He Opened A Matchmaking Agency In 18Th Century London [EN]: Chapter 214

214. The Great Flood of London (2)

◈ Hampstead Heath, temporary shelter.

Late night.

People struggled to sleep, unaccustomed to the makeshift bedding and the stuffy heat inside the tents.

Those seeking respite from the heat gathered outside in small groups, sharing stories and anxieties.

“It’s stifling inside, but at least it’s a bit cooler out here at night.”

“Honestly, after all the commotion and evacuation… is it really going to rain? I don’t see any sign of it.”

“I know, right? We trusted Earl Sanderson’s warning, but I wonder if this was all necessary.”

“Why did they make us evacuate so urgently? How much could it possibly rain?”

“I heard they established the Royal Meteorological Institute in London, and the director predicted a major flood.”

“I worry the Earl is being misled by that fellow’s predictions.”

Aside from the discomfort of the heat, few believed that this peaceful summer night, indistinguishable from any other, would soon be submerged by torrential rain.

Tok- Tok- Todok-

Then, close to midnight, a few tentative raindrops began to fall on the tents.

“Huh? Is that rain?”

“It is! It’s actually raining!”

The sky had been somewhat cloudy, but there was little indication of imminent rain.

However, as the raindrops grew heavier, a murmur of unease rippled through the shelter.

“Oh? It seems like it’s going to rain quite a bit.”

“Could it be that there really will be a flood?”

“That’s right! They wouldn’t have evacuated all these people for nothing, would they? There must be a good reason.”

“Well, Earl Sanderson is involved, so we should trust him.”

The light rain quickly intensified into a downpour, the drops drumming fiercely on the canvas.

Swishhhhh-

Startled, people hurried back into their tents.

They watched the relentless rain with apprehensive eyes.

It poured with such intensity that it seemed the entire area around the Thames River was destined to be submerged.

The residents breathed sighs of relief, reassured by Earl Sanderson’s foresight.

Theo, too, felt a wave of relief wash over him.

If they had undertaken such a massive emergency evacuation and it had amounted to nothing, it would have been a complete debacle.

Reassured by the downpour, Theo patrolled the drainage areas with the soldiers, carefully monitoring the shelter’s condition.

Fortunately, no significant problems had yet arisen.

However, before long, an unexpected situation began to unfold.

The rain, which had been falling heavily for over 30 minutes, gradually weakened, becoming intermittent.

Then, quite abruptly, it stopped altogether, as if it had never begun.

After midnight, even a sliver of moon peeked through the dissipating clouds.

An hour passed without any further rain, and the atmosphere in the shelter shifted from apprehension to restless uncertainty.

Some people even began packing their belongings, declaring that the rain was over and they were going home.

The first to emerge from his tent, laden with a dozen bags, was Senator Morris.

Senator Morris’s luggage was conspicuously larger than that of the other evacuees, as if he had gathered every valuable item from his house.

He approached Theo’s tent with a distinctly displeased expression.

“Earl Sanderson? Has the rain stopped or not?”

“Senator, well…”

“If the Earl has eyes, he can see the sky! We’ll be seeing stars soon. It’s clear the rain has stopped completely, so I’m heading back!”

Theo stopped Senator Morris, who was turning away in irritation.

“Senator! More rain is expected soon. If not today, then perhaps tomorrow. At the latest, within ten days, there will be heavy rain that will flood the low-lying areas. You should remain here for the time being. It’s dangerous to return!”

Senator Morris turned back, his tone accusatory.

“Didn’t Earl Sanderson explicitly state that there would be a flood this morning?”

“Well… to be honest, we cannot guarantee the precise timing of the heavy rain. But it is certain that there will be significant rainfall that will cause the Thames River to overflow. It could be soon, or it could be in a few days.”

Senator Morris looked utterly bewildered.

“A few days later? Then what was the point of this urgent evacuation today? Have you deceived us all?”

“Pardon?”

