Sustained winds blew at 125 mph, and the barometer dropped to 27.64". By 830 PM, water levels were 20' above normal. Water ran over five feet deep in streets. By mid-afternoon, winds reached hurricane velocity, and the anemometer blew away at 84 mph. ![]() A steamship broke free of its moorings and crashed through all three bridges to the mainland, trapping the entire population on the island. As the winds and waves increased, ships were battered against the wharves, and low areas began to flood. By 9 AM on the 8th, the water around the island began to rise. At night on 9/7, Galveston had clear skies and a light breeze by 4 AM on the 8th, a driving rain hit. On the 7th, the watch was extended to the Texas coast. Weather Bureau confirmed that a hurricane was in the Gulf and posted a hurricane watch as far west as New Orleans. 4 - September 9th landfall)Īn estimated 8,000 persons died in this hurricane, making it the greatest natural disaster in the history of the United States. This tropical storm hit near Matagorda Bay wrecking the Pavillion, the wharf, and every bathhouse along the bayfront in Port Lavaca. This hurricane curved just offshore before making landfall near Matagorda. * - Was a Category 4 well offshore, but weakened to a Category 3 while influencing the upper Texas coast. Tidbit: Thirty-eight persons had to be rescued from Galveston's Fishing Pavillion when a huge cypress log carried by storm waves smashed the structure to pieces. Some modifications were made to the seawall as a result. On the unprotected west end, the water was seven feet deep while the only damage from the surge downtown was erosion to the roadway and behind the seawall from waves splashing over the top and running down the embankment. On Galveston Island, the storm was the first real test for the new seawall. A total of 41 lives were lost in TX and property damage was estimated at $2 million. Maximum winds were estimated at 120 mph and the storm surge reached 10' in some places. This hurricane made landfall 45 miles southwest of Galveston, damaging half of the town of Velasco.
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