19th Century

— 12 Blanchard on estimated death toll, date and location.*

— 17 Heyl, Erik. Early American Steamers. Buffalo, NY: 1953, p. 165.
— 17 Singer, S. D. Shipwrecks of Florida: A Comprehensive Listing (2nd Ed.), 1998, p. 181.
— 17 Wikipedia. “Metropolitan Steamship Company.”
— 16 New York Times. “Loss of the Gen. Whitney,” April 24, 1899.
— 12 U.S. Life-Saving Service. “Services of crews.” Annual Report of…1899, p. 175
— 12 U.S. Steamboat-Inspection Service. Annual Report 1900, p. 37.

* Blanchard estimated death toll. We choose to use the death toll numbers provided by both the U.S Life-Saving Service and the U.S. Steamboat Inspection Service (12), both of which are detailed, and the latter providing the names of the fatalities. Speculate that sources noting higher numbers reflect either newspaper reports at the time which proved to be inaccurate, or another source in a later year which based its account on newspaper reporting. Often it is the case that once a number “gets out there” it is simply picked up by others and passed on down through the years.

While the General Whitney appears to have sunk on April 21, the loss of life from the capsizing of one of her two lifeboats in the surf at Mosquito Lagoon, near Cape Canaveral, took place on April 22, according to U.S. Life-Saving Service reporting.

Narrative Information

Heyl: “General Whitney 1873-1899

“Builder: John Roach & Sons, Wilmington, Del.
“Machinery: John Roach & Sons, Wilmington, Del.

“Hull: Iron 227′ x 40′; 1,848 Tons.
“Engine: Two-cylinder compound engine.

“Owners: Metropolitan SS Co., 1873-99.

“The General Whitney was the first iron steamer to be constructed for the Metropolitan SS Co., for their outside run between New York and Boston. Built primarily as a freighter, she nevertheless was given limited accommodations for a few passengers. On her main deck were cribs in which the cotton was stowed. This prevented the cotton from shifting in a heavy sea, so that the bales would not bump together and have the metal bands give off sparks and cause a fire. She generally was in service between New York and the cotton ports during the cotton season.

“In 1898 at the time of the Spanish-American War, the Morgan Line had chartered all of their bottoms to the War Department for troop ships and transports. Needing vessels very badly the General Whitney was chartered by her owners to the Morgan Line for service between New York and New Orleans.

“On April 23, 1899 the General Whitney was north-bound with a heavy cargo of copper billets and molasses. Off St. Augustine she was hit by a violent hurricane, which so wracked the hull that it began to open up. It disintegrated so fast that the crew hardly had time to take to their boats. One of the boats capsized coming thru the breakers and the captain and sixteen men were drowned. The other boats made the land safely. The General Whitney and her cargo were a complete loss.” (Heyl, Erik. Early American Steamers. Buffalo, NY: 1953, p. 165.)

Singer: “General Whitney – Steamer (iron), of the Metropolitan S.S. Co., 1,848 tons, built in 1873 at Wilmington. On April 23, 1899, she was northbound with a heavy cargo of copper billets and molasses. Off St. Augustine she was hit by a severe storm and foundered. The crew barely made it to the boats. One of the boats capsized in the breakers, drowning the captain and 16 of the crew. A total loss.” (Singer 1998, 181; citing: Heyl, Erik. Early American Steamers, Vol. 1. Buffalo, NY: 1953.)

U.S. Life-Saving Service: “Services of Crews – continued.” 1899. Apr. 22…Boat from the Am. Str. General Whitney. Mosquito Lagoon, Florida [station and locality]…Nature of casualty and service rendered. At 11 a.m. this boat full of men tried to land on the beach near the station. (House of refuge, no crew employed.) The keeper and his family were on the beach ready to render assistance. The third breaker capsized the boat and many of the men were caught under it. The keeper tried to reach them by throwing the heaving stick, but the distance was too great. He then went into the surf and watching his chance succeeded in dragging three exhausted men to the shore, where they were cared for by his daughter while he endeavored to save more lives. Another man reached the shore unaided, and assisted the keeper to get two bodies on to the beach, where for two hours the Service method of resuscitation was used upon them. It was unavailing, however, as they were struck and badly injured by the boat when it rolled over.

“No other bodies came ashore at this time in the vicinity of the station. The four survivors reported that there were sixteen men in the boat, and that they were from the American steamer General Whitney, which they abandoned in a sinking condition about 50 miles NE of Cape Canaveral.

“Another boat, containing fifteen men, also left the sinking vessel, and it was afterwards learned that they landed safely near St. Augustine. On the next day nine bodies were found from 10 to 18 miles N. of the station and were turned over to the coroner.

“The survivors were succored at the station until transportation to their homes could be procured for them by the keeper.” (U.S. Life-Saving Service. Annual Report of the United States Life-Serving Service for the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 1899. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1900. “Services of crews – continued,” p. 175.)

U.S. Steamboat-Inspection Service. Annual Report 1900, p. 37: “April 21. – While steamship General Whitney was on her way from New Orleans to New York she sprang a leak and foundered in latitude 28 [degrees] and 40’ and longitude 79 [degrees] 39’. The crew tried to close leak and keep water out by pumping, but were unable to keep steamer from sinking. The crew of 31, all told, left the ship at 6 p.m. The mate’s boat with 15, all told, arrived at St. Augustine all right, but the captain’s boat, with 16 aboard, capsized off New Smyrna, Fla., and 12 of the crew drowned. They were: Capt. J. W. Hawthorne, S. F. Phillips, L. Langsdale, H. Sullivan, F. Arcias, Ed. Sverson, J. Benjanson, William Lee (colored), Charles Olsen, John O’Brien, Mike Conroy, and John Supple. The estimated value of the steamer is $100,000, and cargo $135,000. Investigated May 19, and evidence showed that the receiver connected with side of the ship for the Kingston valve gave way, and leakage from same was the cause of ship foundering.”

