Mesquite, Texas was founded May 22, 1873 along the Texas & Pacific railroad that ran from Dallas, TX, to Shreveport, LA. The railroad began to stop in the small town once it was established as a prospering farming and ranching community.
In 1878, The Davis family, a poor family from South Carolina that had relocated to Dallas after the Civil War, worked for the Texas & Pacific Railroad. Because of their prudent savings, the family was able to rent a house and land on the outskirts of Mesquite. The house was owned by A.C. Jameson, a wealthy businessman in Dallas who owned several cattle ranches. The house was located about a quarter mile from the train station. The family farmed the land and raised livestock.
On an unusually cold October night, the wind howled as storm clouds raged overhead. Two weather systems were passing each other, forcing the warmer storm clouds on top. This made the rain fall from through a cold arctic air mass. This unusual set of circumstances created a treacherous blanket of ice as the super cooled rain instantly froze to anything it touched. The trees that whipped in the wind now cracked under the weight of the ice. One by one, the trees gave way to the weight and crashed to the ground.
The horses, safe in the stables, were spooked by the lightning and thunder, but the howling wind made it impossible for them to be heard. The cattle did their best to huddle together for warmth, but the freezing rain lowered their body temperatures and many succumbed to the elements. As the night wore on, the storm got worse. The rain turned to snow as the wind picked up speed.
Inside a lone house, which stood apart from the town, lay a sleeping family. All cuddled in their beds, warm and safe from the misery outside. That was until a loud burst of thunder shook the children awake. Through the darkness they slowly made their way to the parent’s bedroom. The house creaked and strained under the weight of the ice that lay on the roof. A full blizzard roared outside the thin walls of the wooden structure.
The outside world was in chaos. As the children were welcomed into their parent’s bed, a huge bolt of lightning struck near the house as thunder vibrated the floor.
Their father stood and looked out the window, concerned about his animals. He quickly dressed and made his way downstairs. His wife pleaded for him not to go outside, but he insisted to get the cattle into the barn.
She accompanied him downstairs and lit a few candles. As he opened the front door, the snow that built up crashed down at his feet. The wind whipped through the warm house, cooling it instantly. The wind extinguished the candles and plunged the house into darkness.
He threw on his coat and hat, then grabbed his kerosene lamp and made his way into the storm. He was surprised by the frozen ground and had a hard time maintaining his balance. His wife called to him, but the howling winds captured her voice and prevented any communication. He slipped and his lamp shattered on the frozen ground, leaving him without any light. He looked back to the house, but even though he was only a few feet away, he could not see it. The blizzard was so intense he could barely see beyond his own nose. He fell multiple times as he made his way down to the cattle.
The storm continued to intensify. The wife retreated to her bedroom and huddled with the children for warmth. The house creaked and strained around them. Suddenly the window shattered and the cold air raced through the house. The warmth from the heavy blankets was not enough to keep out the cold.
The wife left the children in an effort to find a cover for the exposed window. The children huddled together. As they looked up, lightning flashed and they dashed back under the covers.
Moments later the wife returned with wood, nails, and a hammer. She quickly boarded up the window and returned to the bed.
Outside, her husband continued to make his way down to the cattle. When he found them, he was horrified at his losses. The lightning illuminated the pasture and cattle lay dead everywhere. As he walked around the dead, another lightning flash gave him a glimmer of hope. He saw cattle still huddled together. Slowly he made his way to them. He screamed and yelled, but the cattle would not move. He did all he could, but the cattle remained huddled together. Foolishly, he walked into the huddle and began to yell. The cattle bumped against each other to preserve the warmth. He was battered back and forth, unable to free himself from the beasts. One of the cows stepped on his foot and he screamed in agony as the bones were crushed under the massive weight.
Suddenly, a lightning bolt struck a nearby tree and the cattle formed a stampede, trampling the husband. The bones in his legs and left arm were shattered. He screamed each time one of the cows stepped on him, the crack of the bones was an indescribable pain. The cattle ran off into the distance as he lay there with multiple fractures and internal bleeding. Slowly he crawled back toward the house.
Inside the house, the situation was getting worse. Other windows shattered due to the pressure of the wind. The cold air raced through the house, but there was nothing the wife could do. She already used her only spare piece of wood to cover the bedroom window. The children huddled against their mother for warmth, but there was little to give.
Suddenly, a loud crash was heard as a tree succumb to the ice and crashed into the side of the house, tearing a portion of the south wall down with it. The kitchen was located in this part of the house. Coals, still hot from dinner, were thrown from the stove onto the floor. The fresh oxygen from the wind reignited the coals and the floor caught on fire.
