Hurricane

September 11-16, 1860

Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi

The first track of the next Louisiana hurricane, number 4, September 11 to 16, starts west of the southern tip of Florida. It traveled West North West then made a northward turn. It crossed the Louisiana coast slightly east of the same place as the August hurricane. It headed North North East where it dissipated over west central Alabama. This was a category 2 hurricane. Source

The Daily Picayune
Sunday morning, September 16, 1860

The City
The Gale Yesterday
As we surmised, the storm yesterday was very severely felt on the lakes. We have personally inspected the damage down at Milneburg, lake end of the Pontchartrain railroad, and had occasion to see a most fearful spectacle. The wind blowed first from the northwest and subsequently from the north; this brought the waves dashing directly against the wharf, with such violence as to cause much damage.
The waves washed over the long wharf, leaving there logs and timbers which completely obstructed the railroad track. The passenger wharf or foot path was completely broken up and ruined. The skiffs and small crafts moored on either side of the wharf were knocked about a great deal; a good number of them were stove or stranded. The wharves leading to the bath houses were washed away, and some of those buildings were badly damaged. The trees in front of the hotel were nearly all uprooted or broken down, and the private wharves of the various hotels near the lake shore were broken up.

A small schooner ran into the wharf and had her bow stove in, the three men on board of her barely having time to jump ashore, but she finally rode out the storm.

The Pamlico, due yesterday morning at 11 o’clock, did not arrive. It is hoped that feeling the storm before she left Covington, Capt. Hoffman had the prudence to remain in the bayou.

The mail boat Oregon went out in the gale, Capt. Baker feeling safer outside than alongside the wharf. The Alabama stuck to her post, and it was supposed would be able to leave this evening.

We have to record the loss of one life under circumstances highly creditable to the unfortunate deceased. A small fishing smack with a young lad some 16 years old capsized at a distance of 200 years from the wharf. And the lad clung desperately to the keel. A French fisherman named Henry LeBreton called out for men of good will to follow him, and jumped into a boat. Three other followed his example. They reached the capsized boat and made fast to it with their grapnel. LeBreton immediately jumped overboard, and catching hold of the lad, transferred him to his boat. Just then the grapnel broke loose, and the angry waves lifted the boat far off from the smack. The men attempted to come back, but found it difficult work. LeBreton, who was a good swimmer, caught hold of the keel of the capsized boat, and cried out to the men to take the young lad safe ashore and try to come back for him, as they were too much crowded. The other men obeyed and got the lad safe ashore, but when they attempted to come back they found it impossible. LeBreton, apparently unconcerned, remained sitting astride of the capsized boat. He did not seem to realize the dangers of his situation. Four different boats attempted to leave the shore, but every attempt proved fruitless, they were capsized in the surf or thrown back on the beach. For two hours poor LeBreton could be seen on the upturned boat, but strange to say, although an expert swimmer, he never thought of trying to make the shore, which he would have easily reached, even with the strong sea, the wind blowing directly to the land. At last he disappeared, washed away by a huge wage, and was seen no more.

The damage at the lake is principally upon what had not been destroyed by the storm of the 11th of August. The repairs made since that time stood the storm perfectly. It is considered that this gale was a strong as that of the 11th of August, although it did not last as long. But August the swamps were nearly dry, and the water from the lake found a natural outlet; whereas, yesterday, the swamps being full, the water rose in the streets of Milneburg and covered the railroad track to some distance.

The Daily Picayune
Monday, September 17, 1860; The same article appeared in the Tuesday afternoon edition.

The Gale Last Saturday
Fearful Effects on Lake and River
Several Lives Lost
The Town of Biloxi a Heap of Ruins
Nearly Every House at the Balize Blown Down
The news that come to us from every quarter represents the effects of the gale of last Saturday as even more terrible than had been surmised. The destruction of property known thus far is even greater than that by the storm of the 11th of August, and although we have not heard of as many lives lost, we fear that we will have to deplore many more when our returns are completed.

The Lake
We gave yesterday a report of the damage done at Milneburg. The Pamilco, due last Saturday, only came in yesterday morning at 10 o’clock. She was at Mandeville on Saturday morning, at 7 o’clock, with her passengers already on board, but Capt. Hoffman foreseeing the terrible storm that was brewing, would not leave, and waited at the wharf in hopes of a favorable change. About 10 o’clock it blew so strong that the passengers were put ashore, and the boat ran back to Lewisburg, where she could get better shelter. She returned to Mandeville yesterday morning early, and arrived safely as stated.