Newspaper

Aug 23, NYT: “Loss of the Gen. Whitney.”
“Fifteen Survivors Reach St. Augustine in an Open Boat.
“Forty-Eight Hours At Sea.”
“Steamer Sprung a Leak Friday Night and Work at the Pumps Proved Without Avail.”

“St. Augustine, April 23 – Considerable excitement was created here early this afternoon by a small boat out at sea, giving signals of distress. Capt. Allen immediately went to its assistance in the yacht Baldwin. Upon nearing the boat he found it to be the missing lifeboat of the steamer General Whitney, which foundered north of Cape Canaveral Friday night. Capt. Allen transferred the sailors from their cramped quarters to his yacht, and brought them in to Corbett’s Dock.

“The story of the disaster was told by Mate Mattson and his men. One of the bulkheads sprung a leak from the heavy seas which were prevailing during the early part of Friday night [21st]. All hands were ordered to the pumps and worked hard, but the holds soon began to fill in spite of their efforts. The officers and men, realizing that the steamer was settling fast and sure to founder, took to the two lifeboats.

“Capt. J. W. Hawthorne and fifteen men went in the first boat and were never again seen by the remaining men. Shortly afterward, Mate Mattson and the remainder of the crew, fourteen men, took to the second boat. This was about midnight. They had a compass and began to row for shore. A strong wind was prevailing, creating a heavy sea, and the men at the oars could make no headway.

“All day Saturday the men tried to approach shore, but could not even get a glimpse of it, and almost despaired when they found they had plenty of provisions but no water. They spent all of Saturday night at the mercy of the sea, which washed over their frail boat frequently. Early this morning they sighted land, and with energy redoubled by desperation, they took their turns at the oars. When near enough to land they improvised a flag with canvas tacked to an oar, and it was then that Capt. Allen went to their assistance.

“The men when they were landed were drenched to the skin and almost famished….” (New York Times. “Loss of the Gen. Whitney,” 4-24-1899, p.1.)

Sources

Heyl, Erik. Early American Steamers. Buffalo, NY: 1953. Accessed 12-28-2020 at: https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015024193131&view=1up&seq=6&q1=%22admiral%20dupont%22

New York Times. “Loss of the Gen. Whitney,” April 24, 1899, p. 1, c7. Accessed 2-19-2021 at:

Singer, Steven D. Shipwrecks of Florida: A Comprehensive Listing (2nd Ed.). Sarasota, FL: Pineapple Press, Inc., 1998. Partially digitized by Google. Accessed 2-16-2021 at: http://books.google.com/books?id=6j6kjZQReqkC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_navlinks_s#v=onepage&q=&f=false

United States Life-Saving Service. Annual Report of the United States Life-Serving Service for the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 1899. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1900. Accessed 2-18-2021 at: https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015020619964&view=1up&seq=7&size=125&q1=%22general%20Whitney%22

United States Steamboat-Inspection Service. Annual Report of the Supervising Inspector General, Steamboat-Inspection Service for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 1900. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 1900, 326 pages. Digitized by Google. Accessed 2-18-2021 at: http://books.google.com/books?id=i1YpAAAAYAAJ

Wikipedia. “Metropolitan Steamship Company.” 1-5-2020 edit. Accessed 2-18-2021 at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolitan_Steamship_Company

–8-12 Eastern State Journal, White Plains, NY. “History of 1892.” 12-31-1892, p. 1.
— 10 Mine Safety and Health Admin. Historical Coal Mine Disasters in the Anthracite Region.
— 10 NIOSH (Nat. Institute for Occupational Safety & Health), CDC. Mining Disasters. 2010.
— 10 PA Inspectors of Mines. Reports of the Inspectors of Mines…1892. “Lytle Colliery…” 248.
— 10 United States Mine Rescue Assoc. “Lytle Coal Company Primrose Mine Inundation.”

Narrative Information

Eastern State Journal, 12-31-1892: “April…20…12 miners drowned in a flooded mine near Minersville, Pa.” (Eastern State Journal, White Plains, NY. “History of 1892.” 12-31-1892, p. 1.)

NIOSH: “04/19/1892…Lytle [mine name]…Minersville PA…10 [killed]…Coal [product]… Inrush of water [accident type]…UG [mine type].” (Mining Disasters: 1839 to Present.)

Newspapers

April 21: “Minersville, Pa., April 20. – This town, which is situated about four miles from Pottsville, is greatly excited over a horrible accident that occurred late this afternoon at the Lytle colliery, whereby 10 or 12 men are said to have lost their lives by the flooding of the mine with an immense body of water that broke through the old workings. It is said that the accident occurred just about the time the shifts were changing. The exact number of men drowned and their names cannot be given. It is authentically announced by the colliery officials that eight men have met their death by the disaster. Among those give out are Miners Dolbin, Bell and Bugger. The place where the accident occurred is a new coal operation that is being opened upon an immense scale by the Lytle Coal Company, an incorporated company, the principal stockholders of which are the Pennsylvania railroad officials and Scranton capitalists.

“The works are located on Prim Rose mountain, several miles northwest of Minersville and taps the great Wolf Creek colliery, which has laid idle for some years, owing to the large accumulation of water. About two years ago the present operators, with unlimited means, commenced the reopening of the tract and have spent many thousand dollars in putting in machinery and opening up new slopes. Gangways are being pushed out from these slopes on each side of the new workings. The ole water lies in it and it is the bursting through of one or more of these deposits without warning that caught the unfortunate miners while at work.

“A United Press reporter telephoned to Hoosic for particulars. The rely came that it could not be told how many men were drowned, but that besides the American miners there was a large number of Italians and Hungarian laborers at work inside and it is thought that now at least six of them are also drowned. They could not say, really, where the water came from, but they were surrounded on all sides with water, and whilst surveyors and bosses were very careful, somebody evidently has blundered. There were several scores of men inside at the time and some of these swam out while others are said to have been heard talking as if they had reached a high point above the water.” (Bradford Era, PA. “Drowned in a Coal Mine…Twelve Men Said to Have Perished.” 4-21-1892, p. 1.)

