1893 HURRICANE Plaquemines Parish Submitted by Gladys Stovall-Armstrong ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** Excerpts Taken From An Article I worte for "The Deep Delta" Published by The Plaquemines Parish Genealogical Society ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The First day od October, 1893 will long be remembered in the annals of the United States Weather Bureau. The weather bureau at New Orleans the day before had forcast "fair, proceeded by light showers tonight on the Gulf Coast, with S.E. winds" The day brought however, falling barometer pressure and early morning hours of occassional rain which steadily increased as the day progressed to hard rain and strong winds and the roll of thunder could be heard, by early evening October 1, the streets of New Orleans were flooded and gale winds were twisting street signs. The barometer in both New Orleans and at Port Eads in Plaquemines Parish read 29.78. There were lower readings on the Texas Coast that was not affected by the hurricane. According to Nash Roberts, Meteorolgist before it was over, the lowest barometer readings of the hurricane was 28.3 recorded in Mobile on October 2, after it had passed over Plaquemines Parish the night before. The hurricane first struck Cheniere Caminada, a fishing village on the coast in Jefferson Parish. Before the night was over 1,800 of the 2,000 residents would loose their lives. The next place to feel the brunt of the storm was Grande Isle, most of the town destroyed with 27 lives lost. (this varies with source). The storm had not lost any of its fury as it struck Bayou Cook in Plaquemines Parish, where there was a thriving little village made up of oyster fishemen and their families, mostly Slavonian people, between 150 and two hundred lost their lives that night. The storm hit on a Sunday night and by midday Monday, the survivors were using Fred Stockfleth's store at Tropical Bend as a place of safty. Mr. Stockfleth should be remembered for his generosity in feeding and caring for these poor souls and helping all he could in finding dry clothing and feed them and used all his supplies in his store for that effort. The town of Buras in Plaquemines Parish was completely destroyed. Only two houses in the area was left standing. The Buras Catholic Church (Our Lady Of Good Harbor) was off its pillars and in shambles. The bell that was on it though damaged was slavaged and on it were the names of its sponsors: Felix RAGAS, Marceline BURAS, Mrs. Nicole COGNEVICH and Mrs. Rosalie BURAS. Workers of the railroad was cleaning the tracks in Buras and found the body of a little white girl wrapped in barbed wire, clinging to her body were her two little sisters, All were nearly necked and badly cut by the wire, They were recognized as being from Oyster Bayou. A women was found in Buras clinging to driftwood, she, her husband and two children were on a schooner in Bayou Cook. She was the only one to survive. Nine men floated for four days near Buras, clinging to debris and out of desperation, ate the dead bodies of animals which floated by them. There were corpes every where from the lower end of Plaquemines Parish to above Point a-la Hache. Neptune, ostrica, point Pleasent, Doullut were all almost or completely destroyed. Ninety-five percent of the orange crop of the whole parish were destroyed. The rice crop was also destroyed. The cane crop faired a little better. October 3, Dailey Picayune THE WINDS WIPE OUT BOHEMIA The little Plaquemines town ceased to exist. FALLING HOUSES CRUSHED OUT THE LIVES OF THREE PERSONS TWO WOUNDED MEN LIE PINIONED IN THE FLOOD FIFTEEN HOURS Train No. 7 of New Orleans and Southern Rail Road came about 10:00 O'clock last night bringing the story of the disester on the lower coast Pointe a-la- Hache has beeb severly strucken----the train brought two men to New Orleans for treatment who had broken arms, they were Bob Ferro, a fisherman and a fisherman named Pinter. They were sleeping near Minilla fishing camp Sunday night . the wind caused a huge timber to fall across their bodies. It was 15 hours before they were rescued their injured arms were swollen as large as men bodies The news from Bohemia is direHeavy damage at Woodlawh and Deer Range. October 4, "Dailey Picayune" Grande Isle - BAYOU COOK MANY LIVES LOST IN TERRIBLE CALAMITY OCTOBER 5, "Dailey Picayune" A THOUSEND LIVES LOST HUNTING FOR DEAD BODIES AT POINTE A-LA-HATCHE A FAMILY OF TEN DROWNED QUARENTINE STATION WIPED OFF EARTH BAYOU COOK - GRAND BAYOU - 150 LIVES LOST BAYOU CHUTE LOSES HALF ITS INMATES The following letter was received from Empire, La. ( Plaquemines Parish) ( This letter named the dead - you can see that elsewhere on my Plaquemines Page or in the Plaquemines Archives) The letter continues : Schooner Elmira was capsized and the wind drove her upstrem to Pointe a- la- Hache (7 miles). A