On that part of the lake coast, the storm was strongly felt, but no damage was suffered.

The Oregon, which left for Mobile at 1 o’clock, in the midst of the storm, got into the Rigolets, where she weathered it, and is reported safe.

The Alabama left her wharf on Saturday afternoon, with many passengers; among others, Washington Fire Company No. 20, on a pleasure excursion.

She returned this morning at 4 ½ o’clock. Capt. Boardman’s report is a tale of frightful disasters. He states that on the whole lake coast there is not a wharf or bath house left standing. The villages had not suffered much, but the town of Biloxi is a mass of ruins. “Look at the unseemly pile of ruins left by the late fire in Royal street, from Customhouse to Bienville street,” says an eye-witness, “and you will form an idea of the appearance of Biloxi, as seen from on board the Alabama.”
The long wharf was covered by nine feet of water, and, in fact, the approach to the late beautiful little town was a mass of water, strewn with pieces of timber and furniture. This gale was considered far worse than the fearful storm of 1855.
We only hear of one loss of life at Biloxi, that of a man killed by the falling of Brown’s hotel. We could not learn his name. The Alabama picked up seven men from the schooner Oregon, completely worn out. The schooner is a complete wreck.

The Balize and the Passes
The towboat Junius Beebe, Capt. Andrews, came up yesterday and brings another fearful account from the Balize and the Passes.

The gale was felt there on Friday night. Nearly every house at the Balize was blown down.

Capt Kinney, the well-known pilot of the New York and Havana steam packet ships, together with a Balize pilot whose name we did not learn, were in George Osgood’s coffeehouse, at Pass-a-l’Outre, were washed away and drowned. Mr. Osgood’s coffeehouse and residence were blown and washed away. Mrs. Osgood and her children drifted out on a bed, which got caught in the limbs of a small willow tree; there they remained until Saturday morning, when they were rescued from their perilous situation. A really providential escape.

The only buildings left standing at Pass a l’Outre, are the Pilot Boat Association house, Riley Knight’s house and the telegraph station.

The ship Galena, Capt Lowry, hence for New York, 12th inst., was blown ashore inside the Pass, and lies in seven feet water at her bows, and four at her stern, she drawing seventeen feet.

The ship Sheffield, Capt Richardson, hence for Leghorn, was driven ashore, and lies on her beam ends. She has five feet of water in her hold.

Capts. Lowry and Richardson came up to town to get assistance, and the ships will probably be got off today and brought back to the city.

The Galena was cleared by A. Cohen. Her cargo consists of 1400 bales of cotton, 224 hhds, 51 bales and 52 half bales tobacco, 156 bales rope cuttings, 47 bales skins, 64 moss, 1886 hides, 46 pieces wood, and 194 packages merchandise.

The cargo of the Sheffield, cleared by Cammack & Converse, consisted of 650 hhds tobacco and 16,800 staves.

A schooner Isaac Toucey, Hanson, hence for Gracias A Dios, Honduras, cleared by Goldenbow & Lesparre, was blown ashore, and lies high and dry in the marsh; together with the brig West Indian, Capt. Thompson, for St. Pierre, Martinique.
Capt. Hanson, of the schooner Isaac Toucey, hence for Honduras, reports that on Friday morning last, as he was near Pass-a-l’Outre, bound out, the wind commenced to blow from the northeast, which shortly increased to a violent gale. The schooner was riding at sixty fathoms on one chain, and forty-five fathoms on the other. At 7 o’clock next morning, the wind shifted and vessel commence to drag, and narrowly escaped running foul of ship Galena, which was at the time ashore. Both chains having given way, vessel went ashore and worked herself up into four feet of water, where she now lies. He came to town this morning to procure assistance. Capt. Hanson also reports that the brig West Indian went ashore at half past 4 the same morning. She was subsequently towed into the river yesterday morning by the towboat Ivy.

The West Indian subsequently went to sea.

The steamship Galveston was slightly damaged by a collision with the Sheffield, and went ashore. The towboats St. Charles and Ocean were also driven ashore; also, the brig Leghorn, in ballast.

