Hurricane

August 6-16, 1860

Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi

Three hurricanes hit the southeastern coast of Louisiana in 1860. August 8-16, the first hurricane of the season, number 1, formed in the Gulf of Mexico west of Tampa, Florida. It headed west and after passing the mouth of the Mississippi River, it made a large U turn, crossed the Louisiana coast near the Lafourche, St. Charles and Plaquemines parishes, turned east along the southern shore of Lake Ponchartrain, crossed Mississippi, Alabama, Florida and Georgia then headed out into the Atlantic Ocean. This was a category 3 hurricane.

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.

The next hurricane, number 6, also a category 2, formed northwest of the Yucatan peninsula September 30 to October 3. It travel north and crossed the Louisiana coast west of Terrebonne Parish in the vicinity of the Atchafalaya Bay. It finally dissipated over northern Mississippi. Source

This is a series of newspaper articles transcribed from the Daily Picayune, describing the damage caused by these storms.

The Daily Picayune
Monday, August 13, 1860. This article also appeared in the Tuesday morning issue, August 14, 1860

The Great Gale of Saturday
Saturday last was the anniversary of the Last Island disaster, four years ago, and from the accounts that are pouring in upon us from all quarters, from river, lake, Gulf and coast, we judge that the effects resulting from the gale of last Saturday night will prove, in the aggregate, nearly, if not quite, as disastrous.
During the whole of the 11th, there was a good deal of wind and rain in the city. Portions of the ruins of the buildings lately destroyed by fires, in Royal and Tchoupitoulas streets, were blown down, but no damage done.

The Lake
There was a lively time, during the entire day, at the Lake end of the Pontchartrain and Jefferson Railroads. At the former, the railroad wharf was a good deal broken up, the heavy timbers being washed up over the track, by the surging waves. A portion of the bath houses was swept away, as well as the bridges generally. We have heard the damage to the wharf estimated at over $3,000.

Milneburg (at the lake end of the Pontchartrain railroad) was perfectly flooded, and the occupants only escaped by being carried off in boats. The pretty gardens, attached to Boudro’s and to the Washington Hotel, were sadly cut up and laid waste; and some of the fine trees in front of the Washington were blown down. The shell road, constructing from Milneburg to the bayou St. John, was washed away and destroyed.

Of course, on the Lake itself, the angry wind and waves made no little devastation. The yacht Ripple sank off the Bayou St. John, and there was much swamping of small craft all along the shore. It being Saturday, the day when a good many of our citizens go to join their families, rusticating over the Lake, or to have a day’s pleasure, there was a large attendance at the end of the railroad, at the hours for the departure of the steamers. The California got off at about her usual time and we suppose, shared the experiences of the Oregon, which left Mobile Sunday, for this city.

From Capt Baker, of the Oregon, which arrived safely at 4 o’clock this morning, we learn that the gale, on the morning of the 12th (Sunday), was quite severe at Mobile, but did little harm there except blowing down some trees and submerging some of the docks. Capt. Baker met the California, in Mobile Bay, on Sunday, at 2 P. M. At 3:40 P. M. the Oregon took off the crew of the sloop Eile, of Mobile, water logged and a mast carried away. She lost her mast and filled on Saturday evening at 8 o’clock. Roughed it on the cabin top until taken off. All on board lost everything except what they had on, and were without provisions. Capt. Baker landed them at Pascagoula, at their request. Met the U. S. mail steamer Florida at 11:40 P. M. last night, west of St. Joseph’s. On referring to our advertising column, it will be seen that the Florida behaved admirably on her hazardous trip.

At Pascagoula, as will be seen by Mr. Gumbel’s card, in another column, there were wild doings.

Capt. Baker, of the Oregon, reports the schooner Venice all right, west of Grant’s Pass.

So much for the mail boats. Now for the pleasure excursion steamers. The Alabama, bound for the watering places, which was to start at 5 P.M. on Saturday, was full of folks, but the captain very wisely concluded to remain by the side of the wharf. A majority of the disappointed returned to town, and the rest stuck to the steamer, and took their chances. About 9 A.M. yesterday, the Alabama got off, and went on her way. The Arrow essayed to leave, during the gale, for Mandeville, on Saturday afternoon, but was obliged to come to anchor, and ride the waves all night. Next morning, she made another effort, but prudently relinquished it. Fire Company No. 24, bound on an excursion to Mandeville, were obliged to come on shore, and eat their dinner at Milneburg.

