my son?” Lily screamed as she ran from person to person along the shore line. There were bodies everywhere, mainly women and children. But no sign of Teddy.
“Lily you must go home. There is nothing you can do here. The firemen and police will do their jobs. We will wait at your house. It’s the first place Teddy will come looking for you.” Kathleen gripped Lily’s arm and half pulled, half dragged her to a cab. She gave the cabbie Lily’s address. Mini Mike was by her side just before she climbed in.
“We’ll find them Miss Lily. You can count on us.”
Lily glanced at her friend, but she couldn’t say anything. Kathleen thanked Mike and closed the door of the cab. It took ages to get home with the streets blocked by those who had rushed to help as well as spectators.
“Charlie and the rest of the people looking will find them. Don’t lose hope, Lily.” But even as Kathleen spoke the words, she couldn’t keep her voice from trembling. Granny Belbin had foreseen a great tragedy. What could be more tragic than a boat full of families enjoying a beautiful June day only to flounder with such horrendous loss of life? How many of those families would still be alive to see tomorrow? She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to keep the tears from falling.
But they didn’t make it back to Lily’s house.
“Kathleen, I can’t go home. I have to be there. He might need me.”
Before Kathleen could react, Lily instructed the cab driver to turn back.
“Kathleen, what if it was Patrick or any child in trouble? Wouldn’t you have stayed?”
Kathleen nodded. “I will go back with you. I won’t leave your side until we find Teddy, I promise.”
Lily squeezed Kathleen’s hand. Kathleen prayed hard Teddy would survive and they would find him soon.
They didn’t see Mini Mike or Tommy when they returned but found a crowd gathered by the riverside.
“Where is he going? He’ll drown. Someone stop him,” a man shouted
But nobody paid any attention, their eyes on the boy who divested his clothes and shoes before diving into the water. They watched, each holding their breath, as the young boy swam out to a toddler. They cheered as the boy pulled the toddler to safety, bringing him back to shore. He handed the child over to a nurse before turning and heading back into the water. Again, and again he swam out and came back, sometimes with two children in his arms.
“Who is he?” someone asked.
“Hans Klunsberg. He’s only ten. I didn’t know he could swim. Oh no, it looks like someone is pulling him under.” The man spoke with a German accent making Kathleen think he was from the same community as the heroic boy.
They watched, helpless as Hans fought someone in the water. It was a larger woman who appeared to be trying to use Hans as a life jacket but was precariously close to drowning both of them.
“Come on Hans, swim back to us please.” A woman nearby shouted. Kathleen didn’t know if she knew the boy or was just caught up in the momentum of what was happening.
Hans managed to loosen the woman’s grip, but instead of swimming away from her, he put his arm around the woman and seemed to be trying to bring her to shore.
A woman screamed from the bank. “Someone help him. Please. He’ll drown.”
A policeman to one side of Lily stripped off his jacket and boots and ran into the water, closely followed by what looked like a nurse carrying a ladder. Kathleen immediately saw her intentions. She helped hold the ladder as they waded into the shallow waters. By using it as a bridge, they could attempt to reach some of those still stranded.
Kathleen lost sight of the young boy. She assumed the police officer must have ordered him out of the water and to safety.
Chapter 70
Kathleen offered a hand to a girl who jumped off a tugboat nearing the shore.
“You should go to the hospital,” Kathleen said. The young girl, who appeared to be about fourteen shook her head.
“I have to find Hans and Papi.”
Before Kathleen could stop her, the girl made three more trips into the water before some hospital doctors insisted she rest.
A nurse put a blanket around the girl’s shoulders. “We will sit on you to stop you going back in. You need to recover your strength. What’s your name, little lady.”
“Frieda.”
Kathleen saw the girl try to argue but she was too exhausted. She watched as a nurse gave Frieda something to drink, whiskey, judging by the reaction on the young girl’s face.
Lily turned back to look at the water. Kathleen couldn’t bear to watch the pain on her friend’s face. Was her son one of those floating on the river or had someone like Frieda managed to save him?
“Lily, I think we should go home now. You’re freezing. “
“Kathleen, I’d feel something wouldn’t I? If he was dead? My heart would stop beating, wouldn’t it?”
Kathleen handed her a mug of tea. “Someone sent this down to the workers. I don’t think they will miss one cup. Drink it, Lily. You won’t be any good to anyone if you get ill.”
Lily didn’t argue. She didn’t have the strength for anything.
“They just took that girl who saved so many people up to the hospital. She’ll be fine but they think she swallowed a lot of water. She was wonderful, wasn’t she?”
Lily didn’t seem to hear what Kathleen was saying. All day and into the night, they stayed by the riverside, helping where they could. Kathleen tried to get Lily to go into the hospital fearing her friend was in severe shock but Lily refused.
“I can’t leave, Kathleen. I sense Teddy is nearby. If I go, I might…”Lily stared at the water, “I might never see him again.”
