1938 — Sep 21, Long Island, NY and New England Hurricane, esp. RI, MA, CT –682-712
Contents:
Total fatalities from high to low, noting abbreviated source……. p. 2
Total fatalities by state summary………………………………… p. 6
Breakout of fatalities by State and locality — Connecticut………. p. 7
Breakout of fatalities by State and locality — Massachusetts……. p. 12
Breakout of fatalities by State and locality — New Hampshire…. p 18
Breakout of fatalities by State and locality — New Jersey………. p. 19
Breakout of fatalities by State and locality — New York………… p. 20
Breakout of fatalities by State and locality — Rhode Island……… p. 25
Breakout of fatalities by State and locality — Vermont………….. p. 39
Breakout of maritime fatalities…………………………………… p. 40
Canadian fatalities………………………………………………… p. 40
Narrative Information — General and/or multi-state……………… p. 41
Narrative Information — Connecticut…………………………….. p. 51
Narrative Information — Massachusetts………………………….. p. 56
Narrative Information — New Hampshire………………………… p. 57
Narrative Information — New Jersey……………………………… p. 58
Narrative Information — New York………………………………. p. 59
Narrative Information — Rhode Island…………………………… p. 61
Narrative Information — Vermont………………………………… p. 64
Appendix — List of named or otherwise specifically noted deaths.. p. 65
Sources……………………………………………………………. p. 77
Total Fatalities — From High Estimates to Low
— ~1,000 INS. “Storm-Flood Toll May Reach 1000.” Lowell Sun, MA, 9-26-1938, p. 1.[1]
-850-1000 INS. “Full Speed on Repair Work,” Lowell Sun, MA, 9-27-1938, p. 1.[2]
— ~850 INS. “Three More Storm Victims.” Lowell Sun, MA. 10-3-1938, p. 1.[3]
–682-800 Rhode Island Dept. of State. Hurricane of 1938 aftermath in Charlestown (webpage).
–650-800 Dinan. “The Great Hurricane of ’38: The Startling Numbers.” CT Patch. 9-27-2013.
–400-800 New Eng. Historical Soc. “The Great 1938 Hurricane, A Once-in-a-Lifetime Storm.”[4]
–682-712 Blanchard[5] tally based upon State breakouts below. (Not counting two in Canada.)[6]
— 700 Berkshire Evening Eagle, Pittsfield, MA. “The Hurricane.” 12-29-1938, p. 5.
— 700 Burns, Cherie. The Great Hurricane: 1938. 2015, p. 205.
— ~700 Ebbin. Recounting the Hurricane of 1938: local memories of a regional disaster. 2008.
— >700 (Plus many missing.) INS. “Full Speed on Repair Work.” Lowell Sun, 9-27-1938, p1.[7]
— 700 Mandia. The Long Island Express: The Great Hurricane of 1938. 9-5-2008 update.
— ~700 Norcross. Hurricane Almanac. 2007, p. 52.[8]
–600-700 Norris. “Hurricane of ’38…” The Independent, Narragansett, RI, 19-2013; cites ARC.
— 700 NWS, NY, NY WFO. The Great New England Hurricane of 1938. 80th Anniversary.
–600-700 NWS, Philadelphia/Mount Holly WFO. “Historical Weather Facts…,” 10-17-2005.
–682-700 Rappaport and Fernandez-Partagas. The Deadliest Atlantic Tropical Cyclones. 1995.
— ~700 RMS (Grossi). The 1938 Great New England Hurricane… 2008, p. ii.[9]
–650-700 Shea. “Unaware, Then Overwhelmed: Hurricane of 1938…” Hartford Courant, 1-25-2014.
–682-700 Snow. Great Storms and Famous Shipwrecks of the New England Coast. 1943, p. 173
— <700 Tewa. “A look back at the worst hurricanes in Connecticut history.” Ctpost, 6-1-2018
— 700 Tucker. “RI Marking 70th Anniversary of Hurricane.” Associated Press, 9-20-2008.
— ~700 U.S. Public Works Progress Administration. Cited by RMS (Grossi), 2008, p. 4.[10]
— 696 INS. “Storm-Flood Toll May Reach 1000.” Lowell Sun, MA, 9-26-1938, p. 1.
–100 Connecticut
— 1 Maine
–209 Massachusetts
— 16 New Hampshire
— 3 New Jersey
— 48 New York
— 3 Pennsylvania
–310 Rhode Island
— 6 Vermont
— 2 Quebec Total: 696
— >690 PBS. The Hurricane of ’38.
— 682 Associated Press. Sunday Journal and Star, Lincoln, NE, 1-1-1939, p. D4, col. 1.
— 682 As of Oct 18 according to the American Red Cross.[11]
— 682 Douglas. Hurricane. 1958, p. 287.
— 682 New England count? Federal Writers Proj. New England Hurricane. 1938, p. 218.[12]
— 682 Heidorn. “The Great Hurricane of 1938, Part 3: The Great New England Hurricane.”
— 682 Janick. “The Hurricane of 1938 Rocks Connecticut.” Connectictuthistory.org.
— 682 Scotti. Sudden Sea: The Great Hurricane of 1938. 2003, p. 216.[13]
— 680 Allen. A Wind To Shake The World. 1976, p. 288, (Number “generally accepted.”)
— >680 Allison, Robert, Foreword to: Goudsouzian. The Hurricane of 1938. 2004, p. v.[14]
— 680 Barry. “75 years later: 1938 Hurricane…” The Bulletin, Norwich, CT. 9-22-2013.
— 680 Devlin. “Tragic September Hurricane Tops N.E. Headlines of 1938.” 12-27-1938, p. 1.[15]
–600-680 Grammatico. 1938 Hurricane – September 21, 1938. Jan 2004, p. 10. Cites Red Cross.[16]
— 680 Gunn. Encyclopedia of Disasters, Volume 2. 2007, p. 363.
— 680 Savadove and Buchholz. Great Storms of the Jersey Shore. 1997, 51.
— 661 Grant, J. “Chronology of the year 1938,” Stanberry Headlight, MO. 1-5-1939, p. 10.
— 650 INS. “Hurricane-Flood Death Toll at 650.” Lowell Sun, MA. 9-24-1938, p. 1.
–500-600 American Red Cross (500 fatalities and 100 missing). Cited in RMS (Grossi), p. 4.
— >600 Applebome. “Blasé About Hurricane Maps? Remember 1938.” NYT, 9-1-2010.
— ~600 Dunn and Miller. Atlantic Hurricanes (Revised Edition). 1960 and 1964, p. 273.
— >600 Leo. “The Great New England Hurricane of 1938.” WeatherWorks. 9-8-2015.
— <600 Ludlum. The American Weather Book. 1982, pp. 81, 191.
— >600 News-Times, Danbury, CT. “Our Katrina…Hurricane of 1938.” 9-20-2008.
— <600 Spignesi. The 100 Greatest Disasters of All Time. 2007, p. 194.
— 600 Celebrate Boston. Boston Disasters. “The Great Hurricane of 1938.”
— 600 Hebert and Taylor. The Deadliest, Costliest…Most Intense [US] Hurricanes… 1983.
— 600 Hebert/Jarrell/Mayfield. The Deadliest, Costliest…Hurricanes… 1993, p. 8.
— ~ 600 NOAA. “NOAA’s Top U.S. Weather, Water and Climate Events of the 20th Cent.”
— ~ 600 NWS NERFC NOAA. Flooding From the 1938 New England Hurricane.
–494-600 Rappaport 1995.
— 600 Sav. Natural Disasters: Some Empirical and Economic Considerations. 1974, p. 14[17]
— 600 Townsend. The Federal Response to Hurricane Katrina: Lessons Learned. DC, 2006.
— >600 USACE. The Great New England Hurricane of 1938. (Adapted from Morang 1999.)
— ~600 Wikipedia. “New England Hurricane of 1938.”
— >600 WPA. “New England Hurricane and Floods of September 1938.” Progress of… WPA Program, p. 35.
— 564 NWS Forecast Office, Boston, MA. The Great New England Hurricane of 1938.
–464-511 Blanchard tally of named individuals (464) and unnamed but specific deaths (511).[18]
— 509 New England. AP. “Health Officials Examine Food From Storm Hit States.” 9-30-1938, p24.
— 82 Connecticut (Note: NJ, NY and maritime deaths are not included.)[19]
–134 Massachusetts
— 13 New Hampshire
–272 Rhode Island
— 7 Vermont
— 502 New England. AP. “Danger of Disease Ends.” Lowell Sun, MA, 9-28-1938, p. 1.
— 81 Connecticut (Note: NJ, NY and maritime deaths not included.)
–133 Massachusetts
— 13 New Hampshire
–268 Rhode Island
— 7 Vermont
— >500 Marchant. “Great Hurricane of ’38 took Greenwich by surprise.” Ctpost, 9-21-2018.
— >500 Nese and Schwartz. The Philadelphia Area Weather Book. 2002, p. 142.
— ~500 Paulsen, et al. Hurricane Floods of September 1938. Wash.: USGS, 1940, p. 1.
— >500 The Boston Globe, “The Great Hurricane of 1938,” July 24, 2005.
— <500 Tampa Tribune. “Worst Hurricanes.”
— 497 AP. “Death List Grows to 497 in Eastern Hurricane…” Menard News, TX, 9-29-1938, p. 7.
Death-toll for New England only. (Does not include NY, NJ or Maritime):
— 80 Connecticut
–131 Massachusetts
— 13 New Hampshire
–268 Rhode Island
— 5 Vermont
— 496 AP. “Hurricane Death List Reaches 496.” Biddeford Daily Journal, ME, 9-27-1938, p. 2.
— 494 ARC. New York-New England Hurricane and Floods — 1938 (Official Rpt.). 1939, ix.
— 494 Perry. Significant Floods in the [US] During the 20th Century… 2000.
— 494 Sumner. “The North Atlantic Hurricane of Sep 8-16, 1944.” MWR, 72,/9, 1944, 189.
— 414 AP. “Storm Death Toll in N.E. 414; Floods New Menace.” Lowell Sun, MA. 9-23-1938, 1.
— 256 Blake, et al. The Deadliest, Costliest, and Most Intense US Cyclones…, April 2007.
Summary of US Fatalities by State Breakout
Connecticut ( 97-100)
Massachusetts (134-140)
New Hampshire ( 12 – 14)
New Jersey ( 1-3)
New York ( 69 – 77)
Rhode Island (350-359)
Vermont ( 7)
Maritime ( 12) Scallop fishermen in two boats off coast of Nantucket, MA.
Totals: 682-712
Canada ( 2)
Breakout of Fatalities by State and Locality[20]
Connecticut ( 97-100)[21]
–95-111 Blanchard tally from breakout of fatalities by locality and/or name below.[22]
— 100 INS, Boston. “Storm-Flood Toll May Reach 1000.” Lowell Sun, MA, 9-26-1938, p. 1.
— >100 INS, Hartford CT. “Strike Hurts Relief.” Lowell Sun, MA, 9-27-1938, p. 12.
— >100 NWS, NY, NY WFO. The Great New England Hurricane of 1938. 80th Anniversary.[23]
— ~100 Hanrahan. “Remembering the Hurricane of 1938.” NBCconnecticut.com. 9-19-2013; 2018.[24]
— 97 ARC. New York-New England Hurricane and Floods — 1938. 1939, p. 78.
— 97 Grammatico. “1938 Hurricane — September 21, 1938.” Jan 2004, p. 7.[25]
— 97 Sumner. “The North Atlantic Hurricane of Sep 8-16, 1944.” MWR, 72,/9, 1944, p. 189.
— 90 Heidorn. “The Great Hurricane of 1938, Part 3: The Great New England Hurricane.”
— 90 Scotti. Sudden Sea: The Great Hurricane of 1938. 2003, p. 217.
— 85 Dunn and Miller. Atlantic Hurricanes (Revised Edition). 1960 and 1964, p. 274.
— 85 Grant. Connecticut Disasters, 2006, p. 123.
— 85 Shea. “Unaware…Overwhelmed: Hurricane of 1938…” Hartford Courant, 1-25-2014.
— 83 Hartford Courant, CT, 12-28-1938; cited by Streeter. The Day, New London, CT, 9-5-2018
— 82 AP. “Health Officials Examine Food From Storm Hit States.” 9-30-1938, p. 24.
— 80 AP. “Death List Grows to 497 in Eastern Hurricane…” Menard News, TX, 9-29-1938, p. 7.
— 56-76 (56 dead, 20 missing). Hartford Courant, CT. 9-23-1938; cited by Goudsouzian 2004, p35.
— 72 Marchant. “Great Hurricane of ’38 took Greenwich by surprise.” Ctpost, 9-21-2018.
— 68 AP. “Storm-Swept Area to get Financial Aid.” Joplin Globe, MO. 9-27-1938, p. 3.
— 66 UP. “WPA to Assist in Storm Area.” Telegraph-Herald, Dubuque, IA, 9-26-1938, p. 5.
— 42 UP. “Near Three Hundred Dead…” Chronicle-Telegram, Elyria, OH, 9-22-1938, p. 1.
— 40 AP. “Storm Death Toll in N.E. 414; Floods New Menace.” Lowell Sun, MA. 9-23-1938, p1.
— 39 UP. “State Suffers Its Greatest Disaster.” Chronicle-Telegram, Elyria, OH, 9-22-1938, p.1.
Breakout of Connecticut hurricane-related fatalities by locality:
— 1 Ansonia, New Haven County. Heart attack fleeing flood water; William Black, about 50.[26]
— 2 Branford and area, New Haven County.
–1 Mrs. Carl Carlson. Tree falls onto car in Branford. (Goudsouzian, p. 35.)
–1 Branford or Branford area. “…a girl who chased after her cat that escaped…”[27]
— 1 Bridgeport, Fairfield County. American Nat. Red Cross. “Appendix C.” 1939, p. 87.
— 8 Bristol, Hartford County. American Nat. Red Cross. “Appendix C.” 1939, p. 87.
— 1 Cheshire, New Haven County, Sep 21. Patrick Joyce,[28] ~58, “hurled against building.”[29]
— 1 Danbury, Fairfield Co. Marie Sepeano, 7, stumbles into flooding Still River, swept away.[30]
— 1 East Hartford, Hartford County. American Nat. Red Cross. “Appendix C.” 1939, p. 87.
— 2 Essex, Middlesex County, Connecticut River, Sep 21. (Allen 1976, pp. 114-116.)[31]
–1 Ernest G. Bushnell, North Cove of CT. Riv. Apparently went overboard with anchor.[32]
–1 Nils Ek of cruiser Marpo; trying to go upriver; drowned?[33]
— 2 Glastonbury, Hartford County. American Nat. Red Cross. “Appendix C.” 1939, p. 87.
— 1 Green Farms, Fairfield Co., Sep 21. Falling tree; Charles Kirby, 68. AP. “Here is…” Sep 22.
–6-8 Groton, New London County.
— 8 Ebbin. “Recounting the Hurricane of 1938…” 2008, p. 4.[34]
—>6 Hartford Courant, CT, 12-28-1938; cited by Streeter. The Day, New London, 9-5-2018.
— 6 Blanchard tally of specifically-noted fatalities.
–2 Avery Point. Crash of cabin cruiser[35] from Long Island. (Ebbin 2008, p. 4.)
–1 Bluff Point, Poquonnock Riv., Sep 21. Large wave capsizes rowboat; male.[36]
–3 Groton Long Point, Sep 21. women taking refuge in car; swept into cove.[37]
–5-8 Hartford, Hartford County. Blanchard tally from breakouts and sources below.
–8 Hartford, Hartford County. American Nat. Red Cross. “Appendix C.” 1939, p. 87.
–5 Hartford, Hartford County.[38]
–5 Fed. Writers Pgm. Hurricane. 1938, p. 117. Grant. Connecticut Disasters, 2006, p. 121.
–5 Blanchard compilation of named fatalities:
–1 George E. Henry, Asst. Chief Glastonbury Vol. Fire Dept., in Hartford; chimney fall.[39]
–1 Mary Kenifick. Heart attack after tree crushed home. (Goudsouzian 2004, p. 35.)
–1 Mrs. Arthur Miller; cerebral hemorrhage, Sep 21. (AP. “Here is List…” 9-22-1938.)
–1 Robert O’Connor, 21; Sep 21.[40] Crushing; garage collapsed on youth.[41]
–1 Robert J. Taggard, 40 (of Manchester); Sep 21. Drowned in cellar.[42]
— 3 Jepson (Burr) Island, off Indian Point Road, Stony Creek village, Branford, New Haven Co.[43]
— 1 Jewett City, New London Co. Amer. Red Cross. Hurricane 1938. “Appendix C.” 1939, p. 87
— 2 Madison, New Haven County. Yacht sinks off Madison. Kermitt Foffet and Roy Griffin.[44]
— 3 Manchester, Hartford County. American Nat. Red Cross. “Appendix C.” 1939, p. 87.
–3-4 Mystic, Stonington County.
–4 Streeter. “History Revisited: The Hurricane of 1938: Part 2…” The Day, New London, 9-12-2018.[45]
–3 Blanchard tally of specifically noted deaths.
–1 Mr. Brown; drowned Sep 21. (AP. “Here is List of Known Dead…” 9-22-1938.)
–1 Mrs. George Stark; bled to death after being struck by wind-borne shard of glass.[46]
–1 Unnamed elderly farmer; heart attack when his barn roof collapsed with him inside.[47]
— 1 Naugatuck, New Haven County, Sep 21. John J. Daly, 28. Electrocuted.[48]
–1-3 New Britain, Hartford County. Blanchard tally from breakouts below.
–3 American National Red Cross. Hurricane 1938. “Appendix C.” 1939, p. 87.
–1 Patrick H. Keller, 65. Crushed by foundry door.[49]
— 1 New Hartford, Hartford Co. Amer. Nat. Red Cross. Hurricane 1938. “Appendix C.” 1939, p.87.
— 1 New Haven, Middlesex County. Amer. Red Cross. Hurricane 1938. “Appendix C.” 1939, p.88.
–3-5 New Haven, New Haven County.
–5 New Haven. AP. “Flood and Fire Hit Connecticut.” Oakland Tribune, 9-22-1938, p3.
–3 Blanchard compilation of named fatalities:
–1 Thomas Connellan, 35, when a beam fell. (AP. “Here is List of Known…” 9-22-1938.)
–1 Henry L Lewis, Bridgeport manufacturer; cottage east of New Haven washed away.[50]
–1 Mrs. Henry L. Lewis.[51]
— 24 New London, New London Co. Amer. Red Cross. Hurricane 1938. “Appendix C.” 1939, p88.[52]
–4-5 New London, New London County, Sep 21.[53]
–5 Blanchard tally of specifically mentioned fatalities noted below.
–4 Ebbin. “Recounting the Hurricane of 1938: local memories of…disaster.” 2008, p. 4.
–1 Ingvald Beaver, Sep 21. Drowning; wave swept him off the barge Victoria.[54]
–1 Alfred Stoll; hit by unhinged garage door. Goudsouzian 2004, p. 27.
–1 Fred Washburn; heart attack in auto, Sep 21. AP. “Here is List…” 9-23-1938, p3.[55]
–1 Unnamed man. (Goudsouzian notes two drowning deaths and names one.)[56]
–1 Unnamed young man. Apparent heart attack chopping way through trees.[57]
–1 Unnamed. (Goudsouzian notes two people died in their cars; AP names one.)
— 2 Noank (village), Groton, Now London Co. Burns. Great Hurricane: 1938. 2015, p. 174.
–1 Polly Cleaveland –1 Fanny Hebert
— 2 Norwich, New London County. Amer. Red Cross. Hurricane 1938. “Appendix C.” 1939, p. 88.
— 1 Old Greenwich, Fairfield County, Sep 22. Henry Weber, 61; heart attack.[58]
— ? Old Lyme, New London Co. Apparently none, though “the destruction…was appalling.”[59]
— 2 Old Saybrook, Middlesex County, Sep 21. Drownings; Simon J. Etzel & Mrs. Wollcott.[60]
— 4 Putnam, Windham County. Amer. Red Cross. Hurricane 1938. “Appendix C.” 1939, p. 88.
— 1 Plainfield, Windham County. Amer. Red Cross. Hurricane 1938. “Appendix C.” 1939, p.88.
— 3 Rockville, Tolland County. Amer. Red Cross. Hurricane 1938. “Appendix C.” 1939, p. 88.
— 2 Saybrook, Middlesex County, Sep 21. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Garrell.[61]
— 1 Stamford, Fairfield Co. Lumber plant watchman, 70; trying to close gate which hit him.[62]
— 2 Stonington area,[63] New London Co., Sep 21. Drownings; stranded passenger train Bostonian.[64]
–1 Mrs. William B. Markell of Hartford. (Bertha Weinstein Markell)[65] (Allen 1976, 120.)
–1 Mr. Chester A. Walker (a porter on the train, trying to rescue woman).[66]
— 4 Stony Creek, Branford, New Haven Co., Sep 21. Drownings. (AP. “Here is List…” 9-22-1938.)
–1 Mrs. Arthur W. Jepson of Bristol. –1 Mrs. Harry White of Bristol.
–1 Mrs. Walter Spicer of Bristol.
–1 Ferry boat captain (grandfather of Josh Brooks), Stony Creek area.[67]
–2-4 Stratford, Fairfield County. Blanchard tally from breakouts below.
–4 American National Red Cross. Hurricane 1938. “Appendix C,” 1939, p. 87.
–1 Paul Castelot, drowned attempting to save boat from drifting onto the river jetty.[68]
–1 Charles Krolinowski, 67; injures from falling roof.[69]
— 2 Thimble Island, off Branford, New Haven Co. Sep 21. Drowning; Helen and LeRoy Lewis.[70]
— 1 Tolland, Tolland Co. Sep 21. Falling tree. John Chessey, 32. (AP. “Here is List…” 9-22-1938.)
— 9 Westbrook, Middlesex County. “Nine bodies washed ashore at Westbrook.”[71]
–1 Mrs. Ada Dickinson of Hartford, drowned at Westbrook; Sep 21.[72]
–1 Mrs. Morrison W. Johnson of Hartford, drowned at Westbrook.[73]
–1 Mrs. Ella F. Remmert, 46; drowned Sep 21, Little Stannard Beach. (Allen 1976, 107).[74]
–1 Mrs. Sarah Mathers Wren, 70; drowned Sep 21, Little Stannard Beach. (Allen, p. 107.)
— 1 Westport, Fairfield County. Amer. Nat. Red Cross. Hurricane. “Appendix C,” 1939, p87.
–1 Westport, Sep 21. Tree fall; George Kirby. (Goudsouzian 2004, p. 35.)[75]
–1-4 Willimantic, Windham County. Blanchard range from sources below.
–4 American National Red Cross. Hurricane 1938. “Appendix C,” 1939, p. 88.
–1 Harry Warshauer, 64 (of Brooklyn); factory collapse, Sep 21.[76]
— 1 Winstead, Litchfield County. Amer. Nat. Red Cross. Hurricane. “Appendix C,” 1939, p87.
Massachusetts (134-140)[77]
— 209 INS, Boston. “Storm-Flood Toll May Reach 1000.” Lowell Sun, MA, 9-26-1938, p.1.
— 181 UP. “WPA to Assist in Storm Area.” Telegraph-Herald, Dubuque, IA, 9-26-1938, p.5.[78]
–128-140 Blanchard tally from locality breakouts below.
— 134 AP. “Health Officials Examine Food From Storm Hit States.” 9-30-1938, p. 24.
— 131 AP. “Death List Grows to 497 in Eastern Hurricane…” Menard News, TX, 9-29-1938, p. 7.
— 129 AP. “Storm-Swept Area to get Financial Aid.” Joplin Globe, MO. 9-27-1938, p. 3.
— 117 ARC. New York-New England Hurricane and Floods — 1938. 1939, p. 78.[79]
— 117 Sumner. “The North Atlantic Hurricane of Sep 8-16, 1944.” MWR, 72,/9, 1944, 189.
— 112 AP. “Storm Death Toll in N.E. 414; Floods…Menace.” Lowell Sun, MA. 9-23-1938, 1.
— 99 Dunn and Miller. Atlantic Hurricanes (Revised Edition). 1960 and 1964, p. 274.
— 99 Shea. “Unaware, Then Overwhelmed: Hurricane of 1938…” Hartford Courant, 1-25-2014.
— 88 Heidorn. “The Great Hurricane of 1938, Part 3: The Great New England Hurricane.”
— 88 Scotti. Sudden Sea: The Great Hurricane of 1938. 2003, p. 217.
— 72 UP. “Near Three Hundred Dead…” Chronicle-Telegram, Elyria, OH, 9-22-1938, p1.[80]
Breakout of Massachusetts hurricane-related fatalities by locality:
— 1 Adams, Berkshire County,[81] Sep 21. Electrocution; Joseph Mieeck, 25.[82]
— 1 Boston. ARC. “Appendix C.” Hurricane 1938, 1939, p. 81.[83]
— 2 Boston, Suffolk County. American National Red Cross. “Appendix C,” Hurricane. P. 83.
— 3 Boston area, at sea, Sep 21. Drownings; fishing smack (#4C554)[84] capsizes.[85]
–1 Tony Marino. –1 Tony Ciulla. –1 Joseph Selafano (Sciafano)[86].
— 3 Boston, off of. Crew members of foundered tugboat (all of Boston).
–1 John Doody –1 George Fosier –1 Fred Prilsifer (or Frederick Pulsiver).[87]
— 2 Brockton, Plymouth County, Sep 21. (AP. “Here is List of Known Dead…” 9-22-1938.)[88]
–1 Fallen tree; D. J. Calnan, 44.
–1 “Storm-induced heart attack.” Timothy Kelleher, 60.
— 2 Buzzards Bay, Barnstable Co., Sep 21. (AP. “Here is List of Known Dead…” 9-22-1938.)
–1 Rose Collins, 32, drowned. –1 Mrs. John May, drowned.
— 20 Cape Cod, Barnstable County. (AP. “Cape Cod Lists 22 Dead…” Oakland Tribune, 9-22-1938, p. 3.)[89]
–18 Blanchard tally of named fatalities.
–12 American National Red Cross. “Appendix C, Hurricane 1938, 1939, p. 80.
— 5 Bourne, Sep 21. Trapped in house washed under Bourne Bridge.[90] Allen 1976, 234.[91]
–1 Mrs. Elizabeth Lane, 74. (Allen 1976, p. 234-236.)
–1 Mrs. Mabel V. Wells, 61, of Mount Vernon, NY. (Allen 1976, p. 234-236.)
–1 Emily Needham, 62, of Vineland, NJ. (Allen 1976, p. 234-236.)
–1 Joseph Needham, 11, adopted son of Emily Needham. “
–1 Hayward Wilson, 54, a boatman who was trying to help the household. “
–8 Falmouth area. Cavanaugh. “Remembering…” Capecodfishermen.org, 9-26-2018.[92]
–1 Miss Alice H. Maurer, 42. Drowned, Sep 21. (Allen 1976, 224-225.)
–1 Earl Merrill. Drowning, Sep 21. (AP. “Here is List…” 9-22-1938.)
–2 Silver Beach, North Falmouth, Sep 21. Mr. & Mrs. Andrew F. Jones; drowned.[93]
–5 Woods Hole (especially Penzance Point area), Sep 21. (Blanchard tally.)
–2 AP. “Here is List of Known Dead…” Oakland Tribune, 9-22-1938.[94]
–1 William Briggs; drowned, Sep 21.
–1 Albert W. Neal, 60; drowned, Sep 21 at Penzance Point. (Allen 1976, 227)
–3 Coastguardsmen drowned in rescue attempt.[95]
–1 Frederick T. Lilja, machinist. (Allen 1976, p. 227.)[96]
–1 John A. Stedman, radioman. All from USS General Greene, C.G.
–1 Hayward T. Webster, motor machinist.
–2 Coast Guardsmen while trying to save a trapped family. (Goudsouzian, p. 55)[97]
— 1 Charlmont [Charlemont?], Franklin County, Sep 21. Drowning; Mrs. Hallahan.[98]
— 1 Chilmark, South Beach, Martha’s Vineyard, Dukes Co., Sep 21. Josephine Clarke; drowned.[99]
— 1 Clinton, Worcester County, Sep 21. Falling roof; Andrew Horn, 51.[100]
— 1 East Brookfield area, Worcester Co., MA-9. Doctor & nurse in car, road washed out; nurse drowns.[101]
— 1 East Walpole, Norfolk County, Sep 21. Falling tree; Miss Marion Child.[102]
— 3? Easton, Bristol County, Sep 21.[103]
— 1 Easthampton, Hampshire County, Sep 21. Falling tree; newsboy Francis Martin.[104]
— 1 Everett,[105] Middlesex County, Sep 21. Falling roof; Richard A. Gilday, 26.[106]
— 7 Fairhaven, Bristol County.
—>7 Fairhaven, Bristol County. (Goudsouzian. The Hurricane of 1938. 2004, p. 53.)[107]
— 7 Fairhaven…suffered severely. Seven deaths were reported in this area.”[108]
— 1 Mr. Charles A. Fernandes, New Bedford pharmacist, Winsegansett Heights cottage.[109]
— 1 Father George A. Jowdy, at Sconticut Neck. (Fed. Writers Proj. Hurricane, 1938, p.99.)
— 12 Fall River, Bristol County. (Snow. Tales of Terror and Tragedy. 1979, p. 188.[110]
–40 American National Red Cross. “Appendix C,” Hurricane 1938. 1939, p. 80.[111]
— 1 Rudolph Prineault, 28. Fall from roof, Sep 21.[112]
— 1 John Santos, 67; died from crush injuries from building collapse, Oct 3.[113]
— 1 Gardner, Worcester County. American National Red Cross 1939. “Appendix C,” p. 83.[114]
— 1 Grafton, Worcester County, Sep 21. Head injury; George Hose, 77.[115]
— 3 Hampshire County. American Nat. Red Cross. “Appendix C.” Hurricane. 1939, p. 81.[116]
— 1 Hopedale, Worcester County, Sep 21. Flying brick; George McNamara, 37.[117]
— 1 Leominster, Worcester Co., Sep 21. Napolean Lafarier, 60. (AP. “Here is List…” 9-22-1938.)
–0 American National Red Cross. “Appendix C.” Hurricane. 1939, p. 83.
— 1 Lowell, Middlesex Co., Sep 21. Crushed by pole; Walter Ouellette, 21.[118] (Also ARC p.181)
— 1 Ludlow, Hampden County, Sep 21. Auto overturned; Charles H. Munsell, 44.[119]
–0 American National Red Cross. “Appendix C.” Hurricane 1938. 1939, p. 81.
— 2 Malden, Middlesex County, Sep 21. (ARC “Appendix C,” p. 82, notes 1 death.)
–1 Falling chimney, Israel Baker, 55. –1 Falling tree; Robert Shear, 12.[120]
— 1 Mansfield, Bristol County, Sep 21. Falling tree; Allan O’Connor, 11, of Attleboro.[121]
— 1 Martha’s Vineyard, Dukes Co, Sep 21. Miss Reed. (AP. “Here is List…” 9-22-1938.)[122]
–8-9 Mattapoisett, primarily Crescent Beach area, Plymouth County. (Blanchard tally from sources.)
–9 Mattapoisett, (Federal Writers Pgm. of WPA, p. 101; Goudsouzian 2004, 53.)[123]
–8 Blanchard tally of deaths noted in Allen 1976, pp. 245 and 247.
–2 Mr. and Mrs. Paul J. Ewald; handyman and cook at John Duffs beach house.[124]
–1 Mr. Fred L. Heyes. Died Sep 21 in wreckage of his beach home. (Allen 1976, 247.)
–1 Miss Susan Leary, 60, cook for Dr. Austen Rigs, drowned, Sep 21. (Allen 1976, 245.)
–1 Mrs. Harry P. McAllister, Sep 21 (body recovered Sep 29). (Allen 1976, 247.)
–1 Mrs. Albert Norlander, Sep 21, “on the beach.” (Allen 1976, 247.)[125]
–1 John R. Pyne, son-in-law of Mrs. Norlander, Sep 21, “on the beach.” (Allen 1976, 247.)
–1 Richard Pyne, 6-weeks-old, son of John. Sep 21 “on the beach.” (Allen 1976, 247.)
— 1 Methuen, Essex County, Sep 21. Falling timber; Edward Koehler, 45.[126]
— 3 New Bedford, Bristol County.
–19 New Bedford area.[127]
–12 American National Red Cross. “Appendix C.” Hurricane 1938. 1939, p. 80.[128]
— 3 New Bedford, Bristol County, Sep 21. (AP. “Here is List…” 9-22-1938.)[129]
— 1 Fred Hayes. Drowned.
— 1 Alexander Riviere, 56, “overcome in…rescue.”
— 1 Mrs. Mabel Small, 47, wife, lighthouse keeper Arthur Small; Palmer Island, harbor.[130]
— 2 North Attleboro, Bristol Co. “Two men…the roof of the Sears Garage collapsed upon them.”[131]
–0 American National Red Cross. “Appendix C.” Hurricane 1938. 1939, p. 80.