As a matter or course, there were all sorts of petty disasters on the Lake shores. At Dan Hickok’s there was quite an incursion of the water. Fishermen’s huts were overflowed here and there, and pistol galleries, bath houses, bridges and piers were wildly dealt with.

Lake Borgne-Loss of Life
The gale and flood were terribly severe at and about Proctorville. We read in this morning’s Crescent that the Mexican Gulf cars, on Saturday evening, could not get within four miles of the town for the water on the track near the town. The shell banks and many of the houses were washed away, as many as possible of the people escaping in boats.

We hear, this morning, that there was a sad loss of life in that neighborhood. Officer Brooks and others report to us that the loss of life cannot fall short of thirty and that very likely it will even exceed that number. There is hardly a house remaining at Proctorville.

The following are the names of those ascertained to have been lost:
The wife and six children of Amedee Fagot (Mrs. F.’s remains have been found); Mr. Combray, keeper of the lighthouse; Wells [Weils ?] (whether Mr. or Mrs. accounts differ) and family, five in all; the barkeeper of Remon’s coffeehouse a family of five (colored) named Chappalin; and a number of fishermen whose names are not ascertained.

The River
There was a rise of some three feet in the Mississippi. Over the river, and the whole line of the levee, the gale swept wildly. The vessels of all kinds lying at their docks, piers and wharves, tossed about and chafed their sides, but we hear of none of them breaking from their moorings excepting the Belle Gates, who took French leave of “the right bank” and came over to this side as if she had all steam up.

Our reporter hands us in the following list of marine disasters occasioned by the gale:
The towboat Landis, Capt Davis, from the Passes, arrived up to the city this morning, having in tow the brig N. Stetson, Capt. Oliphant, and schooner Jacinto – both vessels bound down, and whilst in Fort Reach, during the storm of Saturday last, the N. Stetson lost her foremast and sails, and otherwise damaged. She was hence from Tampico. Two of the seamen were badly injured. The Jacinto sprung a leak. Both vessels are now at Algiers, for repairs.

Capt. Davis reports that the schooner Wm. Colquitt, Peterson, hence for Havana, was blown ashore at Fort St. Philip, and will prove a total loss. Portion of her cargo, it is expected, will be saved, although in a damaged state. No lives were lost.

The towboat James L. Day, from the Passes, having in tow the schooner D. F. Keeling, from Minatitlan, was blown ashore, six miles above the head of the Passes, and both of them are now lying high and dry.

The schooner J. H. Toone, Capt. Pennington hence for Havana, was blown high and dry at Pass-a-l’Outre.

The towboat Victoria was coming in over the bar yesterday morning, with the brig M. A. Stevens, Capt Butler, from Havana, which vessel was dismasted.

The ship Confidence, Capt. Sears, hence for New York, under sail, was passed below Fort Reach, all right. The ship H. P. Wheeler, Capt. Gadd, also for New York, was badly ashore at Pointe-a-la Hache. Capt. Gadd is in town for the purpose of procuring three towboats to get her off.

The water at the Passes rose some 7 or 8 feet, which was blown in from the Lake, covering the whole of the levees and lower portion of the houses. The tenants were obliged to cut away the floors of their building to prevent their washing away. Several lives were lost, and among which were three children.

The steamer Empire Parish, from the Balize, will be us this afternoon, when we will get further particulars.

The storm, overflowed the entire parish of Plaquemines, from Dr. Wederstrandt’s down to the Quarantine Station. The water rose to a depth of four feet on the public roads at Pointe-a-la Hache, and on Mr. Urquhart’s plantation it rose in some places nine feet. Mr. Urquhart’s crop was greatly damaged, and twenty five or thirty persons lost their lives on his place. Many of them had taken refuge in tree tops, and were either blown off by the force of the wind, or the severe collision with the trees. At Mrs. Wilkinson’s plantation, there were five or six of her negroes lost; also, two carriages, her stables and kitchens were blown away. The large new storehouse recently built at the Quarantine Station was blown down. There were many other sufferers by the storm, but the above are all the names or particulars that we can obtain at present. The water continued to rise for twenty four hours, when it subsided, leaving death and destruction in its path. The orange and rice crop, all along the lower coast, is entirely destroyed.