The dry wood made a good fuel and the fire spread rapidly. Unfortunately, the storm had grown so intense that the blaze from the house went unnoticed by the neighbors to the south or to the north. Even the night watchman at the train depot could not see the massive inferno blazing into the sky.
The wife and the children cried as the smoke penetrated the bedroom. Quickly she tried to pry the wood from the window, but she was unsuccessful. The air became difficult to breath as the fire burned. She laid the children onto the floor to keep them out of the smoke, but the floor was hot and burned from underneath. They were trapped with nowhere to go.
The husband slowly crawled toward the house and the fire became visible. He screamed for his wife and children, but there was no answer. The cold numbed his hands and he had difficulty grasping the ground. Unable to go on and exhausted from the weather and his injuries, he passed out.
The mother and her children prayed as the fire surrounded them. The unmistakable sounds of the staircase collapsing and the chimney falling in on itself spread hopelessness within their minds. Suddenly, a portion of the floor gave way and her youngest daughter fell into the inferno below. She screamed and reached for her, but the fire was to hot and she dashed away. Unable to help, she was forced to listen to the sound of her daughter screaming as she was burned alive.
Crying and sobbing, she prayed for assistance but none would come. The gaping hole in the floor separated her from her other daughter. She watched as that floor collapsed, taking her other daughter with it. She cried uncontrollably as she watched her two children perish in the fire. She became enraged that her husband had left her. She screamed for him, but he lay passed out in the field. Her emotions overwhelmed her and she fell into a hopeless pit of despair. Unable to deal with her children’s death, she leaped into the fire. The moment her body touched the burning embers, she regretted her decision. She tried to climb out, but her muscles failed as they were burned away.
The house began to move, swaying back and forth. The roof was now only supported by the remaining three walls and the fire soon began to burn away at them. However, the storm changed direction and the heavy snow laden wind blew directly into the house, suffocating the fire.
The next morning, the husband woke from his sleep, barely clinging to life. Around him was a majestic winter scene. The snow was beautiful and blanketed everything. However, what it did not cover was the destruction of the house.
Most of his bones shattered, he crawled toward the house, screaming for his wife and daughters. He finally made it and crawled into the broken structure. What he found devastated him.
The charred remains of his wife and children lay amongst the smoldering wood on the first floor. He screamed in sorrow and cried for hours until his body succumbed to its wounds…
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About the Author
Kevin M. Guest was born July 15, 1977. His passion for story telling often led him to day dreaming during school. In his off time he would spend hours writing short stories. In October you can find him working the barbeque booth at Reindeer Manor. He resides in Arlington, TX, with his lovely wife Tammi and their son, Chris.
Other Works by Kevin Michael Guest
Zoo’d
Charles Andrew Hartford is a child molester, of that there can be no doubt.
Charles Andrew Hartford is a loving husband and father.
Something’s gone wrong in the justice of Charles Andrew Hartford.
Who is Charles Andrew Hartford?
Jim Tanner’s Private War
On December 24th, a plane roared in from Mexican airspace determined to land at the San Antonio International Airport. The plane was listed as a terrorist threat by the Homeland Security Administration.
The pilot of that plane, retired Major Jim Tanner was wanted for multiple murders in the U.S. and Mexico. His cargo was of the most precious.
When Major Tanner, a decorated war veteran and former prisoner of war, returned home, little did he know what he was walking into.
His actions would change the lives of his loved ones and the country, forever.
Women Are Better Than Men:
Written as Punishment by the Male Chauvinist Pig
Punishment: The theme of this book! How do we best punish people? Ok, better yet, how to we best punish men? The key is to find out what the man really loves; then deny him that thing. Now, as women, we know what men want, but do we know what they love? Well I do and my husband is writing this book for punishment. Enjoy…
The Confession of Captain Hyde
Captain Hyde has gotten his boat stuck in the ice. Now fearing death he discusses his life with his crew. Sit with them and decide did he attempt to kill his boss? Did he really embezzle the company’s money? Could there be a larger conspiracy taking place? Sit on the jury in this true-crime mystery and decide for yourself!
Reindeer Manor is located at 401 South Houston School Road, Red Oak, Texas.
It is open from the last weekend in September ‘til the first weekend in November.
You can visit the website at:
www.rmabusementpark.com or www.reindeermanor.com
Directions:
From Interstate 20 and Interstate 35: Exit Interstate 35E South, through Desoto to the Bear Creek Rd Exit. Turn Left (east) on Bear Creek Rd. and proceed to Houston School Rd. Turn right (south) onto Houston School Rd. and go just past Reindeer Rd. to 410 Houston School Rd.
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