— 1 North Easton, Bristol County, Sep 21. Falling bricks; Mrs. Fred Carlson; 65.[132]
— 1 North Grafton, Worcester County, Sep 21. Fall; Hiram F. Flandsberg, 33.[133]
— 2 Northfield, Franklin Co. Falling chimney at Seminary;[134] Audrey Lucas & Norma Stockburger.[135]
— 1 Pittsfield, Berkshire Co., Sep 21. CO poisoning; water-surrounded auto; David Reed, 50.[136]
— 3 Somerset, Bristol County, Sep 21. (AP. “Here is List of Known Dead…” 9-22-1938.)
–Earl Hayes, 22; drowned. –Joseph Martin and David M Connell of Fall River.
— 1 Southbridge, Worcester County, Sep 21. Drowning; James Edwards.[137]
— 1 Spencer, Worcester County, Sep 21. Barn collapse; Everett Ridge, 62.[138]
— 1 Stonewall Beach, Martha’s Vineyard, Duke Co.. Mrs. Josephine Clark. (Burns, p. 193).[139]
— 1 Swansea, Bristol Co., Sep 21. Drowned; Mrs. David Brown. (AP. “Here is List…” 9-22-1938.)
— 9 Wareham, Swift’s & Hamilton Beaches, Plymouth Co. (Allen 1976, 231; Goudsouzian. 2004, 53.)[140]
–2 Mrs. Conrad and daughter, of Mansfield, Sep 21. (AP. “Here is List…” 9-22-1938.)
–2 Mother and daughter at Hamilton Beach. Drowned, Sep 21. (Allen 1976, p. 233.)[141]
–2 Husband and wife getting ready to leave for Ohio, drowned Sep 21. (Allen 1976, 233)[142]
— 1 Watertown, Middlesex County. Carleton Smith, 40; killed by falling tree.[143]
— 1 Westfield, Hampden County. ARC. “Appendix C.” Hurricane 1938. 1939, p. 81.
–14-23 Westport (Westport Harbor, West Beach, Horseneck Beach, East Beach), Bristol Co.[144]
–23 Allen 1976, p. 194.[145] Also Fed. Writers Proj. New England Hurricane, 1938, p. 90.[146]
–20 INS. “Three More Storm Victims.” Lowell Sun, MA. 10-3-1938, p. 1.
–14 East Beach area. Fed. Writers Proj. New England Hurricane: A Factual…Record. 1938, p. 91.
–14 (Goudsouzian 2004, p. 51.)[147]
–10 Blanchard tally of named or specified deaths.
— 1 Thomas Adams, 46, proprietor of Pioneer store at Horseneck Beach.[148]
— 1 Miss Mary Frances Black; Everett Mills family maid; drowned, Westport Harbor.[149]
— 1 Russell Hawes, 22, of Philadelphia. Drowned Sep 21; body recovered Oct 3.[150]
— 1 Mrs. Harriett Hicks, 88. INS. “Three More Storm Victims.” Lowell Sun, MA. 10-3-1938, p1.
— 6 Three couples from NY in East Beach house, destroyed by wave; drowned.[151]
— 1 Westwood, Norfolk County, Sep 27. Electrocution; lineman William J. McCarthy, 60.[152]
— 1 Winchester, Middlesex County, Sep 21. Falling tree; Mrs. Ethelyn de Loria, 61.[153]
–0 American National Red Cross. “Appendix C.” Hurricane 1938. 1939, p. 82.
–4-7 Worcester, Worcester County.
–14 Worcester ARC Chapter cases. (ANRC. “Appendix C,” Hurricane. 1939, p. 83.)[154]
— 7 Worcester, Worcester County. (Allen 1976, p. 281.)
— 4 Worcester, Worcester County. (Goudsouzian 2004, p. 60.)[155]
–1 Blown through window; James Howe, Sep 21.[156]
–1 David Plante, 1½ years-old. Cleanup phase; tree felled by father.[157]
— 1 Locality not noted, Sep 21. Drowned in automobile; Mrs. Linda Wondis.[158]
— 1 Locality not noted. Crushed by tree debris workers were removing; Chester H. Hildreth Jr., 12.[159]
New Hampshire ( 12-14)[160]
–16 INS, Boston. “Storm-Flood Toll May Reach 1000.” Lowell Sun, MA, 9-26-1938, p. 1.[161]
–14 Dunn and Miller. Atlantic Hurricanes (Revised Edition). 1960 and 1964, p. 274.
–14 UP. “WPA to Assist in Storm Area.” Telegraph-Herald, Dubuque, IA, 9-26-1938, p. 5.
–13 AP. “Death List Grows to 497 in Eastern Hurricane…” Menard News, TX, 9-29-1938, p. 7.
–13 AP. “Health Officials Examine Food From Storm Hit States.” 9-30-1938, p. 24.
–13 AP. “Storm Death Toll in N.E. 414; Floods New Menace.” Lowell Sun, MA. 9-23-1938, p. 1.
–13 AP. “Storm-Swept Area to get Financial Aid.” Joplin Globe, MO. 9-27-1938, p. 3.
–13 Scotti. Sudden Sea: The Great Hurricane of 1938. 2003, p. 123.[162]
–12 ARC. New York-New England Hurricane and Floods — 1938. 1939, p. 78.
–12 Blanchard tally based on named fatalities by locality below.
–12 Scotti. Sudden Sea: The Great Hurricane of 1938. 2003, p. 217.[163]
–12 Sumner. “The North Atlantic Hurricane of Sep 8-16, 1944.” MWR, 72,/9, 1944, p. 189.
–10 AP. “Here is List of Known Dead…East Coast…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 9-22-1938, p. 3.
— 9 UP. “Near Three Hundred Dead…” Chronicle-Telegram, Elyria, OH, 9-22-1938, p. 1.
Breakout of New Hampshire hurricane-related fatalities by locality:
–1 Bow, Merrimack County. Fred Brown; barn collapse. AP. “Here is List…” 9-22-1938, 3.
–1 Bow, Merrimack County. Theopharins Stephano, 54. AP. “Here is List…” 9-22-1938, 3.
–2 Concord, Merrimack County. ANRC. “Appendix C.” Hurricane 1938. 1939, p. 85.[164]
–1 Adelard Lavoie, 43; falling roof. AP. “Here is…” 9-22-1938, 3.
–1 Manchester, Hillsborough County.[165] Mrs. Helen Lesmerises, 19; falling roof.[166]
–1 Nashua, Hillsborough Co. Frank Relations; falling tree. AP. “Here is List…” 9-22-1938, 3.[167]
–1 Plymouth, Grafton County. American National Red Cross. “Appendix C,” 1939, p. 84.
–1 Pinardville, Hillsborough Co. Paul Bernard, 18; falling roof. AP. “Here is…” 9-22-1938, 3.
–4 Weare, Hillsborough Co. Bridge washout. AP. “Here is List of Known Dead…” 9-22-1938, p.3.[168]
–1 Mrs. Isadora L. Gould, 50.
–1 Miss Maude Kenney, 55.
–1 Mrs. Hettie Lull, 75; mother of Isadora Gould.
–1 Miss Aura Morse, 65.
–1 Woodsville/Haverhill area, Grafton County, NH. (ANRC. “Appendix C.” 1939, p. 84.
New Jersey ( 1-3)
–3 INS, Boston. “Storm-Flood Toll May Reach 1000.” Lowell Sun, MA, 9-26-1938, p. 1.
–3 UP. “WPA to Assist in Storm Area.” Telegraph-Herald, Dubuque, IA, 9-26-1938, p. 5.
–1 UP. “Near Three Hundred Dead…” Chronicle-Telegram, Elyria, OH, 9-22-1938, p. 1.
–1 Newark, Essex Co. Thomas Stryczniewicz, 61; fractured skull. AP. “Here is…” 9-22-1938, 3.
–0 American Red Cross. New York-New England Hurricane and Floods — 1938. 1939, p. 78.
New York (69-77)
— ~100 Douglas. Hurricane. 1958, p. 287.[169]
— 90 Ahles, Dick. “Remembering the Great Hurricane of ’38.” NY Times, 9-21-2003.[170]
–69-77 Blanchard tally based on locality breakouts below.
— 63 UP. “WPA to Assist in Storm Area.” Telegraph-Herald, Dubuque, IA, 9-26-1938, p. 5.
— 60 Amer. Red Cross. New York-New England Hurricane and Floods — 1938. 1939, p. 78.
— >60 Eastern L.I. Grammatico. “1938 Hurricane — September 21, 1938.” Jan 2004, p. 6.
— 60 (L.I.) Leo. “The Great New England Hurricane of 1938.” WeatherWorks. 9-8-2015.
— ~60 NWS, NY, NY WFO. The Great New England Hurricane of 1938. 80th Anniversary.
— 60 Sumner. “The North Atlantic Hurricane of Sep 8-16, 1944.” MWR, 72,/9, 1944, 189.
— >52 Scotti. Sudden Sea: The Great Hurricane of 1938. 2003, 216.
— 50 (L.I.). Applebome. “Blasé About Hurricane Maps? Remember 1938.” NYT, 9-1-2010.
— 50 (L.I.) Heidorn. “The Great Hurricane of 1938, Part 3: The Great New England…”
— 50 (L.I.) Shea. “Unaware, Then Overwhelmed: Hurricane of 1938…” Hartford Courant, 1-25-2014.
— >50 Long Island. Scotti. Sudden Sea. 2003, p. 217.
— 48 INS, Boston. “Storm-Flood Toll May Reach 1000.” Lowell Sun, MA, 9-26-1938, p. 1.
— 32 UP. “Near Three Hundred Dead…” Chronicle-Telegram, Elyria, OH, 9-22-1938, p. 1.
Breakout of New York hurricane-related fatalities by locality, county first except for NYC:
— 1 Dutchess County, Pleasant Valley, Kenneth Larkin; fireman drowned in rescue attempt.[171]
–3-4 Nassau County, Long Island. (One death was two weeks later, after rescue and illness.)
–1 Lido Beach, Oct 5. John J. Boylan, 68, illness after being swept from summer home.[172]
–1 Point Lookout. Heart attack as home flooded; Margaret Delehanty.[173]
–1 Rockville Centre. Blown from oil tank; Clarence Freiddel.[174]
–1 Williston Park. Carl Dalm, 64. East Hampton Star, NY. “Death Toll.” 9-23-1938, p. 1.
— 7 New York City.[175] (Show three deaths separately in Queens, in Queens County, L. I.)
–10 New York City. Wikipedia. “Timeline of New York City Crimes and Disasters.”[176]
— 7 Blanchard tally of named or specifically noted fatalities.[177]
— 4 New York Times. “Hurricane Sweeps Coast…” 9-22-1938, p. 1. (“in the city…”)
— 2 New York County ARC Chapter. ARC. Hurricane 1938. “Appendix C.” 1939, p. 89
— 1 Bronx County, Bronx.
–1 Bert Fenning, 45. Drowned in rescue attempt. (AP. “Here is List…” 9-22-1938.)[178]
— 1 Kings County, Brooklyn.[179]
–1 Male, ~18. Brooklyn, Sep 21. Electrocuted trying to move cable.[180]
— 3 Queens County, Queens (NYC borough), Long Island.
–1 East Elmhurst, L.I. Antonia Butera, 42, Electrocuted by downed wire.[181]
–1 Rockaway. Fairfax McLaughlin, 50. Electrocuted. AP. “Here is List…” 9-22-1938.
–1 Unidentified hitchhiker drowned.[182]
–1 North Shore, Queens County, ARC Chapter report.[183]
— 1 Richmond County, Staten Island.
–1 John A. Martin, 76. Knocked down by wind, skull fractured.[184]
— 1 Borough not noted.
–1 William McGrath. Drowned. (AP. “Here is List of…Dead…” 9-22-1938.)[185]
— 1 Mrs. James L Pinks, 55, Park Ave. East Hampton Star, NY. “Death Toll.” 9-23-1938, 1.[186]
— 1 Orange Co. Tuxedo Park, Frederick Foster De Rham, after “strenuous” trip through storm.[187]
— 1 Schoharie County. Summit, Leon Pindau, trucker, drowned. (AP. “Here is List…” 9-22-1938.)
–56-63 Suffolk County, Long Island.
— 1 Asharoken, Sep 21. Robert Pryde; blunt force trauma. (Allen 1967, 36-37).[188]
— 1 Babylon, Suffolk County. Amer. Nat. Red Cross. Hurricane. Appendix C, p. 89.
— 1 Bridgehampton. Alex James.[189]
— ? Eastport. East Hampton Star, NY. “Death Toll.” 9-23-1938, 1.
–1 Marshall Hawkins. East Hampton Star, NY. “Death Toll.” 9-23-1938, p. 1.[190]
–1 Oliver Raynor, 62. East Hampton Star, NY. “Death Toll.” 9-23-1938, p. 1.[191]
— 5 East Hampton (including Gardiners Island waters).
–1 Dominick Grace; crushed when his garage collapsed, Sep 21.[192]
–4 Fishermen lost from fishing boat, Sep 21.[193]
–1 Captain Samuel Edwards, 35; drowned, Sep 21. (Allen 1976, p. 70.)[194]
–1 Gilbert Edwards, 30, brother of Samuel.
–1 Herbert Field, 36, brother-in-law of Samuel.
–1 Vivian Smith.
— 2 Fort Pond Bay. Cpt. Seth Scribner and Claude Burrows. (Allen 1976, p. 70.)[195]
— 1 Lake Montauk, Sep 21. Sailboat Widgie swept out to sea; William Langson.[196]
— 2 Pond Point, near Westhampton Beach, Southampton. Two women drowned.[197]
— 6 Promised Land, Napeague. Ocean View (out of Promised Land) lifeboat capsizes.[198]
–1 Samuel Coleman of Weems, VA, second engineer.
–1 Thomas Forsett of Round Pond, ME, chief engineer.
–1 Roy Griffin of Shelter Island, mate.
–1 Jeff Hodge of VA, deckhand.
–1 Elton Smith of VA, deckhand.
–1 David Starvi of VA, deckhand.
— 1 Quogue. (East Hampton Star, NY. “Death Toll.” 9-23-1938, p. 1.)
— 2 Saltaire village, Fire Island, Town of Islip, Sep 21. (Allen 1976, p. 43.)
–1 Mrs. Angeline Bazinet Drowned, S ep 21. (Allen 1976, p. 43.)
–1 Mrs. Max Haas. Drowned.[199]
— 1 Shelter Island. Roy Griffin. (AP. “Here is List…” Oakland Tribune, 9-22-1938, 3.)[200]
— 1 Southold. Emmett Young; hit by debris on barn roof.[201]
— 2 Southampton. (East Hampton Star, NY. “Death Toll.” 9-23-1938, p. 1.)
–1 Mrs. Florence Hunter, drowned.[202]
–1 Mrs. Della Johnson, drowned.[203]
–29-36 Westhampton Beach, Southampton. (Blanchard, relying on USACE.)[204]
–44 East Hampton Star, NY. “100-Mile Hurricane Brings Death…” 9-22-1938, p. 1.[205]
–36 (29 fatalities/7 missing). USACE. The Great New England Hurricane of 1938, p.3.
–32 (Dead and missing after one month.) Allen 1976, p. 44.
–29 Applebome. “Blasé About Hurricane Maps? Remember 1938.” NYT, 9-1-2010.
–29 Scott. Sudden Sea. 2003, p. 217.
–29 (Plus 7 missing). USACE. The Great New England Hurricane of 1938. P.3.[206]
–28 Goudsouzian, Aram. The Hurricane of 1938. 2004, p. 15.[207]
–28 Allen. A Wind to Shake the World. 1976, p. 44. (Another 4 missing month later.)
–19 Fed. Writers Proj. New England Hurricane: A Factual…Record. 1938, p. 11.
–19 At West Hampton. Snow, E. R. Tales of Terror and Tragedy. 1979, p. 183.
–21 Blanchard: fatalities for whom we have located names:
— 1 Peggy Connolly Brown. Drowned, Sep 21. (Scotti 2003, p. 205)
— 1 Judith Brown, 7-months. Drowned, Sep 21. (Scotti 2003, p. 205)
— 1 Carl E. Dalin, 60’s;[208] husband of Selma; drowned, Sep 21.[209]
— 1 Selma Dalin, 60’s; wife of Carl; drowned, Sep 21.[210]
— 1 Tommy Fay, 21. Drowned Sep 21 with Charles Lucas trying to save dogs.[211]
— 1 Mrs. Marianna Flagg (of New Rochelle), died in West Hampton.[212]
— 1 Mrs. Leo Foley. AP. “Here is List…” Oakland Tribune, 9-22-1938, p. 3.
— 1 Marshall Hawkins. AP. “Here is List…” Oakland Tribune, 9-22-1938, p. 3.[213]
— 1 Lena Jenkins, 55. East Hampton Star, NY. “Death Toll.” 9-23-1938, p. 1.
— 1 Mrs. John L. King. East Hampton Star, NY. “Death Toll.” 9-23-1938, p. 1.
— 1 Mrs. Ned Lea. Burns. The Great Hurricane: 1938. 2015, p. 178.
— 2 Mr. & Mrs. Warren Lewis. East Hampton Star, NY. “Death Toll.” 9-23-1938, p1.
— 1 Charles Lucas, 20. Drowned trying to rescue dogs with Tommy Fay.[214]
— 1 Mrs. James E Pink. East Hampton Star, NY. “100-Mile Hurricane…, 9-22-1938, p1.
— 1 O. R. Raynor. AP. “Here is List…” Oakland Tribune, 9-22-1938, p. 3.[215]
— 1 Myron A. Schater, 55. East Hampton Star, NY. “Death Toll.” 9-23-1938, p. 1.[216]
— 1 Mrs. Schlater or Slater; drowned. AP. “Here is List…” 9-22-1938, p. 3.
— 1 Anna Seeley. Drowned Sep 21.[217] East Hampton Star, NY. “Death Toll.” 9-23-1938, p. 1.
— 1 Mrs. Whele. East Hampton Star, NY. “Death Toll.” 9-23-1938, p. 1.
— 2 Unnamed friend of Mona and Joan Schmid, and her mother. (Scotti 2003, 205)[218]
— 1 Westchester County. New Rochelle,. Mrs. Marianna Flagg.[219]
Pennsylvania
–3 INS, Boston. “Storm-Flood Toll May Reach 1000.” Lowell Sun, MA, 9-26-1938, p. 1.[220]
Rhode Island (350-359)[221]
— 433 Heidorn. “The Great Hurricane of 1938, Part 3…” Weather Almanac. (High-end of range.)[222]
— 433 Scotti. Sudden Sea: The Great Hurricane of 1938. 2003, p. 217.
–~400 Dinan. “The Great Hurricane of ’38: The Startling Numbers.” CT Patch. 9-27-2013.
— 400 Scotti. Sudden Sea. 2003, p. 146. (“175 along the South County shore.”
— 390 PBS. The Hurricane of ’38.
— 380 Dunn and Miller. Atlantic Hurricanes (Revised Edition). 1960 and 1964, p. 274.
— 380 Heidorn. “The Great Hurricane of 1938, Part 3…” Weather Almanac. (Low-end of range.)
— 380 Shea. “Unaware, Then Overwhelmed: Hurricane of 1938…” Hartford Courant, 1-25-2014.
— 359 Blanchard high-end compilation based on locality breakouts below.[223]
— 350 Blanchard low-end compilation based on locality breakouts below.[224]
— 317 Neal. “A History of the Gale: Rhode Island’s Brushes with Mother….” Patch.com, 8-27-2011.
— 310 INS, Boston. “Storm-Flood Toll May Reach 1000.” Lowell Sun, MA, 9-26-1938, p. 1.
–>300 Snow. Great Storms and Famous Shipwrecks of the New England Coast. 1943, p. 173.
–>300 Snow. Tales of Terror and Tragedy. 1979, p. 184.
— 286 UP. “WPA to Assist in Storm Area.” Telegraph-Herald, Dubuque, IA, 9-26-1938, p. 5.
— 272 AP. “Health Officials Examine Food From Storm Hit States.” 9-30-1938, p. 24.
— 268 AP. “Death List Grows to 497 in Eastern Hurricane…” Menard News, TX, 9-29-1938, p. 7.
— 262 VHB (for Town of Westerly). Local Hazard Mitigation Plan 2017 Update. Nov 2017, p. 32.
— 257 AP. “Storm-Swept Area to get Financial Aid.” Joplin Globe, MO. 9-27-1938, p. 3.
— 250 Rhode Island newspapers, Sep 25, according to Burns 2015, p. 203.
— 247 AP. “Storm Death Toll in N.E. 414; Floods New Menace.” Lowell Sun, MA. 9-23-1938, 1
— 240 INS. “Hurricane-Flood Death Toll at 650.” Lowell Sun, MA. 9-24-1938, p. 1.
— 229 AP. “Rhode Island Death Toll Placed at 229…” Lowell Sun, MA, 9-23-1938, p. 1.
— 229 Hurd, Beth. “Hurricane of 1938: 80th Anniversary.” 9-25-2018. [List of RI fatalities.][225]
— 226 Providence Journal, RI. 9-23-1938; cited by Allen 2015, p. 203.
— 224 Hurd, Beth. “Hurricane of 1938 deaths in Rhode Island.” (Her list based on research.)[226]
— 207 Amer. Red Cross. New York-New England Hurricane and Floods — 1938. 1939, p. 78.
— 207 Sumner. “The North Atlantic Hurricane of Sep 8-16, 1944.” MWR, 72,/9, 1944, 189.
— 175 Napatree Point to Point Judith (20 mile coastal stretch), Washington County.[227]
— 138 UP. “Near Three Hundred Dead…” Chronicle-Telegram, Elyria, OH, 9-22-1938, p. 1.[228]
–~100 Celebrate Boston. Boston Disasters. “The Great Hurricane of 1938.”
Breakout of Rhode Island hurricane-related fatalities by locality:
— 1 Allen’s Harbor, No. Kingston, Washington Co. Florence May (Peck) Curran, 46; drowned.[229]
— 1 Babcock Beach, No. Kingston, Washington Co. Louise May (Needham) Harrop, 38; drowned.
— 14 Barrington, Bristol County. (Tally from Hurd 2018. Goudsouzian notes >14 deaths.)[230]
–1 Edwin Bowen Arnold, 46, of Warren. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Rosamond Cole, 79, of Providence. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Angelina (Gendron) Forloni, resident of Warwick, died at Barrington. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Winifred E. (Stacey) McCooey, 37, of Blackstone, MA. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Elizabeth Agnes (O’Driscoll) McCool, 55, of east Providence. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Margaret Theresa (Glynn) McDonald, 63, of Providence. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Catherine E. (Mullen) O’Driscoll, 77, of East Providence; mother of E.A. McCool.[231]
–1 Josephine (Lauzon) Pimintel, 59, of Warwick. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Ricardo Pimintel, 60, of Warwick. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Isabel Arletta Salisbury, 67; Bay Spring home swept into Narragansett Bay. (Hurd 2018)
–2 Adele (Cilento) Scialo, 36, of Providence; daughter, Louise Scialo, 2. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Margaret Josephine Smith, 28, or Providence. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Mae Ella Wischnowsky, 39, of Providence. (Hurd 2018)
— 6 Block Island, Washington County. (Blanchard tally from breakouts below.)[232]
–1 Frank Augustus Colwell, 74. Drowning; wave swept his boat away; body found Sep 28.[233]
–1 Samuel S. Edwards, 35, fisherman whose body was found on West Beach Sep 23.[234]
–1 William Fuller of Newport; “…tin roof flew off hotel and struck his neck…”[235]
–1 Cpt. Frank Holwell, blown off his boat, “last seen hugging his topmast…”[236]
–1 William M. Monks, Jr., 21. Killed by hotel debris at New Shoreham. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Unidentified white male, about 50, Sep 21?, found Oct 1. (Hurd 2018)[237]
— 1 Central Falls?, Providence County. Elizabeth (Sharples) Craven, 59. (Hurd 2018)[238]
— >50 Charlestown Beach, Washington Co. Fed. Writers Proj. New England Hurricane, p. 49.[239]
–41 Blanchard tally from Charlestown/Charlestown Beach breakouts below.
–33 Charlestown, Sep 21. Blanchard tally of names listed under “Charlestown” in Hurd.
–1 Harry Chandler Adams, 71. (Hurd. “Hurricane of 1938: 80th Anniv.” 9-25-2018.)
–1 Ethel Belle (True) Avery, 62. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Ella (Crandall) Bliven, 72. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Chester C. Breckenridge, 68 (Hurd 2018)
–1 Edith Louise (Oatley) Breckenridge, 65, wife of Chester. (Hurd 2018)
–2 Amos Edgar Burdick, 70; wife Lois P. (Davis) Burdick, 68. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Anne Mary Clark, 47. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Celia Elizabeth (Carr) Clarke, 86. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Florence Clarke, 55, daughter of Celia Clarke. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Harriet Sumner Clarke, 58, daughter of Celia, sister of Florence. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Mabel (Gould) Clemens, 61, wife of Philip (Hurd 2018)
–1 Philip Arthur Clemens, 62, husband of Mabel. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Genevra C. (Arnold) Crapo, 72. (Hurd 2018)
–1 George W. Cross, 65. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Edith A. (Farmer) Crumb, 70, wife of Wallace who died at Westerly (Hurd 2018)
–1 Catherine (Welch) Culley, 79. Died at Charlestown. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Zonia P. “Zoe” (Phillips) Fletcher, 65. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Obeline (Lucier) Fontaine, 68, wife of Walter. (Hurd 2018)[240]
–1 Walter Francis Fontaine, 67, husband of Obeline. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Robert Gould, 54; skull injury. (Hurd 2018; Westerly Christ Church list of members lost.)
–1 Florence I. (Carroll) Holgate, 56. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Frances (Pedley) Horton, 71, wife of William. (Hurd 2018)
–1 William Grant Horton, 73, husband of Frances. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Freda G. (Bengtson) Larkham, 69. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Hannah Alice (Grundy) Loxley, 64, wife of Samuel. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Samuel Loxley, 69, husband of Hannah. (Hurd 2018)
–2 Carrie Burdick Lull, 55; and father, William Barrett Lull. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Katherine Mary (Finnigan) McSweeny, 63. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Dorothy Pierce, 44. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Jessie C. Potter, 60. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Mabelle (Hill) Reynolds, 59. (Hurd 2018)
–10 Charlestown Beach, Washington County, Sep 21. Blanchard tally.[241]
–1 Mabel (Bateman) Barber, 66. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Wesley Hibbard Bunce Sr., 72. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Burchill daughter, 4; drowned, Sep 21.[242] (Goudsouzian 2004, p. 39.)
–1 Burdick, Amos Edgar, 70-71. Drowned, Sep 21. Charlestown. Find A Grave.
–1 Burdick, Lois P., 68. Drowned, Sep 21. Charlestown. Find A Grave.
–3 Helen (Shugrue) Mee, 30; sons Jean, 6 mo.; Timothy Mee Jr., 2.[243] (Hurd 2018)
–2 Pauline Stearns, 48; mother Sarah E. Dow Stearns, 74; drowned. (Hurd 2018)[244]
— 8 Conimicut and Conimicut Point, Warwick, Kent County, Sep. 21.[245]
–5 Drowned wading from cottage. (AP. “Here is List…” Oakland Tribune, 9-22-1938.)
–1 Olga Croce, 24[246]
–2 Mr. and Mrs. Harris.
–2 Mr. and Mrs. James McConey
–1 Anne Elizabeth (Costigan) Goodby, 63, died at Conimicut Point. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Bartolo LoVerde, 45; Conimicut Point. (Hurd 2018)
–1 George Washington Northup, 43, while visiting friend’s home. (Hurd 2018)
— 3 East Providence, Providence County. (Goudsouzian 2004, p. 49.)
–2 Sep 21. Glen Alby, 41, and a Mrs. Johnson. (AP. “Here is List…” 9-22-1938, p. 3.)
— Galilee, Point Judith, Narragansett, Washington County, Sep 21. (See Narragansett)
— 1 Greenhill Beach, So. Kingston, Washington Co. Harold Christie Jacobs, 56. Hurd 2018.
–10-11 Jamestown, Conanicut Island, Newport County.
–11 American National Red Cross. New York-New England Hurricane 1938, p. 79.
–10 Blanchard tally from breakouts below:
— 1 Marion (Manuel?) Gomes, 33; farmer, skull fracture, caught in barn fall. (Hurd 2018)
— 7 Drownings after school bus stranded by water on Mackerel Cove causeway.[247]
–1 Marion Chellis, 7. (Allen 1976, 182)
–1 Constantine Gianetis, 5.[248] (Hurd 2018)
–1 John Stamos Gianetis, 4. (Hurd 2018 has age as 6; Allen 1976, 182, as 4.)
–1 Eunice Matoes, 7.
–2 Teresa and Dorothy Matoes, 11, twins. (Hurd: Dorothy’s body never found.)[249]
–1 Joseph Matoes Jr., 4. (Hurd 2018 and Allen 1976, p. 182, have age as 13.)
— 2 Mrs. Gladys Marie Ordner, and son William “Bill” Ordner, 13.[250]
— 1 Little Compton, Newport County.
–1 Ebenezer Keith, 56. (Hurd 2018)[251]
–2 See Tiverton listings on Lena Ann (Clarke) Peckham 65 & Oswald C. Peckham, 38.
–1 Charles Albert Sabins, 53; fisherman. (Hurd 2018)[252]
–2 Margarida (Andrade) Sousa, 45, and husband Vasco Sousa, 52. (Hurd 2018)[253]
–1 Nancy Anne (Pearce) Wilbur, 82. (Hurd 2018)
— 1 Lonsdale, Providence Co., Sep 21. Robert G. Collinge, 42. (AP. “Here is…” Sep 22.)
— 4 Middletown, Newport County, Sep 21.
–1 Leroy J. Beebe, 32. Drowned. (Hurd 2018)[254]
–1 Oranzo Joseph Caprino, 3. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Dorothy Evelyn Reiss, 22. (Hurd 2018)
–1 John Downie Wilson, 53. (Hurd 2018)
— 15 Napatree Point, west of Watch Hill, Westerly, Washingon County. (Burns 2015, 195.) [255]
–2 Mr. and Mrs. Butler, Napatree (westernmost Westerly). Drowned.[256] (Burns 2005, p. 121)
–1 May [or Mae] Rosa (Brogan) Lowry, 48; Napatree;[257] drowned. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Mrs. Moore; stepmother of Paul Johnson Moore; drowned. (Burns 2015, 198.)[258]
–1 Havila Moore; stepdaughter of Mrs. Moore. Napatree; drowned.[259] (Day 2013)
–3 Anne Nestor, a cook, and a laundress. (Burns 2015, 196.)
— 14 Narragansett, Washington County. (Includes Galilee and Point Judith sections.)
–1 Frank A. Carpenter, 84. (Hurd 2018)
–1 William Blake Hareter, 13, at Galilee, Sep 21. Falling porch. (Goudsouzian, 39)
–1 Rosalie Christina (Bickerstaffe) Haworth, 52. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Charlie Keville (elderly), Galilee area, drowned, Sep 21. (Allen 1976, 158)[260]
–1 Walter Kurdzo, 22. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Tom Mann “mayor” of Galilee, South County Hosp., Wakefield, from injuries.[261]
–1 Zoel Rhault, 83. (Hurd 2018)
–1 George Nicholas Sherman, 64, fisherman. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Sarah Hayden (McAdams) Smith, 76; drowned at Galilee.[262] (Hurd 2018)
–2 Daisy (Deraleau) Wakeley, 38; Harry Raymond Wakeley, 41, husband. (Hurd 2018)
–2 Frank Weeden Weaver, 63 and wife Margaret (Anderson) Weeden, 59. (Hurd 2018)
–1 William Henry Whale (or Whalen)[263] 50; at Galilee (Allen 1976, 153) (Hurd 2018)
–1 Unnamed man, “fatally injured in a two-story fall to the ground…” (Allen 1976, 164)[264]
— 2 Narragansett Pier, Washington Co. Mrs. John C. Norris and son John Norris; drowned.[265]
–10-17 Newport, Aquidneck Island, Newport County. [266]
–17 American National Red Cross. New York-New England Hurricane 1938, p. 79.
–10 Blanchard tally of named fatalities below:
— 1 Frank Crawley of Block Island. (AP. “Here is List…” 9-22-1938.)
— 1 Rev. Patrick Crawley, 65, drowned (visiting from Montana). (Hurd has age as 69.)
— 1 Waller Cremin. (Hurd 2018, shows Walter H. Cremin, 58.) (AP. “Here is…” 9-22-1938.)
— 1 Ellen (Wyatt) Lynch, 67. (Hurd 2018)[267]
— 1 Mrs. Catherine Murphy, 49. AP. “Here is List…” Oakland Tribune, 9-22-1938.[268]
— 1 Alfred V. Osteline, drowned. AP. “Here is List……” Oakland Tribune, 9-22-1938.
— 1 John Ostermein. AP. “Here is List of Known Dead…” Oakland Tribune, 9-22-1938.
— 1 Manuel A. Pimental, 30; fractured skull from being hit by a pole. (Hurd 2018)
— 1 Elsie Searles, 53, drowned during rescue attempt. (Hurd 2018; Allen, 1976, 181.)[269]
— 1 Mary Wade. AP. “Here is List of Known Dead…” Oakland Tribune, 9-22-1938.
— 3 North Kingstown, Washington County (See, also, Quonset and Quonset Point below.)