The ship J. Webster Clark, Kopperholdt master, hence for Liverpool, went to sea yesterday.

The pilot boat Cornelian went ashore, and was badly damaged by collision with the Galveston.

Besides Capt. Kinney, we hear of the loss of a son of Mr. Osgood, and John Ackerman, son of one of the Balize pilots. Several fishermen are also reported as lost.

The following report, by Mr. J. T. Holmes, of Algiers, who was at Pass-a-l’Outre through the whole gale, will be found interesting:

One of the worst storms experienced for many years visited us on the 14th and 15th inst. It was accompanied with large hailstones and heavy rain. It commenced on Friday evening, the 14th, and continued until Saturday, at 11 o’clock A.M. The water rose this time six feet or more above high water mark and washed away nine houses, besides three look-out houses, with boats and sheds.

There were four towboats blown ashore but two, namely, the Junius Beebe and Ivy, got off before the water fell; the other two, the St. Charles and the Ocean, are at present lying high and dry. A ship is ashore inside the bar, and the bark Sheffield is on the bar. The brig Leghorn is high and dry in the marsh; likewise the pilot boat Cornelia. The steamship Galveston is shore astern of the Ocean.

The house next to the Lighthouse, belonging to Mr. George Osgood, was completely washed away, and the family, consisting of man, wife and four children, barely escaped with their lives by securing themselves to floating logs, the father being up to his neck in water and holding his baby above his head. They were rescued from a watery grave by the crew of the Junius Beebe, the captain of said boat receiving them in a kind and most gentlemanly manner.

A coffeehouse and grocery belonging to the same gentleman, in charge of his eldest son, John, and a man by the name of Kennedy, was completely washed away, and the two men are supposed to be lost.

A large flatboat, occupied by the opposition pilots, and their lookout house, were completely destroyed. A man belonging to the said boat was picked up alive at 11 o’clock A.M.

To the telegraph house no particular damage was done, except the kitchen being blown down and the telegraph wire broken.

The Towboats Company’s lookout house was destroyed, and the storm greatly damaged the wharves.

The Association’s lookout house was also destroyed, and the boat sheds, with all their boats are gone. All the outhouses and galleries are likewise destroyed.

The flatboat belonging to John Conrad, and nicely fitted up as a dwelling, was destroyed, with all its contents – furniture alone being valued at above $1000. Mrs. Conrad barely escaped with her life. A new building belonging to the same gentleman, not quite finished, was destroyed.

Mr. Levine’s splendid large house, more than half finished, was also floated away; and lumber, shingles, etc. ready for building, belonging to Mr. Barton, all floated off.
The customhouse received no particular damage, but the four water tanks belonging to it floated away.

Also, another house, not quite finished, near the Customhouse, was destroyed. Two more buildings, belonging to and occupied by fishermen, were destroyed.

Storm and Fire At Mobile
Immense Damage to the Shipping
Three Thousand Bales of Cotton Burned
Total Loss $500,000

The severe equinoctial gale which visited this city and vicinity on Saturday, was still more severe at Mobile, and more disastrous to property by far than the great gale of the 13th of August. While at its height, also, two fires broke out, by one of which 3,000 bales of cotton were consumed. The total loss by the storm and the fire is estimated at half a million of dollars. The Register gives the following particulars:
Business throughout the day was entirely suspended. Not a bale of cotton was sold or a single commercial transaction has been effected. In fact our citizens devoted themselves wholly to the laborious work of saving their property; and those whose interests were not imperiled nobly came to the rescue of their less fortunate neighbors.

There was a large arrival of cotton on the wharves and in warehouses, which was seriously damaged by the water.

The steamer Baltic, lying across the river, caught fire about 2 o’clock. The fire was put out by the hands on board, and but little damage was done.

It is rumored and feared that the steamer St. Nicholas, of Messrs. Cox, Brainard & Co., is lost, or seriously damaged. She is said to be blown up on one of the wharves near Hitchcock’s Press.

The steamer John Briggs, owned by Mr. Cox, lying at the Marine Ways, was blown across the river, and is now four hundred yards from the bank of the river. Everything above her boiler deck –chimneys, cabin, etc. – is gone, and nothing except the machinery will be saved, which will cost as much as it is worth to save it. The boat had been recently repaired.