Sailor was taken from her wreck , alive but scared and starving. Several women from Bayou Cook came floating into Empire on logs , alive. Paul CALINI, an aged and respected citizen of this parish and a native of Corsica is reported drowned .. Of 15 families at Bayou Chute, half is lost. Peter Braddish , whoes wife and son was lost was reported lost also, he was a prominant man among the fisherman .. More dead named Vincent pausina survived by cutting holes in his floor to let the water in, then as the water rose he got on the roof, then finally the house gave way , he grabbed a piling that held and stayed that way from eleven until after daylight. . More Dead named Found safe Luke Zebulich The office of "The Protector" owned by Robert Hingle was completely destroyed, but he was operating from T. Hingle's barber shop on October 7 he published a half page edition of "The Protector" He reported the courthouse at Pointe a-la- Hache was built in 1891 to withstand hurricanes at a cost of $16,000 and had over $5,000 damage. The bell on the courthouse weighed several hundred pounds and fell with such force that residents in the area heard it above the high wind and heavy rains. The brick flew and caused damage from other structures. In front of the building there was four feet of rubble, the roof was completely gone. A plea for help was published in an issue of the protector as follows: Pointe-a-la-Hache, 1 Oct 1893 To The Public: " In behalf of over 1,000 sufferers, whoes crops and livestock and whoes homes were swept away by the terriable storm which visited this section Sunday night, we appeal to a generous public for provisions such as flour, meat. coffee and sugar in order that hunger may not be added to the sufferings which exposure and injury have already caused these poor people. Many women and little children are utterly destitute and greatly need the necessities of life. All supplies should be forwarded to the relief committee, Pointe-a-la Hace Courthouse." The more fortunate in the parish reacted to the call for help, first being: Mrs. George MANN Mr. J.B. BABINGTON Fred MEYER Charles STRACK J. PEYROUX A. C. REGGIE George E. MANN George ROBINSON H.P. KERNOCHAU, SR. H.P. KERNOCHAU, JR. Francoise CARNE William G. HARNER D. D. DAUNOY Joseph K. GARR J.B. BOBINGTON (listed twice, last as giving cash) S. HANSON Harry McCALL, JR. F.D. MEHONEY (conductor of train) W.J. MATHO Julius STRACK There was also many named from New Orleans. MANY DEAD Was named here - See list elsewhere. Also reported in same issue of "The Protector" was a partial list of damage done to homes on the East Bank at Pointe-a-la-Hache and nearby communties. Catholic Church Heavy damage E.H. MEALER Two story home, complete loss P.I. BERRY Stock killed Courthouse $5,000 damage F.C. MERVERS Old Building and carriage F.S. HINGLE All out buildings and stock killed Robert WILLIAMS Home total loss M. MOLIER Three houses total loss Domingo RAGAS Home complete loss S. HINGLE House and stable complete loss Luke HINGLE Kichen to home destroyed GILLETTA Home heavy damage Onezime MARTIN Home total loss Theo HINGLE Stable and store room destroyed Robert HINGLE "The Protector" office destroyed P. HINGLE Home destroyed Emile SCHAYOT Barn destroyed Joseph COSSEE Stable and fine carriage destroyed Joseph FONTENELLE Home heavy damage Nobert MARTIN Lost two houses at the mill Joseph MILBO Home destroyed MARTIN Bro's Home heavy damage F.C. MERVERS Lost several houses M. MAUDOT Home heavy damage D. MARTIN Home heavy damage DR. HEBERT Lost Bohemia Plantation - all but two cabins gone Henry COLETTE Home destroyed Ed HEURITZY Roof off home - old house heavy damage Mrs. SINCLAIR Roof off home Billy SMITH Roof gone Tree Vine Black Church Roof Gone John RADDOVICH Home heavy damahe - stable lost Cornelius MACK Home destroyed Henry RAPP Home destroyed John BOOTH Home destroyed Richard BOWERS Home destroyed Alex JOHNSON Home destroyed Julius BOHN Home destroyed Bill BRAUGH Home destroyed Joseph MACK Home destroyed Louis REDDICK Home destroyed Aut. BRAUGH Home destroyed Henry WALTZER Home destroyed Jos. ST. ANN Home destroyed P. WILLIAMSON Home destroyed Mrs. LERICH Home destroyed Mrs. PIUAND Home destroyed John RAPHAEL Home destryed Alphonse WILLIAMS Home destroyed Nic. COLLETTE House off pillars Willis RAMSEY House off pillars. Bethleham Black Church Destroyed William BOYLE Home destroyed John RAPP Home destroyed The "Dailey Picayune" reported the following: Magnolia Plantation - heavy damage ST. Patrick Church - (Home Place) damage not extensive Braddish JOHNSON's fine property - davastated Metcalf Settlement - Heavy dammage - terrible stench Tropical Bend - appauling, stench terrible, dead animals abound Buras - same terrible condition Mr. Fasterling told the reporter: About midnight on Sunday night, an enormous wave forced in his front doors and went clean