–9 North Kingstown and Exeter. American Nat. Red Cross. Hurricane. 1939, p. 79.[270]
–1 George Otis Clark, 58; drowning. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Isabelle Frances (Manning) Clarke, 33, Long Island nurse; drowning. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Margaret (Manning) Sylvester, 75; drowned, Allens Harbor. No. Kingston. (Hurd 2018)
— 4 Pawtucket and Blackstone Valley, Providence County. ARC 1939, p. 79.
–4 Blanchard tally Pawtucket identified fatalities below:
–1 Alfred Cornelius Bamford, 59-60, Memorial Hosp.; injures; struck by tree. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Phileas Bergeron, 74; fall. (AP. “Here is List of Known Dead…” 9-23-1938)
–1 Emily Hopkins. (Hurd 2018)
–1 John Joseph Thorpe, 33; falling pole. (AP. “Here is List…” 9-23-1938, Hurd 2018)
— 28 Portsmouth, Newport County, Sep 21. (19 in Island Park section;[271] Goudsouzian, p48.)[272]
–1 Mary Ann (Jenkinson) Almond, 74 (wife of Robert) (Hurd 2018)
–1 Robert Almond, 74; drowned (husband of Mary Ann). (Hurd)[273]
–2 Ernest and Hannah Armstrong (parents of Elaine McHugh). (Hurd 2018)
–1 Joseph Medeiros Brilhante, 25. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Ellen L. Brown, 71. (Hurd 2018)
–1 James Patrick Burke, 58. WPA bricklayer working at Ft. Adams. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Walter Bradford Chase, 65. (Hurd 2018)
–1 George Darling of Jefferson, MA. (Hurd 2018)
–2 Arthur Forest Dunham Jr., 29, and Sr., 54. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Bernice M. Fuller, 34. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Thomas Francis Holland, 64. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Frank D. Howell, 69. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Elaine E. (Armstrong) McHugh, 30; mother of Francis. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Francis J. “Laddie” McHugh III, 1; son of Elaine. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Mrs. Nazareth, of Fall River. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Mary Nunes, 40, of Fall River. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Rose (Borges) Oliveira, 52. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Manuel Pimenial, 37. (AP. “Here is List of Known Dead…” 9-23-1938)[274]
–1 Patrick Aloysius Preston, 68, WPA worker at Fort Adams. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Sarah Jane (Kershaw) Rodgers, 71, drowned.[275] (Hurd 2018)
–1 Betty (Charlesworth) Walker, 61. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Alvah Francis Warner, 64. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Frank Weeden Weaver, 63. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Eva V. (Davis) Fuller Wellman, 72; mother of Bernice Fuller. (Hurd 2018)
— 1 Portsmouth Park (Newport County?). John Francis Considine, 59. (Hurd 2018)
— 35 Providence (metropolitan),[276] Providence Co. (See also Prudence Isl., Sandy Point lighthouse.)[277]
–11 Blanchard tally of named fatalities.
— 9 AP. “Here is List of Known Dead in East Coast Hurricane.” Oakland, 9-22-1938, 3.
— 7 3 men and 4 women. (Scotti. Sudden Sea. 2003, p. 166.)[278]
— 1 Leonard Augustus Almy, 46, Standard Oil maintenance man; drowned, India Pt.[279]
— 1 Dorothy Ellen Atwood, 13; head injuries; brick wall fell onto auto. (Hurd 2018)
— 1 Thomas Cannellan, 50. (Hurd 2018)
— 1 Rosamond Cole. (Hurd 2018)[280]
— 1 Harry Chester Hayes, Jr. 29;[281] drowned.[282] (Hurd 2018)
— 1 William G. Horton. (Hurd 2018)[283]
— 1 Aband (or Abdau) Kabbas, 55, injuries sustained when hit by door. (Hurd 2018)
— 1 Lorinda Lupilo, 19;[284] roof of building fell onto her car. (Allen 1976, 166)
— 1 James Henry McDuff, 65, drowned in downtown Providence.[285] (Hurd 2018)
— 1 Huldah Charlotte (Sealander) Pieczentkowsky, 56; chimney fell on auto.[286] (Hurd 2018)
— 1 Thomas Redfern, 75. (Hurd 2018)[287]
— 1 William Leo Riley, 61; ship-builder at Ship Yard; drowned. (Hurd 2018)
— 1 Isabelle Salisbury, 67. (Hurd 2018)[288]
— 1 Joseph Edwin Warren, ~26, buried at Swan Point Cemetery, Providence. RI Cemeteries
— 5-6 Prudence Island, Providence, Providence County.
–6 Prudence Island, Providence, Providence County.[289]
–5 Prudence Island, Sandy Point Lighthouse residence, Providence, Sep 21.[290]
–2 Mr. James Lynch and his wife Ellen Lynch, seeking refuge at the lighthouse.
–1 Martin Thompson, former Lighthouse keeper, visiting.
–1 Edward Gustavus, son of Lighthouse keeper George T. Gustavas .[291]
–1 Mable F. (Norwood) Gustavus, 60, wife of lighthouse keeper.
— 45 Quonochontaug (Washington County & Charlestown Beach (South County) areas.[292]
— 6 Quonset (or Quonset Point), North Kingstown, Washington County, Sep 21.
–1 Ethel May (Carrier) Aldrich, 49, or Norwood in Warwick; drowned. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Ann (Huddersfield) Buckley, 86; drowning, Shore Cottage, Quonset Point. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Mrs. Chace. (AP. “Here is List of Known Dead…” 9-23-1938)
–1 Amy (Huddersfield (Buckley?) Charnley, 63, Shore Cottage. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Helena (Buckley) Petrie, daughter of Ann Buckley. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Howard Merrick Smith, 68, of Lakewood in Warwick; drowned. (Hurd 2018)
— 1 Riverside, Providence Co., Sep 21. Falling chimney; Hulda C. Pleezenpknowski, 55.[293]
— 4 Sakonnet Point, garage of F.F. Grinnell estate, Newport Co, Sep 21; drowned. (Allen 189)[294]
–1 Ebenezer Keith, 56. Fisherman for Grinnell estate; drowned, Sep 21. Hurd 2018.
–1 Charles Albert Sabins, 53. Fisherman, Grinnell estate. Drowned Sep 21.
–1 Margarida Andrade Sousa, 45. [295] Find A Grave.
–1 Vasco Sousa, 52-53. Find A Grave.
–2 Mr. and Mrs. Vasco F. Souza of New Bedford.
— 3 South Kingston, Washington County, Sep 21. (Includes Matunuck village.)
–20 South Kingston and Narragansett. American National Red Cross. 1939, p. 79.[296]
— 1 Hubert James Higgins, 48, husband of Kathryn. Drowned, East Matunuck area.[297] Hurd 2018
— 1 Kathryn Gilmore (Feely) Higgins, 47, wife of Hubert. (Hurd 2018)
— 1 Unidentified boy, between 2-3, found at Moonstone Beach. (Allen 1976, p. 73)[298]
— 9 Tiverton, Newport County.[299] Blanchard tally. (ARC 1939, p. 79, notes 5.)
–1 Ida Chace, 82. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Mary Chase of Fall River. (AP. “Here is List of Known Dead…” 9-23-1938)
–1 Jessie May (Manchester) Hathaway, 70. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Ernest Albert Hill, Jr., 14. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Elizabeth (Schlegel) Ingalls, 74, of Fall River. Hurd 2018[300]
–1 Mrs. Lena Ann Clarke Peckham, 65. Drowned, Sep 21 Hurd 2018
–1 Oswald Clarke Peckham, 38. (Find A Grave has death at Little Compton, Newport.)[301]
–1 Etta Schlegel, 63. (Hurd 2018)
— 15 Warwick, Kent County. (See, also, Conimicut/Conimicut Point, above for 8 deaths.)[302]
–1 Cora Ella (Holbrook) Aldrich, 82, in Old Buttonwoods neighborhood. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Walter Almon Aldrich, 79, husband of Cora. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Maria C. (Impagliazza) D’Ambra, 68, died at Oakland Beach, Warwick. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Philip D’Ambra, 37, son of Maria, died at Longmeadow, Warwick. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Mary A. (Dyer) Devine, 62, “died when her house…Oakland Beach…carried away.”[303]
–1 Marguerite B. (Bolton) Henry, 78, in Buttonwoods section. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Ruth M. (Henry) Kettlety, 37. (Hurd 2018)[304]
–1 Minnie M. Kuhlthau, 62. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Johanna Murphy, 80, died Sep 21 at Shawomet, Warwick (Hurd 2018)
–1 Emilie (Jacob) Paine, 83. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Emily Rushton, 40; working as a domestic at Rivervue in Warwick. (Hurd 2018)
–2 Jacob Stepp, 70, and sister, Laura Carolina Stepp, 73, at Oakland Beach; drowning.[305]
–1 Joseph Wilfred Thereault, 7 months, died in Oakland Beach, Warwick. (Hurd 2018)
— 1 West Barrington, Bristol County, Sep 21. Mrs. Pearson.[306]
— 78 Westerly, Washington Co. Includes Misquamicut, Watch Hill, Napatree). Blanchard footnote.[307]
— 130 Shea. “Unaware…Hurricane of 1938…” Hartford Courant, 1-25-2014.[308]
— 112 Shea. “Unaware…Hurricane of 1938…” Hartford Courant, 1-25-2014.[309]
— 104 INS. “Hurricane-Flood Death Toll at 650.” Lowell Sun, MA. 9-24-1938, p. 1.[310]
–>100 Allen. A Wind to Shake the World: the story of the 1938 hurricane. 1976, p. 145.[311]
— 100 Associated Press. “Guardsmen Withdrawn.” Lowell Sun, MA, 10-1-1938, p. 1.
–>100 Barry. “75 years later: 1938 Hurricane…” The Bulletin, Norwich, CT. 9-22-2013.
—>100 Grammatico. “1938 Hurricane — September 21, 1938.” Jan 2004, p. 4.[312]
— 100 Rhode Isl. Dept. of State. Hurricane of 1938 aftermath in Charlestown (webpage).
— 91 Evening Bulletin, Providence, RI, 9-21-1938 evening ed. Eleanor Thayer diary.[313]
— 85 With “many…missing.” Newport Mercury and Weekly News, RI. 9-30-1938, p.7.
— 78 Westerly. American National Red Cross. Hurricane 1938. Appendix C, p. 79.
— 74 Cawley. “Scene of Horror in Storm Sector…” Butler Herald, GA, 9-29-1938, p.6.[314]
— >74 VHB (for Town of Westerly). Local Hazard Mitigation Plan 2017 Update. Nov 2017, p. 32.[315]
–>50 Misquamicut area of Westerly (southern Westerly on Atlantic Ocean).[316]
— 24 Watch Hill (southwest tip of Westerly).
— 71 AP. “Storm Death Toll in N.E. 414; Floods…Menace.” Lowell Sun MA. 9-23-1938, 8.[317]
— 61 Blanchard tally of fatalities from sources noted below in “Breakout.”[318]
— 57 Westerly. (Garceau. “The Catastrophe: Westerly Hurricane of 1938.”)[319]
— 56 Deaths, with 43 missing, at end of day two. (Goudsouzian 2004, p. 49.)
— 12 Brightman’s Pond (or Winnapaug Pond), southeast of Misquamicut.[320]
— >50 Misquamicut area, in southern Westerly. (VHB 2017, 32.)
— 41 Misquamicut. (Garceau. “The Catastrophe: Westerly Hurricane of 1938.”)
— 17 Napatree Point. Grammatico. “1938 Hurricane — Sept. 21…” Jan 2004, p.4.[321]
— 15 Napatree section. (Wikipedia. Napatree Point.” 1-23-2017 edit.)[322]
— 24 Watch Hill (southwest tip of Westerly).[323]
Breakout of Westerly area fatalities.
— 1 Edward Barber. AP. “Here is List of Known Dead…” Oakland Tribune, 9-22-1938, 3.
— 2 Harry Norman Bennett, 65; Lillian Louise (Bass) Bennett, 62 (wife). Hurd 2018[324]
— 1 Mrs. Bishop, (Sunday school teacher). (Hurd 2018)
— 1 Beatrice (Brooks) Bliven, 53, of Misquamicut,[325] Westerly. (Hurd 2018)[326]
— 1 Evelyn Adeline Bliven, 37. (Hurd 2018)
— 1 Miss or Mrs. Bliven (not Evelyn Adeline).[327]
— 2 Mr. and Mrs. Butler, Napatree (westernmost Westerly). Drowned.[328] (Burns 2005, p121)
— 1 Eva Olivia (Shafer) Button, 81. (Hurd 2018)
— 1 Mae Button, 51, daughter of Eva Button. (Hurd 2018)
— 1 Adelaide (Bottsford) Byrnes, 48, Watch Hill in Westerly. (Hurd 2018)
— 1 Barbara Byrnes. “Christ Church Mothers’ Club and others” listing.
— 1 Elizabeth Byrnes. “Christ Church Mothers’ Club and others” listing.
— 1 Joseph Caswell, 80. (Hurd 2018)
— 1 Hattie Mitchell Clarke (or Clark),[329] 65. (Hurd 2018)
— 1 Wallace B. Crumb, 79, husband of Edith Crumb (Hurd 2018)
— 1 Mrs. Currie. (Hurd 2018)
— 1 Alice Mary (Hamfield) Davison, 66. (Hurd 2018)
— 1 Minnie T. (Tefft) Dewey, 71. (Hurd 2018; Christ Church Mothers’ Club” list.)
— 1 Bertha Ann (West) Dinsmore, 49. (Hurd 2018)
— 1 Ruth Evelyn (Crandall) Friend, 44, Mothers Club, Misquamicut. (Hurd 2018; PBS.)
— 1 Caroline (Drescher) Gruttemeyer, 66. (Hurd 2018)
— 1 Harriet (Roy) Hartenstein, 64. (Hurd 2018)
— 1 Thomas B. Hartley, 64, Weekapaug Breachway, Westerly. Hurd 2018[330]
— 1 Agnes P. (Collier) Herrick, 46. (Hurd 2018)
— 1 Annie Irene (Bromley) Higginbotham, 45; drowned, Misquamicut.[331] Hurd 2018[332]
— 1 James “Jimmy” Wilson Higginbotham, 10, son of Annie Hurd 2018[333]
— 1 Annie Alzada (Steadman) Holland, 62. Hurd 2018[334]
— 1 Gladys C. (Lester) Kenyon, 43. (Hurd 2018)
— 1 Ella (Williston) Kingman, 83. (Hurd 2018)
— 1 Mrs. Landon of Jewett City. (Hurd 2018)
— 1 Nellie Mabel (Gardner) Leonard, 73. (Hurd 2018)
— 1 Carrie Eleanor Cummings Lester, 66, wife of William. (Hurd 2018)
— 1 William Wallace Lester, 69; husband of Carrie, father of Gladys Kenyon. (Hurd)
— 1 Edythe (or Edith) M. (Crandall) Livingston, 40. Hurd 2018[335]
— 1 Mrs. Zalee Jayne Livingston, 62. (Mothers Club) (Hurd 2018; Scotti 2003, 145)
— 2 Mr. and Mrs. Lovelet. (Hurd 2018)
— 1 Mrs. David Lowry (Mothers Club member). (Allen 1976, 138)
— 1 May [or Mae] Rosa (Brogan) Lowry, 48; Napatree;[336] drowned. Hurd 2018[337]
— 1 Miss Kate (Brown) Maine, 76. “Victim Tidal Wave in RI.” (Find A Grave)[338]
— 1 Alvin (or Albert)[339] Wilson Mawson, 43, drowned.[340] (Hurd 2018)
— 1 Mary C. (Crowe) Mawson, 44; wife of Alvin, drowned. (Hurd 2018)
— 1 Jennie Bell Miller, 70. (Hurd 2018)
— 1 Mrs. Moore; (Jessie Mary Hurst Jackley Moore, 70?[341]); drowned. (Burns 2015, 198.)[342]
— 1 Havila Moore; stepdaughter of Mrs. Moore. Napatree; drowned.[343] (Day 2013)
— 1 Anne Nestor, Napatree cottage. (Burns 2015, 196;[344] Scotti 2003, 156.)
— 1 Janie P. (Cornish) Pascoe, 70.[345] Hurd 2018[346]
— 1 Frank Pasetti, 38, carpenter working on Watch Hill house;[347] drowned. (Find A Grave)
— 1 Grace May (Lawton) Perrin, 58. Hurd 2018[348]
— 1 Nellie Frances Vickery Poutray, 54 (Mothers Club), at Misquamicut. Hurd 2018[349]
— 1 Elliefair Ruth Price, 17, summer house maid, drowned. (Hurd 2018; Scotti 2003, 198)
— 1 Marie Anna Katherine (Lueck) Read, 69. Hurd 2018[350]
— 1 Mary Stevenson (sister of Jane Grey); drowned, Sep 21, Napatree. (Scotti 2003, 198)
— 1 Lyra (Kingman) Swan, 62. (Hurd 2018)
— 1 Margaret Tetlow, a maid in Anne Nestor household, Napatree. (Scotti 2003, 156.)
— 1 Jane Augusta (Jacobs) Todd, 67. (Hurd 2018)
— 1 Laina K. Uusimake, 45. (Hurd 2018)
— 1 Helen Walsh, 37, of Pawcatuck, CT. (Hurd 2018)
— 1 Ethel B. Allen Watson, drowned Sep 21 at Napatree.[351] (Hurd 2018)
–10-12 Mother’s Club, Misquamicut; Westerly’s Christ Episcopal Church.[352]
— 1 Whale Rock Lighthouse off Narragansett, Washington Co. Walter Barge Eberle, 40.[353]
— 5 Woonsocket, Portsmouth County. (Goudsouzian, 2004, p. 47.)
–5 John Callanan and four schoolteachers; chimney fell through his roof.
–2 Cora M (Adams) Cook, 71; husband Lloyd Milton Cook, 66.[354]
–3 American National Red Cross. New York-New England Hurricane 1938. 1939, p. 79.
— 19 Locality not noted:
–1 Mrs. Ate. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Alexina (LeHoux) Bertrand, 48. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Myrtie Hall Bradley, 61. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Clarence E. Braley, 63. (Hurd 2018)
–1 George Braley. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Hugh L. Donnelly, 32. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Teresa V. (Creed) Dorgan, 64. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Rev. Timothy Fitsgerald or Fitzgerald of Massachusetts. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Clarence E. Fraley, 63. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Theodore Jean (Hurd 2018)
–1 Mrs. William Kuahlthman of New Jersey. (Hurd 2018)
–1 B. I. Lanphere. AP. “Here is List of Known Dead…” 9-22-1938, 3.
–1 Herbert Lule. (Hurd 2018)
–? Mrs. Mead and two children. Hurd 2018[355]
–1 James W. Moriarty. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Mary Ann Moriarty. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Mary Peckham. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Jessie L. Squires, 61. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Flora Celinda (Armstrong) Waterman, 56. (Hurd 2018)
–1 Mae Werner. (Hurd 2018)
Vermont ( 7)
— 7 AP. “Health Officials Examine Food From Storm Hit States.” 9-30-1938, p. 24.
— 7 Dunn and Miller. Atlantic Hurricanes (Revised Edition). 1960 and 1964, p. 274.
— 7 Fed. Writers Proj. New England Hurricane: A Factual…Record. 1938, p. 211.
—>7 Goudsouzian. The Hurricane of 1938. 2004, p. 63. (“…most by drowning.”)
— 7 Scotti. Sudden Sea: The Great Hurricane of 1938. 2003, 216.
— 7 Snow. “New England’s Five Greatest Storms.” Tales of Terror and Tragedy. 1979, p. 190.
— 6 INS, Boston. “Storm-Flood Toll May Reach 1000.” Lowell Sun, MA, 9-26-1938, p. 1.
— 6 UP. “WPA to Assist in Storm Area.” Telegraph-Herald, Dubuque, IA, 9-26-1938, p. 5.
— 5 AP. “Death List Grows to 497 in Eastern Hurricane…” Menard News, TX, 9-29-1938, p. 7.
— 5 AP. “Storm-Swept Area to get Financial Aid.” Joplin Globe, MO. 9-27-1938, p. 3.
— 4 Blanchard tally of fatalities by name and locality found below.
— 2 AP. “Here is List of Known Dead in East Coast Hurricane.” Oakland Tribune, 9-22-1938, 3.
— 2 AP. “Storm Death Toll in N.E. 414; Floods New Menace.” Lowell Sun, MA. 9-23-1938, p.1.
— 1 American Red Cross. New York-New England Hurricane and Floods — 1938. 1939, p. 78.
— 1 Sumner. “The North Atlantic Hurricane of Sep 8-16, 1944.” MWR, 72,/9, 1944, 189.
Breakout of Vermont Hurricane-Related Fatalities by Locality:
–1 Brattleboro, Windham County. Lucille J. Carrie, 16; injuries from chimney fall.[356]
–1 Brattleboro. Roger Miller, 1; drowned. (AP. “Here is List…” 9-22-1938.)
–1 Montpelier ARC Chapter, Washington County. ANRC. “Appendix C.” 1939, p. 86.
–1 Westminster West. Leonard W. Whitbeck; falling tree. (AP. “Here is List…” 9-22-1938.)
Maritime ( 12)[357]
— 18 Fishermen out of Brooklyn on two scallop-fishing boats which sank off Nantucket Isl.[358]
–9 each (does not note names of boats).
— 17 INS. “Three Ships Still Missing.” Lowell Sun, MA, 9-26-1938, p. 1.[359]
–2 Elizabeth N., scallop dragger out of New Bedford.
–9 Arial, out of NY. (however Merchant Vessels of the US indicates no deaths).
–6 Charles O Carlson, out of NY.
–~12 New York fishing boats Charles O. Carlson (~6) and Arial (~6).[360]
1? Antonio Marino, 38. Died Sep 21 at Newcomb Ledge off Essex County, MA.[361]
— 12 Merchant Vessels of the United States 1939. “Lost Vessels.” [362]
–0 Arial. Foundered off Nantucket, MA; nine aboard, but no deaths. P. 511.
–5 Charles O. Carlson. Foundered vicinity of Nantucket Lightship, MA. P. 511.
–6 Ocean View. Foundered Sep 21 in Long Island Sound, NY. Merchant Vessels, 512.[363]
–1 Captain Roy Griffing, after leaving the fishing steamer in a seine boat.[364]
–1 Sagnaset [unclear copy]. Foundered Sep 21 off Block Island, R. I., p. 513.
Canada ( 2)
–2 Montreal. UP. “Near Three Hundred Dead…” Chronicle-Telegram, Elyria, OH, 9-22-1938, p1.
–2 Quebec INS, Boston. “Storm-Flood Toll May Reach 1000.” Lowell Sun, MA, 9-26-1938, 1.
Narrative Information
(General and Alphabetical by Source — A State-By-State Section Follows)
Allen: “Even to this day, statistics concerning the hurricane, especially concerning lives lost, vary considerably. It is generally accepted, however, that there were 680 lives lost and property damaged to a total of $400,000,000….Seven hundred and eight suffered injuries; 4,500 homes, summer cottages, and farm buildings were destroyed; 15,139 homes, summer cottages, and farm buildings were damaged; 2,605 boats were lost and 3,369 were damaged. A total of 19,608 families applied for emergency help or assistance in rehabilitating themselves.
“Twenty-six thousand automobiles were smashed; 275,000,000 trees were broken off or uprooted, amounting to 2.6 billion board feet of timber downed, and nearly 20,000 miles of electric power and telephone lines were blown or knocked down. A total of 1,675 head of livestock and between 500,000 and 750,000 chickens were killed. Railroad service between New York and Boston was interrupted for seven to fourteen days while 10,000 men filled 1,000 washouts, replaced nearly 100 bridges, and removed thousands of obstructions from the tracks, including a number of houses and 30 boats. More than a half-million telephones were silenced, isolating 240 communities….” (Allen, Everett S. A Wind To Shake The World. 1976, p. 288.)
ARC: “Four hundred ninety-four persons were killed; 708 persons suffered injuries; 4,500 homes, summer cottages and farm buildings were destroyed; 15,139 homes, summer cottages and farm buildings were damaged; 2,605 boats were lost and 3,369 were damaged.
“Following the hurricane and concurrent floods, 19,608 families appealed to the Red Cross for emergency help or assistance in rehabilitating themselves; $1,682,000 was expended in bringing emergency and rehabilitation aid to approximately 60,500 of the persons living in the storm’s path.” [“Highlights,” p. ix]
“On September 26, at the New England Governors’ Conference in Boston, discussion was held with Governors Francis P. Murphy of New Hampshire, and George D. Aiken of Vermont and with the representative of Governor Herbert Lehman of New York. One of the chief functions of this conference, at which the Vice-Chairman in Charge of Domestic Operations of the Red Cross, and Mr. Harry Hopkins, WPA Administrator, spoke, was to explain to these state officials and to the press the differentiation of the duties of the Red Cross and of the National governmental agencies, the former being responsible for meeting human need and the latter for discharging their usual duties as fixed by law and appropriations. These meetings served to clear several points of popular misconception in which the Federal Government agencies had been expected to perform duties not allowed or designated to them. At this meeting Mr. Hopkins stated:
The Red Cross has assumed responsibility for home and family rehabilitation. In many districts hit by wind and water, it has been rushing in truckloads of food and clothing. It is safeguarding public health, in cooperation with state and local health units….
No WPA funds or other government monies will be granted for private rehabilitation of any nature. Persons whose property, homes or other personal belongings have been ruined must look for help to the Red Cross if they are unable to borrow money from local sources or Federal agencies. [p. 19]
(American National Red Cross. New York-New England Hurricane and Floods — 1938 (Official Report of Relief Operations). Washington, DC: ARC, Oct. 1939.)
Celebrate Boston: “On September 21st 1938, a tremendous hurricane hit the northeastern United States. For three days the hurricane traveled north along the eastern seaboard, just offshore. Without warning, this tempest slammed the coasts of Long Island, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. Six hundred people were tragically killed, making the hurricane the most deadly in history to hit the Northeast. The storm immediately became known as The Great New England Hurricane.
“The storm traveled north at almost 50 miles per hour. At land fall, wind speeds were estimated at 115 mph in some areas. Wind gusts hit 150 mph. The result was tremendous property damage, with roofs ripped off and airborne debris thrown about with tremendous velocity. Wind speeds at Boston were about 100 mph, with significantly higher gusts. Leisure boats were tossed about in marinas, with many trees blown down. Roofs were blown off, and windows shattered by debris. The hurricane initially made land fall more than 100 miles to the south, so Boston was thankfully spared the full brunt of the storm.
“The most destructive consequence of the hurricane was damage caused by the storm surge. The hurricane struck at high tide, and the surge was about 12 to 15 feet greater than normal. Napatree Point, a barrier island in Rhode Island that had many vacation homes, was washed flat by the surge. Misquamicutt Beach in Westerly Rhode Island was also washed clean, and about 100 people lost their lives in this area alone. Downtown Providence was flooded with several feet of water, as Narragansett Bay acted as a funnel for the storm surge, concentrating its energy. Due to the tremendous rainfall from the storm, areas of Hartford on the Connecticut River and more than 35 miles inland from the coast, were also flooded.” (Celebrate Boston. Boston Disasters. “The Great Hurricane of 1938.”)
Douglas: On September 18, “a monstrous blot on the weather map…appeared suddenly off the…coast of Florida….” On September 20 “Caution was urged as far north as Atlantic city and by all ships in the western Atlantic…. The 9:30 P.M. forecast from Washington for the New England coast read, ‘Rain, probably heavy Wednesday and Thursday cooler.’… On September 21, at 9 A.M., a tropical storm was mentioned seventy-five miles east of Hatteras. Small craft were warned to stay in port. Whole gale warnings were issued for New Jersey, Maryland and Delaware, but neither Long Island nor the Connecticut shore was mentioned…. (Douglas 1958, 280-281)
On September 21 on Long Island: “The tide swelled up the sand, higher than the highest tidemarks. Behind came the ocean…As it rose, an eighteen-foot hurricane wave lifted and raced across the dunes…. In water swirling where the beaches had been, the first hundred people were drowned….” (Douglas 1958, 282)
“The western section of the Connecticut shore was protected by Long Island from the long devastating hurricane wave. But now from the winds. At Fisher’s Island near New London a weather tower was blown down at 120 miles per hour…. “ (Douglas 1958, 283)
“It was without question one of the most dreadful disasters to have overwhelmed New England. Six hundred and eighty-two men, women and children were dead. Over 1,500 were injured; 93,122 families suffered property damage. Seventy-two million feet of wires were down. Over a quarter of a million telephones were out. Bridges, railroads, hundreds of miles of roads were useless. The total of the damage could never be reckoned. It was considered to be at least $400,000,000, the greatest then ever recorded in a tropical cyclone anywhere in the world.”
(Douglas 1958, 287)
Federal Writers Project of the WPA: “On September 18, 1938, ships in South Atlantic waters flashed warnings to the United States Weather Bureau. Instruments charted a storm center the “eye” of hurricane zig-zagging northwest at 17 miles per hour, headed for Florida and the Keys. Coastal cities braced themselves, tied fast every movable object. Jacksonville and Miami laid in a supply of candles. The hurricane was picking up speed as it roared in from the equatorial doldrums.
“The “eye” abruptly shifted its course, glanced off the Florida shore, and curved northwest by the Carolinas. It would swerve east, experts announced, spending its force in the Mid-Atlantic. But the “eye” fell into a channel between two high pressure areas and came straight up the coast. At 7:00 A.M. (E.S.T.) on Wednesday the 21st, it passed Cape Hatteras. Storm warnings were hoisted along the shore line all the way up to Eastport, Maine. Ships in the danger zone which might have reported on the hurricane’s whereabouts either stayed in port or hastened far out to sea. No news of the on-rushing juggernaut until the Jersey coast was struck near Atlantic City.
“On the New England Seaboard, meteorologists observed an alarming drop in the barometer. The hurricane had covered 600 miles in 12 hours, one of the fastest movements ever reported. At 2:30 P.M. the Weather Bureau in Boston went on the air: “The tropical hurricane is now in the vicinity of New York. . . .The storm is attended by winds of whole gale force around its center and by winds of gale force over a wide area. Indications are that it will move inland within the next two hours and will travel up the Hudson Valley or the Connecticut Valley. Precautions against high winds, high tides and heavy rain should be taken throughout the area. reached by this broadcast.”
“Persistent September rains had drenched New England. The Connecticut and Merrimac Rivers were overflowing their banks, mountain freshets were racing into the lowlands. High tide Wednesday afternoon along the coast. Then the hurricane, driving a huge wind-wave of salt water into coastal towns and assaulting the great watersheds. The “eye” of the hurricane curved up the Connecticut Valley. 3:50 P.M. at New Haven. 5:06 P.M. at Hadley, Massachusetts. Up through the heart of Vermont. Burlington at 8:00 P.M. Off to the northwest over Lake Champlain.” [pp. 6-7.]
(Federal Writers Project of the Works Progress Administration in the New England States. New England Hurricane: A Factual, Pictorial Record. WPA, 1939.)
Ludlum: “Great Long Island-New England Hurricane; crossed Long Island (Bellport 27.94 in…); track west of New Haven, through Massachusetts and Vermont; massive forest blowdown; widespread floods; over 600 killed; damaged in excess of $350 million.” (Ludlum. The American Weather Book. 1982, p. 191)
NWS Boston: “The Great New England Hurricane of 1938 was one of the most destructive and powerful storms ever to strike Southern New England. This system developed in the far eastern Atlantic, near the Cape Verde Islands on September 4. It made a twelve day journey across the Atlantic and up the Eastern Seaboard before crashing ashore on September 21 at Suffolk County, Long Island, then into Milford, Connecticut. The eye of the hurricane was observed in New Haven, Connecticut, 10 miles east of Milford. The center made landfall at the time of astronomical high tide, moving north at 60 mph. Unlike most storms, this hurricane did not weaken on its way toward Southern New England, due to its rapid forward speed and its track. This kept the center of the storm over the warm waters of the Gulf Stream.
“Sustained hurricane force winds occurred throughout most of Southern New England. The strongest winds ever recorded in the region occurred at the Blue Hill Observatory with sustained winds of 121 mph and a peak gust of 186 mph. Sustained winds of 91 mph with a gust to 121 mph was reported on Block Island. Providence, Rhode Island recorded sustained winds of 100 mph with a gust to 125 mph. Extensive damage occurred to roofs, trees and crops. Widespread power outages occurred, which in some areas lasted several weeks. In Connecticut, downed power lines resulted in catastrophic fires to sections of New London and Mystic. The lowest pressure at the time of landfall occurred on the south side of Long Island, at Bellport, where a reading of 27.94 inches was recorded. Other low pressures included 28.00 inches in Middletown, Connecticut and 28.04 inches in Hartford, Connecticut.
“The hurricane produced storm tides of 14 to 18 feet across most of the Connecticut coast, with 18 to 25 foot tides from New London east to Cape Cod. The destructive power of the storm surge was felt throughout the coastal community. Narragansett Bay took the worst hit, where a storm surge of 12 to 15 feet destroyed most coastal homes, marinas and yacht clubs. Downtown Providence, Rhode Island was submerged under a storm tide of nearly 20 feet. Sections of Falmouth and New Bedford, Massachusetts were submerged under as much as 8 feet of water. All three locations had very rapid tides increased within 1.5 hours of the highest water mark.