The steamer Waverly, owned by the Messrs. Meahers, was also blown from the Ways across into the marsh, just above One Mile Creek; with her chimneys down and upper works gone. She will probably be gotten off with but little damage.

The steamer Warrior, Capt, H. R. Johnson, lying at one of the upper wharves, lost one of her chimneys; a part of texas, and sustains a damage of about $1,200.
We also learn that the salt barge of Mr. M. Waring, at the foot of Government street, capsized and threw into the river about 4,000 sacks of salt. The loss in the warehouses is said to be about 30,000 sacks.

The walls of the new warehouse on Eslava street, from Royal to Water, are blown down.

The walls of the new theatre, which were injured by the late storm, have sustained no material damage.

The wharves are injured very much. All articles of merchandise on them, at wood at the wood yards, the lumber and saw logs at the mills, have been swept away, and a very serious loss of promiscuous articles has been sustained, the exact amount of which we cannot learn or now approximate.

To add to the horrors of the day, at about 2 o’clock the fire bell rang out a call for the department to subdue a fire on the south side of Government street, just below Royal. Fortunately, however, little or no damage was done.

Again, between 3 and 4 o’clock, the alarm of fire was sounded, and it was soon ascertained that the warehouse of Messrs. Pomeroy & Marshall, in which a large amount of lime was stored, was on fire. Being surrounded on all sides by water to the depth of several feet it was impossible to approach the building, and the fire had to take its course. We also learn that the fire communicated itself to Goodman’s warehouse, in which there was some three thousand bales of cotton, all of which was destroyed. By this time the water had sufficiently receded to enable the fire engines to approach the scene, but the drift and other impediments rendered their labors in a great measure abortive.

In the City Warehouse the south wall was blown down and several bales of cotton burned.

Ketchum’s warehouse had a large part of the east wall blown down, and the north gable end fell in.

The water was deep, but notwithstanding it and other obstructions every on of the fire companies “plunged in”, and up to the men’s waists, worked the machines and labored like Trojans in their contention with the fire king. We do not remember ever before to have seen men labor with such zeal and devoted determination. The damage done is great, but we did not learn to what amount as to insurance. In the absence of facts it is idle to guess, but we hope that matters are exaggerated and that the actual loss will be far below the minimum of supposition.

The railroad track being submerged, of course the Mississippi passenger train failed to arrive – neither could the Citronelle train go up last evening. We have every reason to believe that the track has not been injured, and that by the time this meets the eye of the reader that the former trains will have arrived, and that all needing arrangements will be made to have everything in running order by Monday morning. The freight was all put up on the platform cars and is not damaged. The cotton, however, is all wet.

Among the disastrous effects of the storm is one which we regret being obliged to chronicle, as we have enjoyed more than one pleasant trip on board of the yacht Pastime. She started out on a pleasure trip day before yesterday, and struck by a severe squall about two miles from land. In trying to come up into the wind she ran against a snag and stove a large hole in her bottom. Two of the party left the boat and came up to the city on one of the hatches for assistance; the others remaining from 10 o’clock until 8 next morning, with the water washing over them throughout the night – fortunately no one was lost, which we understand is due to the coolness and energy of the sailor in charge. We would give his name, but have been unable to learn it. Both the Crescent and Junior came in from Point Clear and Hollywood, but up to the time of their leaving, the fury of the storm had not been felt.

The mail boat from New Orleans is still out, but the probability is she anchored under some lee shore for protection. No boats left here for the bay or river. It is impossible to estimate what the loss will be. We learn from reliable authority that every merchant from Water street down to the river has sustained a more or less damage.
Towards night the wind veered to the southward and in a manner lulled, but the rain still continues to pour down in torrents. One year ago today, Sept. 15th, our city was visited by a similar storm. One singularity about these storms is the total absence of lightening and thunder, while it rains incessantly.

It is feared that a good deal of damage has been done to the shipping in the lower bay and along the coast. Many vessels are expected at this season from Northern ports. We shall wait intelligence in hope and suspense.

In Tuesday’s issue we will endeavor to give fuller particulars. We cannot now even estimate the loss but suppose it is not far from $500,000.

The Advertiser says that not less than 10,000 bales of cotton, it is estimated, is so damaged by exposure that it will have to be sent to the pickeries.

