Everything about 1856 Last Island Hurricane totally explained
The
Last Island hurricane of
1856 was an intense
Atlantic hurricane that destroyed
Last Island in southern
Louisiana. The first tropical cyclone, first hurricane, and first major hurricane of the season, it
rapidly intensified before making landfall as a Category 4 hurricane. The powerful winds and
storm surge of 11–12
feet destroyed the island, which was a popular tourist resort. The cyclone killed more than 200 people.
Storm history
The
cyclone was first detected in the eastern
Gulf of Mexico 125 miles (200 km)
west-northwest of
Key West, Florida on
August 8. At the time, it was analyzed as a minimal hurricane by the
Atlantic hurricane reanalysis project, though it may have originated further east because of scarce observations. It steadily advanced northwest, strengthening to the equivalent of a
Category 3 hurricane. The hurricane gradually slowed prior to landfall on
August 10, and it attained its estimated peak intensity of 150 mph (240 km/h). It was a tropical cyclone of small diameter, and its
maximum sustained winds may have reached
Category 5 status, but were unrecorded. The
eye made
landfall on Last Island, Louisiana during the evening hours of August 10. The cyclone is believed to have struck southern Louisiana at peak intensity with an approximate
central pressure of 934 mbar (27.58 inHg). A ship reported a peripheral pressure of 955 mbar (28.20 inHg), so a lower pressure was based on the small size of the hurricane. It quickly weakened over land, and it diminished to a
tropical storm on
August 11. It dissipated over southwestern Mississippi on
August 12 with fully tropical characteristics.
The most destructive effects were felt along the immediate coast near the point of landfall. On the days leading up to
August 10, Last Island vacationers noticed the sea churning and were mesmerized by the intensity and forms of the waves. Rev. Robert McAllister, a survivor, later wrote "Each breaker extended to the right and left as far as the eye, straining its vision, could reach... We didn't know then as we did afterwards that the voice of those many waters was solemnly saying to us, 'Escape for thy life.'"
On
August 9, people noticed a roaring noise out in the gulf, and cattle on the island walked back and forth nervously for hours. On
August 10, the weather got worse with the skies turning black, and rain coming down in torrents. The hurricane swept over the island, and the storm lasted for two days. All of the 100 residences on the barrier island were demolished.
A story later emerged, possibly a
legend, that the resort guests attended a lavish ball at the hotel, as the hurricane's winds grew in intensity outside. When the storm broke with full force on the 10th, the doomed guests awaited for the
Star, the steamer that serviced the island. However, the ship didn't arrive in time. At 4 o'clock, the storm surge engulfed the entire island and destroyed all of the buildings, including the multi-story resort hotel. Certain versions of the tale say that the steamer did reach Last Island, but that it was too late. The pounding waves forced the ship aground, but some survivors managed to save themselves by climbing aboard the wreck.
At least 200 people were killed, and the island itself was split up into the Last Islands (
Isles Dernieres).
The island reportedly stayed submerged for several days before parts of it reemerged as large sandbars. Following the storm surge, the remains of the
Star were the only sign that an island had ever existed there. There were approximately 400 vacationers on the island, of which less than half survived. Today, the area is utilized by pelicans and other birds.
Legacy
Lafcadio Hearn's "
Chita" (1889) is based on the Last Island hurricane of 1856.
Further Information
Get more info on '1856 Last Island Hurricane'.
|
External Link Exchanges
Do you know how hard it is to get a link from a large encyclopaedia? Well we're different and will prove it. To get a link from us just add the following HTML to your site on a relevant page:
<a href="http://1856_last_island_hurricane.totallyexplained.com">1856 Last Island hurricane Totally Explained</a>
Then simply click through this link from your web page. Our crawlers will verify your link, extract the title of your web page and instantly add a link back to it. If you like you can remove the words Totally Explained and embed the link in article text.
As long as your link remains in place, we'll keep our link to you right here. Please play fair - our crawlers are watching. Your site must be closely related to this one's topic. Any kind of spamming, dubious practises or removing the link will result in your link from us being dropped and, potentially, your whole site being banned. |