“Rainfall from this hurricane resulted in severe river flooding across sections of Massachusetts and Connecticut. Three to six inches fell across much of western Massachusetts and all but extreme eastern Connecticut. Considerably less rain occurred to the east across Rhode Island and the remainder of Massachusetts. The rainfall from the hurricane added to the amounts that had occurred with a frontal system several days before the hurricane struck. The combined effects from the frontal system and the hurricane produced rainfall of 10 to 17 inches across most of the Connecticut River Valley. This resulted in some of the worst flooding ever recorded in this area. Roadways were washed away along with sections of the New York, New Haven, and Hartford Railroad lines. The Connecticut River, in Hartford reached a level of 35.4 feet, which was 19.4 feet above flood stage. Further upstream, in the vicinity of Springfield, Massachusetts, the river rose to 6 to 10 feet above flood stage, causing significant damage. A total of 8,900 homes, cottages and buildings were destroyed, and over 15,000 were damaged by the hurricane. The marine community was devastated. Over 2,600 boats were destroyed, and over 3,300 damaged. Entire fleets were lost in marines and yacht clubs along Narragansett Bay. The hurricane was responsible for 564 deaths and at least 1,700 injuries in Southern New England. Damage to the fishing fleets in Southern New England was catastrophic. A total of 2,605 vessels were destroyed, with 3,369 damaged.” (NWS Forecast Office, Boston, MA. The Great New England Hurricane of 1938.)
NWS NERFC NOAA: “When New Englanders think of September 1938, what comes to mind is the great hurricane that struck. It certainly was a major hurricane, producing winds over 100 mph from New London to Fall River and causing a massive amount of wind damage. In addition, the storm produced major flooding, much of the flooding occurring in the same areas that had record breaking flooding only two years prior.
“The initial cause of the flooding was not however the hurricane. The rains produced with the hurricane took a minor or moderate flood and resulted in the major flooding that occurred in 1938. Rainfall of over an inch occurred on both September 12 and September 15. This did not cause any significant flooding, but it did cause a significant rise in river levels, groundwater levels, and soil moisture. The stage was set. On September 17-20, a large storm produced large areas of more than 6 inch rainfall. This rainfall was sufficient to produce flooding, particularly over many tributary rivers throughout New England.
“This was followed by the hurricane on September 21 which again produced widespread areas of 6 inch rainfall. The area of maximum precipitation for the entire 5 day period fell over the Thames River basin in eastern Connecticut where areas of over 13 inches of rainfall were recorded. Isolated reports of over 17 inches were also received. The Quinnebaug River in the Thames drainage was particularly hard hit. Many of the tributary rivers to the Connecticut River also saw record flows, notably on the Deerfield, Millers, and Chicopee. The resultant flow on the Connecticut, although not as high as recorded in 1936, produced major flooding. The table below shows a selection of areas that were particularly hard hit during the 1938 storm.
“The combination of the floods and hurricane resulted in the loss of approximately 600 lives. Property damage was estimated to exceed 400 million dollars.” (NWS NERFC NOAA. Flooding From the 1938 New England Hurricane.)
NWS Philadelphia: “Sep 21…1938… A Great Hurricane smashed into LI and bisected New England causing a massive forest blowdown and widespread flooding. Winds gusted to 186 mph at Blue Hill, MA, and a storm surge of nearly 30′ caused extensive flooding along the coast of RI. The hurricane killed 600 to 700 persons, making it onto the Deadliest Atlantic Tropical Cyclones, 1492 to Present, list, (At least 25 deaths needed to make this list), and caused 500 million dollars damage. The hurricane destroyed 275 million trees. Hardest hit were MA, CT, RI and LI. The “LI Express”, a CAT 5 as it moved just N of the Bahamas, produced gargantuan waves with its 150 mph winds, waves which smashed against the New England shore with such force that earthquake-recording machines on the Pacific coast clearly showed the shock of each wave. (EAH[365]) (TWC[366])
“The wind gusted to 78 mph from the NW at ACY [Atlantic City], NYC reported a gust to 105 from the NW, Hartford, CT G76/E, New Haven, CT G59/NW, BOS G100/SE, Nantucket, MA G73/SE, Concord, NH G70/SE, Block Island, RI G120/SE and Providence, RI G126/SW. These gusts were the strongest winds reported in 1938 at those stations. PHL [Philadelphia] only gusted to 37 mph from the NW. At PHL, it began to sprinkle on the 11th, with rain being record every day after to the 21st. Up to the 18th, 0.61″ fell, followed by 1.95″ on the 19th, 3.04″ on the 20th and 1.14″ on the 21st, for a total of 6.74″. The Delaware River at Montague, Sussex Co, NJ, crested at 28.5′ on the 22nd, the 3rd highest measurement in record keeping, with flood stage being 25.0′. (For detailed information on an attack of giant tsunami-like waves upon the NJ shore associated with this hurricane, from the Mt Holly home page, go to Office Information, then Research/Reports, then Tsunami Information.) (PHL[367])(NCC[368]).” (NWS FO, Philadelphia/Mount Holly. “Historical Weather Facts…,” Oct 17, 2005.)
Nese and Schwartz: “September 21, 1938. This storm, nicknamed the ‘Long Island Express,’ was a big surprise when it slammed into New England, resulting in one of the worst weather disasters in U.S. history. The hurricane caused more than 500 deaths and $300 million in damage (in 1938 dollars), much of it in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and eastern Massachusetts. The storm just grazed New Jersey, passing about one hundred miles east of Atlantic City where peak winds reached 61 mph.” (Nese, Jon and Glenn Schwartz. The Philadelphia Area Weather Book, including Delaware, the Poconos, and the Jersey Shore. Temple University Press, 2002, p. 142.)
NOAA: “This was one of the most destructive and powerful storms ever to strike southern New England, and was the first tropical storm to hit the heavily populated area of the Northeast in modern times. The storm roared ashore over Long Island, N. Y. at nearly 60 miles per hour, at the time of high tide on September 21 st . This created a deadly tidal surge, which even submerged downtown Providence, R. I. under 20 feet of water. Hurricane force winds were felt throughout New England, with a gust to 186 miles per hour recorded at the Blue Hill Observatory in Milton, Mass. The Great New England Hurricane of 1938 was responsible for nearly 600 deaths and 1,700 injuries in Southern New England, along with catastrophic property damage estimated at $400 million.” (NOAA. “NOAA’s Top U.S. Weather, Water and Climate Events of the 20th Century.”)
Paulsen/USGS: “During the brief interval of 6 hours on September 21, 1938, a West Indian hurricane passed over Long Island and New England. The hurricane as it struck New England was the climax of a 4-day period of rainfall which in itself was of outstanding amount and character and which produced river stages that inundated and damaged nearly everything on the river flood plains. When measured by the appalling loss of life and property by the combined forces of the hurricane winds and the associated ocean storm waves and river floods, these events constituted the greatest catastrophe in New England since its settlement by the white man.
“Although the river floods were generally contemporary with the hurricane, their magnitude was a result of the rainfall which began with light showers during the afternoon of September 17 and which continued with but little interruption and with generally increasing intensity until late afternoon of September 21, when it ended abruptly with the passing of the hurricane. Total precipitation exceeded 17 inches locally and averaged 11.5 inches over an area of 10,000 square miles in the central storm area.” [Paulsen/USGS. Abstract, p. 1.]
“Had not many summer residents returned to their homes soon after Labor Day, the loss of lives would have been more appalling….” [Paulsen/USGS. Introduction, p. 2.]
“…According to the Weather Bureau:
There has never been a storm of such high speed migration since precision instrumental observations have been possible, nor has one maintained its intensity of gradient and such high speed in combination. [General Features of the Storms, p. 17.]
“The Connecticut River in Massachusetts and Connecticut was visited by its second largest known flood in a period of more than 300 years. This flood was exceeded only by that of March 1936. At Hartford, Conn., the Connecticut River reached a stage of 35.42 feet on September 23, which was only 2.2 feet lower than that reached on March 21, 1936, and it surpassed by 5.6 feet the flood of May 1, 1854, the third highest known flood since settlement.” [Paulsen/USGS. General Features of the Flood, p. 37.]
“In New Jersey the most serious floods occurred in the Raritan River Basin and on some of the small coastal streams, where stages and discharges were generally greater than previously known.” [Paulson/USGS. General Features of the Flood, p. 39.]
“With the passing of the hurricane, fair weather returned and the flooded rivers rapidly receded. Immediately the vast job of clean-up, repair, and restoration began. In the most devastated areas seemingly every able-bodied citizen had a part in the job of restoration. State, Federal, and local governments immediately organized their forces to open the debris—choked or flood-damaged arteries of transportation, to relieve the injured and homeless, and to perform the somber tasks of ac-counting for the known dead and searching for the missing. Private organizations, particularly the public utilities companies, faced a vast job of untangling trees, poles, and wire in connection with the restoration of telephone, telegraph, and electric lighting and power facilities. The railroads were seriously damaged by flood, wind, and the coastal storm wave. Homes, factories, stores, churches, mills, schools and colleges, cemeteries, summer homes and cottages, wharves and docks, warehouses, dams, some water supplies, ships and other navigation equipment, and all other man-made structures and facilities, felt in greater or lesser degree the destructiveness of the combined flood waters and hurricane winds. The task of restoration after all this devastation was gigantic, and only through the whole-hearted cooperation of every citizen, every agency of government, and every private organization, and the remarkable resourcefulness of all, was the job accomplished, and accomplished in large proportion within a seemingly impossibly short time.” [Paulsen/USGS. Hurricane Floods of September 1938, p. 40.]
“Along the shores of Long Island and the southern coast of New England, a great wave rolled in from the ocean, augmenting the devastation of the hurricane and in many places leaving hardly a vestige of human occupation. Along several miles of beach frontage the destruction in the short space of a few hours was so complete that there was a near reversion to pristine appearance. This great surge of water was forced into the many bays and tidal estuaries and raised them to record-breaking levels, this being particularly true in the eastern sector of the storm area where the great wave was approximately synchronized with normal high tide. Thus many of the larger towns and cities on the bays and estuaries, some of them a considerable distance from the sea, were engulfed by the highest water of record with a consequent heavy loss of life and property. Perhaps not as awe-inspiring, but no less serious and disastrous, was the like effect of this great storm wave in each of the many smaller, low-lying villages and hamlets so closely spaced along the entire coast line from Cape Cod to Sandy Hook and around Long Island. Although very difficult to appraise, estimates of the destruction of property along the coasts as a result of the hurricane and storm wave reach as high as $80,000,000. Loss of life was serious enough, mounting to the hundreds, but the toll would have been many times greater if the storm had struck only a few weeks earlier, during the height of the summer shore vacation season.” [Paulsen/USGS. Ocean Storm Wave In Coastal Areas, p. 518.]
(Paulsen, et al. Hurricane Floods of September 1938. USGS, 1940, p. 1.)
Newspapers (General and Chronological — State-Specific Information Follows
Sep 17: “New Orleans, (Sept. 17. (AP)–The United States weather bureau issued the following advisory tonight: ‘A well developed tropical disturbance probably of full hurricane intensity has appeared some 500 miles northeast of the Leeward Islands [northeastern Caribbean Sea] and was central at 6 p.m. (CST) in approximately latitude 22 degrees north 57 degrees thirty minutes west, apparently moving westward about 15 to 18 miles per hour. Caution advised all vessels in path of this dangerous storm.’ ” (Associated Press. “Caution Is Being Advised For Vessels In Path Of Storm.” Sunday Avalanche-Journal, Lubbock, TX, 9-18-1938, p. 1.)
Sep 18: “Jacksonville, Fla., Sept. 18, (AP).–The Weather Bureau said today a tropical disturbance attended by winds of hurricane force was centered at 1 p.m. (EST) in the Atlantic ocean abut 1,200 miles due east of Havana, Cuba. In a 3 p.m. advisory, the bureau said the storm was moving west-northwestward 16 to 20 miles per hour.” (Associated Press. “Tropical Disturbance.” The Morning Herald, Hagerstown, MD, 9-19-1938, p. 1.)
Sep 19: “Miami, Fla., Sept. 19–(UP)–Disaster relief organizations in southeast Florida prepared today to cope with a hurricane raging over the Atlantic ocean toward the Bahama islands that threatened the east coast of the peninsula. Northeast storm warnings flew the entire length of the Florida east Coast, advising persons in isolated or exposed areas to sek safety. Florida residents were advised by the federal hurricane warning system to ‘stand by’ on the possibility that hurricane flags may be hoisted later in the day.
“The storm was cutting a 300-mile swath across the Atlantic toward the Bahamas. Winds were expected to reach hurricane intensity of 75 miles an hour or greater during the afternoon in outlying islands. If the present rapid movement–about 20 miles an hour–and its indicated west-northwest course are maintained, the hurricane will reach the southeast Florida coast tomorrow morning, the warning system said.” (United Press. “Florida Prepares For Hurricane Coming Its Way.” Dunkirk Evening Observer, NY, 9-19-1938, p. 1.)
Sep 20: “Jacksonville, Fla., Sept. 20 (AP)–The Weather Bureau today ordered northeast storm warnings displayed along the North Carolina coast and said a tropical hurricane of ‘great intensity’ would pass about 100 to 150 miles east of Cape Hatteras tonight. The bureau said the storm which yesterday menaced South Florida had moved sharply eastward after having moved north northeastward about 17 miles an hour.
“The center of the hurricane, the Weather Bureau said, was about 300 miles east of Vero Beach, Fla., at 7 A.M. The exact location was given as latitude 28 degrees north and longitude 75 degrees west. The storm warnings were ordered up from Wilmington to Cape Hatteras and the weather bureau said ‘the storm will gradually turn toward the north northeast with the center passing some distance east of Cape Hatteras tonight.’ Meteorologist warned that the hurricane would ‘cause increasing northerly winds on the North Carolina coast, becoming fresh to strong and probably reaching gale force at exposed places on the Cape with hurricane winds some distance off shore.’
“Government Meteorologist John Murphy at Norfolk, Va., said shortly before noon that the hurricane would not strike in his area. He said, however, that the Norfolk area would be drenched by heavy rains this afternoon, tonight and tomorrow, and that winds tomorrow would attain a velocity of 35 to 45 miles per hour.
“Moving at an unusually rapid clip for a full-blown hurricane, the disturbance headed directly for Florida until late yesterday afternoon when it gave the first indication of veering to the northwestward. Miami and other cities in the area were prepared. Show windows were boarded up. Billboards were removed from their steel frames. Swinging signs were dismantled.” (Assoc. Press. “Hurricane Now Perils Carolina Area.” Syracuse Herald, NY, 9-20-1938, p. 1.)
Sep 21: “Washington, Sept. 21. 21–(UP)–The weather bureau ordered storm warnings from Atlantic City to Eastport, Me., today as a tropical hurricane raging off the eastern seaboard moved slowly northeastward. The storm, which originally menaced the Florida east coast, was centered out at sea but the gales along its edges whipped towns on the eastern seaboard and carried heavy rains. A 9 a.m. advisory instructed small craft along the Atlantic coast to take shelter until the storm passes.” (United Press. “Storm Warnings Ordered Flown Along North Atlantic,” Dunkirk Evening Observer, NY, 9-21-1938, p. 3.)
Sep 22: “Restored communications in storm-lashed New England disclosed today a major disaster resulting from yesterday’s unprecedented hurricane and tidal waves. By mid-afternoon the number of known dead in New England was 261. Another 35 were added in New York, New Jersey and Quebec, making the total 296….Death totals by states at 1 P.M. (EST):
Rhode Island –138.
Massachusetts — 72.
Connecticut — 42.
New Hampshire — 9.
New York — 32.
New Jersey — 1.
Quebec (Montreal) — 2.
(United Press. “Near Three Hundred Dead And Scores Missing In Wake Of New England Hurricane.” Chronicle-Telegram, Elyria, OH, 9-22-1938, p. 1.)
Narrative Information By State (Alphabetical)
Connecticut
Federal Writers Project of WPA: “At Stratford, cottages were shoved half a mile from their foundations almost across the dike on the Lordship Meadow Road…” [p. 16.]
“The main thoroughfare of Savin Rock, West Haven, one of Connecticut’s largest amusement resorts, slipped into the sea; the pavement was not only cracked and undermined; in places it was actually pulverized. Amusement devices lay in heaps…” [p. 17]
“East of New London, stretches of railroad as long as three-quarters of a mile were obliterated, necessitating an entire rebuilding of the embankment from the foundation up.” [p. 34.]
“Stonington lay open to the waves of the Atlantic. Driven by wind which natives estimated at from 75 to 175 miles per hour, raging seas smashed water-front buildings to kindling, destroyed many houses on Wall Street, carried away the Sea Village, and demolished the Miller foundry. The bulkhead at the Atwood plant, where silk-throwing machinery is made, was wrecked and the plant inundated. The narrow streets of the little village on a long peninsula jutting out into the sea bore for hours the brunt of a wind which struck first from the east and south east, then shifted to the southwest to complete the havoc. Service on the shore-line was first resumed on the night of September 23, busses being requisitioned to carry passengers between Saybrook and Westerly, the danger zone. Two days later the detour was constricted to the territory between New London and Westerly. On October 4 the first through rail was finally completed on a single track and continuous service was reestablished. Approximately thirty miles of track were relaid in 293 hours of day and night labor.” [p. 41.]
“(Federal Writers Project of the Works Progress Administration in the New England States. New England Hurricane: A Factual, Pictorial Record. Boston: Hale, Cushman & Flint, 1938.)
Grant: “September 21, 1938, was a day always to be remembered in Connecticut. There was no warning of the storm to come, and nothing like it had happened in 123 years. It started in Africa’s Sahara Desert and moved westward into the Atlantic over the Cape Verde Islands. By the evening of September 16, weather experts in America recognized it as a full-fledged hurricane but felt it would miss the mainland. Then, it began to curve to the north between two high-pressure areas from the east, leaving a narrow corridor of warm, moist air pointed at New England. Suddenly, on September 21, it accelerated. By II A.M. the center lay east of Norfolk, Virginia; two hours later, it was off New Jersey, racing at 70 miles per hour toward Long Island, and as it crossed the Long Island Sound, it was traveling at up to 100 miles per hour. The barometric pressure fell to 27.94 inches, the lowest ever recorded on land in the Northeast.” [p. 116] ….
“At Ocean Beach the tidal wave lifted fifty or more large cottages and piled them in heaps on the main road. Likewise, at other beaches from Madison to Mystic, the summer cottages were torn asunder. Some believed the total would be as many as 700 to 1,000. Most of the deaths caused by the storm occurred along the shore.” [p. 119]
“When the storm roared inland, it toppled hundreds of trees and tore off roofs in town after town. In the harbor at Essex, one hundred high-priced yachts were wrecked or sunk; docks and floats were in shambles. Many of the majestic trees in this pretty village lay on the ground. In Deep River’s Fountain Cemetery, it was estimated that 500 trees had been uprooted. In Middletown one hundred families lost their homes….” [p. 120]
“In Hartford, in a repetition of the 1936 flood, the inhabitants struggled against the rapidly rising Connecticut River after earlier rains. Without warning, they were struck from behind at 4 P.M. by shrieking winds of 8o miles per hour, the highest ever recorded. The clock in the Old State House stopped at 4 P.M. Down went trees, poles, wires; autos were crushed; fences, said one resident, “floated in the air like paper.” A youth inside a garage died when it collapsed. All bus, trolley, and railroad transportation halted….The river continued to rise, reaching 35.1 feet above normal, and the East Side, where small shopkeepers…had to be evacuated….” [p. 121]
“In summary the U.S. Weather Bureau estimated the state’s total property damage at over $100 million. The fishing industry took a terrible beating: fifty-three of Stonington’s fifty-five- ship fleet were irreparable. In addition to New London and Hartford, the six-town coastal area suffered losses of at least $7 million. Other hard-hit towns were Manchester, Rockville, New Britain, Putnam, New Haven, Greenwich, Stamford, Norwalk, and Middletown. Yet the loss of eighty-five lives, in view of the hurricane’s extent and intensity, was a remarkably low number.”
(Grant. Ellsworth S. Chapter 15: “The Biggest Blow of Them All; The Great Hurricane 1938.” Connecticut Disasters: True Stories of Tragedy and Survival. Globe Pequot Press, 2006.)
Hanrahan: “On September 21, 1938 one of the most violent storms to impact New England since colonial times raced ashore near New Haven and spread a deadly combination of wind, rain and storm surge from Long Island to Quebec. This was the only category 3 hurricane to strike Connecticut in recorded history. Sustained wind speeds reached 115 mph in parts of New London County, and wind gusts over 100 mph were common across the rest of the state. Five-to-ten inches of rain sent rivers flooding over their banks and weakened the roots of trees that were uprooted by the millions across New England….
“…it was the beach communities on Long Island Sound that bore the brunt of the hurricane’s fury. Many beach homes were swept into the ocean and some entire neighborhoods were demolished by the storm. Nearly 100 people died in the state many of whom drowned by a fast-moving record storm surge.” (Hanrahan, Ryan. “Remembering the Hurricane of 1938.” NBCconnecticut.com. 9-19-2013; updated 9-21-2018.)
Janick: “…on September 21, 1938…a tropical hurricane, the first since 1815 to visit New England, suddenly veered inland, pulverizing Long Island and cutting a swath across Connecticut. The result was what the Hartford Courant called the ‘most calamitous day’ in the state’s history….Six hundred eighty-two people were killed, and 700 were injured in New England alone. With respect to property, 4,500 homes, 2,600 boats, and 26,000 automobiles were destroyed, and the total cost of property lost amounted to $400 million….
“The eastern corner of the Connecticut coastline adjacent to Rhode Island, not buffered by Long Island, was hardest hit. New London was devastated by wind, floods, and fires that raged out of control in the downtown for over seven hours. Ships torn from their moorings slammed around the New London harbor, wrecking wharfs before sinking or beaching themselves. The lighthouse tender Tulip draped its frame across the New York, New Haven, and Hartford Railroad tracks behind the Customs House. When the Port Jefferson-Bridgeport ferry that had spent a harrowing night in Long Island Sound tried to land the next morning in New London, no docks remained. The Shoreline Express, filled with passengers from New York bound for Boston, was marooned outside Stonington on tracks that were underwater. The rest of Connecticut, particularly the Connecticut River Valley, suffered terribly from floods. The river and its tributaries, already swollen by four days of rain, burst their banks. Downtown Hartford was inundated, and WPA (Works Progress Administration) workers built a half-mile dike of sandbags to protect the Colt factory. Tobacco barns were flattened in the valley, and the year’s crop was ruined….
“The hurricane hit at full moon when the tide was its highest. Already powerful, the whirlwind got caught between two high-pressure systems just before it moved inland and instead of dissipating, it became more intense. After almost a week of steady rain, the air over New England was as moist as that over the ocean, a factor that caused the storm to reverse the usual pattern and pick up speed overland. In addition to the natural circumstances, the failure of the Weather Bureau to give any warning of the storm’s potential contributed to the lack of preparation on the part of New England residents. Together the combination of chance and human error produced the most destructive hurricane in Connecticut’s history.” (Janick, Herbert F. “The Hurricane of 1938 Rocks Connecticut.” Connectictuthistory.org.)
Marchant on Greenwich: “Greenwich — The deadly blast of wind and water came as a near total surprise 80 years ago. “Rain this afternoon and tonight; partly cloudy tomorrow,” was the weather forecast that ran on Sept. 21, 1938. What weather-watchers didn’t know after reading that forecast was that 80 mph wind gusts, pounding rain and tidal waves were headed for the Northeast, a package of Atlantic fury that became one of destructive hurricanes ever recorded. After it was over, more than 500 people had been killed, 72 in Connecticut alone, as the storm raged from Sept. 21 into Sept. 22….
“The storm brought eight inches of rain to Greenwich during the five days before the hurricane hit. It had no name at the time, but has since been nicknamed the Great New England Hurricane or the Yankee Clipper….
“The headline of Greenwich Time said it all: “Town Suffers Heavily from Gale and Flood, Worst in its History.” As editors at the paper later noted, “Either the hurricane or the flood would have been bad enough by itself, but coming together they caused a major disaster.” The town was plunged into darkness at nightfall, traffic on the Post Road came to a complete halt from numerous downed trees and the Byram River rose three feet….
“There were numerous close calls, but no deaths in town….
“About 200 people were forced from their homes, half of whom required emergency assistance.…The National Guard was called in to assist law enforcement and prevent looting.
“Then there was the tidal wave [storm surge] As Pierpont Minor, the town highway superintendent, later described in the pages of Greenwich Time, “It has never happened before in Greenwich.” The tidal wave caused a freak occurrence on the water’s edge. ‘A gigantic wall of water hit our shore at 8 o’clock, and from 8 until 10:30, the tide dropped four feet instead of rising,’ Minor reported. The Grass Island sewage plant was almost completely submerged, with only a portion of its roof visible….” (Marchant, Robert. “Great Hurricane of ’38 took Greenwich by surprise.” Ctpost, 9-21-2018.)
New England Historical Society: “The Great 1938 Hurricane took almost everyone by surprise. Sept. 21, 1938, was supposed to be a breezy fall day in New England. Few paid attention to the storm barreling up the coast. By 4 pm, one of the most powerful and destructive hurricanes ever to hit Southern New England made landfall between Bridgeport and New Haven, Conn.
“The damage was horrific. Estimates vary, but at least 400 people died that day and maybe as many as 800. The Great 1938 Hurricane crossed over the tip of Long Island, slammed into New London and raced up the Connecticut River Valley at 50 miles per hour. It destroyed cemeteries, slammed boats into shore, uprooted entire orchards and smashed structures into splinters….
“In New London, Conn., high waters pushed a five-masted ship, Marsala, into a warehouse and started a fire that demolished a quarter-mile section of the city’s business district. The hurricane also tossed the lighthouse tender Tulip…ashore….
“The storm forced the Connecticut River over its banks, inundating cities and towns with floodwater. In Hartford, the river reached 35.4 feet, 19.4 feet above flood stage….
(New England Historical Society. “The Great 1938 Hurricane, A Once-In-A-Lifetime Storm.”)
Newspapers on Connecticut
Sep 22: “Hartford, Conn., Sept. 22–The Connecticut River poured over its banks into the central and east side business districts of Hartford today forcing hundreds who had just gone through a hurricane, to evacuate. Twenty-six were known dead in the state as result of the hurricane which hit late yesterday and heavily damaged the state. Hundreds of families were being evacuated. The Park River, which runs through the center of the city, backed up and began flooding principal business houses. The National Guard was called out to maintain order. Special refugee stations were set up. Schools were closed. Many business houses shut down at noon. Employes were unable to get home.
“Hartford, Conn. Sept. 22. — Fire and flood followed today in the wake of a hurricane which visited upon Connecticut its greatest disaster in history. The state counted its dead at 39, its property losses at $30,000,000. Both figures were expected to rise.
“The Connecticut River, swollen by heavy rains which preceded and accompanied the hurricane, went on a rampage, rising to 27.7 feet — more than 11 feet above flood level — within a ffew hours. It continued to rise at the rate of five inches an hour.
“New London was desolated. Fire followed the storm and raged for hours before it was brought under control.
“Communications and transportation lines were disrupted in a dozen towns. The Connecticut River made refugees of thousands. The threat of disease hung over stricken communities. The national guard was called out and sent to duty at New Britain, New London, New Haven, West Haven, Greenwich and Manchester. Danger was ever present long after the winds subsided. Sections of buildings threatened momentarily to topple into streets. Power was cut off in many communities.
“The Connecticut state hospital at Middletown was a scene of horror throughout the night. Insane patients rioted at the height of the storm and ran screaming through the corridors as the hurricane ripped roofs off buildings and knocked trees thrashing to the ground outside. Doctors and nurses went on 24-hour duty.
“Rockville was saved from destruction by workers who toiled through the night strengthening the Snipsic [Shenipsit?] dam, which for a time threatened to collapse.” (United Press. “State Suffers Its Greatest Disaster.” Chronicle-Telegram, Elyria, OH, 9-22-1938, p. 1.)
Sep 21: “New Haven, Conn., Sept. 22.–(AP)–New flood dangers rolled up in Connecticut today in the wake of at least 27 deaths and inestimable property destruction already dealt by flood and hurricane over the breadth of the State and by fire as well in New London. Local and nearby fire companies, battling in darkness and chest-deep in floods, with trees and bits of buildings hurled across their path, eventually confined the blaze to a square block of business buildings. Fire damage alone was estimated at more than $1,000,000, with estimated $3,000,000 loss from the gale. None was killed or severely injured in the fire, but a half dozen families from fire-damaged buildings were sheltered in a church, besides at least 1000 families homeless or needing assistance as a result of the floods.
“There were five known dead here [New Haven] and 55 injured persons were treated in hospitals.
“Anxiety persisted over the fate of missing members of a crew of 23 on the fishing boat Ocean View which sank last night with a loss of at least two. First Officer B. F. Evans of Leesville, Va., reported to Madison police that the crew took in two lifeboats and that Kermit Foffet of Round Pond, Me., and Roy Griffin, Shelter Island, N.Y., drowned when one boat upset. He believed the others swam to safety but said Capt. William Swift of Leesville, Va., was unaccounted for….”
(Associated Press. “Flood and Fire Hit Connecticut.” Oakland Tribune, 9-22-1938, p. 3.)
Massachusetts
Mass.gov: “Undoubtedly, the Massachusetts hurricane of the century was the Great New England Hurricane of 1938. Developing off the Cape Verde Islands on September 4, this storm took an unusual track over the Gulf Stream, maintaining its strength over these warm waters until it crashed into Long Island on September 21. The winds were devastating, with the Blue Hill Observatory recording the strongest winds ever for the region, 121 mph sustained winds and gusts of 186 mph. Roofs, trees, and crops were extensively damaged and power outages were widespread, lasting for weeks in some areas. The storm surge was substantial, causing 18 to 25 foot tides from New London east to Cape Cod. Downtown Providence was covered with 20 feet of storm tide and sections of Falmouth and New Bedford were buried under 8 feet of water. Western Massachusetts saw 3 to 6 inches of rain. In Springfield, the Connecticut River rose 6 to 10 feet above flood stage. Overall, 8,900 buildings were destroyed in New England, and another 15,000 were damaged. Coastal communities were decimated; 2,600 boats were destroyed and another 3,300 damaged, and fishing fleets suffered terribly, with 2,605 vessels destroyed and 3,369 damaged. A total of 564 people were killed and another 1,700 injured in southern New England.” (Mass.gov. “Great New England Hurricane of 1938.” The Worst Massachusetts Hurricanes of the 20th Century (webpage).)
New Hampshire
Federal Writers Project of the WPA: “Although there are fresh graves in New Hampshire cemeteries in the wake of the hurricane, the State escaped with small loss of life. New Hampshire people had seen houses, bridges, and highways demolished by the floods of 1927 and 1936, but never wood-lots and orchards razed by winds and thousands of great pines and elms felled by storm. The mountain regions of Grafton and Coos Counties counted their losses in hundreds of thousands of dollars. Reports estimate the timber mowed down as equal to an average cut of six years.” [p. 195]
“Citizens [Manchester] had no sooner begun to repair the ravages of the storm than the Merrimack and Piscataquog Rivers overflowed. WPA workers built walls of sand bags to save the city..” [p. 196] “As the Merrimack left its banks north and south of Taylor’s Falls Bridge, factories were flooded and families in Nashua and Hudson fled their homes.” [p. 197]
“The region around the Piscataquog River, part of the Merrimack system, was one of the State’s worst flood areas. Dams burst at Deering and North Weare, carrying away more than a dozen bridges. A small village lying in the midst of fine fertile land was the scene of the greatest New Hampshire tragedy. When the bridge at North Weare caved in, four women who had been watching the torrent were flung to their death. A week after the storm rowboats were still the only means of communication between Weare and North Weare.” [p. 198]
“The inhabitants of Concord, the capital of New Hampshire, after having spent themselves in hours of battle with the flood waters of the Merrimack, were struck by the gale. There were no lights. On the night of the hurricane the capital was completely cut off from neighboring towns. All roads leading out of Concord were either under water or obstructed with fallen timber. Disaster headquarters were set up in the State House and all departments worked far into the night by gasoline lamp and candle….South Spring Street was impassable. From Thorndike Street north to Pleasant Street trees were toppled across the road every few yards. Motorists escaped one falling oak only to be blocked by another.” [p. 202]
(Federal Writers Project of the Works Progress Administration in the New England States. New England Hurricane: A Factual, Pictorial Record. Boston: Hale, Cushman & Flint, 1938.)
Sep 23: “Boston, Sept. 23 (AP)….In New Hampshire, communication lines to many storm-stricken communities remained silent–and it was not known whether that state’s death list of 13 might be increased. Dams were washed away, roads were blocked and wires were down. Telephone company executives reported damage to their lines in the state the worst in 35 years.”
(Associated Press. “Storm Death Toll in N.E. 414; Floods New Menace.” Lowell Sun, MA. 9-23-1938, p. 1.)
