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MONTHLY WEATHER REVIEW.
October, 1893.
111.—This so-called Gulf hurricane advanced suddenly and unexpectedly northeastward over southeastern Louisiana on the afternoon cf the 1st. The early history of this storm, like that of low No. XV, is almost entirely unknown to as at present, but it is plausible that the areas of high pressure that were pushing southward into the Gulf before these storms themselves appeared argue for the existence of a preceding low pressure much farther south, say on the coast of Mexico and Honduras, On the other hand, there often exists on the southern edge of an area of high pressure a long trough of low pressure, at nny point of which a whirl may suddenly begin and thence rapidly grow into a storm: this evidently occurred in connection with lows No. XIII and XVI, and very probably explains the sudden appearance of the low No. XV on the afternoon of the 21st.. With regard a low No. III. the general distribution of wind at stations along the Gulf coast would suggest that there could have been no antecedent extensive whirlwind system, and that this st.oxm, that was so terribly destructive over a very limited region, had only existed since the morning of the 1st. and had only grown to the size of the largest tornado when it struck the coast of Louisiana.
The observer at New Orleans, La., reports .
October 1st, a severe and destructive storm began about <5.'JO p. m., continuing through the night. Much damage was caused throughout the city. About 2,000 lives were lost along the Oulf coast south and east of thi« section. The storm was severest in the Louisiana Delta and in the Plaquemines Parish, where it was attended with great loss of life and property A velocity of •48 miles per hour was recorded in the city at 8-20 p. m . after which the record was lost, owing to the anemometer getting out of order. A velocity cf ~ y piles was attained at West End, when (he instrument became unserviceable.
Mr. Kerkam. as Secretary of the Louisiana State Weather Service, reports:
No complete record of the. Ind velocity cr raii'fall of the Kicrtii can be obtained, since all instruments it; the path of the buiricaiic- were blown dowr. and ir. ‘he case cf Port Eads destroyed. It is evident, however, that the wind must have biown at the rate of lOi; miles M?r liour i:i the vicinity of Poiate-a-la-H atiifcjr d along tie islands Rll I he coast! Y\ hile the wuifl worked greltt ir.voc. yet the immense wave of water that swept over the devastated section engulfed and .swept away everything in its path. It is probable that the center of this hurricane passed midway between New Orleans and Port Esds on its northeast cour.se. since t.he path of greatest destruction was in that neighborhood.
It, is said that over 1,500 lives were lost on the coast by drowning; the destruction of property, and the orange, rice, and other crops was very complete.
Crossing Louisiana in a northeastcr'y direction, the centei struck the coast of Mississippi a little west of the Alabanyi
boundary line. The following description by one who must have been very near the center is from Capt. Henrv M. Davies, of the schooner “B. Frank Neallv,” lving at anchor at Moss Point, Miss., N. 30° 25', W. 88° 34': ‘	-----
i awoke an I fouud it blowing heavy from east-southeast, barometer ‘-‘9.90. (During October 1. 1803, the barometer was 2S.90. and it was raining all day, with but little wind from the southeast i I went and looked at the glass and found it at. 29.70. I called the mate and told him that we were going to have a gale. the vessel at the time lying at the lumber wharf. We doubled onr lines at G a. m.; the wind came in gusts and rain 6 a m.: cat tied away head lines and dropped anchor, glass at the time 29.30: wind southeast by east, time 7 a. m.; got a hawser from starboard bow on shore. By that time the stern hues gave way, glass 29.00; no change in the wind. At 8 a. m. we were riding to two hawsers from shore and one anchor, glass 28.8‘>. and the weather continued to blow heavier and heavier, glass 28.0.3, until 9 30 a m.. OOlIi meridian time, or railroad time, and it abated nearly to calm and gradualiv went around by south to southwest, and it came Qut heavy from west-southwest and west ai 11 a. m., and continued until 8 p. ra. and cleared away. It never went north of west until some time during the night. .N’cark calm at 8 p. m.