Kathleen knew Lily wasn’t being logical but she could see her friend was convinced she had to stay. Kathleen got a blanket and hot drink from one of the volunteers and insisted Lily sit down.
Together they held hands. The police officers told them they had stopped bringing out survivors hours earlier. Now they were clearing the water of bodies. Kathleen watched as they wrote identifications on the labels before attaching them to the bodies. Someone said it was to give the authorities a chance to identify the poor unfortunates.
“Richard called me,” Inspector Griffin announced as he came upon Lily and Kathleen.
“Where is Richard? Have you heard anything from Charlie?” Lily asked.
“Charlie is doing the rounds of local hospitals and police stations. Anywhere they took the survivors. I’m sorry, Lily but there is no news yet.” Inspector Griffin couldn’t hold her gaze. He looked to Kathleen.
Kathleen took a breath. “Richard is in surgery isn’t he?”
“Yes he is. He is working on the worst of the burn victims. Those that can’t yet be moved. Some are on their way to Bellevue and other hospitals. This one isn’t designed to cope with fires.”
Lily stared past them at the river. Kathleen followed her gaze. Was Teddy out there somewhere?
“Lily, I think it’s time you went home. The other children are bound to be scared and will want their mother. There is no point in staying here.” Kathleen spoke softly, but still she saw Lily clench her fists.
“Teddy needs me more.”
“Lily, he may be on his way home.” Kathleen looked to Inspector Griffin for help.
“Come on Miss Lily,” Inspector Griffin said. “I’ll take you home and then do a tour of the stations. Maybe someone picked him up.”
Kathleen thought Lily would argue
but instead her friend’s shoulders slumped. Lily had given up and that knowledge scared Kathleen almost more than the sights she had seen this night.
Lily’s knees buckled, so Inspector Griffin had to pick her up and carry her like a child. The cab took no time to get home, possibly due to the presence of the police inspector. Soon they were standing on the sidewalk outside Lily’s home.
“Kathleen, how can I face my children? Laurie especially. He will be devastated I came back without Teddy.”
Before Kathleen could speak, they heard Laurie shouting.
“Mom, thank God you’re home.” Laurie came running out the door. “Dad isn’t here, and the girls were crying. Cook tried to stop them but they kept asking for you. Where’s Teddy? Did you find him?”
Lily couldn’t speak. She shook her head. Laurie flung himself into her arms.
“You will, Mom. You’ll find him.”
They walked arm in arm into the house, Kathleen and Inspector Griffin following behind.
Chapter 71
Kathleen and Lily put the other children to bed with a promise to wake them up as soon as there was any news. Kathleen’s heart broke for them all, but especially Laurie. He kept telling Lily that Teddy was still alive.
“He’s my twin. I’d know if he was dead. He’s scared and his hands hurt. But he’s alive.”
The adults didn’t pay much attention to Laurie. Lily seemed numb. She didn’t cry or talk. She sat, white-faced, staring at the window. Charlie was still searching the hospitals and the morgue. The continuous stream of visitors brought reports of complete chaos in the hospitals and morgues as the city dealt with the greatest tragedy it had known. Over one thousand dead. Many of those saved had suffered horrible burns and some were half-drowned.
“Father Nelson, I have to go to the hospital and see Richard and Patrick. I won’t be long. Will you stay with Lily?”
“Of course, Kathleen. Take your time. You should rest too. You’ve been awake for hours.”
“I can rest when we know. My heart breaks for Lily. I feel I should stay but I need to see my family.”
“Go. You can come back later, and I will stay with her in the meantime.”
Chapter 72
Kathleen took a cab to the hospital where Richard worked. Patrick had volunteered to help at the hospital as soon as the news hit. When she arrived, Richard was in surgery, but she got to hug Patrick. He was white with shock and tiredness, but he refused to come home.
“Sorry Mom, but there is too much to be done here. It’s not just the victims, but some of the families of those missing are in shock. They need to be looked after.”
“What can I do?” Kathleen asked, not commenting on the fact Patrick had called her “Mom”. It showed just how upset he was.
Patrick glanced at her as if he wanted to say something but was afraid to. “Is there any news of Teddy? Dad told me he was missing.”
“No darling. None yet.”
“Mom, there are lots of children here. Do you think you should ask them if they saw Teddy? Some might know?’
“Did you see his friend Kevin?” Even as she asked, she knew it was a stupid question. Patrick didn’t know Teddy’s school friends.
“I’ll take you to them, shall I?”
“Yes, please but then I will have to get back to Lily. She is in a bad way.”
Patrick escorted her down to where some children who didn’t seem injured were waiting. They were very quiet, which in itself was worrying. Given what had happened, they should have been crying or screaming.
Kathleen moved among them, asking them if they needed anything. Some didn’t answer her, others asked if she had seen their parents. A couple didn’t speak good English and she wasn’t able to make herself understood. Then she found a girl she recognized.
“You are the young swimmer. I saw you rescue some people. I’m Kathleen Green.”
“Frieda Klunsberg.”