New Jersey
Sep 22: “Newark, N.J., Sept. 22.–(AP)–The swipe of a hurricane’s tail along New Jersey’s miles of playland oceanfront caused heavy damage but little loss of life. Yesterday’s storm caused one death, virtually ruined the State’s tomato and apple crops, darkened scores of cities, flooded rivers and rocked Atlantic City’s boardwalk and amusement pier. At Newark airport the Nation’s major airlines resumed operations, cancelled yesterday.
“Tidal waves 30 feet high left in their wake 30 miles of oceanfront littered with wreckage of small boats and beach resort buildings. Miles of boardwalk were destroyed. Firemen piled sandbags at Matawan to prevent collapse of an earthen dam restraining Lake Leffert. Floods also blocked State highways and interrupted commuter transportation.” (Associated Press. “Here Is List Of Known Dead In East Coast Hurricane.” Oakland Tribune, CA. 9-22-1938, p. 3.)
New York
Federal Writers Project of the WPA: “A Long Island Railroad express was derailed at EAST HAMPTON. Tracks were squeezed into bulging loops of steel. The town’s locusts and elms which formed a half-mile arch down the main street crashed.” [p. 10.]
“Nineteen perished at WESTHAMPTON. Over 50 cottages were swept into the sea. One house was split in two by the gale which turned homes into kindling wood, leaving a mass of debris in its wake. The two bridges to the mainland were washed away. The Coast Guard found nine women, two men, and a child cowering on a dune the next morning. Said one of the women, “I struggled out and managed to crawl to a high knoll. It was some time before I even realized that there were others with me. One of the men was crippled. We just huddled together all through the night.” The great waves redrew the topography of the beach, carving a mile-long inlet into the very center of town.” [p. 11.]
“Scores of houses and boats were wrecked on FIRE ISLAND, six miles south of Bay Shore. Kismet, Fair Harbor, Saltaire, and Cherry Grove were all but wiped out. Point O’Woods, Seaview, and Ocean Beach, protected by sand dunes, escaped with slight scars. A ferryboat captain rescued 43 residents before the sea roared over their homes. Through the heart of the village of Saltaire the tide cut a channel eight feet deep. Three hundred of the island’s inhabitants spent a sleepless night staring across Great South Bay to the mainland. Next morning they were evacuated by the Coast Guard Ice-breaker AB-25 and a ferryboat…” [p. 13.]
(Federal Writers Project of the Works Progress Administration in the New England States. New England Hurricane: A Factual, Pictorial Record. WPA, 1939.)
Sep 22: “The 100-mile-an-hour hurricane which lashed the Atlantic seaboard from Cape Hatteras to Nantucket, struck eastern Long Island with full force yesterday afternoon, taking a heavy toll of lives and causing damage far into the millions. From Westhampton to Montauk Point the lashing fury ripped and tore at everything in its path, inflicting heavy damage upon substantial dune estates and brushing to one side the beach cabanas and smaller frame buildings. At noon today it was reliably reported that forty-four lives had been lost at Westhampton Beach, while at least four fishermen are missing out of Montauk and one man, Dominick Grace, was crushed to death here when he was pinned under his garage.
“Of the forty-four dead at Westhampton Beach only three had been identified at noon today. They are Mrs. James E. Pink, wife of a New York attorney, and summer resident of Westhampton Beach; Mrs. Schlater, of Westhampton Beach; Carl E. Dalin, butler for George Burkhard of Westhampton Beach.
“East Hampton’s gorgeous Main Street elms, many of them over 100 year old, are a sad sight, for the hurricane’s toll took of the older and more beautiful trees. Amagansett’s Main Street suffered in similar fashion, while scores of houses in both villages had roofs crashed in by the terrific pounding of the hurricane.
“Montauk suffered very heavy damage with the fishing village wiped out and over two hundred homeless. Last night a trainload of destitute from Montauk headed towards East Hampton, but a washout at Nepeague forced the train to return to Montauk, where the Manor was opened. Over 150 are quartered there and plans are being made to establish a feeding station there. Wind and trees damaged almost every building on Main Street. Almost without exception, the plate glass windows of the stores were crushed in. The roof and porch of the Maidstone Arms were damaged by falling trees. The cupola of the Presbyterian Session House, just around the corner on David Lane, blew away. The steeple of St. Philomena’s church on Buell Lane blew off. The big doors and skylights at the East Hampton Laundry blew in. Many old houses on Main Street were damaged, as well as houses in other sections of the town…” (East Hampton Star, NY. “100-Mile Hurricane Brings Death and Havoc to Long Island.” 9-22-1938, p. 1.)
Sep 22: “The known death toll at Westhampton Beach mounts as many previously reported as missing have now been listed as dead. It is feared that the list of dead there will reach 50. Heavy seas of tidal wave proportions hit the Westhampton Beach houses and many of the smaller houses were carried in the path of the inrushing sea. Some were able to swim and wade to safety as the seas washed through the first floors.
“Mrs. Anna King Hampton, daughter of John L. King, owner of the Westhampton Chronicle, was a survivor. Her mother is still reported missing and it was reported this morning that she had drowned. ‘Mother and my husband’ said Mrs. Hampton, ‘were in the house with me when the wave struck. It came swiftly and we did not realize what had happened. We were carried out of the house and started swimming. My mother was missing.’” (East Hampton Star, NY. “Westhampton Beach In Ruins.” 9-23-1938, p. 1.)
Sep 23: “….Southampton’s shore front was badly hit, from the Beach Club to the Municipal Beach only two buildings are standing; those are Count di Zoppola’s, and St. Andrew’s Dune Church, which is ruined, though still intact. Other beach property is similarly damaged…”
(East Hampton Star, NY. “Two Women Are Drowned At Southampton.” 9-23-1938, p. 1.)
Rhode Island
Federal Writers Project of the WPA: “The southwestern shore of Rhode Island Westerly, Watch Hill, Napatree Point, and Misquamicut were in the teeth of the hurricane. An irresistible undercurrent sucked entire settlements into the sea. Only stubby piles and blocks of cement mark the devastated colony. Westerly area counts a toll of 445 demolished cottages. At Misquamicut a group of 60 houses were submerged…” [p. 42.]
(Federal Writers Project of the Works Progress Administration in the New England States. New England Hurricane: A Factual, Pictorial Record. Boston: Hale, Cushman & Flint, 1938.)
Garceau on Westerly: “September 21, 1938, began like any Wednesday in Westerly, with people passing through the streets, running errands, visiting the beach, or shuttling to and from work. By that afternoon, however, it became a day that those old enough to remember would never forget. Shortly before 1 p.m., wind and rain began hitting the town, and by 3:30, what began as powerful, but not extreme, winds became forces of destruction.
“At this point, wind speeds were recorded between 125 and 150 miles per hour in 10-minute stretches, with some gusts reaching as high as 200 miles per hour.[369] The strong winds persisted for several hours, causing untold amounts of damage across the southern coast of Rhode Island.
“The devastation caused by the storm was intensified by the fact that, as the Westerly Sun reported, ‘The storm broke so suddenly Wednesday afternoon that many people were caught unawares [sic] in the business district of Westerly and there was a general scurry for shelter.’[370]….
“When the storm finally came to an end, only then could the wreckage truly be assessed. 130 lives were lost across southern Rhode Island and Connecticut as a result of the storm, 57 of whom were Westerly residents.[371] The hurricane’s impact on the landscape was tremendous: 1,018 houses and cottages between Mystic and Narragansett were demolished.[372]
“Misquamicut was hit harder than any other part of Westerly in terms of both loss of life and property, with 41 deaths and 369 destroyed homes reported. Of the 369 homes demolished, 282 of those were located on Atlantic Avenue. Weekapaug was largely spared, as its rocky shoreline protected many homes from significant damage. Only one death and 23 destroyed homes were reported in the area.
“The extent of the damage led to the National Guard being called in to aid the local police. More than 700 National Guardsmen quickly arrived on the scene, and they searched for missing persons with searchlights that could be seen as far as 14 miles away.[373]….” (Garceau, Zachary. “The Catastrophe: Westerly Hurricane of 1938.” Weserlife.com, 7-22-2019.)
Scotti (2003, pp. 163-164) writes: If you licked your lips in Providence, thirty miles from the nearest beach, you tasted salt. The ocean was a step behind. The narrow head of the bay compressed the storm surge into an ever higher dome of water. Spilling into the downtown district, the rushing water tore down wharves and hurled a couple of coal barges across Water Street. It swept into the heart of the city, swishing through the streets, bolting around corners, gurgling into stores and offices, and surrounding City Hall….The bay washed over Providence — six feet, ten, twelve — over the roofs of cars, over the tops of trolleys — fifteen, seventeen feet — inundating three miles of industrial water front and the mile-square business district.” Snow (1943, p. 172) writes “Providence…was inundated to a depth of ten feet!” At p. 174 notes: “Shortly after five o’clock the Providence Weather Bureau gauge registered 87 miles an hour.”
Newspapers on Rhode Island
Sep 22: “In Woonsocket, R.I., twenty-five national guardsmen with bayonets drawn restored order after youthful looters invaded jewelry and dress stores, windows of which had been shattered by the wind.” (Associated Press. “Storm Batters All New England; Providence Hit by Tidal Wave.” New York Times, 9-22-1938.)
Sep 23: “….It was in Rhode Island, where 247 were reported dead, that the most poignant tales of tragedy were told–of families wiped out as the Charlestown sandpit was washed away by tidal waves–of 10 women in a group killed as the wall of water engulfed a cottage.
“Red Cross workers and police in the Westerly area, removing bodies from the wreckage of homes half-buried beneath sand drift, said 71 were known to be dead in that section alone. They feared 57 more, missing, might have died.
“Flashing a hint of the horror still hidden by the state’s isolation, a police radio message described the recovery of 18 bodies at Island park, Portsmouth, R.I., as ‘only scraping the surface.’
“Fifty persons ‘or more’ perished when a six-foot tidal wave engulfed beaches at Point Judith [Narragansett] and Watch Hill [Westerly], R.I., the Coast Guard found. A survey party reported ‘damage tremendous.’….” (AP. “Storm Death Toll in N.E. 414; Floods New Menace.” Lowell Sun, MA. 9-23-1938, p. 8.)
Oct 1: “Boston, Oct. 1 (AP)–National guardsmen were withdrawn today in storm-tossed Providence, R.I., as hundreds of workers pushed the unspectacular work of repair and rehabilitation in New England’s hurricane areas….
“Economic repercussions of the Sept. 21 hurricane were felt in the Westerly, R.I., area where a hundred died as the storm lashed northward. Four hundred workers normally employed at the Clarksville mill of the American Thread Co. learned the plant might close permanently, so serious was its damage.
“Little by little normal activity was resumed in Providence. The state capital’s bus service was described as completely restored, rail service was nearly normal and electric power was promised by Monday.
“U.S. army engineers reopened the Seekonk and Providence rivers to navigation….
“Rhode Island’s director of agriculture, Burton K. Harris, completed a survey of 1445 farms and fixed the damage at $1,866,168. He said 2881 farms had not yet submitted a final report of their losses.” (Associated Press. “Guardsmen Withdrawn.” Lowell Sun, MA, 10-1-1938, p. 1.)
Vermont
Federal Writers Project: “It seemed incredible that the White Mountains of New Hampshire and the Green Mountains of Vermont were being battered by a hurricane that had originated in the Caribbean. Even the most sheltered villages, cupped securely in hill-girt valleys, were invaded. Old Vermonters declared that they never had seen such wind, and if it ever died out they didn’t want to see another. All over the State, century-old trees barricaded highways. Apple orchards and maple sugar groves were torn to ruin the apple crop a total loss, and half of the sugar trees irreparably injured. Yet in comparison with southern New England, Vermont was fortunate, with only seven deaths attributed to the storm.” [p. 211]
“Little Grafton lost eleven bridges, swept away by the Saxtons River dashing into the Connecticut.” [p. 213]
“A Delaware and Hudson freight train was derailed by the washout at Castleton.” [p. 214]
(Federal Writers Project of the Works Progress Administration in the New England States. New England Hurricane: A Factual, Pictorial Record. Boston: Hale, Cushman & Flint, 1938.)
List of Named or Specifically Noted Fatalities
- Adams, Harry Chandler, 71. Charlestown, Washington County, RI.
- Adams, Thomas, 46. Owner of Pioneer store, Horseneck Beach; Westport; Bristol Co., MA.
- Alby, Glen, 41. East Providence, Providence County, RI.
- Aldrich, Cora Ella, 82 (wife of Walter). Warwick, Kent County, RI.
- Aldrich, Walter Almon, 79 (husband of Cora). Warwick, Kent County, RI.
- Almond, Mary Ann, 74, (wife of Robert). Portsmouth, Newport County, RI.
- Almond, Robert, 74, (husband of Mary Ann). Portsmouth, Newport County, RI.
- Almy, Leonard Augustus, 46. Drowned. India Point, Providence, Providence County, RI.
- Armstrong, Ernest (husband of Hannah). Portsmouth, Newport County, RI.
- Armstrong, Hannah (wife of Ernest). Portsmouth, Newport County, RI.
- Arnold, Edwin Bowen, 46, of Warren. Barrington, Bristol County, RI.
- Ate, Mrs. Locality not noted, RI.
- Atwood, Dorothy Ellen, 13. Head injuries, brick fall on auto. Providence, Providence Co., RI.
- Avery, Ethel Belle, 62. Charlestown, Washington County, RI.
- Baker, Israel, 55. Falling chimney; Malden, Middlesex County, MA.
- Bamford, Alfred Cornelius, 49. Injuries from tree fall. Pawtucket, Providence County, RI.
- Barber, Edward. Westerly area, Washington County, RI.
- Barber, Mabel, 66. Charlestown Beach, Washington County, RI.
- Bazinet, Mrs. Angeline. Drowned, Sep 21; Saltaire village, Fire Isl., Islip Town, Suffolk Co., NY
- Beaver, Ingvald, Sep 21. Drowning; wave swept him off the barge Victoria, New London CT
- Beebe, Leroy J, 32. Drowned, Sep 21. Middletown, Newport County, RI.
- Bennett, Harry Norman, 65 (husband of Lillian). Westerly area, Washington County, RI.
- Bennett, Lillian Louise, 62 (wife of Harry). Westerly area, Washington County, RI.
- Bergeron, Phileas, 74. Fall. Pawtucket, Providence County, RI.
- Bernard, Paul 18. Falling roof; Pinardville, Hillsborough County, NH.
- Bertrand, Alexina (LeHoux), 48. Locality not noted, RI.
- Bishop, Mrs. (Sunday school teacher). Westerly area, Washington County, RI.
- Black, Miss Mary Frances. Drowned Sep 21, Westport Harbor, Bristol County, MA.
- Black, William, ~50. Heart attack fleeing flood water at Ansonia, New Haven County,
- Bliven, Beatrice, 53. Misquamicut, Westerly area, Washington County, RI.
- Bliven, Ella, 72. Charlestown, Washington County, RI.
- Bliven, Evelyn Adeline, 37. Westerly area, Washington County, RI.
- Boylan, John J., 68. Illness after being swept from beach home; Lido Beach, Nassau Co., NY
- Bradley, Myrtie Hall, 61. Locality not noted, RI.
- Braley, Clarence E. Locality not noted, RI.
- Braley, George. Locality not noted, RI.
- Breckenridge, Chester, 68. Charlestown, Washington County, RI.
- Breckenridge, Edith Louise, 65. Charlestown, Washington County, RI.
- Briggs, William. Drowned Sep 21 in Woods Hole area, Cape Cod, Barnstable County, MA.
- Brilhante, Joseph Medeiros, 25. Portsmouth, Newport County, RI.
- Brooks, Josh (grandfather of). Ferry boat captain; drowned, Stony Creek area, Branford,
- Brown, Ellen L., 71. Portsmouth, Newport County, RI.
- Brown, Fred. Barn collapse; Bow, Merrimack County, NH.
- Brown, Mr. Drowned, Sep 21, Mystic, Stonington County,
- Brown, Mrs. David. Drowned, Sep 21; Swansea, Bristol County, MA.
- Brown, Judith, 7-months. Drowned Sep 21. Westhampton Beach, Southampton, Long Isl., NY
- Brown, Peggy Connolly. Drowned Sep 21. Westhampton Beach, Southampton, Long Isl., NY
- Bunce, Wesley Hibbard Sr., 72. Charlestown Beach, Washington County, RI.
- Burchill, , 4. Drowned, Sep 21. Charlestown Beach, Washington County, RI.
- Burdick, Amos Edgar, 70-71. Drowned, Sep 21. Charlestown, Washington County, RI.
- Burdick, Lois P., 68. Drowned, Sep 21. Charlestown, Washington County, RI.
- Burke, James Patrick, 58. Portsmouth, Newport County, RI.
- Burrows, Claude. Fort Pond Bay, Suffolk County, Long Island, NY.
- Bushnell, Ernest G. Apparently went overboard with anchor. North Cove of CT. Riv., Essex. CT
- Butera, Antonia, 42. Electrocuted by downed wire, Sep 21; East Elmhurst, Queens , NY.
- Butler, Mr. Napatree, Westerly, Washington County, RI.
- Butler, Mrs. Napatree, Westerly, Washington County, RI.
- Button, Eva Olivia Shafer, 81. Westerly, Washington County, RI.
- Button, Mae, 51 (daughter of Eva). Westerly, Washington County, RI.
- Byrnes, Adelaide (Bottsford), 48. Watch Hill, Westerly, Washington County, RI.
- Byrnes, Barbara. Westerly, Washington County, RI (and Christ Church)
- Byrnes, Elizabeth. Westerly, Washington County, RI (and Christ Church)
- Callanan, John. Chimney fell through his roof. Woonsocket, Portsmouth County, RI.
- Calnan, D. J., 44. Killed by falling tree, Sep 21; Brockton, Plymouth County, MA.
- Cannellan, Thomas, 50. Providence, Providence County, RI.
- Caprino, Oranzo Joseph, 3. Middletown, Newport County, RI.
- Carlson, Mrs. Carl. Tree falls onto car in Branford, New Haven County,
- Carlson, Mrs. Fred. Falling bricks; Sep 21; North Easton, Bristol County, MA.
- Carpenter, Frank A., 84. Narragansett, Washington County, RI.
- Carrie, Lucille J., 16. Injuries from chimney fall. Brattleboro, Windham County,
- Castelot, Paul. Drowned, Sep 21; Stratford, Fairfield County,
- Caswell, Joseph, 80. Westerly, Washington County, RI.
- Chace, Ida, 82. Tiverton, Newport County, RI.
- Chase, Mary (of Fall River). Tiverton, Newport County, RI.
- Chase, Walter Bradford, 65. Portsmouth, Newport County, RI.
- Chellis, Marion 7. Schoolbus strands; Jamestown, Conanicut Island, Newport County, RI.
- Chessey, John, 32. Tolland, Tolland County. Sep 21. Falling tree.
- Child, Miss Marion. Falling tree; East Walpole, Norfolk County, MA.
- Ciulla, Tony. Drowned Sep 21 when fishing smack capsized; off Boston, MA (1 of 3).
- Clark, Anne Mary, 47. Charlestown, Washington County, RI.
- Clark, George Otis, 58. Drowned, Sep 21. North Kingstown, Washington County, RI.
- Clarke, Celia Elizabeth, 86. Charlestown, Washington County, RI.
- Clarke, Florence, 55. Charlestown, Washington County, RI.
- Clarke, Harriet Sumner, 58. Charlestown, Washington County, RI.
- Clarke (or Clark), Hattie Mitchell, 65. Westerly, Washington County, RI.
- Clarke, Isabelle Frances, 33. Drowned, Sep 21. North Kingstown, Washington County, RI.
- Clarke, Josephine. Drowned, Sep 21; Chilmark, South Beach, Martha’s Vineyard, Dukes Co., MA
- Cleaveland, Polly. Noank (village), Groton, Now London County,
- Clemins, Mabel, 61. Charlestown, Washington County, RI.
- Clemins, Philip Arthur, 62. Charlestown, Washington County, RI.
- Cole, Rosamond, 79, of Providence. Barrington, Bristol County, RI.
- Coleman, Samuel (Weems, VA). Ocean View lifeboat capsized, out of Promised Land, L.I.
- Collinge, Robert G., 42. Drowned, Sep 21. Lonsdale, Providence County, RI.
- Collins, Rose, 32. Drowned, Sep 21, Buzzards Bay, Barnstable County, MA.
- Colwell, Frank Augustus, 74. Drowned; wave swept boat away. Boat Island, Co., RI.
- Connell, David M. of Fall River. Sep 21; Somerset, Bristol County, MA.
- Connellan, Thomas, 35, when a beam fell. New Haven, New Haven County,
- Conrad, Mrs. (of Mansfield). Sep 21; Wareham beach area, Plymouth County, MA.
- Conrad, daughter (of Mansfield). Sep 21; Wareham beach area, Plymouth County, MA.
- Considine, John Francis, 59. Portsmouth Park, Newport County? RI.
- Cook, Cora M. Adams, 71. Chimney fell through roof. Woonsocket, Portsmouth Co., RI.
- Cook, Lloyd Milton, 66. Chimney fell through roof. Woonsocket, Portsmouth County, RI.
- Coquette (Captain of cabin cruiser Coquette in crash at Avery Point, CT.
- Coquette (Crewmember of cabin cruiser Coquette in crash at Avery Point, CT.
- Crapo, Genevra C., 72. Charlestown, Washington County, RI.
- Craven, Elizabeth, 59. Central Falls, Providence County, RI.
- Crawley, Rev. Patrick, 65. Drowned, Sep 21. Newport, Aquidneck Isl., Newport Co., RI.
- Cremin, Waller. Newport, Aquidneck Island, Newport County, RI.
- Croce, Olga, 24. Drowned, wading from cottage. Conimicut, Warwick, Kent Co., RI.
- Cross, George W., 65. Charlestown, Washington County, RI.
- Crumb, Edith A., 70. Charlestown, Washington County, RI.
- Crumb, Wallace, 79 (husband of Edith). Westerly, Washington County, RI.
- Culley, Catherine, 79. Charlestown, Washington County, RI.
- Curran, Florence May, 46. Allen’s Harbor, North Kingston, Washington County, RI.
- Currie, Mrs. Westerly, Washington County, RI.
- Dalin, Carl, E. 60’s. Drowned Sep 21. Westhampton Beach, Suffolk Co., Long Isl., NY.[374]
- Dalin, Selma, 60’s (wife of Carl). Drowned Sep 21. Westhampton Beach, Suffolk Co., L.I., NY
- Dalm, Carl, 64. Williston Park, Nassau County, Long Island, NY.
- Daly, John J. 28. Electrocuted, Sep 21; Naugatuck, New Haven County,
- Darling, George (of Jefferson, MA). Portsmouth, Newport County, RI.
- Davison, Alice Mary (Hamfield), 66. Westerly, Washington County, RI.
- D’Ambra, Maria, 68. Oakland Beach, Warwick, Kent County, RI.
- D’Ambra, Philip, 37. Longmeadow, Warwick, Kent County, RI.
- de Loria, Mrs. Ethelyn, 61. Falling tree, Sep 21. Winchester, Middlesex County, MA.
- De Rham, Frederick Foster. After “strenuous” trip through storm; Tuxedo Park, Orange Co., NY
- Delehanty, Margaret. Heart attack as home flooded. Point Lookout, Nassau Co., L.I., NY
- Devine, Mary A., 62. Oakland Beach, Warwick, Kent County, RI.
- Dewey, Minnie T. (Tefft), 71. Westerly, Washington County, RI.
- Dickinson, Mrs. Ada, of Hartford, drowned Sep 21 at Westbrook, Middlesex County,
- Dinsmore, Bertha Ann (West), 49. Westerly, Washington County, RI.
- Donnelly, Hugh L., 32. Locality not noted, RI.
- Doody, John. Drowned (one of three) when tugboat foundered off Boston, MA.
- Dorgan, Teresa V. (Creed), 64. Locality not noted, RI.
- Dunham, Arthur Forest, 29. Portsmouth, Newport County, RI.
- Dunham, Arthur Forest St., 54. Portsmouth, Newport County, RI.
- Eberle, Walter Barge, 40. While Rock Lighthouse, off Narragansett, Washington Co., RI.
- Edwards, Captain Samuel, 35. Drowned; fishing boat lost; off East Hampton,I., NY.
- Edwards, Gilbert, 30. Drowned Sep 21; fishing boat lost; off East Hampton,I., NY.
- Edwards, James. Drowned, Sep 21; Southbridge, Worcester County, MA.
- Edwards, Samuel S., 35. Apparent drowning; fisherman; Block Isl., Washington Co., RI.
- Ek, Nils, off cruiser Marpo; trying to go upriver; drowned? Essex, Middlesex Co., CT Riv.
- Etzel, Simon J. Drowned, Sep 21; Old Saybrook, Middlesex County,
- Ewald, Mr. Paul J. Handyman, John Duff beach house, Mattapoisett, Plymouth Co., MA.
- Ewald, Mrs. Paul. Cook, John Duff beach house, Mattapoisett, Plymouth County, MA.
- Fay, Tommy, 21. Drowned Sep 21. Westhampton Beach, Suffolk Co., Long Island, NY.
- Fenning, Bert, 45. Drowned in rescue attempt, Sep 21. Bronx, Bronx County, NY.
- Fernandes, Charles A. Sep 21; hit by wave, lands head-first on car; Fairhaven, Bristol Co., MA
- Field, Herbert, 36. Drowned Sep 21; fishing boat lost; off East Hampton,I., NY.
- Fitsgerald (or Fitzgerald) Rev. Timothy, of MA. Locality not noted, RI.
- Flagg, Mrs. Marianna (of New Rochelle). Westhampton Beach, Suffolk County, L. I, NY.
- Flandsberg, Hiram F., 33; Sep 21; fall; North Grafton, Worcester County, MA.
- Fletcher, Zonia P. “Zoe,” 65. Charlestown, Washington County, RI.
- Foffet, Kermitt. Yacht sinks off Madison, New Haven County,
- Foley, Mrs. Leo. Westhampton Beach, Southampton, Suffolk County, Long Island, NY.
- Fontaine, Obeline, 68. Charlestown, Washington County, RI.
- Fontaine, Walter Francis, 67. Charlestown, Washington County, RI.
- Forloni, Angelina, of Warwick. Barrington, Bristol County, RI.
- Forset, Thomas (Round Pond, ME). Ocean View lifeboat capsized, out of Promised Land, L.I., NY
- Fosier, George. Drowned (one of three) when tugboat foundered off Boston, MA.
- Fraley, Clarence E., 63. Locality not noted, RI.
- Freiddel, Clarence. Blown from oil tank; Rockville Centre, Nassau County, L.I., NY.
- Friend, Ruth Evelyn, 44. Mother’s Club victim. Misquamicut, Westerly, Washington Co., RI
- Fuller, Bernice M., 34. Portsmouth, Newport County, RI.
- Fuller, William, of Newport. Struck by hotel roof debris. Block Isl., Washington Co., RI.
- Garrell, Mr. Charles. Sep 21; Saybrook, Middlesex County,
- Garrell, Mrs. Charles. Sep 21; Saybrook, Middlesex County,
- Gianetis, Constantine, 5. Schoolbus strands; Jamestown, Conanicut Isl., Newport Co., RI.
- Gianetis, John Stamos, 4. Schoolbus strands; Jamestown, Conanicut Isl., Newport Co., RI.
- Gilday, Richard A. Falling roof, Sep 21; Everett, Middlesex County, MA.
- Gomes, Marion (Manuel?), 31; skull fracture/barn fall. Jamestown, Conanicut Isl., Newport Co., RI
- Goodby, Anne Elizabeth, 63. Conimicut Point, Warwick, Kent County, RI.
- Gould, Mrs. Isadora L., 50. Bridge washout; Weare, Hillsborough County, NH.
- Gould, Robert, 54. Head/skull injury. Charlestown, Washington County, RI.
- Grace, Dominic. Crushed when his garage collapsed; East Hampton, Suffolk Co., L.I., NY.
- Griffin, Roy. Yacht sinks off Madison, New Haven County, [375]
- Griffin, Roy (deckhand). Ocean View lifeboat capsized, out of Promised Land, L.I., NY.
- Gruttemeyer, Caroline (Drescher), 66. Westerly, Washington County, RI.
- Gustavus, Edward. Sandy Point Lighthouse residence. Prudence Isl., Providence Co., RI.
- Gustavus, Mable F., 60. Sandy Point Lighthouse residence. Prudence Isl., Providence Co.,
- Haas, Mrs. Max. Drowned, Sep 21; Saltaire village, Fire Island, Islip, Suffolk Co., L.I., NY
- Hallahan, Mrs. Drowned, Sep 21 at Charlemont, Franklin County, MA.
- Hareter, William Blake, 13. Falling porch, Sep 21. Galilee, Narragansett, Washington Co., RI.
- Harris, Mr. Drowned, Sep 21, wading from cottage. Conimicut, Warwick, Kent Co., RI.
- Harris, Mrs. Drowned, Sep 21, wading from cottage. Conimicut, Warwick, Kent Co., RI.
- Harrop, Louise May, 38. Drowned; Babcock Beach, North Kingston, Washington Co., RI
- Hartenstein, Harriet (Roy), 64. Westerly, Washington County, RI.
- Hartley, Thomas B., 64. Weekapaug Breachway, Westerly, Washington County, RI.
- Hathaway, Jessie May, 70. Tiverton, Newport County, RI.
- Hawes, Russel, 22 of Philadelphia. Drowned Sep 21. Westport, Bristol County, MA.
- Hawkins, Marshall. Eastport, Suffolk County, Long Island, NY.
- Haworth, Rosalie Christina, 52. Narragansett, Washington County, RI.
- Hayes, Earl, 22. Drowned, Sep 21; Somerset, Bristol County, MA.
- Hayes, Fred. Drowned, Sep 21, New Bedford, Bristol County, MA.
- Hayes, Harry Chester Jr., 29. Providence, Providence County, RI.
- Hebert, Fanny. Noank (village), Groton, Now London County,
- Henry, George E. Falling chimney, Sep 21. Glastonbury, Hartford County,
- Henry, Marguerite B., 78. Buttonwoods section, Warwick, Kent County, RI.
- Herrick, Agnew P. (Collier), 46. Westerly, Washington County, RI.
- Heyes, Mr. Fred L. Sep 21, in wreckage of his beach home; Mattapoisett, Plymouth Co., MA
- Hicks, Mrs. Harriett, 88. Westport, Bristol County, MA.
- Higginbotham, Annie Irene, 45. Misquamicut, Westerly, Washington County, RI.
- Higginbotham, James Wilson, 10 (son of Annie). Westerly, Washington County, RI.
- Higgins, Hubert James, 48. Drowned. East Matunuck area, South Kingston, Wash. Co., RI.
- Higgins, Kathryn Gilmore, 47. Drowned. East Matunuck area, South Kingston, Co., RI
- Hildreth, Chester H. Jr., 12. Crushed by tree debris during cleanup; locality not noted, MA.
- Hill, Ernest Albert Jr., 14. Tiverton, Newport County, RI.
- Hodge, Jeff (of VA). Ocean View lifeboat capsized, out of Promised Land, L.I., NY.
- Holgate, Florence , 56. Charlestown, Washington County, RI.
- Holland, Annie Alzada (Steadman), 62. Westerly, Washington County, RI.
- Holland, Thomas Francis 64. Portsmouth, Newport County, RI.
- Holwell, Cpt. Frank. Drowned; blown off his boat. Block Island, Washington Co., RI.
- Hopkins, Emily. Pawtucket, Providence County, RI.
- Horn, Andrew, 51. Falling roof, Sep 21; Clinton, Worcester County, MA.
- Horton, Frances, 71. Charlestown, Washington County, RI.
- Horton, William Grant, 73. Charlestown, Washington County, RI.
- Hose, George, 77. Sep 21. Head injury; Grafton, Worcester County, MA.
- Howe, James. Sep 21; blown through window; Worcester, Worcester County, MA.
- Howell, Frank D., 69. Portsmouth, Newport County, RI.
- Hoyt, James, 70. Lumber plant watchman hit by gate, Stamford, Fairfield County,
- Hunter, Mrs. Florence. Drowned. Southampton, Suffolk County, Long Island, NY.
- Ingalls, Elizabeth, 74 (of Fall River). Tiverton, Newport County, RI.
- Jacobs, Harold Christie, 56. Greenhill Beach, South Kingston, Washington County, RI.
- James, Alex. Bridgehampton, Suffolk County, Long Island, NY.
- Jean, Theodore. Locality not noted, RI.
- Jenkins, Lena, 55. Westhampton Beach, Southampton, Suffolk Co., Long Island, NY.
- Jepson, Arthur W., of Bristol. Drowned Sep 21, Stony Creek, Branford, New Haven Co., CT.
- Johnson, Mrs. East Providence, Providence County, RI.
- Johnson, Mrs. Della. Drowned. Southampton, Suffolk County, Long Island, NY.
- Johnson, Mrs. Morrison W. of Hartford, drowned Sep 21 at Westbrook, Middlesex Co., CT
- Jones, Andrew F. Drowned, Sep 21, Silver Beach, North Falmouth, Cape Cod, Barnstable Co.,
- Jones, Mrs. Andrew F. Jones, of Boston. Drowned Sep 21 at Silver Beach, Falmouth, MA.