April 21: “Pottsville, April 21. – The exact number of men imprisoned by the Lytle Colliery mine flooding, near Minersville, has been ascertained to be ten. The unfortunate men who are undoubtedly drowned, as they have no chance of escaping, are [we break paragraph into lines]

John Zerbe, of Llewellyn; [Also noted as John H. Zerley.
Thomas Buggy, of Black Heath; and
Frank Vetta,
Peter Olvestsi,
Vencent Mureurio,
Ignatz Perena,
Joseph Fietta,
Peter Maketto,
Dominic Uguilla, Italians. [Nine names listed.]

“This gang were engaged in driving a gangway in the lowest point of the mine. The water broke in from the No. 4 chute and flooded the mine so quickly that they could not escape.

“The work of rescuing the men if they are alive of recovering their bodies if dead goes briskly on. Duplex pumps, each lifting a million gallons of water every twenty-four hours, were started late this afternoon and added to the other machinery already busy at work in clearing the flooded portions of the mine. Both Bell and Dolbin, who were rescued after seven hours’ of imprisonment, are working with those now engaged in clearing the mine of water.” (Philadelphia Inquirer. “The Lytle Mine Disaster. Ten Men Imprisoned in the Flooded Colliery – Rescuers at Work.” 4-22-1892, p. 2.)

April 25: “Minersville, Pa., April 25. – The bodies of the ten miners who were drowned in the Lytle Colliery were rescued on Saturday [23rd] when all the water had been pumped from the gloomy shaft. The first body reached, that of John H. Zerley, was found in a car, and it was discovered shortly after noon. The coroner had a jury at the mouth of the mine to witness the process of rescuing the remains. Explorations in the old workings from which the water had been pumped, and from which the flood rushed, were greatly hindered by black damp [gas].” (Altoona Mirror, PA. “Bodies of the Miners Rescued.” 4-25-1892, p. 5.)

Sources

Altoona Mirror, PA. “Bodies of the Miners Rescued.” 4-25-1892, p. 5. Accessed 2-9-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/altoona-mirror-apr-25-1892-p-5/

Bradford Era, PA. “Drowned in a Coal Mine…Twelve Men Said to Have Perished.” 4-21-1892, p. 1. Accessed 2-9-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/bradford-era-apr-21-1892-p-1/

Eastern State Journal, White Plains, NY. “History of 1892 – The Chronological Record of a Memorable Year….Demons of Destruction.” 12-31-1892, p. 1. Accessed 2-6-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/white-plains-eastern-state-journal-dec-31-1892-p-1/

Mine Safety and Health Administration. Historical Coal Mine Disasters in the Anthracite Region (District 1 – Coal Mine Safety and Health). Arlington, VA: MSHA, U.S. Department of Labor. Accessed 1-3-2009 at: http://www.msha.gov/District/Dist_01/Fatals/HISTFAT.HTM
[Link inoperable when checked 2-9-2022.]

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Mining Disasters: 1839 to Present [website]. Accessed 2-9-2022 at: https://wwwn.cdc.gov/NIOSH-Mining/MMWC/MineDisasters/Table

Pennsylvania Inspectors of Mines. Reports of the Inspectors of Mines of the Anthracite and Bituminous Coal Regions of Pennsylvania, for the Year 1892. “Lytle Colliery Disaster by which Ten Persons were Drowned.” Accessed 2-9-2022 at: https://usminedisasters.miningquiz.com/saxsewell/1892_Lytle.pdf

Philadelphia Inquirer. “The Lytle Mine Disaster. Ten Men Imprisoned in the Flooded Colliery – Rescuers at Work.” 4-22-1892, p. 2. Accessed 2-9-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/philadelphia-inquirer-apr-22-1892-p-2/

United States Mine Rescue Association. Mine Disasters in the United States. “Lytle Coal Company Primrose Mine Inundation.” Accessed 2-9-2022 at: https://usminedisasters.miningquiz.com/saxsewell/lytle.htm

—  190  Blanchard tally from State and locality breakouts below.

—  105  Henry, A.J. “The Weather of the Month.” Monthly Weather Review, 27/2, Feb 1899, p50.

–>100  NOAA, NCEI. Climate History: The Great Arctic Outbreak of February 1899.

 

Summary of State Breakouts Below

 

Alabama                    (    2)

Arkansas                    (    2)

Colorado                    (  24)

Connecticut               (    2)

Delaware                    (    2)

District of Columbia (    1)

Georgia                      (    1)

Idaho                          (    1)

Illinois                        (  11)

Indiana                       (>10)

Iowa                            (    7)

Kansas                       (    1)

Kentucky                   (    6)

Louisiana                   (    6)

Maine                         (    2)

Maryland                   (~14)

Massachusetts           (    2)

Missouri                     (  11)

Montana                    (    1)

Nebraska                    (    1)

New Jersey                (    5)

New York                   (  19)

North Carolina          (    2)

Ohio                           (    8)

Pennsylvania             (  14)

South Carolina          (    2)

South Dakota             (    1)

Tennessee                   (    2)

Texas                          (  15)

Virginia                      (    4)

Washington               (    1)

West Virginia            (    4)

Wisconsin                  (    2)

Wyoming                   (    4)

 

Breakout of Fatalities by State and Locality (where noted):

 

Alabama        (  2)

–2  Henry, A.J. “The Weather of the Month.” Monthly Weather Review, 27/2, Feb 1899, p. 50.

 

Arkansas        (  2)

–2  Henry, A.J. “The Weather of the Month.” Monthly Weather Review, 27/2, Feb 1899, p. 50.

–1  Little Rock area, Feb 13 report. Mail carrier [Brozler] found frozen to death.[1]

 

Colorado        (24) (Includes Silver Plume avalanche of Feb 12, taking 10-11 lives.)

–24  Henry, A.J. “The Weather of the Month.” Monthly Weather Review, 27/2, Feb 1899, p50.

–22  Blanchard tally from locality breakout below.

