Description: Another Terrific Storm

Date: October 3 1860

Newspaper published in: New Orleans

The Daily Picayune
Morning Edition Number 216
October 3, 1860

The Daily Picayune
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ANOTHER TERRIFIC STORM
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BUILDINGS BLOWN DOWN
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SUPPOSED LOSS OF LIFE
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As we surmised, the wind increased in violence yesterday, until it blew a perfect hurricane, and we have to report much damage both in the city and river; and fear that our record of disasters will yet have another chapter added to it, blacker perhaps than those relating to the fearful storms of the 8th of August and 11th of September last.
On the River
About 8 o’clock A. M., the wind having shifted to the east, the hull of the old ship Independence, laying on the Algiers side, broke loose from her moorings and drifted across the river. On reaching this side she same in contact with the steamer Republic, causing her chimneys to fall, and doing other damage. She afterwards drifted down and came in contact with the steamer Charmer, tearing away part of her cabin and her flag-staff, and causing other damage. The Independence then drifted to the Canal street ferry landing, where she now lies tied up.
The steamboats W. A. Andrew and Belle Gates, also lying on the other side of the river, broke loose and drifted among the steamboats on this side. The Andrews came in contact with the Republic and had her starboard wheelhouse and part of her cabin torn away. The Belle Gates suffered no material damage. The steamboat Wm. M. Morrison, lying at her wharf, swung round, striking the stern of the steamer War Eagle, lying near by, and caused her considerable damage; the Morrison getting also badly hurt. We have heard of no damage to vessels in port.
In the City
During the whole day there was a continual blowing down of chimneys, fences and signs, to the great danger of passers by, and many trees in our public squares and avenues were uprooted and broken.
Towards half past 2 o’clock, the wind increased in violence and blew with such force that it was hardly possible to walk through the streets. AS to carrying an open umbrella, that was out of the question.