through his store. He said his lost was about $12,000. In the October 7 issue of "Dailey Picayune" it was reported the death toll at Pointe-a-la Hache as reported was way short, that it was nearer 300 dead. ( population was 600 before the storm) A few though thought dead was found in the swamps alive. The slavonian Association reported that the dead Slavonians in Buras vicinity ( this probably included Bayou Cook and Ostrica) were 250. The most distressed area on the west bank was from Tropical Bend to Fort Jackson, on the east bank from Grand Prairie to Fort ST. Philip. Many people were buried in shallow graves at Buras, unidentified and without religious service , but before it was over, Father BEDEL of Our Lady Of Good Harbor Church would bury 300 souls. ( this does not include the ones buried without service) There were many if not hundreds never found. Where whole families were lost, there was no one to report them missing. The men at STOCKFLETH's store stayed busy making crude coffins, the sound of the saw and hammer were mingled with the shovel tapping down the earth of a newly made grave. Joseph FRELICH was reported in the papers as a hero, but his sister whom he was closer to then most brothers and sisters, gave her life that he might save his. When the reporter spoke with him, he had just buried his mother. Before the storm, this lad, still in his teens, had 7 in his family, his parents, 2 brothers, 3 sisters and himself. Their camp at Bayou Cook crumbled about 10 p.m. on that fated night. Joe and his sister, Rosilie, had managed to find each other in the raging waters. They clasped each other and Joe led her to a piece of a roof, but their support was soon swept away. Joe said, no fear had shown on his pet sister's face. He told her to get on his back and he tried to swim to save them both, but Rosalie soon saw they both would drown and she made the supreme sacrifice that night of horrors. She pulled his head down and kissed him twice. Joe said he would never forget how beautiful she looked as she gazed into his eyes for the last time. She shouted in his ear, "Joe , darling, now go quick, I'll help you all I can." She slipped off his neck, big logs swirling among the twirling waves. It was nearly a mile to land. The Mississippi River had never had a better swimmer than Joe FRELICH, His sister's arms around his neck was innerferring with his breathing and he behgan to feel faint. He began to go deeper and deeper in the foul water. Rosalie saw what was happening, she shouted in his ear, " Joe, Joe, goodby darling, goodby forever, save yourself" she quickly let go of him. Joe tried to grab her hair which was floating like a beautiful mass of ivy moss as she swept past him. He could not. She sank before his eyes. With his remaining strength, he dove into the black water searching for Rosalie. He was completely exhausted. He rose to the surface. His Rosalie was gone. As he related the story to repoeters, he broke down and wept. "There can't be a good Lord" he said " He never would let this happen" (for those interested there is a picture of Joe FRELICH in the "Times Democrat" dated 7 Oct 1893 edition) Busco LUPIS said he had been an oyster fisherman for twenty years. His camp was at Bayou Shute. He had a wife, 4 girls and a boy that terrible night. He said he had a clock in his hand as his camp broke apart; it was 12:30. There was no warning. His wife and children drowned. Jim SENTLELD picked him up the next day, nacked, all but for a tattered shirt. Alfred BATTLE was a leader in a search party. He had been in New Orleans the night of the storm. He said he lived at Tropital Bend. He told the reporter that grown men had to turn back. They could not endure the terrible sight of decomposed bodies. A letter released by the "Times Democrat" from Grand Prairie listing the dammages to the area named the following homeowners, all whose homes was either completely destroyed or nearly destroyed ( Ihave left out the names that was mentioned elsewhere in this article. Cornelius MACK, JR. davis JORDEN Thomas BANNER & E, JORDEN (same house) J. H. BBAILY Julius BEND William BRANCH Alfred COMBRIC Pauline WILLIAMS Lettie REED Bill BRANCH Carise CARROLL Lewis MOROE Willie EVANS William RILEY Mary REED ( a widow) Andrew RAPHAEL Noah BANK Edmond MACK T. COLETTE William BOYHEL Moses WILLIAMS Priscilia KELLER Jules BRANCH Paul WILLIAMSON A mass meeting of the Drand Prairie Community was held and a resolution was drawn up, which read in part: "Where on October 2, 1893, a frightful storm visited this parish, which destroyed many lives, made many more homeless and destitute Therefore be it resolved that we representing a radius of 6 miles on the left bank of the Mississippi River, between 49 and 55 miles below the city of New Orleans in which there are 35 families, numbering 177 of which 6 are headed by widows, representing 