^ The observer at Mobile reports:	'	"	'
Ruin began 8.25 p, nT^trfTKe 1st, with rapidly falling barometer, and by 11 a. in. of the 2d a heavy southeast gale was blowing. Ihe extreme velocity oi the wind several times reached 80 miles. The rain continued throughout the day. ending at 7.30 p. m. At 2. lo |>. m the barometer began to rise, and at 2.30 began to rise as rapidly as it. had fallen. Gieat damage was done tc property. The prostrated trees lay in one general direction from southeast and south. The water was 4 indies higher than in 18 )2. the severest of any previous storm Recorded. Ill the marsh truck farm section' Nearly every iioust ^TiTSwept away, and'farms were destroyed in Mobile County. Seven live: were reported lost.
The same observer communicate? to the “Mobile Register' of October 3d an historical summary, frum. which we quot< the following:	fl	bbifc	hl^‘^<vy
The first storm, necotnpatiied by a high Hood in .Mobile Bay, was in 1711 when the water oversowed the uewlv organized town and caused its remova to the present site 1711. September 11-13, a hurricane destroyed churcbe and buildings in New Orleans, and was felt at Mobile. 1732. a destructiv hurricane. 1740, September 12, a destructive hurricane, lasting 12 hours from the mouth of the Mississippi to Pensacola. 1740, hurricane bn the Gul coast. 1772, August 31 to September 3, most destructive storm as yet expe rienced; vessels, boats, and logs driven into the heart of Mobile: sea rose t a prodigious height; all the vessels at the Belize blown on shore; salt sprs was carried inland 6 miles. 1779, August 8. hurricane suddenly advanced o: New Orleans; the naval squads on of Governor Galvez, of Louisiana destroyed 1780. August 24, a hurricane more furious than that of 1779.	1781.	Augns
23, hurricane desolates Louisiana; Mississippi Deita entirely inundated Between 1740 and 1800, there were fifteen destructive storms. In 18V1 August lit, very destructive hurricane on the Gulf coast. 181 iA" Augu; 25-28, great destructive hurricane in Louisiana and Alabama. 18u2, Augui 23-2o, hurricane and highest flood ever known, except that of 1772.	185t
August 10, hurricane swept the ccast of Louisiana, but was not particular! severe on the Alabama and Mississippi cop.sts: Lest Island was submerge and S00 lives lost. 18(i0. August 11. storm at Mobile; the high-water mar "as 18 inches lower than tliat 1.1 •j^>52. On September 15. of the same yea: aimtber storm, whose uign-water mark was 12 inches lower than that of 18-5: this is the only instance in this cetiturv of two autumnal floods in the satn year. '870, July SO, storm at Mobile, the earliest hurricane on record i that place: the high-water mark aias about the same as that of 186j). 1 188! August 18-20, southeast gale at Mobilt. with very higH tide aouut equal t that of I860. During the storm of tin; present October, 1893. the water i Mobile rose 3 inches above the flood hue >: 7^2 ut;.i ~u!: ei.’ogni/.e u as'tr worst Iflii1. La-vbUJtMo beet: fexpjylftfifccd Hereby p 4j>\c
1 i ne observer at PensacoTa reports :	^
October 3d. a severe storm struck this place about 4 45 a. m. Rain begi at 5 20, accompanied b\ high wind attaining a maximum velocity of 66 mil southwest at 3.45 ir. m. From 6 to 10 a. r.i, the average- hourly velocity w; 34 cults, and from 10 a- m. to noon 40 miles per hour were registered. Co siderable damage was done, the greatest occurring along the water froc Railroad communication was entirely cut off by washouts, and great d.imaj was done to shipping.
The hurricane center moved slowly northeast over Georgi to Cape Hatteras, and seems to have been dissipated on tl otb ; violent winds, heavy rains, and local storms attend* its progress through the south Atlantic states.
The observer at Savannah, Ga., reports:
October 3d. rain began early morning and continued at intervals until 6. p. m. Between 12.30 and 1 p. m. a fimnei-ihaped cloud was reported abo one mile east of tbe station. It was composed of inumerable stream* extending downward to within a few fee', cf the ground. Jts rotary mosi ws! from right to left. The time elap.-ing from it* appearance to disa pear&nce was about 4 minutes, and its course was fiorn southeast to norl