“You created such a panic, as if a massive rainstorm was imminent, and this morning, so many people rushed to evacuate! Because of your alarm, I couldn’t even retrieve the precious heirlooms from my house! If a thief breaks in while we’re away, will you take responsibility?”

“Well…”

“That’s enough! Of course, I don’t believe the Earl acted with malicious intent in taking this unreasonable measure. But I am over sixty years old, and I cannot sleep comfortably in a tent. I will return home and sleep in my own bed for now. And I’ll bring out more valuables that are stored in my house.”

“Senator Morris, it’s dangerous! Valuables are not the priority now, are they? If it rains, the water will rise so quickly that you won’t be able to escape!”

“Ah, that’s enough! I’ll take care of it myself!”

Senator Morris, visibly agitated, led his family down the hill, his servants struggling under the weight of the large luggage bags.

Emboldened by Senator Morris’s departure, hundreds of other residents who had been observing the scene also began to pack their belongings and leave.

Theo attempted to dissuade them and explain the situation, but his efforts were futile.

“I’m sorry, Earl. I had to abandon some very important work. I’ll just quickly finish it and return. Please understand.”

“Earl! I forgot my mother’s essential medicine. She can’t breathe without it.”

The soldiers guarding the tents were unable to restrain the residents, who were increasingly insistent on returning home.

Princess Maria, witnessing the exodus, offered Theo words of comfort.

“How can anyone accurately predict the rain simply by looking at the sky? The citizens will understand your concern about a major disaster.”

Theo shook his head at the Princess’s words.

“That’s not the issue. A major flood is certain to occur. I’m simply worried that I… set the evacuation date too early. I also regret not emphasizing the possibility of a longer evacuation period.”

Princess Maria looked puzzled.

“Pardon? What do you mean by setting the date too early?”

“I’m concerned that my misjudgment might expose them to irreversible danger.”

“………”

Theo watched the residents descending the hill with a heavy heart.

***

As dawn approached and the morning light began to filter through the clouds, even the occasional raindrops had ceased completely.

And an even greater number of residents than those who had left at dusk were now packing their bags, eager to return home.

Theo, who had remained awake throughout the night, gazed at the heavily clouded sky with weary eyes.

‘The dark clouds are moving swiftly with the wind. Does that mean it won’t rain today after all?’

According to the historical records he had consulted in the 21st century, the heaviest rainfall occurred at dawn, causing even more widespread devastation.

If that was the case, perhaps it wouldn’t happen today.

‘Then when will it be? Is it really dawn on August 2nd?’

Princess Maria approached Theo, who was lost in thought.

“You haven’t slept all night. Are you alright?”

“Why are you awake already? You should get some more rest.”

“I was worried, too.”

At that moment, a family of about ten people, carrying large bags, emerged from the tent in front of them.

It seemed that already over a thousand people had left the evacuation area and were heading home.

“Shouldn’t we try to stop them?”

At his wife’s question, Theo sighed softly and replied.

“It’s clear that heavy rain is coming, but honestly, I don’t know exactly when it will fall. The emergency evacuation was so sudden yesterday that they probably didn’t have time to pack properly, so it might be best to allow them time to gather their belongings.

In truth, I was also quite embarrassed by how abruptly the evacuation was decided.”

“Many people still trust you and remain here, but after tonight, most of them will likely return home.”

“…Yes. They probably will.”

***

About an hour passed, and it was nearly time for breakfast.

Boom- Rumble- Boom Boom-

Boom Boom Boom-

Suddenly, thunder that seemed to shatter the eardrums reverberated from the sky, which they had believed was now clear of rain.

“Oh my~!”

Princess Maria instinctively grabbed Theo’s arm at the deafening thunder.

People who were eating also emerged from their tents and looked up at the sky, murmuring in apprehension.

Even though it was morning, with the sun attempting to break through, lightning flashed erratically across the sky, which was as dark as night.