19 fatherless children, some of whom received bodily injury and all are destitute .do hereby petition his Ecxcellency, the Honorable Murphy J. FOSTER, Governor of the state of Louisian for aid The following letter was received at the "Dailey Picayune" in New Orleans: Nicholls, Louisiana October 2, 1893 "One of the worse storms visited this locality in many years much property has been destroyed and as far as I heard four deaths ST. James Chapel, a black Baptist Church was blown completely down and Granville ANDERSON, black, who sought safty in the church and, while praying, was instantly killed. Several residences were blown away, those of: Mme. DUMESTIN NOEL BURAS H.E. GILMORE Robert BOWERS C.L. ANDERSON BEN BURAS G.L. JOHNSON Henry MATULICH G.A, JOHNSON RAPHAEL, an Itatian. The Point Pleasent School is down flat Can give no report on other localities Guld waters cover the land, i have seen many violent storms in the past 30 years, but for great damage and loss of life, the present one exceeds any of the previous ones. (Signed) Henry E. Gilmore The following letter was published in the "Dailey Picayune" Buras, Oct 4, 1893 In the name of the residents and greatly suffering persons of the 4th and 10th wards of this parish of Plaquemines, I call upon you in the name of humanity and aid us The whole people here are destitute The few stores, FASTERLING, BUTLER, BULOT and John L. BARR are badly damaged and what they have left is no where sufficient to suffice the wants of sufferers. Without exaggeration I will say tht if prompt aid is not given, the many sufferers may have to resort to terrible means to obtain food for the starving. Very Respectively, John C. DE ARMAS Buras, Post Office Mr. Henry JOHNSON's house at Narian Plantation fell in crushing his 18 year old daughter to death. At Pointe Michel, Henry TREADAWAY and family had their house blown off the pillars and the chimmey came down with a shower of bricks and morter. He and his family took refuge in a chicken house and passed the night up to their waist in water. The home of cyril TREDAWAY was blown to pieces and scattered for 2 acres. Victor TREADAWAY's store was lifted from its support and moved several feet. Valerie BARTHELEMY's family had just left their home and took refuge with the FORSYTH family when the roof left their house. The house of Mr. L. FORSYTH, SR. was a place of refuge for about 60 people.. His House was low and aquare, strongly built and protected from the force of wind by a grove of willow trees. Patrick CHAILAGHAN, an old Irishman, was a passenger on the "Neptune" which arrived in New Orleans from Tropical Bend. He was asked by newsmen to give his version of what he saw tht Sunday night. He replied " I could not tell you if I had twenty heads what I saw last Sunday night. it baffles description. Good God! It was horrible! Fancy seeing women floating by you, grasping their infants to their breast and not being able to help them. I hate to think of the awful occurance or even hear it spoken. The sights I saw that night and the shrieks I heard will haunt me until I go to my grave." Mr. Bert BRITNELL, who lived on the opposite side of the river, said there were 6 men and 2 women killed in his vicinity. He said he had been very acccurate in keeping count of the total loss of life and as of now it was 1, 848. V. Venet, who lived on Bayou Chatton (?), went to the residence of Frank GIORDANO at Home Place and ask for food. He was half naked. The water at that time at Home Place was 4 feet. This was more than 10 miles from the sea. He, his parents and brother had taken refuge on a raft which they made from boards of the side of their home. Then the got the pirogue. After a night of untold terror, he got in the little boat and started for help. He made but 2 strokes when the pirogue turned over and he went to the bottom. His mother soon sprang from the raft delibertely and joined her husband, The young brother, only 12 years of age, saw both parents go to a watery grave. Half crazed he watched his chance and imitated his mother's example. The mother of Captain John TAYLOR, an old lady nearly 90 years old, who lived at Buras, had a narrow escape and it was the third storm this old lady had survived, She was the only one saved of 7 children in the hurricane of 1811. In 1831 she was blown in a tree by a storm that davasted a great portion of Louisiana , and today she lives to tell of more horrors. We could keep writing about the horrors and pandmoneum of Oct 1 & 2, 1893 in Plaquemines Parish, but the stories are the same, only the names change. If anyone is interested in reading about this storm in lower Jefferson Parish, you can see "The Deep Delta" Quarterly, published by Plaquemines Parish Gen. Society. Reference: "The Protector", Pointe a-la-Hache, LA "The Dailey Picayune" New Orleans, LA "The Daily Picayune" New Orleans, LA