The Coming of the Storm

The Tribune thus describes the coming on of the gale:
It did not come unexpectedly, for many of the “old inhabitants,” who always have their “weather eye” open whenever the petrels are flying, predicted, several days ago, that we would soon be visited by another severe gale. North winds prevailed at night and just before sunrise. About noon the weather was quite warm, and continued in this way until Friday night. At about 11 o’clock the rain began to fall, the wind blowing gently from the east. Very heavy black clouds were hanging overhead, presenting a very threatening aspect. The wind and rain gradually increased until the storm became alarming. The wind almost “howled,” and shifted from the east to south, then southwest, east and southeast and most of the time blowing at a terrific rate.

The Daily Picayune
Tuesday afternoon edition, September 18, 1860

Disasters of the Late Gale
Statement of Capt. Baker, of the Oregon

Capt. Baker, the well known and experienced master of the U. S. mail steamer Oregon, which arrived this morning from Mobile, furnishes to us the following interesting statement of the terrible effects of the late disastrous gale at Mobile, and all along the Gulf and Lake shore.

The gale was very severe in Mobile, and a number of river steamers were driven high on shore and so far up that it would cost more than they are worth to get them off. Among them was the little Arrow, which however, was left in a good position to be launched. The Florida rode the gale out at anchor and reports a providential escape from a whirlwind precisely like a water spout.

The ship Dixie, Capt. Dixie, from New York, ran inside the bar, and was forced to anchor, but had not distance enough to run much cable, and struck on the west side, and soon went to pieces. All hands except the mate, pilot, and three men, were lost. Capt. Dixie’s body was found lashed to a piece of the wreck, and taken to Mobile for interment.

The ship American Union lay outside Mobile Point during the hurricane, and rode it out, with 150 fathoms of chain.

The ship Sandusky got inside, but finding she could not fetch the anchorage, tacked about and stood off to sea again, and no doubt is all right.

The Oregon had the worst of the gale at the Pier, but received but little damage, which was all repaired in four hours in Mobile. After she left the pier, she behaved finely in the lake, although the sea was very high. In the Rigolets she came to anchor, and laid fine until 11:30 P.M., when we proceeded on our course, arriving at Mobile the 16th, at 11 A M.

The wharf at Pascagoula has nothing whatever left but the timbers. The house and plank are all gone. The houses west of the hotel were also undermined; Grant’s Island is pretty well washed away; Beacon’s also, and from the lighthouse on Choctaw Point to Mobile is but a scene of ruins.

I heard from a passenger that the keeper of the lighthouse on Round Island lost everything he had, and only saved his life and those of his wife and six children by taking refuge in the lighthouse. His own house was washed away, and everything he had in the world went with it – cattle and all.

There is no light on Cat Island, and the presumption is that the lighthouse is wholly gone.

The lighthouse at Pass Christian is all right, being built on iron piles screwed into the ground. Teagarden’s Hotel, I heard, was gone – blown down.

The Oregon did not stop on this coast, as we knew nothing of the state of the wharves, and the steamer might have received injury without being able to get the passengers on board.

It was also reported that Ship Island Fort had washed away, but that is not so. The light is still there.

From Mr. Secon, of Mobile, I learned that the schooner Independence, of Mobile, was lost on Ship Island. The crew were all saved. She was employed getting the lumber out of the English ship lost in the former hurricane. The ship was driven into seven feet water, and is in a better position to save the cargo than before.

He also informed me that two water casks and a blanket, marked “Cuba” had come ashore, but it was not known to what vessel they belonged.

Biloxi suffered very severely during the gale. The lighthouse was completely undermined and is ready to fall. Teagarden’s hotel was blown down and the wharf destroyed. Barnes also suffered severely and finally had to get a lugger to take him to Pascagoula.

The Late Gale at Mobile
Further Particulars of the Disaster
The Mobile Mercury, of Monday morning, comes to us with still further particulars of the late disastrous storm in that city and vicinity. It says:

We have been placed in possession of the approximate loss of some of the companies, but reserve remark for further inquiry. We have heard the aggregate loss estimated at half a million. We think the true mark somewhere between a quarter and a half million.