- Jowdy, Father George A. Drowned? Sconticut Neck, Fairhaven, Bristol Co., MA.
- Joyce (or Jones), Patrick, ~58, “hurled against building,” Sep 21, Cheshire, New Haven Co., CT
- Kabbas, Aband (or Abdau), 54. Injuries from door hit. Providence, Providence County, RI.
- Keith, Ebenezer, 56. Sakonnet Point (Grinnell estate) Little Compton, Newport Co., RI.
- Keller, Patrick H., 65. Crushed by foundry door; New Britain, Hartford County,
- Kelleher, Timothy, 60. “Storm-induced heart attack” Sep 21, Brockton, Plymouth Co., MA
- Kenifick, Mary. Heart attack after tree crushed home. Hartford, Hartford County,
- Kenny, Miss Maude, 55. Bridge washout; Weare, Hillsborough County, NH.
- Kenyon, Gladys C. (Lester), 43. Westerly, Washington County, RI.
- Kettlety, Ruth M., 37. Warwick, Kent County, RI.
- King, Mrs. John L. Westhampton Beach, Southampton, Suffolk Co., Long Island, NY.
- Kingman, Ella (Williston), 83. Westerly, Washington County, RI.
- Kirby, Charles (or George?). Falling tree, Sep 21; Green Farms, Fairfield County, [376]
- Koehler, Edward, 45. Falling timber; Sep 21; Methuen, Essex County, MA.
- Krolinowski, Charles. Drowned Sep 21; Stratford, Fairfield County,
- Kuhlthau, Minnie M., 62. Warwick, Kent County, RI.
- Kuahlthman, Mrs. William (of NJ). Locality not noted, RI.
- Kurdzo, Walter, 22. Narragansett, Washington County, RI.
- Lafarier, Napolean, 60. Sep 21; Leominster, Worcester County, MA.
- Landon, Mrs. (of Jewett City). Westerly, Washington County, RI.
- Lane, Mrs. Elizabeth, 74. Drowned, Sep 21; Bourne, Cape Cod, Barnstable County, MA.
- Langson, William. Drowned Sep 21; sailboat Widgie swept to sea off Lake Montauk, NY.
- Lanphere, B. I. Locality not noted, RI.
- Larkham, Freda G., 69. Charlestown, Washington County, RI.
- Larkin, Kenneth. Fireman; drowned in rescue attempt; Pleasant Valley, Dutchess Co., NY.
- Lavoie, Adelard, 43. Falling roof; Concord, Merrimack County, MA.
- Lea, Mrs. Ned. Westhampton Beach, Southampton, Suffolk County, Long Island, NY.
- Leary, Ms. Susan, 60 (cook for Dr. Austin Rigs), Sep 21. Mattapoisett, Plymouth Co., MA.
- Leonard, Nellie Mabel (Gardner), 73. Westerly, Washington County, RI.
- Lesmerises, Mrs. Helen, 19. Falling roof; Manchester, Hillsborough County, NH.
- Lester, Carrie Eleanor Cummings, 66 (wife of William). Westerly, Washington Co., RI.
- Lester, William Wallace, 69 (husband of Carrie). Westerly, Washington County, RI.
- Livingston, Edythe (or Edith) M. (Crandall), 40. Westerly, Washington County, RI.
- Livingston, Zallee. Westerly, Washington County, RI.
- Lewis, Helen (wife of LeRoy), Drowned Sep 21, Thimble Isl., off Branford, New Haven Co., CT
- Lewis, Henry L. Bridgeport manufacturer; cottage washed away east of New Haven CT.
- Lewis, Mrs. Henry L. Cottage washed away east of New Haven,
- Lewis, LeRoy (husband of Helen). Drowned Sep 21; Thimble Isl., off Branford, New Haven Co., CT.
- Lewis, Mr. Warren. Westhampton Beach, Southampton, Suffolk County, Long Island, NY.
- Lewis, Mrs. Warren. Westhampton Beach, Southampton, Suffolk County, Long Isl., NY.
- Lilja, Frederick T. Drowned Sep 21; Coastguardsman; rescue attempt, Woods Hole, MA.
- Livingston, Mrs. Zalee Jayne, 62. Mother’s Club victim. Misquamicut, Westerly, Washington Co., RI
- LoVerde, Bartolo, 45. Conimicut Point, Warwick, Kent County, RI.
- Lovelet, Mr. Westerly, Washington County, RI.
- Lovelet, Mrs. Westerly, Washington County, RI.
- Lowry (or Lowrey), May (or Mae) Rosa, 48. Napatree, Westerly, Washington Co., RI.
- Loxley, Hannah Alice, 64. Charlestown, Washington County, RI.
- Loxley, Samuel, 69. Charlestown, Washington County, RI.
- Lucas, Audrey. Falling Seminary chimney; Sep 21; Northfield, Franklin County, MA.
- Lucas, Charles, 20. Drowned Sep 21. Westhampton Beach, Southampton, Suffolk Co., L.I., NY
- Lule, Herbert. Locality not noted, RI.
- Lull, Carrie Burdick, 55. Charlestown, Washington County, RI.
- Lull, Mrs. Hettie, 75. Bridge washout; Weare, Hillsborough County, NH.
- Lull, William Barrett. Charlestown, Washington County, RI.
- Lupila, Lorinda, 19. Building roof fell on car. Providence, Providence County, RI.
- Lynch, Ellen, 67. Newport, Aquidneck Island, Newport County, RI.
- Lynch, James. Sandy Point Lighthouse residence, Prudence Island, Providence, RI.
- Maine, Miss Kate Brown, 76. “Victim tidal wave.” Westerly, Washington County, RI.
- Mann, Tom. Injuries. Narragansett, Washington County, RI.
- Marino, Tony. Drowned Sep 21 (1 of 3) when fishing smack capsized; off Boston, MA.
- Markell, Mrs. Bertha W. Drowned when train Bostonian stranded, Sep 21; ~Stonington, CT.
- Martin, Frances (newspaper boy). Falling tree, Sep 21; Easthampton, Hampshire Co., MA.
- Martin, John A, 76. Skull fractured; knocked down by wind; Staten Island, Richmond Co., NY
- Martin, Joseph. Sep 21; Somerset, Bristol County, MA.
- Matoes, Dorothy, 11. Schoolbus strands; Jamestown, Conanicut Island, Newport Co., RI.
- Matoes, Teresa, 11 (twin). Schoolbus strands; Jamestown, Conanicut Isl., Newport Co., RI.
- Matoes, Joseph Jr., 13. Schoolbus strands; Jamestown, Conanicut Island, Newport Co., RI.
- Maurer, Alice H. 42. Drowned, Sep 21; Falmouth, Cape Cod, Barnstable County, MA.
- Mawson, Alvin (or Albert) Wilson, 43. Drowned. Westerly, Washington County, RI.
- Mawson, Mary C., 44 (wife of A.W.). Drowned. Westerly, Washington County, RI.
- May, Mrs. John May. Drowned, Sep 21, Buzzards Bay, Barnstable County, MA.
- McAllister, Mrs. Harry P. Drowned Sep 21; Mattapoisett, Plymouth County, MA.
- McCarthy, William J. (lineman). Electrocuted, Sep 27; Westwood, Norfolk County, MA.
- McConey, Mr. James. Drowned, Sep 21, wading from cottage. Conimicut, Warwick, Kent Co., RI.
- McConey, Mrs. James. Drowned, Sep 21, wading from cottage. Conimicut, Warwick, Kent Co., RI
- McCooey, Winifred E., 37, of Blackstone, MA. Barrington, Bristol County, RI.
- McCool, Elizabeth Agnew, 55, of east Providence. Barrington, Bristol County, RI.
- McDonald, Margaret Theresa, 63, of Providence. Barrington, Bristol County, RI.
- McDuff, James Henry, 65. Drowned downtown. Providence, Providence County, RI.
- McGrath, William. Drowned, Sep 21, NYC.
- McHugh, Elaine E., 30. Portsmouth, Newport County, RI.
- McHugh, Francis J., III, 1-year-old. Portsmouth, Newport County, RI.
- McLaughlin, Fairfax, 50. Electrocuted, Sep 21. Rockaway, Queens, Queens County, NY.
- McNamara, George, 37. Flying brick, Sep 21; Hopedale, Worcester County, MA.
- McSweeny, Katherine Mary, 63. Charlestown, Washington County, RI.
- Mee, Helen, 30. Charlestown Beach, Washington County, RI.
- Mee, Jean, 6-months. Charlestown Beach, Washington County, RI.
- Mee, Timothy Jr., 2-years-old. Charlestown Beach, Washington County, RI.
- Merrill, Earl. Drowned, Sep 21; Falmouth, Cape Cod, Barnstable County, MA.
- Mieeck, Joseph, 25. Electrocution, Sep 21; Adams, Berkshire County, MA.
- Miller, Mrs. Arthur; cerebral hemorrhage, Sep 21. Hartford, Hartford County.
- Miller, Jennie Bell, 70. Westerly, Washington County, RI.
- Miller, Roger, 1-year-old. Drowned. Brattleboro, Windham County,
- Milne, Anna (great great grandmother). Jepson (Burr) Isl. off Indian Point Rd. Branford, CT
- Milne, Anna (great great grandfather). Jepson (Burr) Isl. off Indian Point Rd. Branford, CT
- Milne, Anna (great great cousin). Jepson (Burr) Isl. off Indian Point Rd. Branford,
- Monks, William M., Jr., 21. Hit by hotel debris; New Shoreham, Block Isl., Wash. Co., RI.
- Moore, Havila. Drowned, Sep 21. Napatree, Westerly, Washington County, RI.
- Moore, Jessie Mary Hurst Jackley, ~70. Drowned. Westerly, Washington County, RI.
- Moriarty, James W. Locality not noted, RI.
- Moriarty, Mary Ann. Locality not noted, RI.
- Morse, Miss Aura, 65. Weare, Hillsborough County, NH.
- Munsell, Charles H. Sep 21; auto overturned; Ludlow, Hampden County, MA.
- Murphy, Mrs. Catherine, 49. Newport, Aquidneck Island, Newport County, RI.
- Murphy, Johanna, 80, Sep 21. Shawomet, Warwick, Kent County, RI.
- Nazareth, Mrs. (of Fall River). Portsmouth, Newport County, RI.
- Neal, Albert, 60. Drowned, Sep 21; Penzance Point, Woods Hole, Barnstable County, MA.
- Needham, Emily, 62. Drowned, Sep 21; Bourne, Cape Cod, Barnstable County, MA.
- Needham, Joseph, 11. Drowned, Sep 21; Bourne, Cape Cod, Barnstable County, MA.
- Nestor, Anne. Napatree cottage, Westerly, Washington County, RI.
- Norlander, Mrs. Albert. Sep 21, “on the beach.” Mattapoisett, Plymouth County, MA.
- Norris, Mrs. John C. Narragansett Pier, Washington County, RI.
- Norris, John (son of Mrs. John Norris). Narragansett Pier, Washington County, RI.
- Northup, George Washington, 43. Conimicut, Warwick, Kent County, RI.
- Nunes, Mary, 40 (of Fall River). Portsmouth, Newport County, RI.
- O’Connor, Allen, 11, of Attleboro. Sep 21; falling tree; Mansfield, Bristol County, MA.
- O’Connor, Robert, 21; Sep 21. Crushing; garage collapsed. Hartford, Hartford County,
- O’Driscoll, Catherine E., 77, of East Providence. Barrington, Bristol County, RI
- Oliveira, Rose, 52. Portsmouth, Newport County, RI.
- Ordner, Mrs. Gladys Marie. Jamestown, Conanicut Island, Newport County, RI.
- Ordner, William, 13. Jamestown, Conanicut Island, Newport County, RI.
- Osteline, Alfred V. Drowned, Sep 21. Newport, Aquidneck Island, Newport County, RI.
- Ostermein, John. Newport, Aquidneck Island, Newport County, RI.
- Ouellette, Walter, 21; Sep 21. Crushed by pole; Lowell, Middlesex County, MA.
- Paine, Emilie, 83. Warwick, Kent County, RI.
- Pascoe, Janie P. (Cornish), 70. Westerly, Washington County, RI.
- Pasetti, Frank, 38. Drowned, Sep 21. Westerly, Washington County, RI.
- Pearson, Mrs. Sep 21. West Barrington, Bristol County, RI.
- Peckham, Mrs. Lena Ann, 65. Drowned, Sep 21. Tiverton, Newport County, RI.
- Peckham, Mary. Locality not noted, RI.
- Peckham, Oswald Clarke, 38. Drowned, Sep 21. Tiverton, Newport County, RI.
- Peckham, Richard. Tiverton, Newport County, RI.
- Perrin, Grace May (Lawton), 58. Westerly, Washington County, RI.
- Pieczentkowski, Huldah Charlotte, 56. Chimney fell on car. Providence, Providence Co.,
- Pierce, Dorothy, 44. Charlestown, Washington County, RI.
- Pimental, Manuel A., 30. Drowned, Sep 21. Newport, Aquidneck Isl., Newport Co., RI.
- Pimintel, Josephine, 59, of Warwick. Barrington, Bristol County, RI
- Pindau, Leon (trucker). Drowned, Sep 21. Summit, Schoharie County, NY.
- Pink, Mrs. James E. Westhampton Beach, Southampton, Suffolk County, Long Island, NY.
- Plante, David, 1½ years-old. Hit by tree felled by father; Worcester, Worcester Co., MA.
- Potter, Jessie C., 60. Charlestown, Washington County, RI.
- Poutray, Nellie Frances, 54. Mother’s Club victim. Misquamicut, Westerly, Washington Co., RI.
- Preston, Patrick Aloysius, 68. Portsmouth, Newport County, RI.
- Prilsifer or Pulsiver, Frederick. Drowned (one of three); tugboat foundered off Boston, MA.
- Prineault, Rudolph, 28; fell from roof, Sep 21; Fall River, Bristol County, MA.
- Pryde, Robert. Blunt force trauma; Sep 21; Asharoken, Suffolk County, Long Island, NY.
- Pyne, John R. Sep 21, “on the beach.” Mattapoisett, Plymouth County, MA.
- Pyne, Richard, 6-weeks-old, son of John. Sep 21; Mattapoisett, Plymouth County, MA.
- Raynor, Oliver, 62. Eastport, Suffolk County, Long Island, NY.
- Read, Marie. Westerly, Washington County, RI (and Christ Church)
- Redfern, Thomas, 75. Providence, Providence County, RI.
- Reed, David. Sep 21; CO poisoning; water-surrounded auto; Pittsfield, Berkshire Co., MA.
- Reed, Sep 21. Martha’s Vineyard, Dukes County, MA.
- Reiss, Dorothy Evelyn, 22. Middletown, Newport County, RI.
- Relations, Frank. Falling tree; Nashua, Hillsborough County, NH.
- Remmert, Mrs. Ella F. of Hartford, drowned, Little Stannard Beach, Westbrook, Middlesex Co.,
- Reynolds, Mabelle, 59. Charlestown, Washington County, RI.
- Rhault, Zoel, 83. Narragansett, Washington County, RI.
- Ridge, Everett, 62. Sep 21; barn collapse, Spencer, Worcester County, MA.
- Riley, William Leo, 64. Drowned, Sep 21. Providence, Providence County, RI.
- Riviere, Alexander, 56; “overcome in…rescue.” Sep 21; New Bedford, Bristol Co., MA.
- Rodgers, Sarah Jane, 71. Drowned, Sep 21. Portsmouth, Newport County, RI.
- Rushton, Emily, 40. Rivervue, Warwick, Kent County, RI.
- Sabins, Charles Albert, 53. Fisherman, Grinnell estate. Little Compton, Newport Co., RI.[377]
- Salisbury, Isabel Arletta, 67. Bay Spring, Bristol Co., home swept into Narragansett Bay, RI
- Santos, John, 67; crush injuries/Oct 2, Sep 21 building collapse; Fall River, Bristol Co.,
- Schater, Myron A., 55. Westhampton Beach, Southampton, Suffolk County, Long Isl., NY.
- Schlater (or Slater), Mrs. Westhampton Beach, Southampton, Suffolk Co., Long Isl., NY.
- Schlegel, Etta, 63. Tiverton, Newport County, RI.
- Scialo, Adele, 36, of Providence. Barrington, Bristol County, RI.
- Scialo, Louise, 2, of Providence. Barrington, Bristol County, RI
- Scribner, Seth. Fort Pond Bay, Suffolk County, Long Island, NY.
- Searles, Elsie, 53. Drowned, Sep 21. Newport, Aquidneck Island, Newport County, RI.
- Seeley, Anna. Drowned Sep 21. Westhampton Beach, Southampton, Suffolk Co., L.I., NY
- Selafano (or Sciafano). Drowned Sep 21 (1 of 3); fishing smack capsized; off Boston, MA.
- Sepeano, Marie, 7. Stumbles into flooding Still Riv., swept away; Danbury, Fairfield Co. CT
- Shear, Robert, 12. Falling tree; Malden, Middlesex County, MA.
- Sherman, George Nicholas, 64 (fisherman). Narragansett, Washington County, RI.
- Small, Mrs. Mabel, 47; Palmer Island, harbor, New Bedford, Bristol County, MA.
- Smith, Carleton, 40. Falling tree; Watertown, Middlesex County, MA.
- Smith, Elton (of VA). Ocean View lifeboat capsized, out of Promised Land, L.I., NY.
- Smith, Margaret Josephine, 28, of Providence. Barrington, Bristol County, RI.
- Smith, Sarah Hayden, 76. Drowned, Sep 21. Galilee, Narragansett, Washington Co., RI.
- Smith, Vivian. Drowned Sep 21; fishing boat lost; off East Hampton,I., NY.
- Sousa, Margarida (wife of Vasco), 45. Little Compton, Newport County, RI.
- Sousa, Vasco F., 52 (husband of Margarida). Little Compton, Newport County, RI.
- Spicer, Mrs. Walter, of Bristol. Drowned Sep 21; Stony Creek, Branford, New Haven Co.,
- Squires, Jessie L., 61. Locality not noted, RI.
- Stark, Mrs. George; bled to death; struck by wind-borne shard of glass; Mystic CT.
- Starvi, David (of VA). Ocean View lifeboat capsized, out of Promised Land, L.I., NY
- Steadman, John A. Drowned Sep 21; Coastguardsman; rescue attempt, Woods Hole, MA.
- Stearns, Pauline, 48. Drowned, Sep 21. Charlestown Beach, Washington County, RI.
- Stearns, Sarah E. Dow, 74. Drowned, Sep 21. Charlestown Beach, Washington County, RI.
- Stephano, Theopharins, 54. Bow, Merrimack County, NH.
- Stepp, Jacob, 70. Drowned, Sep 21. Oakland Beach, Warwick, Kent County, RI.
- Stepp, Laura Carolina, 73. Drowned, Sep 21. Oakland Beach, Warwick, Kent County, RI.
- Stockburger, Norma. Sep 21. Falling Seminary chimney; Northfield, Franklin Co., MA.
- Stoll, Alfred; hit by unhinged garage door, Sep 21; New London, New London Co., CT.
- Stryczniewicz, Thomas, 61. Fractured skull, Sep 21. Newark, Essex County, NJ.
- Sylvester, Margaret, 75. Drowned. Allens Harbor, North Kingstown, Washington Co., RI.
- Taggard, Robert J., 40 (of Manchester); Sep 21. Drowned in cellar. CT.
- Thereault, Joseph Wilfred, 7-months. Oakland Beach, Warwick, Kent County, RI.
- Thompson, Martin. Sandy Point Lighthouse residence. Prudence Isl., Providence Co., RI.
- Thorpe, John Joseph, 33. Falling pole. Pawtucket, Providence County, RI.
- Wade, Mary. Newport, Aquidneck Island, Newport County, RI.
- Wakeley, Daisy, 38 (wife of Harry). Narragansett, Washington County, RI.
- Wakeley, Harry Raymond, 41. Narragansett, Washington County, RI.
- Walker, Betty, 61. Portsmouth, Newport County, RI.
- Walker, Chester A. Porter on stranded train Bostonian, ~Stonington, New London Co. CT.
- Warner, Alvah Francis, 64. Portsmouth, Newport County, RI.
- Warren, Joseph Edwin, ~26. Providence, Providence County, RI.
- Warshauer, Harry, 64, of Brooklyn; factory collapse, Willimantic, Windham Co., CT.
- Washburn, Fred. Heart attack in auto, Sep 21; New London, New London County,
- Waterman, Flora Celinda (Armstrong), 56. Locality not noted, RI.
- Weaver, Frank Weeden, 63 (husband of Margaret). Narragansett, Washington County, RI.
- Weaver, Margaret, 59 (wife of Frank). Narragansett, Washington County, RI.
- Weber, Henry, 61. Heart attack, Sep 22; Old Greenwich, Fairfield County,
- Webster, Hayward T. Drowned Sep 21; Coastguardsman; rescue attempt, Woods Hole, MA.
- Wellman, Eva V. Fuller, 72. Portsmouth, Newport County, RI.
- Wells, Mrs. Mabel V. (of NY). Drowned, Sep 21; Bourne, Cape Cod, Barnstable Co., MA.
- Werner, Mae. Locality not noted, RI.
- Whale (or Whalen), William Henry, 50. Galilee, Narragansett, Washington County, RI.
- Whele, Mrs. Westhampton Beach, Southampton, Suffolk County, Long Island, NY.
- Whitbeck, Leonard W. Falling tree. West Westminster, Windham County,
- White, Mrs. Harry, of Bristol. Drowned Sep 21, Stony Creek, Branford, New Haven Co., CT
- Wilber, Nancy Anne (Pearce), 82. Little Compton, Newport County, RI.
- Wilson, Hayward, 54. Drowned, Sep 21, Buzzards Bay, Barnstable County, MA.
- Wilson, John Downie, 53. Middletown, Newport County, RI.
- Wischonowsky, Mae Ella, 39, of Providence. Barrington, Bristol County, RI.
- Wollcott, Mrs. Drowned Sep 21; Old Saybrook, Middlesex County,
- Wondis, Mrs. Linda. Drowned Sep 21 in auto; locality not noted; MA.
- Wren, Mrs. Sarah Mathers, 70; Drowned Sep 21 at Little Stannard Beach, Westbrook,
- Young, Emmett. Hit by barn roof debris. Southold, Suffolk County, Long Island, NY.
- Man (1st), Sep 21; roof of Sears garage collapsed; North Attleboro, Bristol County, MA.
- Man (2nd), Sep 21; roof of Sears garage collapsed; North Attleboro, Bristol County, MA.
- Husband, getting ready to leave for Ohio; drowned Sep 21; Wareham, Plymouth Co., MA.
- Wife, getting ready to leave for Ohio; drowned Sep 21; Wareham, Plymouth Co., MA.
- Unidentified hitchhiker drowns. Queens, Queens County, NY.
- Unnamed elderly farmer; heart attack when barn roof collapsed with him inside; Mystic CT
- Unnamed girl drowns going after her cat in Branford/Branford area, New Haven Co., CT.
- Unnamed man dies in car [not indicated how] Sep 21; New London, New London Co., CT.
- Unnamed man drowned Sep 21; rowboat capsized at Bluff Point, Poquonnock River,
- Unnamed man drowned Sep 21 at New London, New London,
- Unnamed woman #1 of 3 taking refuge in car swept into cove Sep 21, Groton Long Point, CT
- Unnamed woman #2 of 3 taking refuge in car swept into cove Sep 21, Groton Long Point, CT
- Unnamed woman #3 of 3 taking refuge in car swept into cove Sep 21, Groton Long Point, CT.
- Unnamed person #1 of 5 bodies recovered (9 bodies, but have 4 names) at Westbrook,
- Unnamed person #2 of 5 bodies recovered (9 bodies, but have 4 names) at Westbrook,
- Unnamed person #3 of 5 bodies recovered (9 bodies, but have 4 names) at Westbrook,
- Unnamed person #4 of 5 bodies recovered (9 bodies, but have 4 names) at Westbrook,
- Unnamed person #5 of 5 bodies recovered (9 bodies, but have 4 names) at Westbrook,
- Unnamed person #1 of 3 couples from NY; East Beach house, Westport, Bristol Co., MA.
- Unnamed person #2 of 3 couples from NY; East Beach house, Westport, Bristol Co., MA.
- Unnamed person #3 of 3 couples from NY; East Beach house, Westport, Bristol Co., MA.
- Unnamed person #4 of 3 couples from NY; East Beach house, Westport, Bristol Co., MA.
- Unnamed person #5 of 3 couples from NY; East Beach house, Westport, Bristol Co., MA.
- Unnamed person #6 of 3 couples from NY; East Beach house, Westport, Bristol Co., MA.
- Unnamed nurse. Drowned, returning from house-call; road washout; East Brookfield, MA.
- Crewman #1 of 5 off the Charles O. Carlson; foundered Nantucket Lightship MA area.
- Crewman #2 of 5 off the Charles O. Carlson; foundered Nantucket Lightship MA area.
- Crewman #3 of 5 off the Charles O. Carlson; foundered Nantucket Lightship MA area.
- Crewman #4 of 5 off the Charles O. Carlson; foundered Nantucket Lightship MA area.
- Crewman #5 of 5 off the Charles O. Carlson; foundered Nantucket Lightship MA area.
- Unidentified fatality, Plymouth, Grafton County. (ARC. Appendix C,” 1939, p. 84.) NH.
- Unnamed death. Woodsville/Haverhill area, Grafton Co. (ANRC. “Appendix C.” 1939, p. 84.)
- Unnamed male, 18. Electrocuted trying to move cable, Sep 21; Brooklyn, Kings Co., NY.
- Unnamed woman #1. Drowned Sep 21; Pond Point ~Westhampton Beach, Suffolk Co., NY
- Unnamed woman #2. Drowned Sep 21; Pond Point ~Westhampton Beach, Suffolk Co., NY
- Unnamed person. Quogue, Suffolk County, Long Island, NY.
- Unnamed friend of Mona and Joan Schmid. Westhampton Beach, Suffolk County, L.I.,
- Crewman #1 of 6 off Ocean View; Foundered Sep 21 in Long Island Sound, NY.[378]
- Crewman #2 of 6 off Ocean View; Foundered Sep 21 in Long Island Sound, NY.
- Crewman #3 of 6 off Ocean View; Foundered Sep 21 in Long Island Sound, NY.
- Crewman #4 of 6 off Ocean View; Foundered Sep 21 in Long Island Sound, NY.
- Crewman #5 of 6 off Ocean View; Foundered Sep 21 in Long Island Sound, NY.
- Unidentified white male, ~50; body found Oct 1. Block Island, Washington County, RI.
- Unnamed man; fall from two-story building. Narragansett, Washington County, RI.
- Unidentified boy, 2-3. Body found Moonstone Beach, South Kingston, Wash. Co., RI.
- Fishing boat Sagnaset (unclear word in source). Foundered Sep 21 off Block Island, RI.
- Unnamed person. Montpelier ARC, Washington Co. ANRC. “Appendix C.” 1939, p. 86.
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[1] “Boston, Sept 26…With scores of persons missing and feared dead, the hurricane wracked and flood-swept Atlantic coastal states today counted almost 700 known dead. Some officials estimated the final count might near the appalling total of 1000 before all wreckage is cleared and the sea returns its dead.”
[2] “Boston, Sep 27.…the toll of lives, continued to mount as workers waded through more and more debris. Known deaths were set at more than 700 with so many still missing that the governors [New England] told Hopkins [Works Progress Administration National Director Harry L. Hopkins] it was certain the final check would reveal between 850 and 1000 dead.”
[3] “Boston, Oct. 3 (INS)–Three more names were added today to the slowly growing total of victims of the triple disaster which struck New England 12 days ago, hurricane, tidal wave and floods. The final total will approximate 850 along the eastern seaboard, officials estimated, as scores were still missing.”
[4] “Estimates vary, but at least 400 people died that day and maybe as many as 800.
[5] Compiled by B. Wayne Blanchard Oct 2009 and modified Jan 2010, Aug 2017, Jan 2018 and October 2019 for incorporation into: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com
[6] After writing that “Older people who had ridden through the storm on roofs and mattresses died not long afterward of ‘heart attacks,” Allen (1976, p. 288) writes: “The official death list [on the order of 600-700 according to Norris] attributable to the storm might well be doubled if such loss of life as this were added to it.” (Allen 1976, p. 164.) We have not made an attempt to add or estimate such deaths, but note Allen’s comment in order to draw attention to the “fact” that most deaths related to the stress and trauma of the storm, have not been recorded.
[7] Reported as “known dead.”
[8] “About 700 people died in the storm, 600 of them in New England.”
[9] “…close to 700 people perishing as a result of the storm. The majority of the fatalities…resulted from the storm surge…”
[10] “A survey by the U.S. Works Progress Administration (WPA) placed the loss of life closer to 700 (Minsinger, 1988). [As opposed to 500-600 American Red Cross number (500 dead and 100 missing).
[11] “The official death list of the Red Cross for the storm and flood was set last night [18th] at 682 throughout the storm area, while 101 were reported to be still in hospitals with ‘severe fractures and lacerations.’” Berkshire County Eagle, Pittsfield, MA. “Massachusetts.” 10-19-1938, p. 18.
[12] “New England counted its dead. Six hundred eight-two men, women and children. Many others still in hospitals. Almost 700, released from hospitals, convalescing at home.”
[13] “…and another 1,754 were seriously injured.”
[14] Goudsouzian himself does not produce a fatality estimate. He writes (p. 64) “Although final totals are difficult to gauge, one accepted estimate is that the hurricane killed 680 people and caused $400 million in damage.” In his Sources section (at p. 84) he credits Allen, A Wind to Shake the World.
[15] “Even today the exact death toll remained unknown. Dozens of persons still are recorded as ‘missing.’ A month after the ‘big blow’ a high Red Cross official said more than 680 persons then had been counted dead.”
[16] “The best Red Cross estimates report 600 to 680 killed, 2500 injured, 70,000 buildings damaged, 20,000 automobiles destroyed, and 3,000 boats sunk.”
[17] Sav cites: U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Environmental Data Service, Climatological Data, National Summary 1972, Vol. 23, p. 62.
[18] Examples of unnamed fatalities would be, for example, the unidentified hitchhiker who drowned in Queens, and the two men who died in North Attleboro MA when the Sears garage roof collapsed. See Appendix.
[19] An AP article the previous day, noting “507 known dead,” noted as well that “Red Cross officials reported 111 persons missing…” (AP. “Red Cross Reports 111 Still Missing in N.E. Storm Area.” Lowell Sun, 9-29-1938, p. 1.)
[20] For the great majority of the listings where the county is noted, that is our addition.
[21] While it appears to us that the proper range should be 97 to approximately 100 (in that there may have been a small number of deaths beyond 100), it gives us pause to see several other sources noting 85-90 deaths. Undermines confidence in asserting 97 to approximately 100.
[22] Highlighted in yellow to denote we do not use in our tally. The range is due to conflicting numbers reported for specific localities from the sources we have consulted. The ARC locale-with-in county numbers are particularly suspect in that the numbers reflect County ARC Chapter reports on the cases handled, all of whom may not have originated within the confines of the Chapter — could have been transferred to a chapter with greater resources.
[23] “Hundreds of lives were lost with many injured.” (“Southern Connecticut Highlights”) Not sure this is CT alone.
[24] “Nearly 100 people died in the state many of whom drowned by a fast-moving record storm surge.”
[25] “A week after the storm, Connecticut reported 97 killed, 209 injured, and several dozen still missing.”
[26] Associated Press. “Here is List of Known Dead in East Coast Hurricane.” Oakland Tribune, 9-22-1938, p. 3.
[27] Bahner, Sally E. “1938 Hurricane: ‘In One Suck The Lollipop Was Gone’.” Branford Eagle, CT, 9-20-2013.
[28] Goudsouzian 2004, p. 35, has name as Patrick Jones, and notes he suffered fatal head and chest injuries.
[29] Associated Press. “Here is List of Known Dead in East Coast Hurricane.” Oakland Tribune, 9-22-1938, p. 3.
[30] News-Times, Danbury, CT. “Our Katrina: Looking back on the Hurricane of 1938.” 9-20-2008.
[31] The Essex, Connecticut Hazards Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan Update, 2014, notes that the measured wind speed in Essex was 115 mph. (Prepared by Lower Connecticut River Valley Council of Governments; p. 69)
[32] Allen (1976, p. 116) writes that witnesses “saw him throw his anchor and apparently go overboard with it. They went immediately to help him, but failed to find him. His anchor rode was not attached to the boat and they concluded he had either slipped and fallen over or the line had fouled around his leg and pulled him over, or he had a heart attack.” Body was recovered in North Cove “not far from the spot where he went overboard.”
[33] Allen (1976, p. 115) is the source. Presumably the death was by drowning.
[34] Ebbin writes that ten deaths occurred in Mystic and Groton. We have seen notations of two deaths in Mystic (though there may have been more). Ebbin specifically notes two in Groton. We subtract the two we know of by name in Mystic in order to derive the number of eight Groton deaths.