And thunder, several times louder than before, began to shake the ground relentlessly.

Rumble- Boom Boom Boom Boom Boom-

Crackling-

Boom Boom-

Screams erupted here and there at the terrifying sounds, as if the sky was being torn apart, and children burst into loud sobs.

And soon, rain began to pour from the sky.

Swishhhhh-

Startled, people rushed back into their tents, while residents who had been packing to leave were drenched in the sudden downpour and hurried back to the shelter.

The heavy rain, pouring down incessantly as if a hole had been ripped in the sky, was so intense that it was frightening.

People, stunned by the terrifying deluge they were witnessing for the first time in their lives, could only stare in disbelief.

The rain, accompanied by thunder and lightning, was falling with savage force, as if determined to bring the world to an end.

Boom Boom Boom- Thud Thud Thud- Swishhhhh-

People waited, hoping that the rain would subside quickly, as it had the previous night.

But the downpour continued unabated for over an hour. Rather, it seemed to intensify with each passing moment.

An old farmer, watching the sky and the rain with fearful eyes from inside his tent, shook his head gravely.

“I’ve been farming all my life and have seen countless rains… but this is definitely not just a passing shower… It’s a rain that seems to want to swallow the world. This is a big problem, a very big problem. London will be completely submerged…”

Then, someone shouted loudly from another tent.

“Look down there! Look at the sky in the distance. Oh my gosh!”

People’s eyes turned towards the sky above the Thames River in the center of London, spread out below the hill.

The sky there was filled with black clouds, so dense and dark that they were clearly distinct from the other storm clouds.

“How can this be! Look at the size of those dark clouds! They keep getting bigger!”

It was already a bizarrely large mass of dark clouds, but it was swelling even further, poised to engulf the entire center of London.

The terrified residents cried out in lamentation and prayed for divine intervention.

Boom Boom Boom- Thud Thud Thud- Swishhhhh-

Morning, July 22, 1799.

The ‘Great Flood of London,’ which would be recorded as a tragic event in future history, was beginning in this way.

***

The sheer volume of rainwater that fell for over five hours was truly staggering.

It was easy to understand why future history books would describe the center of London as having been transformed into a vast river in just a few short hours.

“Dig deeper so that the drainage over there doesn’t get blocked!”

Theo was diligently inspecting and clearing the drainage channels with the soldiers, ensuring the safety of the shelter.

He had taken great care in preparing the temporary shelter, but seeing the relentless rain, even this location seemed vulnerable.

Then, an officer assisting Theo shouted.

“Earl! Look over there!”

Below the shelter hill.

Something white was visible through the heavy rain, which was so intense that visibility was severely limited.

Upon closer inspection, it was thousands of people struggling to climb up the hill.

Surprised, Theo and the soldiers rushed to assist them.

They recognized the residents who had packed their bags and left at dawn, now crawling up the hill in a desperate state.

And behind them, countless others were making their way up to the shelter through the rain, an endless stream of humanity.

They were all soaked to the bone and had no luggage in their hands.

Theo, helping the elderly and children into the tents, spotted Senator Morris crawling up from the bottom of the hill.

Startled, Theo ran to him, grabbed his arm, and pulled him to his feet.

“Are you alright, Senator Morris?”

The elderly Senator Morris, gasping for breath, seemed too exhausted to even speak.

His clothes were torn, and his arms were cut and bleeding.

Theo helped Senator Morris into the tent.

Senator Morris collapsed as soon as he reached the tent, struggling to speak.

“Senator! Are you okay?”

“Huff- huff- huff- now… now… the city of London is flooded. The Thames River… cough- the Thames River overflowed… and all the houses in the lowlands… are completely submerged… Earl… cough- I’m sorry… I’m sorry… I was so foolish… I should have listened… to the Earl… huff- huff-”

Most of the people who had left at dawn seemed to have barely escaped with their lives, abandoning all their luggage and valuables, just like Senator Morris.

