Moments in Time is a collection of recovered newspaper briefs and other publications, compiled by local historian, Steve Hathcock, offering a look back at the history of the Rio Grande Valley.
Steve Hathcock is a local historian and a regular columnist for the Port Isabel South Padre Press. He has spent many years collecting and sharing the history of the Rio Grande Valley, as well as treasure hunting and formerly owning an Island-based bookstore.
U.S.S. Ohio, Target Range, Manila Bay
My dear Grandfather:-Your last letter arrived today and I was very glad to hear from you. I’m sorry I didn’t write sooner. Our preparations for target practice have kept us out on the target range and very busy. Besides, there has been nothing to write about except our work with the guns. We are just finishing our 12-inch guns and tomorrow night we go into Cavite, and on Jan. 29 we come out for about one week more of practice and on Feb. 19, I think, we begin our record practice. I think we stand a very good show for winning the record trophy for gunnery in the battleship class this year.
The shock from firing our 12-inch guns was very great and quite a number of things were broken on account of it. Doors were torn out of rooms, thin bulkheads collapsed; a chest within fifteen feet of the gun was picked up bodily by the rush of air which followed the 850 lb. shell and thrown overboard when the first gun was fired. We recovered her all right, but she was badly scared. She must have expended about five of her nine lives that time. Our goat and dog took refuge down in the hold early in the game. Our shooting today has been very good and I’m confident we can keep it up. (transcript of Letter from Chester W. Nimitz to Charles Henry Nimitz, January 1906)
Editor’s Note: The vivid description of the shockwave from the 12-inch/40-caliber guns (firing 850-lb shells) damaging doors, bulkheads, and tossing a cat overboard is classic early battleship anecdote—those massive guns produced tremendous concussion!
Island Gasoline
There is no gasoline on South Padre Island and resort owners are worried. Resort motels are usually full from late December until after Labor Day but business is off 40-per cent because of the fuel situation. One resort owner said yesterday that nine families moved out yesterday, some weeks ahead of schedule. Mrs. Jerrie Wise, manager of the Sandy Retreat Motel said people have no trouble driving all the way from Minnesota and Iowa but when they get to the Island they can’t find any gasoline. As a result they stay just long enough to find enough gas to fill their cars’ tanks and then leave. At Port Isabel, just across the Laguna Madre, only five of twelve service stations are open on a rotating basis.
Editor’s Note: The 1973–1974 oil crisis (often called the 1974 gas shortage crisis in the U.S.), was triggered when the OPEC oil embargo caused widespread fuel shortages, long lines at gas stations, rationing (like odd/even license plate days), reduced hours, and signs limiting sales or announcing, “NO GAS.”