We obtain the following interesting particulars of the disaster to the brig Stetson and the schooner Colquitt from Capt. Peterson and Mr. Sanford, who will accept our thanks for their courtesy:

About 9 o’clock, Friday morning, the brig Stetson and schooner Colquitt, when on the last turn below Fort Jackson, were cast off by the towboat Ocean without any warning. The wind at this moment was very strong from the southeast. The schooner and the brig were so close in contact that nothing could be done with sails. Therefore the vessels came to anchor. The schooner anchored, and no bottom could be reached in thirty fathoms. She paid out all the chain, forty five fathoms, the vessel not bringing up, but constantly drifting ashore. She was then obliged to let go the second best anchor, paid out seventy five fathoms of chain, when the vessel brought up within one eighth of a mile of the shore. During this time, the brig Stetson drifted past the schooner to the windward and brought up about two hundred fathoms astern of her.

At 12 o’clock on Friday night the gale increased from the east, and the schooner Colquitt broke adrift with her anchors and chains, came in contact with the brig Stetson, carried away the mainboom, and drifted past her about a quarter of a mile astern. She brought up alongside of the beach, in front of Fort Jackson, left bank. At a quarter to 12 o’clock, on Saturday, the brig Stetson broke adrift and came in collision with the schooner before the schooner could guard against the collision, sinking the schooner in five minutes. Brig Stetson cut away her foremast and lost all her masts and sails, and was thrown broadside, to shore, over the Colquitt.

All the passengers were taken to a wooden building in the fort, which soon commenced to fill with water. As the building was in danger of blowing down, arrangements were made to occupy the second story of the magazine, where the women and children spent the night.

Among the passengers were Dr. Lipper and lady, residing in Tampico. The Doctor was taking home his young bride. Mr. Sandford, an engineer, who was a passenger, informs us that during thirty years experience at sea, he has never witnessed such bravery as was shown by Mrs. Lipper. The Doctor and his wife came up to the city in the Tuscurora.

When the wind shifted to the northward, the river, which had swollen about fifteen feet, suddenly fell, when a perfect sea of water poured into it from the land. The scene is described by Capt. Peterson and Mr. Sanford as more terrific than any which has come within their experience.

The Gulf
Up to the hour of going to press, this evening, we are without any other accounts from the Gulf, than those furnished us by the purser of the steamship Bienville, which will be found in another column.

The Daily Picayune
August 14, 1860

The Storm of Saturday Last
More Disasters at Sea

Our marine reporter hands us the following additional intelligence of disasters by the great gale of the 11th inst.:

The tow boat J. M. Whann, Capt. Whiting, arrived this morning with the ship Valencia, bark Lizzie Boggs and brig M. A. Stevens. From Capt. Dizer we learn that he left Bordeaux on the 6th of June last, with a large and selected cargo of wines, brandies, &c., and nine steerage passengers; that on the 10th inst., while in lat. 28o 30’, lon. 88o 6’, encountered a heavy gale from the south-east, which compelled him to heave to.
On the 11th, at 2 o’clock P. M., furled the lee clew of mail topsail, the wind blowing a hurricane; the bark lying under bare poles, the wind being so high that it was impossible for any sail to stand. At 3 o’clock P. M., struck sounding in about forty fathoms.
At 5 P.M. struck in 15 fathoms, the wind still increasing so much that we found it necessary to cut away all the masts of the bark in order to prevent her going ashore, which was done at 5:40 P. M. – the bark reeling and thumping on the spars which fell over her sides, causing her to leak badly.
At 6:30, P. M., let go both anchors and gave her all the chains on both and brought up the vessel. The waterway was split apart by the falling of the foremast. On Monday morning, the gale having subsided, got under way, the wind being from N. N. E. Set studdingsail on the stump of the foremast. At 10 A.M., the towboat Victoria took the bark in tow about 3 miles from Pass-a-l’Outre. The Lizzie Boggs is consigned to C. Cavaroc & Co., and now lies at post 29, in the Second District.
Capt Austin, of the ship Valencia, from Boston, reports having boarded, on the 12th inst., 25 miles west of Pass-a-l’Outre light, schooner Mary, of Pensacola, from this port, bound to Galveston with a cargo of corn, the captain and crew having deserted, leaving her in charge of the first mate and one seaman. The schooner was completely dismasted and entirely at the mercy of the waves. Capt Austin tried to persuade the men to come aboard of his vessel, but they would not leave the schooner.
Capt. Austin reports having signalized, on 9th inst., ship Henry Clark, Capt. Kopperholdt, hence, 80 miles N. W. of the Tortugas.
Capt. Butler, of the brig M. A. Stevens, from Havana, reports having lost fore and main topmast, and jib, during the gale last Saturday. She arrived here this morning, and was put at Algiers, for repairs.