[35] The Coquette, 35-feet, out of Oyster Bay, Long Island. (Streeter, Jim. “History Revisited: The Hurricane of 1938: Part 2 — Death and Destruction.” The Day, New London CT, 9-12-2018.) Streeter writes: “It has been said that the wave [storm surge wave] pushed the craft over Pine Island and subsequently drove it into the large rocks located on the shore of the Plant estate at Avery Point. The bodies of the captain of the vessel and a crew member were found in the waters off Pine Island six days later…the boat was owned by the general manager of Gimbel’s….”
[36] Unnamed man, with his wife of just over one week, and her brother. His wife and her brother survived. Groom’s body recovered three days later. (Streeter, Jim. “History Revisited: The Hurricane of 1938: Part 2 — Death and Destruction.” The Day, New London CT, 9-12-2018.)
[37] Streeter. “History Revisited: The Hurricane of 1938: Part 2…” The Day, New London CT, 9-12-2018.
[38] Snow (1943, p. 177) writes: Hartford experienced heavy damage around the State Capitol. The Park River overflowed into the business district, while the Connecticut River at midnight had risen to almost twenty-five feet. 7,000 people were forced to evacuate their residences in the city.”
[39] “Two deaths were known to have taken place in Hartford, Conn., at the height of the gale. George E. Henry, assistant chief of the Volunteer Fire Department at Glastonbury, Conn., was killed when a tall brick chimney fell from an adjoining structure through the roof of the building where he was at work in Hartford…” (New York Times. “Hurricane Sweeps Coast; 11 Dead, 71 Missing, L.I. Toll; 80 Die in New England Flood.” 9-22-1938, p. 1.)
[40] Associated Press. “Here is List of Known Dead in East Coast Hurricane.” Oakland Tribune, 9-22-1938, p. 3.
[41] Grant. Connecticut Disasters: True Stories of Tragedy and Survival. Globe Pequot Press, 2006, p. 121. NYT account: “…Robert O’Connor was fatally injured by a section of tin roof which hit him on the head.” (New York Times. “Hurricane Sweeps Coast; 11 Dead, 71 Missing, L.I. Toll; 80 Die in New England Flood.” 9-22-1938, p. 1.)
[42] Associated Press. “Here is List of Known Dead in East Coast Hurricane.” Oakland Tribune, 9-22-1938, p. 3.
[43] “My name is Anna Milne….My great great grandparents and cousins…3 of them, all died in the hurricane on Jepson Island…The bodies of my mother and father were found eventually in the wreckage of the cottage where it was washed ashore.” [Blanchard note: sounds like five, not three.] (Tom Parent. “Friday Marks 80 Years Since the Hurricane of 1938.” WTNH.com, CT, 9-21-2018.) Another source writes: “The Jepsons, grandparents of Captain Dwight Carter, Thimble Island ferry operators, perished.” (Sally E. Bahner. “1938 Hurricane: ‘In One Suck The Lollipop Was Gone’.” Branford Eagle, CT, 9-20-2013.)
[44] Associated Press. “Here is List of Known Dead in East Coast Hurricane.” Oakland Tribune, 9-22-1938, p. 3.
[45] Streeter writes (Part 1) that there were ten deaths in Groton and Mystic. In Part 2 he notes six Groton deaths. Though he discusses only two deaths specifically in Mystic, there were either two more deaths in Groton then he writes about or two more in Mystic, or the statement of ten deaths is inaccurate.
[46] Shea. “Unaware, Then Overwhelmed: Hurricane of 1938…” Hartford Courant, 1-25-2014; Associated Press. “Here is List of Known Dead in East Coast Hurricane.” Oakland Tribune, 9-22-1938, p. 3. Streeter (Part 2) writes “her jugular vein was severed when she was struck by a flying piece of glass from a window she was attempting to fix in her house.”
[47] Streeter. “History Revisited: The Hurricane of 1938: Part 2…” The Day, New London CT, 9-12-2018. Streeter notes this was on Fishtown Road.
[48] Associated Press. “Here is List of Known Dead in East Coast Hurricane.” Oakland Tribune, 9-22-1938, p. 3. Goudsouzian 2004, p. 35, notes the State Highway Dept. worker was electrocuted by fallen power lines.
[49] Associated Press. “Here is List of Known Dead in East Coast Hurricane.” Oakland Tribune, 9-22-1938, p. 3.
[50] Associated Press. “Storm Death Toll in N.E. 414; Floods New Menace.” Lowell Sun, MA. 9-23-1938, p. 8.
[51] Associated Press. “Storm Death Toll in N.E. 414; Floods New Menace.” Lowell Sun, MA. 9-23-1938, p. 8.
[52] Highlighted in yellow to denote we do not include in our tally. The New London CT Chapter of the ARC may well have handled twenty-four hurricane cases, but we doubt they were all from the New London corporate limits. There was a spectacular fire in New London after the hurricane which receive wide-spread media coverage for many days after the hurricane. We have conducted a newspaperarchive.com search for more than a week afterwards and did not find deaths additional to the ones we already note.
[53] Snow (1943, p. 177-178) writes: “New London experienced the brunt of the hurricane. The spectacular sight of the barkentine Marsala, a training ship, tossed against a railroad trestle was matched by the Lighthouse tender Tulip which reposed on the railroad tracks when the gale went down. Barges, tenders, yachts, and motorboats were jammed in helpless confusion into the New London streets. Whole sections of the city were devastated. Fires broke out threatening to destroy the entire city, but the wind shifted so that the flames were put under control.”
[54] Goudsouzian, Aram. The Hurricane of 1938. 2004, p. 27.
[55] The Associated Press (Sep 22, Biddeford Daily Journal, ME) notes that an unidentified New London man “died of over-exertion while chipping way through fallen trees to reach automobile.
[56] Associated Press. “Connecticut,” Biddeford Daily Journal, ME, 9-22-1938, p. 5, notes that an unidentified man and woman drowned in New London.
[57] “New London, Conn.–(AP)….A young man who apparently over exerted himself trying to chop his way through a tree-blocked street was found dead beside his automobile.” (Associated Press. “National Guard Patrols Storm Stricken City.” Sheboygan Press, WI, 9-22-1938, p. 15.)
[58] “The wind, the water, and the stress so sapped him that he died of a heart attack the next morning.” (Goudsouzian. The Hurricane of 1938. 2004, p. 23.
[59] Heidorn, Keith C. “The Great Hurricane of 1938, Part 3: The Great New England Hurricane. Weather Almanac. Writes: “In Old Lyme, the powerful storm surge flattened beach cottages or swept them away.”
[60] Associated Press. “Here is List of Known Dead in East Coast Hurricane.” Oakland Tribune, 9-22-1938, p. 3.
[61] Sarasota Herald-Tribune, FL. “4 Sarasota Winter Residents Killed by New England Storm.” 9-29-1938, p. 1.
[62] Marchant. “Great Hurricane of ’38 took Greenwich by surprise.” Ctpost, 9-21-2018. Could be reference to George Hoyt, 70, who was “dashed by gale.” (AP. “Here is List of Known Dead…” Oakland Tribune, 9-22-1938, 3.) Also, the American National Red Cross report on the Hurricane (1939, p. 87) notes one Stamford death.
[63] Burns (Great Hurricane: 1938. 2005, p. 130) notes “The storm tide had been over fourteen feet” at Stonington.
[64] Goudsouzian, Aram. The Hurricane of 1938. 2004, p. 29,
[65] Scotti. Sudden Sea. 2003, p. 134, who writes she was “an elderly well-dressed woman…[who] jumped into the swelling water and disappeared.”
[66] Burns. The Great Hurricane: 1938. 2005, p. 108. Walker’s middle initial is from Allen (1976, p. 120).Allen writes that Walker was swimming for land when a floating piece of timber (reportedly something like an 8×10), hit him in the back of the head, whereupon “he went down and never came up.” (p. 121.) Also, Scotti 2003, p. 134, who notes that “his body was found in the garden of a house in Stonington.”
[67] New Haven Register, CT. “Hurricane of 1938 chronicled in Stony Creek Museum.” 9-20-2013.
[68] Town of Stratford. “Hurricane September 21st, 1938.”
[69] The NYT of Sep 22 has the name as “Charles Krulikowski of Stratford, who was killed outside his home when the roof was blown off and fell on him.”
[70] Town of Stratford. “Hurricane September 21st, 1938.” Excerpt from Lewis Knapp’s history of Stratford: In Pursuit of Paradise. Scotti (2003, p. 241) writes the couple drowned when their cottage was washed out to sea.
[71] Grant. Connecticut Disasters: True Stories of Tragedy and Survival. 2006, p. 117; Snow 1979, p. 183. The Federal Writers Project report (1938, p. 19): “Along the shore at Westbrook at least nine bodies were washed up.”
[72] Associated Press. “Here is List of Known Dead in East Coast Hurricane.” Oakland Tribune, 9-22-1938, p. 3. Allen writes that as the Johnson cottage began to shift from the impact of water and wind, the two women tried to escape via a rowboat but it capsized when Mrs. Dickinson climbed in. Their bodies were found the next day.
[73] Associated Press. “Here is List of Known Dead in East Coast Hurricane.” Oakland Tribune, 9-22-1938, p. 3.
[74] Allen notes that Ella Remmert was the daughter of Sarah Wren. The two had been asked to leave their cottage before the water became too high but they declined.
[75] Also: New York Times. “Hurricane Sweeps Coast; 11 Dead, 71 Missing, L.I. Toll…” 9-22-1938, p. 1. In that we have a previous listing of a Charles Kirby, killed by a falling tree at Green Farms, Fairfield County, CT, Sep 21, we do make assumption these are references to the same person. Thus highlight in yellow to denote we do not include.
[76] Associated Press. “Here is List of Known Dead in East Coast Hurricane.” Oakland Tribune, 9-22-1938, p. 3.
[77] For the low-end of the fatality range we use the AP report of Sep 30 (134) and for the high-end we use the high-end from locality breakouts below (140).
[78] Highlighted in yellow to denote in tally in that this number is much out of keeping with other estimates cited.
[79] We are presented with a problem on the following pages when deaths are reported by Red Cross County Chapters. Each county had or was assigned case loads. Not all cases assigned, whether for death, injury, or personal property loss, etc., were restricted to the political boundaries of a County. Some ARC Chapters were larger at the start and more accessible to volunteers coming in from elsewhere. Thus caseloads tended to be larger in the larger chapters, irrespective of the relative damage there, as opposed to a sparsely populated area.
[80] Not used in tally — early reporting — shows that most of the fatalities were fairly immediate.
[81] We show two deaths in Berkshire County (another in Pittsfield). The ARC report at page 80, Appendix C, notes 1.
[82] Associated Press. “Here is List of Known Dead in East Coast Hurricane.” Oakland Tribune, 9-22-1938, p. 3.
[83] Since we have seen no reporting of mainland Boston fatalities we highlight in yellow to denote we do not include in our tally, making assumption one or more or all of these refer to the “at sea” losses from boats off of Boston. The NWS Forecast Office, Boston, MA, in The Great New England Hurricane of 1938 webpage, makes no mention of any Boston fatalities.
[84] Allen 1976, p. 279.
[85] Associated Press. “Here is List of Known Dead in East Coast Hurricane.” Oakland Tribune, 9-22-1938, p. 3. Snow (1979, p. 188) writes: The hurricane force lasted two hours at high intensity around Boston; the peak of the storm was about 6:47 P.M…..The anemometer at the Blue Hills Observatory registered 180 miles an hour before blowing away. City Point in South Boston seemed to draw the gale’s worst blasts around Boston. A million dollars worth of sailboats, motor yachts, expensive pleasure cruisers and excursion steamers were in the path of the storm.”
[85] Allen 1976, p. 280.
[86] Allen 1976, p. 280.
[87] Gloucester-ma.gov. “List of Fishermen Lost at Sea and Other Drownings.” Page 627.
[88] The American National Red Cross report on the hurricane also shows two deaths (“Appendix C,” p. 83.)
[89] While the article title notes 22 deaths, we are of the opinion that the deaths of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Jones was double counted — at Silver Beach and at Woods Hole.
[90] Goudsouzian. The Hurricane of 1938. 2004, p. 56.
[91] Allen (1976, p. 234) quotes from Leroy P. Ellis of Onset to the effect that “There was a man and some other people drowned in a house in the canal [Cape Cod Canal, between Cape Cod and the mainland to the north and northwest] when it smashed up against the Bourne Bridge.” Also: Fed. Writers Pgm. Hurricane. 1938, p. 106.
[92] Cites: Falmouth Enterprise. “Death, Damage and Daring in Hurricane,” 9-23-1938. The Federal Writers Program book on the New England Hurricane (1938, p. 107), also notes eight deaths.
[93] Allen 1976, pp. 222-223. The Enterprise, Cape Cod, in “The Hurricane of 1938,” 9-23-1938, writes: “Eight deaths and devastating property damage all along Falmouth coast line were the result of the hurricane which struck after 3 P.M. …Two of the eight lives lost at Silber Beach where Mr. and Mrs. Andrew S. Jones were seen floating to the deaths on the roof of what had been their home. The Silver Beach waterfront was swept clear of cottages.” Goudsouzian (2004, p. 56) writes that high water forced them onto the roof of their waterfront cottage. The house broke apart. “Then their floating roof crashed into another building, killing them both.”
[94] Actually note four deaths, but two of those (Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Jones) are placed by two other later sources at Silver Beach, Falmouth area, also in Barnstable County.
[95] Associated Press. “Here is List of Known Dead in East Coast Hurricane.” Oakland Tribune, 9-22-1938, p. 3.
[96] Allen cites the “In Memoriam” notice in November 1938 issue of the U.S. Coast Guard Magazine.
[97] Goudsouzian also notes deaths in the same area of the caretakers Albert Neal and William Briggs. We highlight in yellow to denote we do not include in our tally — seems to be reference to the three Coastguardsmen who died.
[98] Associated Press. “Here is List of Known Dead in East Coast Hurricane.” Oakland Tribune, 9-22-1938, p. 3. The American Red Cross report shows one death in Franklin Co. (Appendix C, p. 81). We show three (see Northfield).
[99] Goudsouzian. The Hurricane of 1938. 2004, pp. 54-55.
[100] Associated Press. “Here is List of Known Dead in East Coast Hurricane.” Oakland Tribune, 9-22-1938, p. 3.
[101] Federal Writers Project of WPA. New England Hurricane: A Factual, Pictorial Record. 1938. After writing about damage in East Brookfield, on p. 166, notes: A section of the main highway, Mass. 9, was gouged out. A doctor and nurse, returning from an early morning call, were plunged into the water-filled gap where the road had been. The woman was drowned.” ARC 1939, p. 83, also notes one Clinton fatality.
[102] Associated Press. “Here is List of Known Dead in East Coast Hurricane.” Oakland Tribune, 9-22-1938, p. 3.
[103] “Massachusetts State police, from their headquarters in Boston…said they were checking unconfirmed reports three persons had been killed in Easton…” (AP. “Storm Batters All New England; Providence Hit by Tidal Wave.” New York Times, 9-22-1938.) Highlighted in yellow to denote we do not include in tally — unable to confirm.
[104] Associated Press. “Here is List of Known Dead in East Coast Hurricane.” Oakland Tribune, 9-22-1938, p. 3.
[105] Elsewhere in the same list the death of Carleton Smith is noted as taking place in Watertown, Middlesex Co.
[106] Associated Press. “Here is List of Known Dead in East Coast Hurricane.” Oakland Tribune, 9-22-1938, p. 3.
[107] “Across the river [Acushnet] in Fairhaven, fifteen hundred were homeless. Seven bodies were found the next day [22nd]; others remained buried amid piles of splintered homes.” This does not necessarily mean, however, that the bodies were of Fairhaven residents or visitors. It is conceivable that bodies could have been swept from the New Bedford area to the west across the Acushnet River.
[108] Snow. Tales of Terror and Tragedy. 1979, p. 187. Also Fed. Writers Project. New England Hurricane, p. 97.
[109] Allen (1976, p. 257). Notes the cottage was on Sconticut Neck. Cites his fiancée, Miss Kate Arden, to the effect that “The doctor said that when the wave threw us into the air, he had evidently landed headfirst on his car and that was the cause of his death.” This is the only Fairhaven fatality Allen mentions.
[110] “Twelve residents of suburban Fall River died. The city hall roof was lifted off, and the sides of the water tower were blown in. The Shell oil tanker Phoenix was torn from her moorings at Fall River and pushed by the gale to Somerset, disrupting telephone service when her dragging anchor broke a cable.” The Federal Writers Project of the WPA (1938, p. 89) also writes that “12 suburban residents died in the gale.”
[111] We do not use the Red Cross reports by ARC Chapter in this instance. The ARC reports 52 deaths in Bristol County, while we show 44, but broken out in greater locale specificity, we believe.
[112] Associated Press. “Here is List of Known Dead in East Coast Hurricane.” Oakland Tribune, 9-22-1938, p. 3.
[113] INS. “Three More Storm Victims.” Lowell Sun, MA. 10-3-1938, p. 1
[114] Since we have seen no references to specific deaths in Gardner, it is possible that the death noted in the ARC report by the Gardner chapter, was of someone from elsewhere nearby, but whose case was assigned to Gardner.
[115] Associated Press. “Here is List of Known Dead in East Coast Hurricane.” Oakland Tribune, 9-22-1938, p. 3.
[116] Actually notes four deaths, but we list one death by locality in Easthampton, above.
[117] Associated Press. “Here is List of Known Dead in East Coast Hurricane.” Oakland Tribune, 9-22-1938, p. 3.
[118] Associated Press. “Here is List of Known Dead in East Coast Hurricane.” Oakland Tribune, 9-22-1938, p. 3.
[119] Associated Press. “Here is List of Known Dead in East Coast Hurricane.” Oakland Tribune, 9-22-1938, p. 3.
[120] Associated Press. “Here is List of Known Dead in East Coast Hurricane.” Oakland Tribune, 9-22-1938, p. 3.
[121] Associated Press. “Here is List of Known Dead in East Coast Hurricane.” Oakland Tribune, 9-22-1938, p. 3.
[122] Allen (1976, p. 214) cites an account by Donald LeMar Poole, Menemsha fisherman on the Vineyard, that the cook in a house on Stone Wall Beach [in Chilmark] drowned when every house on the beach was swept away. On page 212 Allen writes there was but one life lost on the Vineyard; thus Ms. Reed would seem to be the cook. The ARC report on the hurricane (Appendix C, p. 80), also notes but one death.
[123] Writes that “160 of the 170 seaside cottages collapsed.”
[124] Allen 1976, p. 247. Notes his body was found in Wareham.
[125] Quoting from diary of Mrs. Ruth Taylor. Notes that her body was recovered September 29.
[126] Associated Press. “Here is List of Known Dead in East Coast Hurricane.” Oakland Tribune, 9-22-1938, p. 3. American Red Cross report also notes one death in Methuen (Appendix C, p. 80).
[127] In this second listing for New Bedford there is a footnote: “New Bedford Chapter statistics split between Bristol and Plymouth Counties.” We highlight in yellow to denote we choose not to include in tally — do not know how distinctions were made as to geographical coverage, or how the Chapter took on case loads.
[128] Highlighted in yellow to denote we do not include in our tally — given the methodology employed of presenting statistics by ARC Chapter based on assigned case load (not all cases necessarily originating in the Chapter area).
[129] Grammatico: “The New Bedford port and docks were in shambles after the storm. In one day two-thirds of all the boats docked in New Bedford Harbor sunk.”
[130] Allen (1976, p. 268), cites the account of her husband: “He could see his wife going to launch a boat [to attempt to come to his head] and then watched in horror as a heavy sea slammed into the boathouse. It collapsed upon her. The next wave swept the building away.” Allen notes they were the only two people on the island.
[131] Goudsouzian 2004, p. 60.
[132] Associated Press. “Here is List of Known Dead in East Coast Hurricane.” Oakland Tribune, 9-22-1938, p. 3.
[133] Associated Press. “Here is List of Known Dead in East Coast Hurricane.” Oakland Tribune, 9-22-1938, p. 3.
[134] Scotti. Sudden Sea. 2003, p. 121.
[135] Associated Press. “Here is List of Known Dead in East Coast Hurricane.” Oakland Tribune, 9-22-1938, p. 3.
[136] Associated Press. “Here is List of Known Dead in East Coast Hurricane.” Oakland Tribune, 9-22-1938, p. 3.
[137] Associated Press. “Here is List of Known Dead in East Coast Hurricane.” Oakland Tribune, 9-22-1938, p. 3.
[138] Associated Press. “Here is List of Known Dead in East Coast Hurricane.” Oakland Tribune, 9-22-1938, p. 3.
[139] Highlighted in yellow to denote we do not include in tally. Have previously listed in nearby Chilmark.
[140] Goudsouzian: “At Swift’s Beach in Wareham, every cottage crumbled, and nine people died.” Allen writes that there were nine deaths in the outlying beach areas of Wareham. He notes three at Swift’s Beach (p. 232). Grammatico (p.7) notes “As the storm surge drove up the narrowing Buzzards Bay, Wareham lay right at the top of the bay. In Onset and Wareham, the wind and waves flattened entire rows of buildings and overturned automobiles.” Also: Federal Writers Project of WPA. New England Hurricane: A Factual, Pictorial Record. 1938, p. 103.
[141] “At Hamilton Beach….One old man was looking for his wife and daughter. He found their bodies, one under the steps of his cottage, and the other beneath the porch, both drowned…”
[142] Allen cites Wareham Police Chief Chester A Churchill and quotes Churchill to the effect “We lost the people on the beaches because the water came in behind them, cutting them off from the mainland. We couldn’t get to them and they couldn’t get out.”
[143] Associated Press. “Here Is List Ok Known Dead In East Coast Hurricane.” Oakland Tribune, CA, 9-22-1938, 3.
[144] Grammatico (p. 7): “The area around Westport Beach and Horseneck beach was especially hard hit. The day after the cyclone Horseneck Beach looked as if it had been bombed. Buildings were overturned, the bathhouses and the main road had been swept away.”
[145] “Beyond Dartmouth, there was Westport–Westport Harbor and Horseneck Beach–where twenty-three died and dozens of substantial dwellings were demolished; the West Beach was left a jumble of wrecked cottages and the East Beach, swept clean of its summer settlement.” Allen (at p. 201) quotes from a Standard-Times reporter that “Most of the dead were elderly people who had stayed on at summer homes after grandchildren had gone back to school, their vacations over, and the parents had returned to the city, coming back to the beach weekends.”
[146] The Federal Writers Project book is not totally clear. On page 90, write: “Twenty-three persons dead, miles of sandy beach either barren or a shambles of wreckage, one bridge carried away and another badly twisted,–the toll of the storm at wealthy Westport…Greatest damage and loss of life were at Horseneck Beach and Westport Harbor. West Beach was not swept so bare…Farther up the river the Hix Bridge was washed out completely…” On the next page: “….Not a building remains on the shoreline from Barney’s Joy to the West Beach road. Persons in this area were trapped between the onrushing sea and the marshes to the rear. Fourteen died.” Given other reporting, such as Allen, we will assume that this latter fourteen, were included in the earlier number of twenty-three.
[147] “On Horseneck Beach, thirty-foot-high waves crashed over the rock-pile embankment, washing hundreds of large, handsome cottages a quarter-mile inland into an open meadow. The beach itself shrank, pounded into a thinner strip….West Beach and Little Beach were piles of rubble; East Beach was a complete mud flat. The waves undercut all the multistory homes, sweeping them off the beach and killing fourteen people.”
[148] Associated Press. “Find Three Bodies.” Lowell Sun, MA, 9-30-1938, p. 1. Body recovered in Westport.
[149] Allen 1976, p. 194.
[150] INS. “Three More Storm Victims.” Lowell Sun, MA. 10-3-1938, p. 1
[151] Allen (1976, p. 198) cites a survivor, James Gill, who said “…there were three huge waves and the third was the tidal wave, which crushed the house like a paper bag. All the people were drowned. I was the only one left.”
[152] Associated Press. “Danger of Disease Ends.” Lowell Sun, MA, 9-28-1938, p. 1.
[153] Associated Press. “Here is List of Known Dead in East Coast Hurricane.” Oakland Tribune, 9-22-1938, p. 3.
[154] Highlight in yellow to denote we do not include in tally — other sources do not support such a toll, and we do not know from whence cases were assigned to the Worcester ARC Chapter to process.
[155] The Federal Writers Project report (1938, p. 172), after discussing damage in Worcester for several pages notes “Four dead, hundreds injured, a dozen churches wrecked, communications paralyzed. Industry in the city sufferd a loss of five million dollars.”
[156] Associated Press. “Here is List of Known Dead in East Coast Hurricane.” Oakland Tribune, 9-22-1938, p. 3.
[157] INS. “Three More Storm Victims.” Lowell Sun, MA. 10-3-1938, p. 1
[158] Associated Press. “Here is List of Known Dead in East Coast Hurricane.” Oakland Tribune, 9-22-1938, p. 3.
[159] Associated Press. “Here is List of Known Dead in East Coast Hurricane.” Oakland Tribune, 9-22-1938, p. 3.
[160] For the low end of the tally (12) we use the Red Cross number (which is also the number we derive from counting by locality. For the high-end of the tally (14) we use the Dunn and Miller and United Press number.
[161] Not used — appears to be a prevalence of opinion on thirteen or fourteen deaths, 10 of whom are named.
[162] “In all, thirteen died and 6,000 were left homeless in New Hampshire.”
[163] “Maine was the only New England state without a fatality….twelve in New Hampshire…”
[164] We have located but one named fatality, thus we are not sure this is a reference to two deaths in Concord.
[165] The American National Red Cross (“Appendix C,” p. 85) notes seven Hillsborough County deaths, as do we, though broken up into localities.
[166] Associated Press. “Here is List of Known Dead in East Coast Hurricane.” Oakland Tribune, 9-22-1938, p. 3.
[167] The American National Red Cross (“Appendix C,” p. 85) also notes a Nashua fatality.
[168] Goudsouzian (2004, p. 62) writes of this: “In North Weare, four women, ranging in age from fifty-five to eighty, had been watching the torrential Piscataquog River from a bridge along the state road. After a dam collapsed in Deering, the waters rushed down the valley to the reservoir in Weare, where they knocked through the concrete core of another dam. The instant onrush wiped out the bridge before the women could escape. Three of them died when the bridge collapsed. A fourth survived the fall. She grabbed onto a beam, and she surged through the white-water melee. Then a log struck her in the head, and she died too.” Scotti (2003, p. 123) notes four women drowned. The Federal Writers Project report on the Hurricane (1938, p. 198) notes the deaths as well when the bridge “caved in.”
[169] Not used for high-end estimate of fatalities — appears to be a rounding, and without additional detail can not tell if this number includes Long Island maritime fatalities, or NY residents killed in New England.
[170] Our attempt to tally names derives 68-76 deaths. Additionally, the highest death toll we have seen in the press in 63, thus we do not use as the high-end of our tally — and highlight in yellow to so indicate.
[171] Associated Press. “Here is List of Known Dead in East Coast Hurricane.” Oakland Tribune, 9-22-1938, p. 3.
[172] Associated Press. “Congressman of New York Dies.” Berkshire Evening Eagle, Pittsfield, MA. 10-6-1938, p. 17. Notes “His death followed his rescue from his summer home at Lido Beach, Long Island, from which he was carried when the hurricane struck the coast two weeks ago.”
[173] Associated Press. “Here is List of Known Dead in East Coast Hurricane.” Oakland Tribune, 9-22-1938, p. 3.
[174] Associated Press. “Here is List of Known Dead in East Coast Hurricane.” Oakland Tribune, 9-22-1938, p. 3.
[175] Allen 1976, p. 28, writes: New York City did not officially have a hurricane, since average intensity of the gale was 65 miles an hour and a hurricane bust be at least 75, yet because of the wind, high times, and a four-and-a-half-inch rainfall, the routine of city live was virtually as a standstill from 3 to 6 o’clock in the afternoon.
[176] Since our attempt to identify New York City deaths does not reach ten we assume the reference is to the greater NYC area. We list separately the borough of Queens in that it is physically located on Long Island. Additionally a NYC commuter collapsed and died (apparently of a heart attack) after reaching his home in Orange County.
[177] We do not know the borough William McGrath reportedly died in.
[178] Age is from NYT (9-22-1938) which writes: “Bert Fanning, 45, of 115 Fort Schuyler Road, the Bronx, was drowned when he jumped into the East River from the retaining wall of Fort Schuyler in a vain attempt to save the life of an unidentified man who had fallen into the river from the wall. Fanning’s body was recovered but that of the unidentified man was not found.”
[179] A Brooklyn resident at the time who described concrete “being ripped up by the storm” and his seeing “a neighbor’s roof blown off during the storm.” (Lane, Julie. “A storm for the ages, 75 years ago.” Shelter Island Reporter, Suffolk County, NY. 9-21-2013.)
[180] “A young man about 18 years old, whose identity was not established, was instantly killed last night [21st] when he touched an electric light cable which had been blown down by the storm at Hicks and Bush Streets, Brooklyn. Witnesses said that he had apparently tried to throw the cable out of the way of traffic.” (New York Times. “Hurricane Sweeps Coast; 11 Dead, 71 Missing, L.I. Toll; 80 Die in New England Flood.” 9-22-1938, p. 1.)
[181] Associated Press. “Here is List of Known Dead in East Coast Hurricane.” Oakland Tribune, 9-22-1938, p. 3.
[182] The hitchhiker had been picked up in Queens; when the car stalled in high water he tried to swim to safety, but drowned. Coastguardsmen were able to rescue the motorist from his car top “and found the body of the hitchhiker washed up on the higher land he had tried to reach.” (Allen. A Wind To Shake The World. 1976, pp. 30-31.)
[183] American National Red Cross. New York-New England Hurricane and Floods — 1938. Appendix C, p. 89.
[184] Associated Press. “Here is List of Known Dead in East Coast Hurricane.” Oakland Tribune, 9-22-1938, p. 3.
[185] Perhaps this is the unidentified man who Bert Fanning drowned attempting to rescue. The NYT (9-22-1938) writes that Fanning’s body was recovered “but that of the unidentified man was not found.”
[186] Highlighted in yellow to denote not counted here — also reported as a Westhampton Beach fatality.
[187] Associated Press. “Here is List of Known Dead in East Coast Hurricane.” Oakland Tribune, 9-22-1938, p. 3. Allen (1976, pp. 33-34) writes that after a two hour drive through the storm (which would normally have taken fifteen minutes), over “almost impassable” roads, he collapsed from exhaustion and exposure and died.
[188] Pryde and two companions were trying to get his yawl to safety and beached at Asharoken. According to Allen: “As the boat went ashore, Pryde jumped to the beach side, to make for the land, about twenty feet away. Simultaneously, a sea rolled in. It dropped the boat on him. His two companions got him ashore…After the respirator [from Northport Fire Dept.] had been used a half-hour, Pryde was pronounced dead by the coroner…”
[189] East Hampton Star, NY. “Death Toll.” 9-23-1938, p. 1.
[190] Highlighted in yellow to denote that same name is mentioned as a Westhampton Beach fatality. We count once.
[191] Highlighted in yellow to denote that a Mr. O. Raynor is also listed as a fatality in Westhampton Beach, Southampton, Suffolk County, Long Island, NY. We count once.
[192] East Hampton Star, NY. “100-Mile Hurricane Brings Death and Havoc to Long Island.” 9-22-1938, p. 1.
[193] East Hampton Star, NY. “100-Mile Hurricane Brings Death and Havoc to Long Island.” 9-22-1938, p. 1.
[194] Allen writes that the four went out with his crew to lift their fishing traps. “They were never seen alive again….the Coast Guard reported that the body of Samuel Edwards had been found on the beach at Block Island…”
[195] Allen: “Captain Seth Scribner of East Hampton had his trawler Tacoma moored…in Fort Pond Bay and was afraid that she would go adrift as the…storm increased. With Claude Burrows…he attempted to save his boat…when she broke loose…In October Captain Henry Birkenstock found the body of Burrows drifting in Gardiner’s Bay. In November, the net of the trawler Adelaide hung up on what proved to be the sunken Tacoma, not far from Fort Pond Bay. The boat was dragged into the bay and beached; Captain Scribner was not on her.”
[196] Allen (1976, pp. 72-73). Allen writes the wreckage eventually washed ashore, but without Mr. Langson.
[197] “James Harris tried to bring three older women, including his mother, across Moriches Bay [north] from Pond Point. The boat overturned, killing one woman immediately. Harris clung to the boat with one arm and held his mother with the other. The other woman held onto the boat until they approached shore; then fatigue overtook her, and she drowned. Harris and his mother washed up on shore, climbed atop the roof of a flooded bathhouse, and collapsed in exhaustion.” (Goudsouzian, Aram. The Hurricane of 1938. 2004, p. 7.)
[198] It is not clear to me if the lifeboat capsized in CT or NY waters. The Ocean View was definitely out of a Long Island, NY port and sank in Long Island Sound. Allen [1976, p. 72) writes that while trying to make it to Promised Land, the boat began to sink. Cpt. William Smith ordered the crew into two boats. He and sixteen crew were in one boat and six were in the boat that capsized. Allen: “Captain Smith’s boat went ten miles to leeward [away from the wind], across Long Island Sound…they made the beach near Madison, Connecticut [east of New Haven]…”
[199] According to Allen, Mrs. Bazinet and Mrs. Haas had tried to cling to a tree as water went over the island.