Terrible Accident on Camp Street
About 4 o’clock the large brick building in course of erection on Camp street, between Common and Gravier, five stories high and occupying a front of some forty to fifty feet, came down with a terrific crash, that shook building several squares off. Giving way according to the direction of the wind, it fell towards Common street, crushing the two buildings on that side. The one immediately adjoining was occupied on the lower floor by McPherson’s drugstore, and above by D. I. Ricardo’s notorial office and Frank Haynes’s law office. This building was crushed to the ground, and presents now an unseemly pile of ruins. The next house, occupied on the lower floor by Renken’s cigar store and H. W. Palfrey’s real estate agency and auction office, and above by Manouvrier’s lithographic establishment and some other office. This building was crushed in its upper part, the ground floor remaining uninjured.
Luckily, the accident happened at the usual dinner hour, and there was nobody in the offices. Mr. Renken was standing behind his counter, and ran out as soon as he heard the first crash, escaping unhurt. A young man at Palfrey’s office also ran our unhurt.
Not so, however, with Mr. McPherson’s establishment. The clerk, whose name, we are told is Grooshe, was in the rear part of the store, with a Negro boy employed as porter in the establishment, and both are believed to he buried under the ruins.
This fearful accident cause great anxiety and alarm, and the fire bells for that district were rung, in order to obtain the aid of our ever ready firemen, and especially of the hook and ladder companies with their instruments. A rumor having gained ground, however, that the two supposed victims had escaped, nothing was done to remove the ruins. But during the afternoon it was found, upon further inquiry, that they had not been home, nor had they been seen since the accident, and there seemed to remain little doubt that they were still under the ruins. The Mayor, who was at his residence when the accident occurred, came down, having heard of it, and upon his order, a gang of workmen was organized during the evening, who are still at work, by the light of bonfires and torches, at the time we write.
Next to the house occupied by Palfrey & Co. is the building forming the corner of Common and Camp and occupied by the Sun Mutual insurance Company. This was also damaged, the front walls having been cracked and thrown our of poise so as to make the building g probably insecure. The house occupied by Stringer’s clothing store, on the Gravier street side of the fallen building, also suffered some damage, part of its gable-end having been torn away by the falling wall.
The new building, whose fall has caused such great havoc, belonged to Mr. Paul Tulane, and was being erected by Mr. Ting, architect, not, as we understand, under a common contract, but on a per centage on the cost of building, under the instructions and direction of Mr. Tulane, The walls of this building were of sufficient thickness, when compared to the many light structures in the city, but the two side walls and the rear wall had been raised the whole height of the five stories, leaving open the entire front; which was to have been of cast-iron. The roof had not yet been built, and the rafters of the different stories did not run from side to side, on account of the great width of the building, but were joined in the middle over a row of pillars dividing the store.
The idea of the insecurity presented by these immense walls unsupported in front, is obvious to the mind; still, it is argued that in many cases it is customary to delay adding the cast iron front until the building has attained its full height. We must admit also, that the wind yesterday was terrific in its violence, and shook buildings of the strongest kind, so as to put the inmates in actual fear. However, this matter, like the many painful accidents caused of late by the insecure mode of construction adopted, here, demands some investigation, and may perhaps enforce upon the public mind the necessity of having a Building Committee, which, assisted by the City Surveyor, would control the plans of builders, so far as public security is concerned. This is a free country, where every man may build his own house in the style best suited to his taste, but provided her does not thereby endanger his neighbor’s life or property.
Other Accidents
Besides the great calamity, above related, we learn that a stable at the corner of Seventh and Nayades streets, belonging to Mr. Patrick Irwin, who lately purchased it from Mr. Marble, and Patrick Coyle’s new soap factory, at the corner of Jacob and Third streets, were blown down during the storm, but no lives were lost thereby.
In the Second District, a large portion of the shed, supported by iron pillars and covered with zinc, which formed a wing on both sides of the Beef Market, was torn off by the wind, Many persons had sought shelter in the market, and had an almost miraculous escape, none having been hurt by the falling timers,. The glass over the dial of the old cathedral clock, on that side fronting the levee, was shivered to pieces by the force of the wind. The shrubbery and fine trees on Jackson Square also suffered some damages.
We have heard of many outhouses and roofs being blown down in remote parts of the city, but have not been able to obtain particulars.
The water in both the old and new basins rose quite high, during the day and inundated a portion of the rear of the city.
The cars on the Jackson Railroad did not arrive, and, we are informed, no train was sent out yesterday.
The telegraph wires were down and the lines did not work. The fall of the building on Camp street broke on of the wires of the city police telegraph, interrupting communication between the central office and the Second District main station.

On the Lakes
At Milneburg, lake end of the Pontchartrain Railroad, the damage was not so great as we feared. The water rose very high, inundating the village, but did not cause much damage, except washing away some of the timers of the pier and obstructing the track with driftwood.
The yacht Corypheus, we learn, broke loose from her moorings and drifted away to parts unknown.
The steamer Creole, due this morning, did not come in, and stopped, if our information is correct, at Pointe-aux-Herbes. The mailboat Oregon, Capt. J. McC. Baker, coming to, boarded her, and Capt. Bake very considerately offered her passengers to take them on board of his steamer, to which most all of them consented gladly, The Oregon arrived safely at Milneburg. They speak in warm terms of Capt. Baker’s humanity and kindness, which are proverbial will all those acquainted with that veteran sailor.
From other points on the lake coast and Lake Borgne, we have no tidings.
We expect with fearful anxiety to hear from the Passes and the river coast. In the Gulf, also , we must dread new disasters, for this storm, by its continued violence and unusual duration, was even more fearful than the terrible gale of last month, by which so many lives and such immense quantity of property were lost.
The Daily Picayune
Morning Edition, No. 217
October 4, 1860

Yesterday the steamer Silver Heels was sunk at Carrollton. She was driven by the gale upon the bank, and her bow found a lodgment. Upon the recession of the river her stern tilted down into the water, which ran in through the rudder –hole, soon filling her so that her safety was impracticable, not withstanding the constant use of the pumps.
The boat had been under seizure for four months for a debt of $2,000, for which amount she was insured. She belonged to the Lafourche Navigation Company, but it has been found impracticable to come at a responsible owner, or parties who would answer her obligations. The boat is said to be worth $10,000. The insurance company, it is said, will pay the loss, leaving the boat to be raised, which can be done by any party who feels interested.