Louisiana Hurricane History:
Late 19th Century (continued)
 

July 12-13th, 1866: A storm moved well off the coast of Louisiana. On the 11th at 28.5N 87.3W, a three-masted schooner was dismasted in heavy seas. Winds "blew hard" at New Orleans for a few hours on the evening of the 12th. Tides increased until daybreak the 13th.

Damage was seen at the Timbalier Bay lighthouse. "Ugly, threatening weather" hit on the 12th. Three feet of water surrounded the tower. Wave action knocked away two brick piers, as 24 hours of pounding surf broke against the lighthouse. The keeper became spooked by the combination of weather condition and loneliness, and "promptly resigned" (Cipra). 

August 15-18th, 1866: On the 15th, stormy conditions spread across Southwest Pass, as winds increased out of the northeast. New Orleans became breezy on the 16th, but rain was absent. A steady rain set in by sunset on the 17th. High tides and stormy weather were experienced at Southwest Pass, as winds became southeast. New Orleans also rained during much of that day.

Proving the previous keeper of the Timbalier Bay lighthouse correct in his decision, "gale-driven" seas again invaded from the Gulf. The temporary light and dwelling houses were demolished. The new keepers clung to a buoy for days, riding out the storm (Cipra). 

October 2-6th, 1867: A storm was discovered east of Brownsville on the 2nd. On that day, a regatta was held on Lake Pontchartrain. A "spanking breeze" from the northeast and squalls wreaked havoc on the contest. Rain began during the evening of the 4th in New Orleans.

At the Mouth of the Mississippi, the storm was far worse. A "fearful gale" blew in near midnight on the 4th. The pressure fell to 28.80". The river churned into a "seething foam". Telegraph lines were downed. Three houses at Pilottown were leveled. The cyclone moved within 70 miles of the Louisiana shore, before moving east towards Florida. Heavy rains and winds continued until the 6th. Rice crops in Plaquemines parish experienced great damage.

The Spanish bark Carmen went ashore while a coal barge was sunk. The Eclipse became lodged in area mud. The hurricane was severe, driving "pyramidal seas" against the Ship Shoal lighthouse, strongly shaking the tower and splashing oil for the light out of the reservoirs. The light was extinguished for six hours, and the lighthouse took on a northeast lean thereafter (Cipra 159). The Shell Keys lighthouse was demolished, and its keeper perished. The screwpiles that connected the Southwest Reef lighthouse to the Gulf bottom were bent and twisted. 

October 1-3rd, 1868: A hurricane passed just offshore the Southeastern tip of Louisiana, before hitting Apalachicola the next day. On the first, cloudiness set in as a "fresh breeze", associated with showers, developed at New Orleans. Gales and heavy rains developed on the 3rd as the city became flooded. The sawmill and bathhouses were blown away. At Milneburg, houses were swept away by the flood. The West Rigolets lighthouse suffered $5000 in damages during the storm (Cipra). 

June 2-3rd, 1871: A tropical cyclone that struck Galveston also made an impact on Louisiana. New Orleans was flooded, giving the appearance of a "submerged city" after the storm.

June 8-9th, 1871: Another hurricane made landfall, this time just west of Galveston. Strong southeast winds set in at New Orleans. Heavy rain began in earnest around 3 p.m.. At Berwick's Bay, a "terrific gale" occurred on the 9th. Southwest Pass also saw strong southeast winds. Rains fell in torrents. Milneburg went underwater. A tornado touched down at Chatawa, 95 miles from New Orleans. It made a path 100 feet wide and lasted ten to fifteen minutes. A schoolhouse was razed to the ground. Numerous trees were uprooted, including 100 peach and pear trees. The schooner Confidence had its confidence shaken when sunk by the storm at Manchac bridge.

October 1-4th, 1871: Heavy rains and winds began in Southeast Louisiana on the first. Large trees were blown down. Walls of two burnt buildings crumbled before the storm. New Orleans saw "unprecedented rainfall" between 6 p.m. on the 2nd and 3rd: six to ten inches. Homes were unroofed and telegraph poles fell. Damage was estimated at $5,000.

Southwest Pass saw a "very heavy gale" start at 10 p.m. on the 2nd from the southeast, becoming northeast on the 3rd. The pilot boats Louis Geran, Orientals, Hays, and Cornelia were beached. The Robert Bruce was thrown ashore and became a "perfect wreck". Its pilot and boatkeeper clung to the vessel for 30 hours before they were rescued by the tug Wicaco. Four died from the Bruce.

September 17-18th, 1875: On the 17th, a strong south wind developed across Louisiana as this hurricane made landfall near Indianola, Texas. At Calcasieu and Lake Charles, the wind shifted and blew with "terrific force". Tides at Shell Island were higher than during the Isle Dernieres disaster in 1856. At New Orleans, this squall came in and increased the winds to 36 mph. The pressure fell to 29.30" at Southwest Pass at noon on the 18th.

The squall at New Orleans did a number on the steamer Natchez. It collided with the ferry Louise, linked up with the boat, and drifted down the Mississippi. After brushing past the C. H. Durfee and Belle Rowland, the steamer was re-secured. The Greenleaf dragged its anchor and went ashore. 

August 22-23rd, 1879: Hurricane made landfall in Louisiana. At Lake Charles, winds increased out of the northeast beginning at 9 am on the 22nd, then veered to east and southeast after dark. According to the Lake Charles Echo, winds were sustained at 40 m.p.h.. The Weekly Calcasieu Gazette reported that during the "night we had a perfect hurricane." Several old buildings were blown down and the spire from the Catholic Church was torn off. Trees were uprooted; fences and chimneys destroyed. Great damage was done to the rice crops, gardens, and orchards.

In Cameron Parish, damage was greater. A "tidal wave" swept from the southeast across the west back of Calcasieu Pass, stranding no less than 12 vessels high and dry after the storm. Some of the schooners were propelled far inland. The lighthouse was "wrenched" 6 inches to the west, its beacon blown away. Two seamen were tossed overboard from the New York brig Caseatell. Many of the dwellings were destroyed. Hundreds of cattle were rolled "head over tail," struggling vainly to keep their heads above water, yet still drowned. The damage was considered far worse at Grand Chenier.

In Vermilionville (Lafayette), the steeple of the Catholic church fell in. Trees were downed and crops of cotton were damaged. At Broussardville, the Catholic chapel was severely damaged along with roofs being blown away; the schoolhouse moved several feet. New Iberia and Franklin saw some homes destroyed and many roofs blown off. Scarcely a building was left unharmed between Morgan City and New Iberia. Destruction to the sugar cane and fruit crops were considered "appalling." For details of what this storm did to Orange, check out our Texas Hurricane History. 

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