—  3  Apex, Pine Creek district, Jan 29. Snowslide; Mrs. William Rudolph and two children.[2]

—  3  Glenwood area, Rio Grande railroad, Feb 2. Avalanche; McMahan, Dempsey, Mulvahill.[3]

—  1  Gordon Gulch, Twin Lakes area, Feb 2 (body brought to Leadville). Avalanche; Billy Manning.[4]

—  2  Montrose area, Uncompahgre River. Drowning; children playing on ice; ice breaks.[5]

—  1  Pike’s Peak, Feb 3. Frozen to death during blizzard; prospector James N. Holmes.[6]

–11  Silver Plume.[7] Centralia Daily Sentinel, IL. “Death in an Avalanche.” 2-13-1899, p. 4.

–4  Dominick Destafno, wife, son, 5, and daughter, 2.[8]

–3  Jos., Peter and John Tonderna.

–1  Jerome Guananzi.

–1  John Bietto.

–1  Enrico Navaria. (Paper notes it would be Spring before other bodies might be found.)

—  1  Silverton area, Feb 3. Snowslide; Edward Rogers.[9]

 

Connecticut               (  2)

–1  Branford, Feb 11. Froze to death; John Burke Jr.[10]

–1  East Berlin, Feb 3. Froze to death [Coroner]; Frederick Campbell, 30 no fire in house.[11]

 

Delaware                    (  2)

–2  Henry, A.J. “The Weather of the Month.” Monthly Weather Review, 27/2, Feb 1899, p. 50.

–1  Claymont, Feb 1. Unknown man, about 22, found frozen to death along railroad tracks.[12]

 

District of Columbia (  1)

–1  Feb 15. Heart attack; “…exertion of walking through the deep snow…” Maj. Ros A. Fish, 70.[13]

 

Georgia                      (  1)

—  1  Henry, A.J. “The Weather of the Month.” Monthly Weather Review, 27/2, Feb 1899, p. 50.

—>1  Home Journal, Perry, GA. “Sidewalk Gleanings.” 2-16-1899, p. 3.[14]

—  1  Savannah, Feb 13 report of a person freezing to death.[15]

 

Idaho                          (  1)

–1  Boise, ~Feb 12. Froze to death while out hunting; Carl Kent.[16]

 

Illinois                        (11)

–11  Blanchard tally from locality breakouts below.

—  8  Henry, A.J. “The Weather of the Month.” Monthly Weather Review, 27/2, Feb 1899, p50.

Breakout of fatalities by locality, where noted:

–1  Burlington, Feb 11. Carbon monoxide poisoning from coke stove in rail car; Frank Pink.[17]

–1  Carrollton, Feb 7. Froze to death walking in from his farm 1 mile west; Webb Meek.[18]

–1  Chicago, Feb 10. Cold and exposure; Charles Jacobson.[19]

–1  Chicago, Feb 10. Unidentified man found frozen to death on sidewalk, 5145 Halstead St.[20]

–1  Columbia Heights, Feb 9. Body of Frank Dubrett “picked up frozen.”[21]

–1  East St. Louis. The Gazette, Cedar Falls, IA. “Four Deaths by Freezing.” 2-7-1899, p. 2.

–1  Irish Grove, Feb 7. Exposure; John Doom, 69, found in the pasture of neighbor.[22]

–1  Joliet, Feb 9. Exposure/hypothermia; George Hamilton.[23]

–1  La Grange, Feb 9 report. Frozen to death; H. Blumenshield.[24]

–1  Rockford, Feb 9. Exposure; Night watchman for Water Power Co.; Thomas Keegan.[25]

–1  Waynesville, Feb 11. Froze to death; John Wilson, 82, found by son in yard under tree.[26]

 

Indiana           (>10)

—>10  Blanchard tally from breakouts below.

Breakout of Indiana winter-weather related fatalities by locality:

—  1  Auburn ~Feb 13. Burns, clothing caught fire; woman trying to thaw frozen pipe; Mrs. Michael Manis.[27]

—  1  Bloomington, area, ~Feb 10. Froze on way home; found on roadside; J. W. Hinkle.[28]

—  1  Coolspring township, ~Feb 13. Exposure while walking to Michigan City; Louis Kerster, 63.[29]

—  1  Garrett, Feb 15 rpt. Clothes catch fire in attempt to thaw frozen pipes; Mrs. Michael Manion.[30]

—  1  Greenwood area, ~Feb 13. “…unknown man was found frozen to death near Greenwood.”[31]

—  1  Huntington, Jan 30. Froze to death trying to walk six miles to home; Frank Minear.[32]

—  1  LaGrange area, Feb 18 report. Donald Davis, 85, “found frozen to death at his home…”[33]

—>2  Mishawaka, Feb 8. Farm house of a Mr. Williams burns; children escape; die of exposure.[34]

—  1  Muncie, Feb 10 report. Woman collapses from exhaustion in snow; dies of exposure; Miss Kate Morris.[35]

 

Iowa                (  7)

–7  Blanchard tally based on locality breakouts below.

–4  Henry, A.J. “The Weather of the Month.” Monthly Weather Review, 27/2, Feb 1899, p. 50.

Breakout of winter weather-related fatalities by locality:

–4  Leon area ~MO border, Feb 13 report. Sick mother, three children, in “miserable hovel.”[36]

–1  Madrid to Slater (15 miles), Feb 4. Froze to death riding bike though fields; Charles Craft.[37]

–1  Muchakinock, near Oskaloosa, Feb 11. Frozen to death; Henry K. Fortune.[38]

–1  Sioux City, Feb 6. Exposure after fall walking outdoors; Andrew A. Fairvre.[39]

 

Kansas           (  1)

–1  Shawnee, Feb 11 (body found). Fall leads to hypothermia; “Aunt Dicy” Dubbs, 80.[40]

 

Kentucky       (  6)

–6  Blanchard tally from locality breakouts below.

–5  “Five deaths were reported from [KY] yesterday [Feb 14] due to…extreme cold weather.”[41]

–2  Henry, A.J. “The Weather of the Month.” Monthly Weather Review, 27/2, Feb 1899, p. 50.