“Are you alright? Can I get you anything?” Kathleen glanced at the girl’s bandaged hands. “Are you in pain? Maybe I could find a nurse.”
“I can’t find my father or brother. Have you seen them? Someone said Hans helped to save some people. He is a good swimmer too.”
“Is he about ten years old?”
Hope flared in Frieda’s eyes. “Yes, he is. About this tall and has sandy colored hair. Did you see him?”
“I saw him rescue some children. And a lady. But that was hours ago. He didn’t seem to be injured. Could he have gone home looking for you and your father?”
Frieda stood up. “I didn’t think of that. I will go and find out. Thank you, Mrs. Green.”
“Wait. You can’t go alone. Where do you live?”
“Klein—I mean, Little Germany.”
“I can take you. I will go with you in the cab.”
“Aren’t your looking for someone?” Frieda asked.
“My husband and son both work here. I just needed to see them. A friend’s child is missing. Teddy, Theodore Doherty. You don’t know him, do you?”
Frieda shook her head.
“He’s ten like your brother. He shouldn’t have been at the picnic. His parents told him not to go but…well boys will be boys.”
Kathleen asked the nurse if it was alright to take Frieda home. She explained the girl was looking for her family.
“She is physically fine but don’t leave her alone. There are many who won’t be returning to Little Germany ever again.”
Kathleen swallowed hard before returning to find Frieda. She plastered a smile on her face. “Right, let’s get you home. Did you hurt your legs?”
“No, but I lost my shoes.” Frieda grimaced as she stepped on something.
Kathleen glanced at the floor before almost walking into Inspector Griffin.
“Kathleen, what are you doing here? Did you find him?”
“No Inspector, not yet. Richard is working. I came down to see him. This young lady is Frieda Klunsberg. She was one of the heroines today. I saw her save many people.”
“Well done, miss. Where are you going now?”
“We are going back to Little Germany. Frieda is looking for her father and brother, Hans. He saved some people too. Your father will be very proud of both of you.”
Inspector Griffin looked at Frieda, respect shining from his eyes.
“Miss Kathleen, hold on. Let me get two of my guys to take you.”
“There is no danger, is there?” Kathleen asked.
“No, but there are large crowds of people on the streets. Alone you will have trouble getting to Frieda’s home.”
“Thank you, Inspector. You always turn up just where you are needed.”
Her compliment pleased him, judging by the expression in his eyes.
Chapter 73
Inspector Griffin hadn’t been joking. They were met by crowds upon crowds of people, all searching for someone. Frieda shrank back a little, not from the crowds Kathleen guessed, but the reality there were so many missing.
“It’s this block here. Thank you so much.”
“I will go up with you. I don’t want to leave you alone.” Kathleen didn’t add “just in case there is nobody home”.
They walked up the stairs, Frieda apologizing as they walked.
“Frieda, I grew up not far from here. Please don’t worry. Is this it?”
Frieda stood outside a closed door. The girl seemed to lose all her bravery.
“Yes,” she whispered.
“Would you like me to open the door?”
Frieda nodded.
Kathleen knocked but there was no reply. She turned the handle and the door opened. It wasn’t locked. Was that a good sign?
“Frieda. There you are. Oh, my goodness I was so worried about you.” The woman came flying at Frieda, almost knocking Kathleen off her feet.
“I’m fine, Mrs. Sauer but I hurt my hands.”
Kathleen winced as the woman had grabbed the child’s arms. Mrs. Sauer appeared to be a neighbor.
&nbs
p; “Oh Frieda. I’d lost hope when we didn’t hear anything. Nobody seemed to have seen you. Not that many have come back.”
“Are father and Hans not here?” Frieda asked. The girl looked around as if expecting her family to jump out and say surprise.
“No, Liebling. Nobody came home.” Mrs. Sauer didn’t look at Frieda but glanced away.
Kathleen coughed to get rid of the lump in her throat.
“Mrs. Sauer. I found Frieda in the hospital. She was very brave, she saved a number of people from the river. So did her brother. I believe I saw him in action, although I don’t know for sure. We’ve never met. My name is Kathleen Green. I work at the sanctuary.”
“With Father Nelson?”
“I know Father Nelson, yes.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Green, for bringing Frieda home. I will take care of her now.”
Kathleen felt she was being dismissed, but the woman wasn’t being rude just fretful. She turned to Frieda, “Please do come see us at the sanctuary if you ever need anything. Thank you for what you did today. I hope you find your father and brother soon.”
Kathleen walked out the door and down the stairs. The neighbor came running after her.
“Mrs. Green, please wait.”
“Yes?” Kathleen turned to look at the woman, horrified to find tears streaming down her face.
“I didn’t mean to be rude up there. I just, well we were told they have found Frieda’s father. He won't be coming back today or any other. I haven’t heard anything about Hans. What will I say to her? If Hans doesn’t come back, she will be left alone with Lottie and that child will be in Heaven soon.”
Orphan Train Tragedy Page 17