Men were at work all day yesterday picking up cotton and taking it out of the water. We saw a hundred bales that had been rafted together yesterday evening, and hauled into the slip at the city warehouse, which men were busy taking out. Some, of course, has been carried entirely away.

A gentleman has just handed us the following statement:
Amount of cotton burned in Goodman’s warehouse, Sept. 15, 1860, less amount saved in damaged state viz:
Planter’s cotton ……………………..3,110
Ship marked ………… .............+.55
3,165
Less amt saved in damaged state…….-.365
Total Loss……………………2,820

The hull of the old Ambassador, used by M. Warring as a salt boat, sunk at the foot of Government street, with 4,000 sacks of salt.

Five steamboats are totally lost, except what may be saved of their machinery and other movable articles of value. Yesterday being Sunday, it was difficult for reporters to find men in their places to get any information, of any sort, concerning the flood, and consequently we know not how far these losses are covered by insurance.

Capt. Geo. Blakesley went down the bay yesterday morning in the Swan, returning yesterday evening. He reports all right down there. The ship Dicksey had come inside Sand Island Friday evening, and not having been seen since, is believed to have put to sea again.

The masts of a small schooner are seen sticking up out of the water a little down the river from Dauphin, as seen by our reporter. Upon inquiry, we were told she belonged to New Orleans, and had nothing aboard of much value. She went down in the height of the gale yesterday. No one lost. We learn at a later hour, that she is the water boat Globe.

The principal wharves all along the front are more or less injured. The upheaving of the waves had raised them in places, and the piles are said to have been drawn up by its force, giving their surface an equal appearance. Their coverings of plank have been displaced in some places, as also the sills upon which they were laid.

Water street, below Government, is completely chocked up with logs, drift wood and the broken up wharves along that part of the front. In one place, an oyster boat was carried and lodged in the centre of that street.

The Gale at Point Clear
By the arrival of the Crescent last evening, we had news from Point Clear. The water rose up to the sills of the main building at Point Clear, and flowed under the house. The whole south wharf was carried away, leaving not a wreck behind. The only place left for landing is at Battle’s wharf.

The second cook of the hotel, with two companions, got a sailboat on Friday night, and just before starting, bought a bottle of whiskey, saying that, as there was a fresh breeze, he was going to see how quick time could be made around the stake and back. Not one of the crew, not any vestige of the boat, has been seen or heard of since.

An Incident of the Storm
Last Friday evening, several young gentlemen, Messrs. Stanley Bell and Walter Weaver, of Mobile, Gabe Buchanan, of Aberdeen, Miss. and John Richardson of Okolona, started on the yacht Pastime on a pleasure excursion to Point Clear. They had proceeded about twelve miles when the lively breeze under which they had been sailing stiffened a gale. The two sailors, who made up the crew, prophesied a big blow, and according to their advice, the vessel was turned about to retrace her course. About two and a half miles from Choctaw Point which rushing at the rate of fifteen miles an hour, the yacht struck a beacon light pile and stove in her bow. She rapidly filled, and in a short time sunk in twenty feet water. The hatches were secured, and each man held them with one hand and with the other clung to the rigging. The storm increased its fury and the foaming billows at every surge swept over the unfortunate excursionist. In a short time Mr. Bell and one of the sailors concluded to try to reach the shore. Taking a hatch lid, three feet by six, they began their perilous voyage, and after two hours hard struggling, accomplished their object. Night dragged its slow length along, but daylight brought no prospect of rescue, and the strength of those remaining with the wreck was well nigh exhausted. Seven or eight hours spent in clinging to ropes and bits of plank, and being exposed to a fierce storm, raging sea and a cold, beating rain is enough to exhaust the fortitude of the most enduring. After waiting in vain for some sign of relief, Major Richardson and the other sailor also took a hatch lid as a buoy, and started for the lighthouse, distant some one and a half miles. This was deemed a hopeless venture, in the exhausted condition of the parties, but fate and tide were propitious, and they had nearly reached their destination when the propeller Neaffie, Capt. Keys, came along and took them on board. The Neaffie then went for Messrs. Weaver and Buchanan, who had stayed with the wreck. The young men lost many valuables in the way of watches, money, etc. Capt, Keys, deserves the highest credit for his prompt and vigorous action in rescuing a number of his fellow-beings from a watery grave. We learn it is the intention of the young gentlemen to present to Capt. Keys some suitable testimonial of their gratitude.