The Gale at Mobile
The gale of Saturday night was nearly as severe at Mobile as on the river, and lake, and Gulf, but proved far less destructive to property, owing to the fact that no one was taken by surprise. From early morning it gave forewarnings of its approach and the people had the whole day to provide against it. Several of the merchants, indeed, who were most exposed, went that morning to the insurance offices and got their property insured against water to the amount of many thousands. And when the storm did come, it was so gradual, that it gave time for even the minutest precautions. The Mercury proceeds:

Finally, about the middle of the afternoon, the gale commenced blowing in fitful gusts, form the east first, which is invariably the case with this sort of storm here, and continued in violence, coming with gusts harder and harder, up to the moment it began to abate. That is to say, it raged with increasing violence until about daylight Sunday morning, when it began to subside, gradually. By the time the storm had fully established its character, the wind went round and blew form south by southeast.
With the wind came a slanting, searching rain that was driven through cracks and crevices not known before to exist, drenching the interior of apartments, always before water-proof to ordinary showers. The night was pitchy dark, and the wakeful observer of the howling storm, (and many such there were, for houses shook and rattled at every blast to a degree to disturb the slumber of even those that were not scary) who peered through the gloom, saw lights burning during the whole night in the habitations around him.

At 2 A.M. the fire bell rang, to warn the people that the water was rising. Before the alarm, though, the owners of stores had turned out, and were hard at work, moving and putting up things from the floors, all along Commerce and Water streets. Much was done, and a great quantity of goods put out of harm’s way. These efforts were continued up to about 6 or 7 o’clock, when the wind began to veer around to the west, and all knew then that the storm was abating, and the water would presently begin to receded, which it did.

The water rose just about high enough to flood Water street from Government to the north end. The depth on the floors of the stores of Commerce street was from four to not more than ten inches at the deepest. Though a great quantity of goods were elevated above the water and saved from damage, a serious loss has been sustained, which it was impossible to even approximate on yesterday, when the doors were closed and everybody away, as soon as the work of contending against the water was suspended.

Upon inquiry, there was less damage to the shipping and steamboats at the wharf than we expected to find. A rumor reached us that the steamer Wallis had sunk. We were happy to learn subsequently the she was saved, though from some cause she filled until she was in jeopardy. Her chimneys were blown down. The Dick Keys broke loose from her mooring on the opposite side, with the hull of the burnt ship to which she was made fast, and drifted up the rifer and stuck upon the marsh above the ship years. The Swan pulled her off yesterday morning. A wood boar was sunk in the slip where Reel’s oyster flat stays moored. We saw persons watching about, and somebody had said – but nobody knew who – that one or more of the crew has perished. There was a notion, but nobody could tell why, that there was a drowned man in the cabin. The wharves were but slightly damaged, though entirely covered.
When the water began to subside, it was found that the submerged streets were full of crabs, and the Sunday boys had a lively time catching them. A ‘gator, said to be 7 or 8 feet long, was left on the wharf by the receding water. He tried to hide himself under a pile of railroad iron, but a negro spied him and captured him. The No. 8 boys bought him, and took him up bodily and toted him home, and put him in their cistern.