[200] Also: Lane, Julie. “A storm for the ages, 75 years ago.” Shelter Island Reporter, Suffolk County, NY. 9-21-2013. Lane writes: “On Shelter Island, roads were blocked by fallen trees and forests were ‘reduced to acres of tangled branches,’…The wooded drive at the then Dering Harbor Club was destroyed; the east veranda and side roof of the country club was partly blown off…Dering Harbor Village roads and lawns were strewn with oaks and locusts…Ram Island Road was impassable as huge waves tore up the Lower Beach road at Ram Island Estates, allowing the bay and harbor to meet across the roadway for hours….”
[201] “About 5 o’clock on the day of the storm, Emmett Young of Southold climbed to the roof of his barn, in an attempt to refasten damaged sections. The roof blew off, pinning him under fallen timber…the main highway was impassable [that night]. Mr. Young was removed to the hospital early the next afternoon, after the roads had been cleared; he died of internal injuries…” (Allen. A Wind to Shake The World. 1976, p. 39.)
[202] East Hampton Star, NY. “Two Women Are Drowned At Southampton.” 9-23-1938, p. 1.
[203] East Hampton Star, NY. “Two Women Are Drowned At Southampton.” 9-23-1938, p. 1.
[204] Scotti (2003, p. 110) writes “Along Westhampton Beach, the tide would rise as high as thirty feet.” At p. 116 he writes that a mile away from the shore in the village of Westhampton, “water rose to seven feet on Main Street.”
[205] “At noon today it was reliably reported that forty-four lives had been lost at Westhampton beach…” We highlight in yellow to denote we do not include this number in our tally. It is possible that this report was inaccurate. For example, Goudsouzian writes (pp. 16-17) that Norvin Greene of Westhampton Beach heard a radio broadcast stating that his wife, two children as well as others attending a party she had been throwing for her children, had been “swept away.” Not true — they had retreated to a neighbor’s stone house and survived.
[206] Cites USACE. Atlantic Coast of Long Island, N.Y., Fire Island to Montauk Point, Cooperative Beach Erosion Control and Hurricane Study (Survey). NY: U.S. Army Engineer District (two volumes). 1958.
[207] “One month later, Westhampton Beach counted twenty-eight dead and four missing.
[208] Note that Mr. and Mrs. Dalin were both in their sixty’s is from Burns. The Great Hurricane; 1938. 2005, p. 86.
[209] East Hampton Star, NY. “100-Mile Hurricane…, 9-22-1938, p. 1.
[210] Associated Press. “Here is List of Known Dead…” Oakland Tribune, CA. 9-22-1938, p. 3.
[211] Burns, Cherie. The Great Hurricane: 1938. 2005, p. 181.
[212] Associated Press. “Here is List of Known Dead in East Coast Hurricane.” Oakland Tribune, 9-22-1938, p. 3.
[213] Highlighted in yellow to denote we do not include in Westhampton Beach tally — previously listed in Eastport.
[214] Burns, Cherie. The Great Hurricane: 1938. 2005, p. 180.
[215] Highlighted in yellow to denote that an Oliver Raynor listed as a fatality in Eastport Suffolk County, L.I., NY. We include in the Westhampton Beach tally.
[216] Within “List of Dead,” notes “Mr. and Mrs. Myron A. Schater, 55, Washington, D.C.”
[217] Scotti. Sudden Sea. 2003, p. 205.
[218] “The friend in the house across the road [Dune Road] who called to Mona and Joan to come in out of the storm also died with her mother.”
[219] East Hampton Star, NY. “Death Toll.” 9-23-1938, p. 1. Highlighted in yellow to denote that Mrs. Flagg was previously listed as having died in Westhampton Beach, Suffolk County, Long Island, NY. We count once.
[220] We suspect these were deaths of Pennsylvanian elsewhere, such as “Mrs. John Co. Morrris, socially prominent of Philadelphia, and her son, John…among eight persons drowned at Narragansett Pier, R.I.” (INS . “Death Toll 172 In Coast Storm; Scores Missing.” Chester Times, PA, 9-22-1938, pp. 1-2.)
[221] We choose to use the range of fatalities derived from an attempt to count deaths (344-353). All of the sources reporting higher numbers (which may actually be correct), still leave us with no understanding of how their numbers were derived.
[222] Highlighted in yellow to denote we do not use for purposes of a tally. While possibly correct, these numbers are unsupported by breakouts which allow one to understand how the tally was developed.
[223] There is a caution to note concerning double counting. I show American Red Cross numbers for localities within counties which, as in Newport, are higher than the total I show by counting named individuals. I also show, at the end of Rhode Island locality breakouts, the names of fatalities for whom a locality is not noted. Thus, some of these fatalities could have occurred in localities where the ARC shows a higher number than I do.
[224] We caution that even this low-end of the range may be exaggerated. It uses, for example 35 deaths for Providence, using the American National Reed Cross report, when our attempt to count deaths shows eleven names.
[225] Notes this is an estimate she has seen, but does not note the source.
[226] Most of her entries note “died at” and then the location. We list using the “died at” location. It is possible that some injured persons were removed from one place and died at another.
[227] “Watch Hill epitomized the vulnerability of South County [what locals call southern edge of Washington Co.], Rhode Island. Open to the storm surges building up from the Atlantic, vulnerable to the strongest winds east of the eye, and dotted with villages of beach cottages, the twenty-mile stretch from Napatree Point to Point Judith paid the hurricane’s stiffest toll: entire communities destroyed, and 175 people lost.” (Goudsouzian 2004, p. 37.)
[228] Not used in tally — a first day account.
[229] Hurd, Beth. “Hurricane of 1938: 80th Anniversary.” 9-25-2018.
[230] The ARC in its report on the hurricane and flooding notes just one death in Bristol County (p. 79).
[231] Hurd, Beth. “Hurricane of 1938: 80th Anniversary.” 9-25-2018.
[232] A Sep 30 story in the Newport Mercury and Weekly News, RI (“Block Island Slowly Recovers From Disaster,” p. 7) writes that there were but two known fatalities at the time.
[233] Hurd, Beth. “Hurricane of 1938: 80th Anniversary.” 9-25-2018. [All other deaths noted by AP]
[234] Hurd, Beth. “Hurricane of 1938: 80th Anniversary.” 9-25-2018.
[235] Goudsouzian 2004, p. 38; also Hurd 2018.
[236] Goudsouzian 2004, p. 38.
[237] Body “washed ashore…at Dorry’s Cove, Block Island (western shore)…probably result of hurricane of Sept. 21,” according to death record.
[238] Hurd does not note place of death. Find A Grave notes burial at Moshassuck Cemetery, Central Falls, RI.
[239] Charlestown Beach…[was] wiped clean of human habitation. More than fifty bodies were recovered from the dunes the first night.”
[240] Hurd notes that the couple died at Charleston “when a tidal wave swept over and destroyed their summer home at Charlestown Beach.”
[241] Scotti (2003, p. 145) writes that “On the morning of the twenty-first, there were seven hundred houses along this stretch [Charlestown Beach]. By nightfall, there was none.”
[242] Goudsouzian notes she drowned when her mother’s (Katherine Burchill) cottage “washed into Salt Water Pond.” An AP report of Sep 23 notes that “Mrs. Katherine Burchill of Westerly lost two children as the waves topped over her cottage and swept it into a pond. She clung for a time to the dress of her four-month-old baby but the infant was swept to death.” (Assoc. Press. “Rhode Island Hardest Hit by Hurricane.” Monroe News-Star, LA. 9-23-1938, p. 1.)
[243] Hurd has the location as Charlestown. Goudsouzian (2004, p. 39) has the deaths as “on Charlestown Beach,” as does Scotti (2003, p. 200).
[244] Allen (1976, p. 151) writes that the Sterns women and Mabel Barber, were together in the cottage of Howard, C. Barber, who was swept north across Charleston Pond and survived.
[245] Snow (1979, pp. 186-187) writes: “A little girl at Conimicut Point rode through the storm on a kapok mattress, finally coming ashore after four hours at Narragansett Terrace. Her parents perished.” Perhaps the Harris or McConey couples.
[246] Hurd 2018, shows as: “Alga (Olga?) Croce, age 26, a resident of Brocton, Mass., died at Barrington.”
[247] Burns 2015, p. 148; Associated Press. “Here is List of Known Dead in East Coast Hurricane.” Oakland Tribune, 9-22-1938, p. 3. Hurd 2018 writes that the victims “drowned during an attempted rescue.” Scotti 2003, p. 218.
[248] Goudsouzian (2004, p. 50): “The Gianitis boys…Arrivals from Greece only weeks before…spoke no English…”
[249] Allen (1976, p. 182) does not show the girls as twins. He has “Theresa” as 12 and Dorothy as 11.
[250] Ages are from Hurd 2018, who notes deaths were at Mackerel Cove.
[251] See Sakonnet Point (Grinnell estate), Little Compton, Newport County, RI, listing below.
[252] Highlighted in yellow to denote we have an Albert Sabins or Albert Savins listed twice and we speculate they are one and the same. We include in our tally the listing for Charles Albert Sabins, who is said to have drowned on Sep 21 while at the F. F. Grinnell estate, Sakonnet Point, Newport County, RI.
[253] Highlighted in yellow to denote we have two locales for deaths of the Sousas. The second listing is under Tiverton, Newport County, RI. We do not know which locale is correct.
[254] Hurd notes be had been working at his business a parking lot at Third Beach. Body found in Little Compton.
[255] “Forty-two people had been in cottages on Fort Road on Napatree Point and all of them had been washed away. Fifteen had drowned.” We highlight in yellow to denote we do not include in our tally. Napatree was the westerly end of Westerly, off Watch Hill. Thus we believe the reported death toll of approximately 100 people in Westerly, includes those people who died at Napatree, as well as Watch Hill Misquamicut and Westerly proper. The road and housing was washed away and today it is the Napatree Point Conservation Area.
[256] Their beachfront cottage was swept away.
[257] Burns. The Great Hurricane: 1938, 2005, p. 134.
“When they [Paul Johnson Moore and his father] arrived in Watch Hill [Westerly village on westside], Paul’s stepmother’s body had been found, but his sister was missing.”
[259] Burns (2015, 198-199), notes that the body of the mobility-impaired girl was not located until Oct 2, eleven days afterwards, “recovered from under a five-foot pile of wreckage in a cove opposite Woody Island.”
[260] Highlight in yellow to denote we do not include in tally. There was a drowning victim at first identified as Charlie Keville. At page 159 Allen cites an Associated Press report that a Charles Keville went into the temporary morgue and stated it wasn’t him. Thus, either the AP report was incorrect or the body was of someone else, perhaps of one of the other Narragansett fatalities listed here.
[261] Allen (1976, 164). Allen notes the title “mayor” was honorary in that he was the founding father. Allen writes: “Months later, after lingering in South County Hospital in Wakefield, Tom Mann, the “mayor” of Galilee, died on the injuries received when he was forced to take refuge on the roof of his house.”
[262] Allen (1976, 153-154), writes: “Mrs. Irving W. Smith was proprietor of a store at Galilee. William Whalen…went to her store at Sand Hill Cove at least twice in an effort to get hr to leave for a place of safety. The last time he went, she continued t refuse; within minutes, the building was swept to destruction and Whalen–who would not leave her alone, even to save himself–was drowned with her. No trace of the store remained afterward.”
[263] Allen 1976, p. 153)
[264] This was after the storm when the man apparently “forgot one night that the hurricane had ripped out a flight of stairs leading down from his back door.”
[265] AP. “Here is List of Known Dead in East Coast Hurricane.” Oakland Tribune, 9-22-1938, p. 3. Hurd 2018 has names as John Cushing Norris Jr., 31 and Maria Seville (Dobson) Norris, 69, mother of John. Also Burns, p. 188. INS article of Sep 22 out of Boston notes: “Mrs. John C. Morris, socially prominent of Philadelphia, and her son, John, were among eight persons drowned at Narragansett Pier, R.I.” (INS. “Death Toll 172 In Coast Storm; Scores Missing.” Chester Times, PA, 9-22-1938, pp. 1-2.)
[266] Snow (not the source for this number) writes (1943, p. 177) that: “Bailey’s Beach at Newport was wiped off the map by the giant hand of the storm, and Newport Beach suffered the same fate.” (Plate 2, following page 23 in Paulson/USGS Water-Supply Paper 867, is a photo of “Wreckage and small boats being tossed among submerged automobiles and buildings at the height of the storm” along the “Water Front District of Newport, R.I.”
[267] Highlighted in yellow to denote that this death appears to be noted in two close but different locations. The second location is the Sandy Point Lighthouse residence, Prudence Island, Providence, Providence County, RI. In that the second location is more specific and has more detail we include in tally there.
[268] Age is from Hurd 2018.
[269] Allen writes that the body of the Pierrepoint Johnson Jr.(3) nurse was recovered on Viking Beach.
[270] This works out if one looks at Quonset and Quonset Point breakout below, where we show six deaths.
[271] Island Park is in northeast top of Providence. Allen (1976, 186) quotes a newspaper to the effect that “When Island Park was at its deepest, it was estimated that sixteen feet of water covered Cedar Avenue [Northside], near the Hathaway peach orchard.”
[272] Writes that “the hurricane destroyed all but two of two hundred cottages” at Island Park. Allen (1976, 185) citing the Sep 23 edition of the Newport RI, News, quotes: “The bodies of sixteen persons drowned in the hurricane were dug from the wreckage that was Island Park and from the ruins of submerged automobiles in Hathaway’s peach orchard Thursday [Sep 22].” McGaw (2016) writes: “Eighteen people were killed in Island Park alone.”
[273] Hurd, Beth. “Hurricane of 1938 deaths in Rhode Island.” Find A Grave.
[274] Highlighted in yellow to denote we do not count in Portsmouth tally. Hurd (2018) notes the death of Manuel A. Pimental, 30 in Newport from a fractured skull. We presume this is the same person and we include in Newport.
[275] Drowning is our inference from reading in Goudsouzian (2004, p. 48) that the wife of George Rodgers drowned.
[276] American National Red Cross. New York-New England Hurricane 1938. 1939, p. 79.
[277] Blanchard compilation of named fatalities.
[278] Snow (1979, p. 185) writes “Four men were drowned in the city.” In an earlier book (1943, p. 174) he writes that three people were killed when chimneys fell on their cars and that four men drowned within the city. We highlight in yellow to denote we do not use in the tally in that we have located more than seven named individuals were reportedly died in Providence, or at least were buried in a Providence cemetery.
[279] Hurd, Beth. “Hurricane of 1938: 80th Anniversary.” 9-25-2018. [All other deaths noted by AP]
[280] Also shown as dying at Barrington in Bristol County, RI. Just include one entry in tally.
[281] Allen (1976, 166) has his age as thirty and writes he drowned in Turks Head Square.
[282] Goudsouzian (2004, p. 45) writes he “was swept by floodwaters into Exchange Place” downtown Providence.
[283] Highlighted in yellow to denote we are not including in tally here — appears to be duplicate listing. We show, above, the death of William Grant Horton, 71, at Charlestown, Washington County, RI.
[284] Hurd 2018 notes age as 21 and cause as: “crushed by roof blown on auto” per death record.
[285] Goudsouzian (2004, p. 45) writes McDuff drowned after he “got trapped under a car on Westminster Street.”
[286] The WPA Federal Writers Progress report on the New England Hurricane writes: “A six-story brick wall…[fell] in a public parking lot, killing two women in one of the cars and seriously injuring a child.” (1938, p. 64). We speculate one of the other females listed herein was the second woman.
[287] “…notes on death record list probable causes…to acute cardiac failure caused by physical strain during storm.”
[288] Highlighted in yellow to denote that this name is listed twice — earlier as a death in Bay Spring, Bristol County, when home was swept into Narragansett Bay, RI.
[289] Federal Writers Project of WPA. New England Hurricane: A Factual, Pictorial Record. 1938, p. 74. Noted that “Six are known to have perished on Prudence Island, off the coast of Bristol.” We note two other sources which have the death toll at five, however.
[290] “Three guests had arrived beforehand to visit the keeper at the lighthouse. They were Martin Thompson, a former Prudence Island Lighthouse keeper, James Lynch, and his wife Ellen who sought refuge under Keeper Gustavus’ recommendations that the lighthouse was sturdy enough to survive the hurricane. The keeper’s instincts turned out to be incorrect. Although he was able to make it to safety with the help of 18-year old George Taber, he had to watch in horror as his wife and son were swept away and drowned, along with their three guests…” (Wood, Allan. “Prudence Island (Sandy Point) Lighthouse.” New England Lighthouses and Coastal Attractions. {webpage}.) Also: Scotti (2003, p. 240): “The Sandy Point station house was swept away with keeper George T. Gustavas, his wife, his sun, and three friends inside. A second wave tossed Gustavas back to shore, where he kept the light beaming throughout the storm.” See, also: Snow. Tales of Terror and Tragedy. 1979, p. 186.
[291] Hurd 2018 has the Gustavus deaths at Middletown, which is downstream to the southeast from Prudence Island. One or the other source appears to be incorrect. It is possible that they had a home there, or that their bodies washed ashore at Middletown.
[292] Shea. “Unaware and Overwhelmed: Hurricane of 1938…” Hartford Courant, 1-25-2014. We highlight in yellow to denote we do not add this number to tally in that it includes Washington County areas, such as Charleston, that we take separate note of and speculate this number would include at least some double-counting.
[293] Associated Press. “Here is List of Known Dead in East Coast Hurricane.” Oakland Tribune, 9-22-1938, p. 3. Highlighted in yellow to denote we do not include in tally, choosing to use Hurd 2018 placement in Providence. We must admit uncertainty, however. Another AP piece in the NYT states: “At Riverside, R.I., a 55 year-old woman was killed when a chimney fell on the car in which she was parked.” (Associated Press. “Storm Batters All New England; Providence Hit by Tidal Wave.” New York Times, 9-22-1938.)
[294] “At Sakonnet Point, the storm wave flooded the land to a height of twenty feet. It swept away fifty of the seventy-five cottages and shanties that made up the Sakonnet fishing colony. Nine men and a woman sought refuge in a two-story garage on the F. F. Grinnell estate; four died.” Allen quotes from Allen Kimpel, who survived, to the effect that “…a big sea that broke just before it hit the building knocked it off its foundation. The wave ripped off our part of the building and flung us and it into the river…”
[295] Find A Grave has death location as Little Compton, Newport County, RI.
[296] This is about what we show in separate breakouts — Narragansett (14), Narragansett Pier (2), and South Kingston (3) — which totals to nineteen.
[297] Allen (1976, p. 155).
[298] Allen is quoting from communications to the State Police at Montauk, NY, in that it was not known whether the body had been carried from eastern Long Island across the Sound.
[299] Goudsouzian (2004, p. 48) writes that a big wave washed five passengers in a Packard away.
[300] Also: Assoc. Press. “Here is List of Known Dead in East Coast Hurricane.” Oakland Tribune, 9-22-1938, p. 3.
[301] Hurd (2018) lists as Oswald Clarke Peckham, 38. Hurd notes that he died at Little Compton, which is contiguous to and south of Tiverton, where his mother was noted as dying. Her listing notes mother an son died at Tiverton. His listing notes son and mother dying at Little Compton. Hurd does not mention Richard Peckham.
[302] The ARC in its report on this hurricane notes 27 deaths in Warwick Kent County. We show 23 for Kent County. It should be noted, though, that we show thirty-three deaths below, for which a county designation is not noted.
[303] Hurd, Beth. “Hurricane of 1938: 80th Anniversary.” 9-25-2018. [Provides list of RI fatalities.]
[304] Sep 22 AP list of RI deaths notes Mrs. Charles Kettley, 40, at River View. Speculate one and the same.
[305] Hurd 2018.
[306] Associated Press. “Here is List of Known Dead in East Coast Hurricane.” Oakland Tribune, 9-22-1938, p. 3.
[307] From assortment of fatality numbers below, ranging from about 57 to 130, we choose to use 78 in that this is the number used by the American National Red Cross report on the hurricane, and in that our own attempt to count fatalities totals to 68-70. This could be an underestimate. We are especially suspicious when a round number such as “100” is used. What are the chances exactly 100 people would be killed. Appears to be a rounding or guestimate.
[308] “Of the 380 who die in Rhode Island, 130 do so in Westerly…” We highlight in yellow to denote we do not use in that we can not substantiate. Garcia writes that “130 lives were lost across southern Rhode Island and Connecticut as a result of the storm, 57 of whom were Westerly residents.” (Cites: The Hurricane: September 21, 1938: Westerly, Rhode Island and Vicinity — Historical and Pictorial (Westerly, RI, 1938).)
[309] “So many people died in Westerly, R.I., (112) that there was a shortage of embalming fluid.” Yellow highlight denotes we do not include in tally.
[310] This death toll is for “the Westerly area,” thus the nearby area to the east of Quonochontaug or even Quonochontaug to Galilee (20 miles), conceivably could be included.
[311] “Westerly’s five undertakers long since have run out of embalming fluid; more has to be rushed from Providence. The toll of death will run up to more than one hundred…” [Blanchard note: this quote is from four-page section (pp. 144-147) dealing with Westerly.] There is no footnote sourcing the “more than one hundred…” deaths.
[312] Appears to treat Napatree Point “in Watch Hill, Rhode Island” where seventeen people are said to have been killed, separately from Westerly. After writing about Napatree Point goes on to write: “In Westerly, the four mile long Misquamicut Beach was totally wiped clear of buildings, more than 500 beach homes were swept away. At least 100 people were killed in the Westerly area alone.”
[313] Quoted from diary of Eleanor Crandall Thayer. Eleanor lived in Westerly and experienced the storm at the age of 18. Her diary was discovered by her daughters after her death at the age of 92. In: Cotter, Betty J. “Witness to history: A young woman’s account of the Hurricane of 1938.” Theday.com, 8-21-2013.
[314] William Cawley was a Westerly survivor. He wrote: “I counted bodies, row upon sickening row of them, stretched out in the old town high school after the city’s morgues were filled. When I left at 4 o’clock this morning there were 74 dead and almost 100 missing.”
[315] This number pertains only to two ocean-fronting sections of Misquamicut and Watch Hill. Writes: “…many downtown Westerly homes and businesses were flooded with water up to eight feet deep. The high winds flattened trees, steeples, and telephone poles throughout the town….The Town, as a whole, was crippled for weeks on end due to this benchmark storm (Town of Westerly, 2012).”
[316] “Other parts of Westerly [follows sentence on Napatree Point and Watch Hill] were also devastated including the Misquamicut area which experienced extensive damage and destruction with over 50 deaths and 500 cottages destroyed as storm driven waves passed completely over the narrow barrow beach protecting normally tranquil salt ponds (Town of Westerly, 2012).”
[317] “Red Cross workers and police in…Westerly area, removing bodies from the wreckage of homes half-buried beneath sand drifts…71 were known to be dead in that section…They feared 57 more, missing, might have died.”
[318] We do not dispute Garcia statement of 57 Westerly deaths. We show almost three dozen named deaths in “Locality not noted” section below. Presumably some of these deaths were in Westerly.
[319] Cites: The Hurricane: September 21, 1938: Westerly, Rhode Island and Vicinity — Historical and Pictorial (Westerly, RI, 1938).
[320] Allen (1976, pp. 138-139) cites Misquamicut Assistant Fire Chief E. L. Reynolds, to the effect that “Score of cottages…were carried over the shore to Brightman’s Pond. Later we found twelve bodies in that pond.” We presume that the shore referred to is the thin strip of land to the south of the pond, beyond which is the Atlantic Ocean (the hurricane was moving south to north). It is of course possible that there is double counting between Misquamicut and Brightman’s Pond. We highlight in yellow to denote we do not include in tally.
[321] “At 3:50 P.M. on Napatree Point in Watch Hill, Rhode Island, the storm surge struck the two mile long barrier island with full fury. Forth-four summer homes, the yacht club building, and seventeen people were swept into the Atlantic and never seen again.”
[322] Allen (1976, p. 132), cites Charles F. Hammond, publisher of Seaside Topics, “who was responsible for collecting and preserving invaluable first-person accounts…” to the effect that of the forty-two persons on Fort Road (in Napatree of the time), “Fifteen were killed, twenty-seven survived after their houses were demolished by the monstrous seas…” There is no Fort Road today in Napatree (it ends in the west end of Watch Hill), and Napatree is the Napatree Point Conservation Area.
[323] VHB (for Town of Westerly). Local Hazard Mitigation Plan 2017 Update. Nov 2017, p. 32
[324] Also on Westerly, RI Christ Church list.
[325] Goudsouzian 2004, p. 39.
[326] AP. “Here is List of Known Dead…” 9-22-1938, p. 3, notes death of Mrs. Ralph Bliven. Possibly one and same.
[327] Allen (1976, p. 146) writes that the mother and sister of Ralph Bliven were swept off a raft and drowned.
[328] Their beachfront cottage was swept away.
[329] “Christ Church Mothers’ Club and others” listing.
[330] Also on Westerly, RI Christ Church list.
[331] Dodson, James. “Hurricane of 1938: The Wind That Shook the World.” New England Today, 9-20-2018.
[332] Also on Westerly, RI Christ Church list.
[333] Also on Westerly, RI Christ Church list.
[334] Also on Westerly, RI Christ Church list.
[335] Also on Westerly, RI Christ Church list.
[336] Burns. The Great Hurricane: 1938, 2005, p. 134; Scotti. Sudden Sea. 2003, p. 145.
[337] Also on Westerly, RI Christ Church list.
[338] Find A Grave. “Kate Brown Maine.” 10-4-2018; Hurd. “Hurricane of 1938: 80th Anniversary.” 9-25-2018. Allen (1976, p. 140), has the name as Mrs. Kate Main.
[339] AP. “Here is List of Known Dead…” 9-22-1938, lists name as Albert Mawson.
[340] Goudsouzian (2004, p. 38), has the last name as Mawley, and writes that a friend of Alvin Mawley watched him dive into the water to rescue his drowning wife, and that both drowned.
[341] Find A Grave. “Jessie Mary Hurst Jackley Moore.” (Memorial ID 48053224). Uploaded 2-12-2010.
[342] “When they [Paul Johnson Moore and his father] arrived in Watch Hill [Westerly village on westside], Paul’s stepmother’s body had been found, but his sister was missing.” Additionally, Scotti (2003, 198) notes Napatree drowning death of Jessie Moore, on Sep 21.
[343] Burns (2015, 198-199), notes that the body of the mobility-impaired girl was not located until Oct 2, eleven days afterwards, “recovered from under a five-foot pile of wreckage in a cove opposite Woody Island.” Scotti 2003, 198.
[344] Burns notes three deaths — that of Ann Nestor as well as a cook and maid. Scotti provides names of other two.
[345] A Mrs. Andrew Pascoe is on the list of members of Christ Church who were hurricane victims.
[346] Also on Westerly, RI Christ Church list.
[347] Scotti 2003, p. 198.
[348] Also on Westerly, RI Christ Church list.
[349] PBS notes as a Mothers Club victim; also on Westerly, RI Christ Church list.
[350] Also on Westerly, RI Christ Church list.
[351] Hurd provides full name. Scotti. Sudden Sea. 2003, p. 156, notes she was a maid in the Nestor home on Napatree.
[352] Highlighted in yellow to denote we do not include this number in out tally, in that we have included the names. Allen (1976, p. 138): “A dozen women from Westerly’s Christ Episcopal Church were having a picnic at the Lowry cottage, Misquamicut; Mrs. David Lowry was a member of the group. Just before the storm broke in full force, they moved to the cottage of William D. Wells for safety. It was washed away and all the women perished.” Double counting is a possibility — perhaps one or more of the female fatalities Hurd notes was from this group. PBS writes that ten women were in the house. Snow (1979, p. 185) writes: “At Misquamicut ten women attending a church social were swept out to sea when the building collapsed, and were never seen again.” Scotti (2003, p. 146) writes: “Today, the names of the Mothers of Christ Church are inscribed on a stone monument by the church. It is the only hurricane memorial in the state.” Scotti does not note how many women were gathered. We were able to obtain a copy of the Memorial page from Christ Church, which list the names of 15 women and three men. The memorial is “In honor of the beloved members of Christ Church who were victims of the 1938 Hurricane.” Note that this does not mean that all were members of the Mothers Club present at Misquamicut on Sep 21, just that all the victims were members of the Church.
[353] Hurd 2018, citing IndependentRI.com 2010 piece, writes “the second assistant lighthouse keeper was trapped in a cast-iron Whale Rock Lighthouse when it was washed off its foundation; his body was never found.” Snow (1979, p. 186) writes: The Whale Rock Lighthouse fell into the sea, taking the keeper to his death. This iron-lathed beacon located at the entrance to Narragansett Bay had survived hundreds of ordinary storms and gales since its erection in 1822, only to crash in the hurricane of 1938.”
[354] Source is Hurd 2018, who does not note death locale. Find A Grave notes burial of the couple in Woonsocket. In that the four Woonsocket fatalities other than John Callanan, were not identified by Goudsouzian, we speculate these two fatalities could have been amongst that group of four in Callanan’s house when the roof collapsed.
[355] Highlighted in yellow to denote we do not include. We speculate this is reference to the deaths of Helen Mee, 30, and her two children (Jean, 6-months, and Timothy Jr., 2-years) at Charlestown Beach, Washington County, RI.
[356] INS. “Three More Storm Victims.” Lowell Sun, MA. 10-3-1938, p. 1.
[357] From the range of accounts below we choose to rely on the authoritative Merchant Vessels of the US. We speculate higher numbers for fatalities are based on newspaper reports of the time on overdue boats, and boats whose crews had been rescued and later brought to port.
[358] Scotti. Sudden Sea. 2003, p. 229.
[359] “Boston, Sept. 26 (INS)–Reported since Tuesday [20th] and feared caught in the hurricane, three fishing vessels, two from New York and one out of New Bedford, today were objects of a search by coastguardsmen. They carried a total of 17 men. Three coastguard boats searched the area near Nantucket, while a seaplane from the Salem air base circled a 3600 area. None of the vessels carried radio. The scallop dragger, Elizabeth N., New Bedford, carried a crew of two men. The Arial and Charles O. Carlson, both of New York, carried nine and six men respectively.”
[360] Associated Press. “Fear Tanker Sank During Hurricane.” Brooklyn Daily Eagle, NY. 10-5-1938, p. 1. “Boston, Oct. 5 (AP)–Finding of a fuel tank and wreckage of the small New York fishing boat Charles O. Carlson indicated today that the vessel and her crew of abut half a dozen men had been lost in the hurricane that ravaged the northeastern States Sept. 21. Boston Coast Guard Headquarters announced receipt of word from the New York fishing boat Martha Murray that the fuel tank and ‘considerable wreckage’ from the missing vessel had been sighted 25 miles north of Nantucket Lightship. The Charles O. Carlson and another New York boat, the Arial, likewise carrying about six men, had been unreported since the day before the hurricane.”
[361] Gloucester-ma.gov. “List of Fishermen Lost at Sea and Other Drownings.” 7-29-2010, page 422.
[362] Bureau of Marine Inspection and Navigation. “Vessels Lost.” Merchant Vessels of the United States 1939. US GPO, 1939, p. 511.
[363] Notes the Ocean View had 23 onboard and lost 6 when the boat foundered Sep 21 in Long Island Sound.
[364] Lane, Julie. “A storm for the ages, 75 years ago.” Shelter Island Reporter, Suffolk County, NY. 9-21-2013. Lane writes that according to a newspaper account at the time “the smaller boat …couldn’t weather the winds and waves.”
[365] Early American Hurricanes: Ludlam.
[366] The Weather Channel, “Weather Calendar” (Atlanta GA, 1988- 1990)
[367] Philadelphia weather records beginning with Center City readings, then continuing Dec 1, 1945, with readings from Philadelphia International Airport.
[368] National Climatic Center.
[369] Cites: The Hurricane: September 21, 1938: Westerly, Rhode Island and Vicinity~ Historical and Pictorial (Westerly, RI, 1938).
[370] Cites: Westerly Sun, RI. “Misquamicut Scene of Desolation.” Article in Western Historical Society scrapbook and does include the paper’s date.
[371] Cites: The Hurricane: September 21, 1938: Westerly, Rhode Island and Vicinity~ Historical and Pictorial (Westerly, RI, 1938).
[372] Cites: The Hurricane: September 21, 1938: Westerly, Rhode Island and Vicinity~ Historical and Pictorial (Westerly, RI, 1938).
[373] Cites: Westerly Sun, RI. “Powerful Search Lights Play on Wreckage of Former Summer Homes While Workers Search for Missing.” Article in Westerly Historical Society scrapbook does not include date.
[374] Despite differences in localities, the similarities of the names causes one to think this is one and the same person.
[375] These two, highlighted in yellow, could be references to the same person. A third source notes that “Captain Roy Griffing” drowned after leaving the fishing steamer Ocean View in a seine boat.
[376] Have two sources for a Mr. Kirby killed by falling tree in Fairfield Co., a Charles and a George. Assuming same.
[377] Allen (1976, p. 73), notes the drowning death of Albert Savins on the F. F. Grinnell estate, at Sakonnet Point, Newport County, RI, Sep 21.
[378] We list five unnamed persons here. Roy Griffin or Griffing is noted in alphabetical list.