Breakout of fatalities by locality:

–1  Catlettsburg, Feb 15 report. Extreme cold; child.[42]

–1  Hazard area, Feb 15 report. Mail carrier, unidentified.[43]

–1  Jellico, Feb 15 report. Exposure/hypothermia; Albert Maples.[44]

–2  Paducah, Feb 13 report: Woman and child found frozen to death in a field.[45]

–1  Richmond, Feb 15 report. Apparent hypothermia; William Brockman.[46] Temp 24° below.[47]

 

Louisiana       (  6)     (Especially Feb 8-14.)

–6  New Orleans. “Dr. Adams says there were six persons frozen to death one night…”[48]

 

Maine             (  2)

–1  Coughlin’s Camp, 12 miles from Katahdin Iron Works, Feb 9. Exhaustion/Exposure; William R. Rose.[49]

–1  Phillips Lake, Lake House Station, Jan 28. Exposure on station platform; Hugh Sweeney.[50]

 

Maryland       (~14)

–~14  Blanchard tally from locality breakouts below.

—    3  Henry, A.J. “The Weather of the Month.” Monthly Weather Review, 27/2, Feb 1899, p. 50.

Breakout of winter-weather-related fatalities by locality:

—  1  Baltimore, Feb 10. Frozen water pipe explosion; Home of the Friendless; Martha Boliskey, 7.[51]

—  1  Baltimore, Feb 13. Heart attack after shoveling snow in front of home; Henry Bowers, 45.[52]

—  1  Baltimore, Feb 14. Exposure (Coroner finding), near East Chase st. Harry E. Vincent, 32.[53]

—  1  Cooksville, Howard Co. Unnamed man ventured out when temps reached as low as -20°.[54]

—  1  Cumberland, Feb 13. Heart attack “from over-exertion from shoveling snow.” Jack Walton, 72.[55]

–~3  Fallston, by Feb 17. “Several deaths occurred at Fallston for want of medical aid.”[56]

—  1  Keyser area, Feb 11. Froze to death in shanty; elderly man; Patrick Joyce.[57]

—  1  Mt. Airy area. Feb 11; body of man found frozen in snowbank; James Simmons.[58]

—  2  Patuxent River. Two men from schooner Chase, believed to have frozen to death.[59]

—  2  Sandy Bottom, near Towson. Feb 13 report of two children freezing to death.[60]

 

Massachusetts           ( 2)

–1  Boston, Feb 12. “Effects of exposure,” according to medical examiner; Mrs. O’Brien.[61]

–1  Watertown, Feb 8/9. Froze to death; apparently fell, striking head; froze; Michael Cline.[62]

 

Missouri                     (11)

–11  Blanchard tally based on locality breakouts below.

—  6  Henry, A.J. “The Weather of the Month.” Monthly Weather Review, 27/2, Feb 1899, p. 50.

Breakout of fatalities by locality.

–1  Clarksburg area, Feb 13 report. Frozen to death; William Dixon.[63]

–1  Jefferson City, Feb 13 report. Elderly female; notes temperature reached 30° below zero.[64]

–1  Kansas City, MO, ~Feb 8. Body of unknown workingman, about 50, found, west bottoms.[65]

–1  Springfield, Feb 1 report. Frozen to death on a farm, elderly female, Mrs. Mary Stevens.[66]

–2  Springfield, Feb 13 report. Frozen; Mary Carter and child.[67]

–4  St. Louis, Jan 31.[68] Freezing; Geo. A. Clarke,[69] Chas. Farler,[70] Mrs. Mary Ryan,[71] August Benson.[72]

–1  St. Louis, Feb 9. Frozen to death; body found in a coal shed; Sam Kennedy.[73]

 

Montana        (  1)

–1  Meaderville, Feb 17 report. Mrs. Sam Rundle, falls outside, unconscious; froze.[74]

 

Nebraska        (  1)

–1  Wymore area, Feb 5. Froze to death; cattleman looking after his stock; Fred Wales.[75]

 

New Jersey    (  5)

–4  Blanchard tally from locality breakouts below.

–2  Henry, A.J. “The Weather of the Month.” Monthly Weather Review, 27/2, Feb 1899, p. 50.

Breakout of fatalities by locality:

–1  Jersey City, Feb 14 report. “Mrs. Charles Morrison…70…sank exhausted in the snow and died.”[76]

–1  Orange, Feb 10 report. Hypothermia “in little hut.” Peter Matthews, 74.[77]

–1  Patterson, Feb 10 report. Exposure; soon after found freezing on steps of sister’s house (Doland).[78]

–1  Patterson, Feb 10 report. Exposure; truckman; found frozen on truck seat; John Fields, 17.[79]

–1  Trenton, Feb 14. Teen playing in snow hit his head on hidden plank; Robert Bonney Hill, 17.[80]

 

New York       (19)

–19  Blanchard tally from locality breakouts below.

–10  Henry, A.J. “The Weather of the Month.” Monthly Weather Review, 27/2, Feb 1899, p50.

Breakout of fatalities by locality:

—  1  Black River, near Watertown, Feb 13. Froze to death’ Charles Recor, 50.[81]

—  1  Brooklyn, Coney Island, Feb 10. Found frozen to death; laborer Charles Sailor.[82]

—  1  Brooklyn, Feb 12. Froze to death; Mary Goodwin, 31.[83]

—  1  Brooklyn, Feb 13. “Chinaman” found “frozen to death…” Lee Sing, 22.[84]

—  1  Buffalo, Feb 9. Carpenter found frozen to death in his sleigh in suburbs; John Weith, 37.[85]

—  1  Jamesville, 8 miles from Syracuse, Feb 10 report. Froze to death; John Hotaling.[86]

—  2  Long Island Sound, Feb 9. Mail carriers in small boat from Hart island for City island.[87]

—  1  Middleton, Feb 13. Farmer froze in wagon, taking load of feed to town; John Reagan,.[88]