The wind prostrated trees all over the city. But the damage in that respect is not much to be regretted. The fallen trees are mostly china – a poor shade tree we wish were extirpated entirely. Decayed fences and vine arbors were prostrated. The awnings presented a pitiable sight yesterday morning. Those that were in use last year were torn into shreds. The walls of the new theatre that had been run up from the first story were blown down, crushing some work of value in their fall. The walls of the new house being built for Daniels and Elgin, corner Dauphin and Water, that were run up above the second story were blown down, falling inward. We observed that the iron framework of the second story, for the Dauphin front, was thrown out of line by the fall. We hear of some shanties being blown down in the Orange Grove settlement, but of no injury to life or limb therefrom. At Eslava’s, a house inhabited by negroes was blown down, but providentially, the inmates had been removed a few minute before. We heard of a house blown down on Stone street, which had been vacated by a family the day before. The planing mill at the corner of Conception and Eslava had the chimney blown down.

The New Orleans mail boat, the California, did not arrive until 5 P.M. The wind was blowing so when she left that Capt. Hopkins refused about two hundred passengers for the different watering places. The wind came on to blow so hard that she was anchored in Pole Cat Bend, just this side of the Rigolets, where she lay from 10 ½ last night until daylight next morning. The Captain thought it prudent to lash down the cabin to save it from blowing off. The boat touched at the head of the wharf at Pascagoula. The intervening wharf had been carried away. The Oregon, going, was passed at anchor near Pass Christian.

The California reports seeing a large schooner ashore and dismasted, supposed to be loading with timber for Government.

From the deck of the California, the buildings at Point Clear, as seen through a clear atmosphere, seemed to be all in good order, but nothing was seen of the Crescent. Fears are entertained that she was been stove to pieces against the wharf, or driven ashore and broken up.

In town there is a report that the Junior is ashore a short distance above the village. There has been no arrival from that side, we think, but the opinion of some who have observed her at that point, through a spy-glass, is to that effect.

Capt. Meaher’s new boat, recently launched at Meaher’s Mills, is reported slewed across the creek, with both ends ashore. A steamer had been to her assistance to try to haul her off, but had failed.

The water was over the rails at the depot, and deeper between One and Three Mile Creeks, but we hear of no damage to the railroad.

From personal inspection we are glad to perceive that the injury to the new theatre is not so serious as supposed when the above concerning it was written.

The Daily Picayune
August 15, 1860

More Disasters by the Late Storm

We have been favored with the following report by Mr. Burrows, clerk of the steamer Texas Ranger:

At the mouth of the bayou at Southwest Pass (northeast end) lays the schooner J. H. Toone, which went to sea on Friday from Pass-a-l’Outre.

One mile above the head of the Passes lays the towboat J. L. Day, high and dry; also, a schooner. At the Salt Works all the new buildings lately erected are swept off and 11 negroes, old and young, with them. Alex. Grant’s sugarhouse is blown down. The roof of Mr. Antonio Vano’s new house is blown off.

Richard Wright’s place is entirely gone.

Dr. J. B. Wilkinson lost a valuable negro, Henry Wilkinson also suffered severely.

At Quarantine Station the wooden warehouse was blown down. Capt. Davis’s steam file driver sunk. Mr. Andre Carr lost 3 children at Grand Prairie. 16 lives were lost in attempting to cross the river; among them are J. Beros and family, Antoine Moustaelle and family.

At the Passes all the danger sustained was the breaking down of all the fences and a thorough washing of all the lower floors. The Pilot Association lost the pilot boat Belle.

The coast, all the way from Point-a-la-Hache, has suffered severely – particularly about Grand Prairie and Buras Settlement.

The ship J. P. Wheeler, Capt Gadd, hence for New York, and previously reported ashore at Point-a-la-Hache, was gotten off at 8 o’clock, yesterday morning, by the assistance of three towboats, and proceeded down to the ??? She received no damage, and would probably go to sea today.

