Alexai Xylonas and The Pier’s Fury
It was 1933 when ALEXAI XYLONAS, the Chronosurfer, felt the pull of history drawing her to Huntington Beach. The iconic pier stretched out before her, but an uneasy feeling lingered in the air. Beneath the surface, the earth was restless.
Without warning, the ground began to tremble—the 1933 Long Beach earthquake had struck. As the pier groaned and cracked under the force of the quake, Alexai's sharp eyes caught sight of a young man, George "Bud" Higgins, frozen in fear at the edge of the collapsing structure. Debris rained down, and the ocean roared in chaos.
In a heartbeat, Alexai dashed across the buckling pier. Just as a massive beam crashed down, she scooped Bud into her arms and leapt to safety. The pier crumbled into the sea behind them, but Bud was safe in her grasp.
Years later, that young man, Bud Higgins, would become instrumental in establishing the Huntington Beach Lifeguards, ensuring the safety of countless beachgoers and helping to build the lifeguard program into what it is today. His courage, inspired by the mysterious woman who saved him, became a symbol of the town's resilience.
Before disappearing into the temporal waves, Alexai tucked a small bottle into the sand, containing a message that would later be found by those who rebuilt the pier. It read: "Strength isn't found in the structures we build, but in the hearts of those who stand together when the ground shakes beneath them."
For more information on Bud Higgins click here. https://ochistorical.blogspot.com/2007/08/huntington-beach-lifeguards-and-bud.html
To see the original article and pictures of the pier click here. https://images.app.goo.gl/Bvy5LE3yhg2jEWpj7
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