We have not heard of a solitary instance of loss of human life about the city. Somebody had a camel which unfortunately got drowned down on Royal, below Madison.

The Storm Up the Country
The Taney arrived last evening, having laid up at Gindrat’s landing Saturday night. She reports rain from Selma down, with considerable wind, but the last nothing like we had here.

The Rescue also arrived yesterday evening, from the Bigbee. She met the storm at Wood’s Bluff, and reports heavy rains, with high winds, calculated to do serious injury to the cotton crops.

The Saturday down train met rain at Scooba, which increased all the way, without noticeable heavy wind. The train laid by at Whistler, and came in yesterday morning.
We have ascertained the exact height of the water here at Mobile, as compared with August ’52, to be 16 ½ inches less.

The Daily Picayune
Wednesday morning, September 19, 1860

Letter from Plaquemines
[Correspondence of the Picayune]
Parish of Plaquemines Sept. 17, 1860

From Friday night until noon on Saturday last the wind blew a perfect hurricane over this parish. The rain fell in torrents; but happily the waters of the sea did not rise at Pointe-a-la-Hache nor at Grand Prairie. It is rumored here that the village at Pass-a-l’Outre was completely inundated, all the houses swept away, and several lives lost. Near the Salt Works, a Frenchman by the name of Claude, and his family, were drowned - so it is reported in the upper part of this community. The cane fields, of course, are prostrated to the ground all over this locality, trees uprooted, fences blown down, etc.

After careful inquiries, I have arrived at the conclusion that no less than 4000 or 5000 barrels of superior rice will be shipped to your market this season. While on this subject, allow me to recommend to your grocers, and others filling country orders, my young friend Firmin Martin, who keeps his office at G. Terle’s store, No. 123 Old Levee street, between St. Louis and Toulouse. Though Mr. Martin commenced business a few months ago, he already receives on commission three-fourths of the rice raised in this parish. Mr. Martin is an active, honest, affable and gentlemanly young man, well acquainted with his branch of business. Your grocers will always buy cheaper from him than from any of the down town rice dealers, as he receives the rice directly from the farmers. Let them try him.

P. S. – I learn at this moment that, at the foot of the back levee at Pointe-a-la-Hache, the waters of the river rose about two feet, and in the vicinity of Grand Prairie about two and a half, but little or no damage was done

The Late Destructive Gale
Disasters at the Passes and Along the Coast

Mr. Jas. Burrows, the clerk of the steamer Ranger, is kind enough to furnish to us the following interesting intelligence of the late disasters to shipping at the Passes and along the coast, which have been attended by such a fearful loss of life:
On Monday morning, at 3 o’clock, we arrived at the Southwest Pass, and were informed there that the Association pilot boat Nelson had been blown off the bar, and had not since been heard of. Mr. Luke Higgins and Samuel Hill were the pilots on board of her, with one cook and two men.

On arriving at Pass a l’Outre we found all the out houses gone and Capt. Riley’s wharf considerably damaged. The following gentlemen were also erecting houses between the Association and Mrs. Riley, viz: Mr. Lavine, pilot; Mr. Conrad, pilot; Mr. Burton, pilot. All the houses of these gentlemen would have soon been completed, but now not a vestige of either is to be seen. The Pilot Association lost their men’s house, look-out, boat house, and two boats. Mr. John Conrad lost his flatboat, which he used as a temporary residence, without having time to save scarcely anything.

The telegraph house also sustained severe damage. Mr. Charles Osgood lost both his houses and also a child. Capt. McKenny was carried away with the house and is supposed to be lost.

Mr. Burnes is supposed to be lost. Thomas Dott, known as Little Tom, is also missing; John Ankerman likewise.

The bark Sheffield is here on the bar. The ship Galena is also ashore inside. The schooner Galveston is likewise ashore. The brig Leghorn, of Pensacola, is high in the marsh; also the tow boats St. Charles and Ocean. The steamship Galveston was pulled off yesterday by the tow boats Millaudon and Baltic. The pilot boat Cornelia is badly on shore.