The ship Confidence, Capt. Sears, hence for New York, went to sea the 12th inst.
Mr. Washington, our marine reporter, has received the following communication:
Pass a l’Outré, August 13, 1860

I herein give you the particulars of a hurricane which took place here yesterday. It blew a gale on Thursday and Friday, from N. E. to E. and on Saturday, at about 2 A. M., it increased to a hurricane, blowing from E. by N. to S. E. until about 2 P. M. when it hauled round to S. S. W. and then moderated. During the blow, the water rose abut 4 feet above ordinary tides, flooding the whole place, and doing considerable damage to the houses. The two lookouts at Osgood’s, and the one at the Revenue station were blown down. The schooner Curlew, of Biloxi, discharging lumber at Osgood’s wharf, parted her lines and was blown across the mouth of Osgood’s bayou, where she now lies full of water. She will probably be a total loss. The pilotboat Belle, belonging to the Pilot’s Association, and lying at their wharf, filled and sunk about noon.

About 4 P. M., she parted her lines and drifted down abreast of the Light House, where she now lies in about 14 feet water. She will be a total loss. The pilotboat Fanny, belonging to the same ???, at anchor opposite the Pilot Station, parted both chains and was blown ashore just above the Revenue Station. She will probably be got off without much damage. The Opposition pilotboat Cornelia, lying at the wharf, escaped with but slight damage. The towboat Victoria had her cabin all started, but was saved by being lashed down.

The schooner Stephen Hotchkiss, Capt Dean, from Mobile, 9th inst., bound to New York, with a cargo of 371 gales cotton and a deck load to rosin, was dismasted and blown ashore about 12 M., near Pass-a-l’Outre. The vessel and cargo will probably be saved.

The schooner Edward S. Jones, which came down on Thursday, remained at anchor in the river. She received no damage and went to sea this day. Sunday.

The bark Iola Wylis went to sea on Thursday afternoon, with a head wind, and has no doubt felt the gale.
P * * * * *

The Daily Picayune
August 16, 1860 Morning edition

Letter from the Balize – The Storm
[Correspondence of the Picayune.] Balize, Aug. 12, 1860
Eds. Pic. – I give you, as interesting to your readers, a brief description of the effects of the storm at this place.

For some time past the weather had been extremely warm, the atmosphere sultry and smoky, and the luminaries of the day and night covered with a lurid mist – certain indication of a coming storm – when, on the evening of the 9th, the very time at which four years ago Last Island was destroyed, a dark, heavy cloud commenced rising in the north-northeast, illuminated by fierce and constant flashes of lightning; but, strange to say, it passed, accompanied by neither thunder, wind nor rain. During the night the sky was covered with dark clouds, and although a few stars appeared now and then, the more experienced and knowing ones of our people predicted “a bad time coming;” and it was too true. On the morning of the 10th, the light breeze which had been prevailing grew stronger, shifting during the day gradually to the east; the sun was hid by the thickly gathering clouds, and the aspect was such that even the spirit of the more strong hearted grew fainter as the storm grew fiercer. A cheering sight to the inhabitants of this place was the arrival of the pilot boar Robert Bruce, Capt. J. Preble, which anchored at dark in our bayou and landed half a dozen pilots, who, well knowing the indication of a storm, came to protect their families and the lend helping hand wherever it was needed. As it is, perhaps, unknown to many of your readers, allow me to remark that the life of our pilots (and more especially those who live at this place) is indeed a hard one, as their place of business is at present at Pass-a-looter (there being the deepest water), twelve miles from the Balize; they are therefore compelled to leave their families by themselves, with no means of protection against wind and water, save their dwelling houses. Many are anxious to remove their families, but the building of a new house is equal to a capital of some $4,000, a sum which not many can dispose of at any moment.
The wind had now grown into a violent storm, which was driving the waters of the sea towards us; and to add to the scene of horror, rain came pouring down upon us, which being driven by the violence of the wind underneath the shingles were and soaked every article in the houses, leaving not a dry spot to lay our heads. It was a terrible night. The morning of the 11th found us, without exception, in the most pitiful condition imaginable, for in many houses the sea water had risen to a considerable height-besides, there was not the least prospect of a change in the weather. Families were gathering to console each other, should destiny bring on a sure destruction to all. It would have been folly to attempt to get on board the pilot boar, although it was but thirty yards from shore; no human power was able to fight against the raging elements. With no sources of relief therefore, we were left to the mercy of the waves, and all were patiently awaiting the will of heaven.
But danger of being swept away was approaching the wind shifted, first to southeast and then to south, when the waters receded to the very direction they came from. Towards noon the weather cleared up, and our poor depressed hearts were relieved.
The devastation done to the property, however, is considerable. Quite a number of out-houses, chimneys and fences are blown down, not to speak of the many shade trees that were rooted up; wharves are destroyed, and two schooners and several smaller craft were blown on the land. One of the dwelling houses stands half unroofed; another is twisted, and still another is level with the ground. The damage done can at present hardly be estimated; but we should judge it to be from $3000 to $10,000. Fortunately, no lives were lost.