—  1  Mount Kisco, West Chester County, Feb 16 report. Exposure, Hiram L. Dickinson, 50.[89]

—  1  New York City, Feb 10. Found frozen to death on a pier; fireman A. V. Nolan, 35.[90]

—  1  New York City, Feb 12. Froze to death in hallway. Forty-seventh st.; unidentified woman.[91]

—  1  NYC, Feb 13. Man found “frozen to death in the snow…” Richard Atcheson, 56.[92]

—  1  NYC, Feb 13. Man found frozen to death in snowbank, Third Ave & Sixth; George Haitzen.[93]

—  1  NYC, Feb 13. Man “dropped dead from cold,” Ninety-sixth street; janitor Albert Kentzney.[94]

—  1  New York City, First Ave., Feb 14 report, “found frozen to death” at home; Mary Dolan, 70.[95]

—  1  Phelps Junction ~Rochester. Froze to death; tried walking 4 miles from Phelps to home; Ralph Severance.[96]

—  1  Tarrytown area, Feb 14 rpt. Man “found frozen to death in a snowdrift…” William McCane, 52.[97]

—  1  White Plains area, Feb 16 report. Exposure’ peddler found on road; Louis Naef, 49.[98]

 

North Carolina (  2)

–2  Henry, A.J. “The Weather of the Month.” Monthly Weather Review, 27/2, Feb 1899, p. 50.

–1  Wilmington, Feb 17 report; Froze to death, two-month old baby in bed; insufficient heat.[99]

 

Ohio               (    8)

–8  Blanchard tally from locality breakout below.

–3  Henry, A.J. “The Weather of the Month.” Monthly Weather Review, 27/2, Feb 1899, p50.

Breakout of winter-weather-related fatalities by locality:

–1  Chillicothe, Feb 11. Froze to death; infant son of Sophia Johns in shanty.[100]

–1  Cincinnati, ~Feb 10; Frozen; Mrs. Mary Haverkamp.[101]

–1  Dayton, Feb 8. Froze; in bed; parents had no money for fuel; infant Rose Kinney,.[102]

–1  Dayton area, ~Feb 10. Froze to death while out feeding his hogs; Martin Duffinger.[103]

–1  Moody, Feb 14. Pioneer resident “found frozen to death at his home.” Samuel Saunders, 82.[104]

–1  Painesville, Lake Co., Feb 8. Froze to death in home; Timothy McNamara, over 80-years.[105]

–1  Off West Sister Island Lighthouse. Froze trying to cross to mainland; man named Brown,.[106]

–1  Zanesville, ~Feb 12. Frozen to death; coal miner William Savage.[107]

 

Pennsylvania (14)

–14  Blanchard tally from locality breakouts below.

–11  Henry, A.J. “The Weather of the Month.” Monthly Weather Review, 27/2, Feb 1899, p50.

Breakout of fatalities by locality:

–1  Archbald to Jermyn. Miner freezes to death walking home (Archbald) from work. Michael Roche, 48.[108]

–1  Butler, ~Feb 11. Froze to death, William Bartley, 70.[109]

–1  Franklin, ~Feb 11. Child of Albert Hunt froze to death in bed with parents; -30° outside.[110]

–1  Gallitzin, Feb 14. Man found frozen to death in his home; Michael Sanford, 68.[111]

–1  Leisenring, Fayette Co., ~Feb 10. Froze on way home from work; Hugh Gallagher.[112]

–2  Morgan, Allegheny Co., ~Feb 10. Froze in shanty; John Gillespie, 42, Patrick O’Grady, 79.[113]

–1  Philadelphia, Feb 10. Death “from the cold” in a stable; George Stewart, 35.[114]

–1  Philadelphia, Feb 14. Frozen to death, Joseph Evans, 69.[115]

–1  Philadelphia, Feb 14 report. Found dead in yard of Patterson club; James Hall.[116]

–1  Philadelphia, Feb 14. Frozen to death; letter carrier Charles Summers, 62.[117]

–1  Philly, Feb 14 rpt. Man dead “incident to the storm” at Seventeenth & Cherry; John W. Yeamens, 69.[118]

–1  Philly, Feb 14 rpt. “…became unconscious at Seventh and Cherry…” Soon died; Benjamin Zebley, 70.[119]

–1  Ross Valley ~Stroudsburg, Feb 14. Froze to death after home fire went out; John Buskirk.[120]

–1  Vandergrift. Froze to death after falling and breaking a leg; James Fryer of Apollo.[121]

 

South Carolina (2)

–2  Henry, A.J. “The Weather of the Month.” Monthly Weather Review, 27/2, Feb 1899, p. 50.

 

South Dakota (  1)

–1  Elk Point area, ~Feb 6. Froze to death; farmer; driving home after a visit; Robert Small.[122]

 

Tennessee       (  2)

–1  Clinton area, ~Feb 12. Farmer, while feeding stock; Orville Maples.[123]

–1  Jellico, Feb 12. Froze to death; saloon-keeper Albert Maples.[124]

 

Texas              (15)

–15  Henry, A.J. “The Weather of the Month.” Monthly Weather Review, 27/2, Feb 1899, p50.

–14  Freezing. Sycamore True Republican, IL. “Work of the Blizzard.” 2-18-1899, p. 2.

–1  Bexar County

–3  Collins County

—  Alexander Clark.    Logansport Reporter, IN. “Frozen to Death in Texas.” 2-14-1899, 1.

—  Ben Graves.           Logansport Reporter, IN. “Frozen to Death in Texas.” 2-14-1899, 1.

—  Will Johnson.         Logansport Reporter, IN. “Frozen to Death in Texas.” 2-14-1899, 1.

–3  Coryell County (children)

–2  Houston

–1  Jefferson County

–2  Lamar County

–2  Robertson County

—  1  Clay County, Feb 1 report. Wealthy cattleman found frozen to death; Walter Mitchell.[125]

 

Virginia          (  4)

–4  Blanchard tally from locality breakouts below.

