The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1893-10-04
THE GULF STORM.
FULLY q Thousand People Perish
Along the Coast.

NEW ORLEANS. Oct. 1.-The first
definite news from the Gulf coast
reached the city during the morning,
all wires having been down and the
Louisville and Nashville railroad hav-
ing been washed out at intervals from
Mobile to New Orleans. The financial
loss along the entire coast will foot I'D
not less than $3,OOO,OOO and fully 1000
lives were lost. At Biloxi nothing es-
capped the fury of the elements. On
every side could be seen the wrecks of
boats, piers and lighthouses. and in
many instances the fronts of houses on
the beach were totally demolished.
Throughout the town great trees were
uprooted, swinging signs were swept
away like leaves, sheds and vehicles
were
Tossed About Like MatchbOxes
and animals of every description were
terribly frightened. Many of the
streets are blocked with fallen trees
and mass of rubbish washed in by the
sea, while the beach itself is impassa-
BILE on account of the piles of wreckage
visible all along the entire coast. The
canning industries were completely
wrecked, all the factories being either
badly damaged or utterly destroyed.
Much of the damage at Back bay was
caused by section of several hundred
feet Of the railroad bridge, which was
swept away at Ocean Springs, washing
up against the buildings and crushing
them like eggshells. 1t is difficult at
this time to make
Any Intelligent Estimate
of the damage sustained by the loss of
sloops, luggers, small schooners, fish
ing boats and like craft. Out of more
than 100 boats on the front bay, little
and big, only three rode the storm
safely, and the beach is strewn with
wrecks of all descriptions. On the
back bay there were only one or two
that weathered the gale. Not single
wharf is left standing on either the
front or back bay. The damage was
not confined alone to the water fronts,
but all through the city. in every direc-
ton, the effects of the storm can be
seen in fallen trees, fences and in here
and there house partially unroofed.
The velocity of the wind at the height
of the storm must have been at least
100 miles per hour. The Baptist church
steeple was blown down and the bell
cracked. The breakwater at the light
house was washed away, but the tower
was not damaged.
Was q Genuine Cyclone.
When the storm came up, which was
a genuine cyclone, there were many
Biloxi boats in the Louisiana marsh
oyster fishing, and it is almost certain
that in many cases number, if not all
of their boats have gone down with all
on board. OF eight schooners that were
known to be there on Sunday evening.
three have been picked up bottom side
up. with masts and rigging all gone.
and not q soul on board. At Ship
island, previous to the storm, there
were seven vessels loading for foreign
ports. The Norwegian bark Simon,
1874 tons, from Cape Town for Buenos
Ayres, lost her mast and rigging and
suffered other damage. The British
bark Rosetta Smith, 500 tons, from
Havana, was found bottom up, drifting
outside, and is total loss. The mate,
carpenter and cook were drowned. The
German bark Margeretis, 1887 tons,
from New York, lost two anchors and
120 fathoms of chains and suffered
other damage. The Austrian bark
Annie E. B., from Santos,
Is Complete Wreck.
OF the crew of 10 men and two
stevedores aboard, the captain, three
sailors and the two stevedores were
drowned. Considerable damage was
also done on the island, the warehouse,
fort. keepers house and lazaretto at
the quarantine station being COM
pletely washed away, and the light
house keepers house being badly dam
aged. About one mile of the railroad
bridge at Bay St. Louis is washed
ashore on the island, together with
much derelicts of other kinds from
wrecked vessels, oyster boats, sloops
and luggers. Very little of the govern
ment wharf remains and what is left
will be of no service. A large number
of cattle were also drowned.
Probably the worst domage and loss
of property was at Chandelier Island.
Here was located the United States ma
rine hospital quarantine buildings. At
this point the fullest strength of the
storm was developed, resulting not only
in the almost complete destruction of
all buildings on the island, but
Fearful Loss of Life.
The velocity of the wind reached 100
miles per hour. The building and pier
known as the disinfecting plant, sup
piled with all the modern appliances
for the thorough disinfection of vessels
from infected ports. is a complete loss,
everything being washed away. while
the other buildings on the island are
l.. A.