At 7 P.M., three miles below Rosalba Place, we took on board a passenger very weak, who stated that he belonged to a camp of fishermen, thirty-four in number. The first indication of a storm on Friday at their camp was a heavy squall that lasted about half an hour, and caused the water to rise one foot and a half. It then moderated, but in about two hours after the first, a second squall came up much more severe than the first, carrying everything before it. This passenger took to his skiff. A number of others took to a lugger, called the Lookout, but were capsized, and it is supposed the greater portion of the men were lost, as only three had arrived at Rosalba Place.

I learn, also, of the loss of the entire family of Mr. Gay, who resided on the prairie, a little above Rosalba Place. It appears that, abandoning his house when the storm came on, and the advancing water made it no longer tenable, he took refuge with his family on board a lugger, which soon capsized, and himself, his wife and daughter about 11 years of age, with a little negro boy, all found a watery grave. Their bodies have since been recovered and given a Christian burial.

In fact the storm was much more severe at the Passes, and along the coast immediately above, than that of the 11th of August. Above the forts I hear of no damage whatever.

The Gale at Pascagoula
We have received from passengers, arrived yesterday, some further particulars concerning the effects of the late storm at East Pascagoula; they are as fearful as those that have reached up from other points on the lake.

The storm was first felt at East Pascagoula toward 12 o’clock Friday night, and lasted until Saturday night at 10 o’clock, making 22 hours of suffering for the greater number of the inhabitants. The wind blew with increased fury and the water in the bay rose to an uncommon height, dashing furiously over the sandy beach and flooding the whole town.

The action of the waves broke up the beach for a distance of three miles and undermined the foundations of the buildings fronting on the bay. Some six or eight tumbled down, the inmates having barely time to escape. Among the persons whose property was destroyed, we learn the names of Messrs. Blanc, Maurice (lost several houses that were rented out) and Spehrmberg. The latter gentleman and his family experienced the most cruel sufferings; they had to wade through the water a distance of two miles and a half, Mr. Spehrmberg carrying two of his children on his back. Mrs. S. was enceinte, and upon reaching a place of safety she was delivered of a dead child. She was still lying in the most critical condition yesterday. Mr. Anton, in the employ of Government as keeper of the barracks, was very near losing his life. His house, a new building not quite finished, was washed away. A carpenter, name unknown, who was in the house at the time, is missing, and was undoubtedly crushed beneath the ruins.

Mr. Fisher, keeper of the lighthouse on Round Island, lost everything. His house and contents were washed away, and he remained with his family on the island, without food or shelter, until Monday, when they were rescued. The Government buildings are all gone.

The wharf at Pascagoula is entirely destroyed, and the whole beach from Bayou Caussot to Capt. Grant’s residence, is broken up. For several miles in the interior, the cattle were swept off and drowned. At Mr. Auld’s place, on the bayou, known as the Ducayet property, the cattle suffered considerably, and a large number were found dead.

During this fearful gale, the water rose three feet higher than it was ever known in any storm since the great disaster in 1819.

It is estimated that $40,000 would scarcely cover the loss suffered in this dreadful calamity. Not only have persons of means lost heavily, but families in reduced circumstances have been left destitute of even the common necessities of life. Subscriptions have been raised in Pascagoula by many who generously forget their own disasters to see only the greater suffering of their poor neighbors. It is hoped that some of the generous citizens of New Orelans [sic] will do something to relieve the pressing wants of these poor people. Mr. Krebs, postmaster at East Pascagoula, is authorized to receive subscriptions.

Daily Picayune
Wednesday morning, September 19, 1860

Loss at Pass a l’Outré – Capt. Riley Knight, who arrived in the city this morning from the Pass, informs us that ten lives were lost there in the late gale. The names of the victims are Capt. Gay, with four of his family. The name of the other is unknown.
Capt. Knight says that the suffering at the Pass was very great. Capt. Knight loses his all. Most of the inhabitants were for hours in water up to their necks. It is a wonder that so few were lost.

Loss of the Ship Richard H. Dixey, of Boston – Loss of Life- We learn from a letter, received this morning from Mobile by Messrs Creevy and Farwell, that the ship Richard H. Dixey, Capt. Dixey, from New York for Mobile, was blown ashore at the lower bar of Mobile bay, during the late gale, and is a total loss. Capt. Dixey, together with many of the ship’s crew, were lost, seven of the number escaping from a watery grave.

Submitted by Nancy.  Thank you, Nancy!

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