–2  Henry, A.J. “The Weather of the Month.” Monthly Weather Review, 27/2, Feb 1899, p. 50.

–1  Cool Spring area, Feb 13. Man froze to death on wood-cutting trip; Reuben Bowler, ~60.[126]

–1  Richmond, Feb 14. Merchant found frozen to death in his 18^th st. store; W. W. Wade.[127]

–2  Rustburg, Campbell Co., Feb 13. Found frozen to death in cabin; Harrison & Polly Graham, ~90.[128]

 

Washington   (  1)

–1  Henry, A.J. “The Weather of the Month.” Monthly Weather Review, 27/2, Feb 1899, p. 50.[129]

–1  Tekoa, Feb 3; Froze to death while walking 1½ miles to school; Earl Bruner, 7.[130]

 

West Virginia (  4)

—>30  The Daily Journal, Freeport, IL. “Storm Fatalities in West Virginia,” 2-15-1899, p. 3.[131]

—    4  Blanchard tally from locality breakout below.

—    1  Charleston, Feb 10. Froze to death; fire went out; temp. at 27° below; James Jackson.[132]

—    1  Guyandotte. Frozen to death; Mary Halstead, 70-74.[133]

—    1  Huntington. Body of frozen man found in suburbs Feb 14; Robert Fowler, 84.[134]

—    1  Romney, Feb 13 report. Frozen to death; former slave Chance Ross.[135]

 

Wisconsin      (  2)

–1  Eau Claire, Feb 7. Exposure/hypothermia; Mrs. Thomas Dowling, found in neighbor’s yard.[136]

–1  Lawrence, Chippewa Co., Jan 30. Froze to death; became lost on way home; William Prueher.[137]

 

Wyoming       (  4)

–4  Blanchard tally from locality breakouts below.

–2  Henry, A.J. “The Weather of the Month.” Monthly Weather Review, 27/2, Feb 1899, p. 50.

–2  Buffalo, Feb 2. Wife and daughter of B. E. Yost, found frozen to death near sleigh.[138]

–1  Cheyenne, Feb 1 report. Found frozen to death on porch of home; Mrs. Dan Keeler.[139]

–1  Cokeville, Jan 30. Snowslide; Burt Handy.[140]

 

Narrative Information

 

NOAA: “Over 115 years ago, a cold wave that would become known as the “Great Arctic Outbreak” took the United States by storm. People across the nation braced for the worst as temperatures plummeted throughout the first two weeks of February 1899. The western third of the country was the first to feel the bitter cold with temperatures dropping as low as 33°F in Los Angeles, California, 9°F in Portland, Oregon, and −9°F in Boise, Idaho, by February 4. And, by February 6, 30°F temperatures and below had made their way across the country and as far south as North Carolina.

 

“However, the full force of the outbreak wasn’t felt until February 10, when some of the coldest winter weather conditions on record struck the eastern two-thirds of the United States. That day, temperatures across the Midwest and Ohio Valley were below −20°F, and even Washington, DC, recorded a low temperature of −8°F. By February 11, temperatures plummeted even further with Fort Logan, Montana, recording an astonishing low of −61°F. Even Florida couldn’t escape the bitter cold, and temperatures fell to the all-time state record low of −2°F in Tallahassee on February 13.

 

“The Great Arctic Outbreak didn’t just bring cold to the nation. It also brought snow and ice and lots of it. By the time blizzard conditions ceased in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, Cape May, New Jersey, record over 30 inches of snow, as did Washington, DC, and Baltimore, Maryland. On February 17, ice was even witnessed flowing down the Mississippi River, past New Orleans, and into the Gulf of Mexico. And, a one-inch thick layer of ice formed at the mouth of the Mississippi in East and Garden Island Bays in Louisiana.

 

“Over 100 people were estimated to have lost their lives during to the Great Arctic Outbreak. The outbreak damaged or destroyed numerous crops, and countless livestock perished. In Georgia, many orchards of young trees were killed outright, and farmers had to completely replant them. Ice in the Mississippi River and Great Lakes completely halted barge traffic. The cold, snow, and ice also heavily damaged buildings and infrastructure across much of the country.” (NOAA, NCEI. Climate History: The Great Arctic Outbreak of February 1899.)

 

Monthly Weather Review (Prof. E. B. Garriott): “During the first half of February the most remarkable cold wave, or series of cold waves, in the history of the Weather Bureau traversed the United States from the north Pacific to the south Atlantic coasts, damaging crops and fruits in the Southern States to the extent of millions of dollars. During the first eight days of the month the lowest temperatures on record were reported at points in the north Pacific coast States; from the 9^th to the 12^th many places in the Central, Western, and Northwestern States reported the coldest weather on record. During the 13^th and 14^th the cold wave overspread the Southern and Eastern States, attended, on the 13^th, by the lowest temperatures on record from the southern Rocky Mountain slope to the south Atlantic coast, by zero temperatures to the Gulf coast of Alabama, and by a snowstorm of unprecedented severity in the Middle Atlantic States.

 

“The visible cause of  this period of intense cold is found in a series of barometric depressions in  the South, combined with an area of high barometer of great magnitude which persistently occupied the British Northwest Territory until the 11th, inclusive, when the highest sea-level pressure ever reported within the region of observation covered by the Weather Bureau and Canadian services, 31.42 inches, was telegraphed from Swift Current, Assiniboin. After the  11th  this area of high barometer settled southward over the eastern Rocky Mountain  slope and  the  central  valleys, causing  the severest winter  weather ever experienced  generally over  the southern half of the country east of the Rocky Mountains…. [p. 41]

 

“The situation the morning of the 13th was as follows: The line of zero temperature extended to central Louisiana, southern Mississippi, southern Alabama, and central Georgia. At New Orleans  a minimum of 6.8° was registered, a reading which was 8.2° lower than any previous record. Throughout the Gulf States the minimum temperatures were  3°  to  9° lower than ever before noted.  Heavy snow  was  falling in the Atlantic coast States, the snowfall  being  particularly heavy in the Potomac Valley and Chesapeake region. In the morning additional warnings  were  telegraphed  to  Florida that temperature would be much below freezing again Monday night as far  south  as  Tampa, and  possibly  freezing as far south as Jupiter, and a warning of a norther for the north coast of Cuba was sent to Havana, Cuba. Along the Atlantic coast from Breakwater to Eastport hurricane warnings, the extreme storm warnings of the  Bureau, were  displayed. Storm signals were continued southward along the coast to North Carolina. The night of the 13th a further fall in temperature occurred over southern Florida, the morning minimum of the 14th being 29° at Miami….” (MWR/Prof. Garriott. “Forecasts and Warnings.” 27/2, Feb 1899, p. 41.)