A resident who had just reached the tent, panting heavily, vividly described the situation around the Thames River.

“Besides the lowlands, even the people in the areas who didn’t evacuate and stayed at home… most of them escaped… and are coming up. I saw the water pushing into the areas above that…

Huff- huff- Fortunately, they had been reinforcing the embankment on the Thames River… and blocking it with sandbags… so it gave us time to escape, otherwise… we would have all been drowned…!”

Swishhhhh-

The downpour continued relentlessly for several hours, threatening to engulf London.

Worried about Princess Maria’s safety, Theo returned to the tent and found Director Howard of the Meteorological Institute there.

Theo placed clothes on Maria, who was trembling with fear and staring blankly at the downpour, and comforted her before approaching Director Howard.

“How long… will this rain last?”

Howard, who was anxiously observing the city center in the distance, slowly answered.

“To release all that moisture, it will pour down non-stop all day today. And it will continue to rain sporadically for a few more days.”

◈ A month later

On July 22, the downpour that began at dawn continued almost uninterrupted for nearly ten hours, just as Director Howard of the Meteorological Institute had predicted, and then fell intermittently until the evening of the 24th.

The rain that fell continuously on the first day lessened somewhat the next day.

However, as heavy rain fell again at intervals of several hours, it completely submerged the center of London and quickly encroached on the remaining areas.

The massive torrent created by the overflowing Thames River mercilessly destroyed wooden and brick houses, and some people who had not evacuated in time were swept away and went missing.

In areas where the embankment collapsed, the water level rose to 7-8 meters [approximately 23-26 feet], turning the landscape into a vast reservoir. Landslides and sinkholes occurred due to the repeated heavy rainfall, causing significant damage.

However, thanks to the sandbags and flood barriers that Theo had prepared, the remaining residents were given time to evacuate to the shelter, which greatly reduced the number of casualties.

After the heavy rain finally stopped, the water in the center of London, which had been transformed into a huge river, drained faster than expected.

This was due to the sewer facilities that had been diligently maintained for the past year.

And thanks to this, despite the severity of the rainfall, London was able to return to normal relatively quickly.

◈ September 1799. St. James’s Palace, London.

After being plunged into despair by an unimaginable disaster, the citizens of London were abuzz with stories of heroes who had averted an even more catastrophic outcome.

They praised Earl Sanderson’s remarkable foresight in strengthening the embankment of the Thames River and preparing shelters and evacuation plans for residents in case of emergency, as well as Director Luke Howard’s exceptional forecasting ability in predicting the record-breaking rainfall.

This praise was not confined to the citizens of London.

The entire British nation was deeply moved and inspired by the events and the sacrifices that had been made.

And there was a groundswell of public opinion that His Majesty the King should personally reward Earl Sanderson and Director Luke Howard, who had saved tens of thousands of lives.

King George readily agreed to the wishes of the people and arranged a special ceremony at St. James’s Palace.

『We hereby bestow the title of Duke upon Earl Theo Sanderson, who led the war with France to a glorious victory, brought the traitors to justice, and saved the citizens from a devastating disaster!

From this day forward, Earl Theo Sanderson shall be known as the Duke of England and shall be recognized throughout the world as Duke Theo Sanderson!』

Theo was awarded the title of Duke in recognition of his contributions to the victory in the war with France and his role in mitigating the impact of the Great Flood of London. Luke Howard, the director of the Royal Meteorological Institute, was awarded the title of Knight in recognition of his outstanding forecasting skills, which had saved the lives of countless citizens.

– Duke Sanderson! Congratulations! Sincerely!

– Duke! Congratulations!

– Congratulations! Duke!

Theo was surrounded by a throng of well-wishers, accepting their congratulations.

However, Theo was more relieved and gratified by the fact that he had been able to return to the 18th century and save the lives of his beloved Princess Maria and the countless citizens of London than by the accolades or the title of Duke.