Chapter 9: The Great Hurricane and Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1846

     I mentioned in the previous chapter that Ayon rose to the surface in August 1846.  Two other notable events happened that year: the Great Hurricane of 1846 and the subsequent Yellow Fever Epidemic.

     Before the Great Hurricane of 1846, North Carolina's Outer Banks were part of the North American mainland.  Since the hurricane, and even to this day, the Outer Banks have been islands.

     This chapter gives a vivid description of what sea dwellers do to survive during a hurricane and how a great hurricane impacts the world beneath the sea. 

     Although the super hurricane made landfall in present-day North Carolina, it also wreaked havoc on the City of Royalton and on Sawyer Island, more than a hundred miles to the south. Amelia was unable to visit Emily because trees that had fallen across Sunrise Creek blocked her path.

     By the time Amelia was able to visit Emily, the Yellow Fever Epidemic kept Emily in a self-imposed quarantine, speaking to Amelia only at a distance.  At that time, medical science had not yet learned that yellow fever wasn't a communicable disease.

     Emily contracted yellow fever and had to be separated from Amelia for two or three weeks.  During that time, Amelia's boredom got the best of her and she unwittingly caused trouble.  Only later did Amelia learn that her curiosity about one of the children's clothing had gotten the child into trouble with her parents.

     While Emily was at home with the fever, Amelia spent much of her time looking for fossilized shark's teeth and making necklaces for Emily and herself.