To show the fierceness of the storm, let me add that all our drinking water is made brackish by the wind beaten surge that fell upon the houses.

The storm has been equally destructive at the Pass-a-l’Outre. One of the pilot boats which was moored to the wharf, tore the same to pieces, and went drifting down the river some distance, when she sunk, probably a total loss. The damage done to the houses is also considerable.

The Southwest Pass we have no tidings as yet.

The Daily Picayune
August 16,1860 Morning edition

The Storm in Mobile Bay

The Mobile Mercury, of Tuesday morning, 14th inst., continuing its report of the gale in and near that city, says:

We feared that the steamer Crescent had gone the way that all the good boats must finally go. We were happy to see her come up to time yesterday morning, all safe and sound, and we must congratulate Capt. Denah upon saving his boat under such circumstances. He steamed out into deep water, and safely rode out the storm during the night.

The Crescent brought up about four hundred passengers from Point Clear and the Eastern shore. By her arrival we gathered what news we have from that side. At the Point the south wharf stood, with some little damage. The new wharf on the north side, in process of construction, was entirely carried away. Some of the bath houses along beyond the Point were carried away. The gentlemen’s bath house for the Point stood, and the ladies went down. Battle’s wharf was slightly injured, but expected to be repaired yesterday.

On Sunday evening some passengers, who arrived at 5 P.M., by the California, hired a sailing vessel from Capt. Files, and went down to the Point. They carried the news that there had been no arrival from the upper eastern shore, and the Junior could be seen ashore through spy-glasses. In consequence of that news the Crescent came all along shore, taking off passengers from the various points, which accounts for the great crowd she brought over. She found all the wharves gone entirely or partially, except the Hollywood wharf, which stands as perfect as it was before the storm. Howard’s wharf was not greatly injured, but rendered unfit for use until repaired.
The Crescent reports the Junior ashore in a precarious situation: She lies across the mouth of a little creek, with either end resting upon a sand bank, and a heavy pressure in the middle. When it became apparent that it was unsafe for her to lie in her usual berth, steam was raised and she went out into deeper eater and cast anchor. The violence of the wind and waves parted her cable; and having exhausted her wood, and unable to raise steam, there was nothing left for her but to go on shore. Assistance had gone down to her, we hear and effort is to be made to get her off.

The schooner Cuba, used for lightering purposes, was blown loose from her moorings at the dry dock, and went upon the marsh behind Cox, Brainard & Co.’s wharf. It is said she will be a total loss. The yacht Avis was fastened to the schooner, but parted company, and is lost.

The yacht Venus, over at the bathhouse, owned by Mr. Belknap, was smashed to pieces by portions of the wreck of the steamer Jeanette, to which she was fastened, falling on her.

Capt. Files’s little schooner, Rapid, was coming up from Biloxi, and ran into Heron Bay and rode out the storm in fine style.

A party left her to go down to the island and their boar had been picked up adrift. Some fears are entertained for their safely, but it is believed that they may be on Dauphin Island, as they went prepared for erecting a tent on shore, and that their boat got away from them. Capt. Files was to go down last evening to look about to see if he could discover and body in distress. That is right. Every nook and corner of the bay and adjacent water ought to have been scoured immediately after the subsidence of the storm, but nobody seem to have thought of it or cared if they did.

The same paper corrects, as follows, its statement in reference to the risks taken by Mr. Frazer, of the Fulton Insurance Company:

It was true that he had plenty of application on Saturday morning, but he declined taking any risks. He would not have taken risks upon goods in reach of high water on that morning with the threatening appearance of the weather.

The Fulton had but about $15,000 risks on submerged goods, and Mr. Frazer having been around yesterday to inquire into their losses, was of the opinion they would not amount to more the $3,000.

The Daily Picayune
August 16, 1860 Afternoon edition

Letter from Biloxi
The Late Storm
[Correspondence of the Picayune.] Biloxi, Miss., Aug. 14, 1860

We were visited on Saturday night last by one of the severest gales which our coast experienced since 1852. Saturday morning, the day broke gloomily amid dark and angry masses of storm clouds, which scudded across the heavens from the N. E., as if marshaling their forces for another attack of the sons of Titan. The thermometer indicated a fall of 20 degrees below the mercurial point of the preceding day, a fact which was sensibly felt by everybody, with out the barometrical aids of scientific instruments. The seekers of health and pleasure from your city began indulging ideas of returning home, and to dream of cozy firesides and comfortable easy chairs hid away amid the multitudinous streets of the Crescent City. While overcoats shawls and blankets became suddenly indispensable to personal comfort. The wind veered form N. E. to N. W. and N., and back to N. E., increasing in violence every hour, until sundown of Saturday, when a night of pitchy darkness set in after a day of incessant rain, and from the time until 4 o’clock A. M., of Sunday morning, the storm raged in all its fury, nothing being heard save the rushing of the mighty wind, the remorseless dash of the agitated billow, and the hard howling of Storm King, as amid torrents or rains, and Erebusean darkness, he ordered the elemental carnival. After 4 o’clock, M. N. Sunday, the wind shifted gradually to the S. W., decreasing in violence until it subsided into a fresh breeze.

We strolled over town Sunday morning, and although the streets of Biloxi bore evidence, in the debris of sundry shade trees, broken down fences with there and there a dilapidated wharf, or mutilated bath-house, stranded schooner, or broken skiff, of the severity of the late gale, yet the amount of damage sustained, was by no means equal to what we anticipated, from the fury of the preceding night’s storm – an agreeable evidence of the eligibility of the site of Biloxi for a seacoast city, and of the safety and shelter afforded by our harbor to vessels during high and dangerous winds. While hardly any thing, in the shape of a wharf or bath-house was left standing anywhere else along the coast, during the night of Saturday, but two small wharves and bath houses were blown down in Biloxi, and no very material injury sustained by any of our citizens, in either the bath of dwelling houses belong to them.

The most serious incidents of the late disaster were experienced by those “who go down to the sea in ships.” A pleasure yacht, whose name, as our informant states, was the Ariel, hailing from Pottersville, Louisiana, was capsized in our bay, in the early part of Saturday night. Upon righting her the next day, one of her crew, a negro boy, was found dead in her cabin. The remainder of her crew, who turned up at Pascagoula, betook themselves to her boat after the occurrence of the accident, were driven out to sea, and when the wind shifter the boar drifted into Pascagoula. They state that another negro boy was drowned before they left the schooner.

The steamer William C. Young, loading lumber some three miles east of this place, having been chartered by Hon. J. B. McRae, for the purpose of furnishing a cargo of lumber for an English ship, lying at anchor off Ship Island, is a total wreck. Seven of her crew met with a watery grave. Mr. McRae was aboard when the steamer went down. He was drifted ashore on Ship Island on a raft, to which he had lashed himself, some twenty miles from the wreck. The Voltiqeur, a pleasure schooner, belonging to Mr. J. W. Belfour, of Mississippi City, Mr. J. R. Young, of this place, captain, was capsized at the former place, and drifted out to sea, going ashore on “The Keys”, southeast of Ship Island. Mr. Young endured great hardship, having been exposed on the wreck for sixty-three hours.

The English ship, referred to above, is also a wreck; she went ashore on Ship Island, where she was found with her masts cur away. It is presumed her crew are safe.
We are hourly receiving intelligence of loss of life and property at other points along the coast.

Our town is healthy and weather delightful.
Au Revoir Mac.

Submitted by Nancy.  Thank you, Nancy!

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