 

Newspapers

 

Jan 31:

 

Baltimore: “The combined efforts of two snowstorms placed the streets of Baltimore in a bad condition yesterday…The first storm appeared a few minutes after 3 o’clock in the morning. In three hours a fraction over one inch of snow fell. A few minutes before 6 o’clock in the afternoon snow began falling again and continued until a late hour in the night. The snow was light and comparatively dry….The temperature in Baltimore was nearly uniform throughout the day. At 6 S.M. it was 23 degrees; from 7 o’clock to 10 o’clock, 22; then for three hours it was one degree warmer. At 2 o’clock it reached 24 degrees. From that hour it fell gradually, until at 8 P.M. it was 20 degrees. The indications last night were that the temperature will be slightly lower today, due to a moderate cold wave which is approaching from the Mississippi Valley….” (Baltimore Sun. “Snow in Baltimore.” 2-1-1899, 6.)

 

Chicago: “Chicago, Jan. 31.–The cold wave continues with undiminished intensity in this section, the mercury having reached 11 below zero. However, the weather is moderating considerably in the Northwest, where the force of the wave is broken…” (Baltimore Sun, MD. “Blizzard in the South,” 2-1-1899, p. 6.)

 

Cokeville, WY: “Cokeville, Wyo., Jan 31.–A snowslide a mile long near here buried several men and tem teams. All the men were taken out alive with the exception of Burt Handy, who was dead when found.” (Baltimore Sun, MD. “Blizzard in the South,” 2-1-1899, p. 6.)

 

Denver: “Denver, Col., Jan 31.–At Breckenridge it was still snowing and blowing. Since January 26 there has been a total snow-fall of forty-five inches on top of a previous fall of six feet. At Como it is snowing, and the wind is blowing a perfect gale, drifting the light, dry snow. The Colorado Midland is snowbound from Arkansas Junction to Ivanhoe….” (Baltimore Sun, MD. “Blizzard in the South,” 2-1-1899, p. 6.)

 

Fort Worth, TX: “Fort Worth, Tex., Jan. 31.–The worst blizzard experienced in years is sweeping over the northern and western portions of Texas, causing much suffering to man and beast. Walter Mitchell, a wealthy cattle man of Clay county, has been found frozen to death. All Kinds of stock are suffering severely, while reports from some quarters state that cattle are dying in great numbers.” (Baltimore Sun, MD. “Blizzard in the South,” 2-1-1899, p. 6.)

 

Holly Springs, MS: “Holly Springs, Miss., Jan 31.–This section was visited by a severe blizzard last night, accompanied by rain, sleet and snow, which froze as it fell. The thermometer fell to 5° above zero. This morning a snowstorm occurred, lasting several hours. It is the coldest weather since 1895.”  (Baltimore Sun, MD. “Blizzard in the South,” 2-1-1899, p. 6.)

 

Memphis, TN: “Memphis, Tenn., Jan. 31.–A severe blizzard is prevailing in west Tennessee, Arkansas and Mississippi, with the mercury near the zero mark. A fine snow has been falling incessantly for fifteen hours and exposed stock is suffering severely.” (Athens Banner, GA. “Blizzard in Tennessee.” 2-3-1899, p. 5.)

 

Oxford, MS: “Oxford, Miss., Jan. 31.–A cold wave struck this section of the country about daylight this morning and it has continued to grow colder all day. Snow covers the ground, and old citizens say it is the coldest weather known for twenty years….” (Baltimore Sun, MD. “Blizzard in the South,” 2-1-1899, p. 6.)

 

Feb 1:

 

Omaha, NE: “Omaha, Neb., Feb. 1.–Reports from different points in Nebraska indicate that the extreme cold weather is moderating, although the  mercury is still low in the tube. Thermometers at Columbus registered 16 below Tuesday morning; at Sutton, 20 below; at Nebraska City, 12 below, and at Trenton, 12 below. Stock has suffered considerably….” (Logansport Daily Reporter, IN. “Cold Brings Death.” 2-1-1899, 1.)

 

Pana, IL: “Pana, Ill., Feb. 1.–Pana is experiencing the coldest weather in 15 years, which threatens great damage to the wheat crop.”  (Logansport Daily Reporter, IN. “Cold Brings Death.” 2-1-1899, 1.)

 

St. Louis: “St. Louis, Feb 1.–Four deaths from freezing occurred in this city Tuesday [Jan 31] and one in East St. Louis [IL]. The fatalities are George A Clark, aged 45, a candy-maker; Charles Farler, aged 30, laborer; Mrs. Mary Ryan; August Benson, aged 35 [unclear age]…Mrs. M. Jenkins, East St. Louis…Mrs. Ryan slipped on the ice in her dooryard and was stunned by the fall. Half an hour later she was found almost dead from exposure and died soon after. Farler and Benson were both consumptives and succumbed while searching for work. Clark was overcome by the cold while going to his place of employment. Telegraphic reports from different points in Missouri indicate that the weather of Monday night and Tuesday was the coldest experienced in many years. At Maryville the thermometer registered 17 degrees below zero. This was the lowest point reached.

 

“Above here the Mississippi and Missouri and Illinois rivers are frozen over, and at this point the Father of Waters is freezing rapidly. The ferries are still running but it was expected that the river would be frozen up by Wednesday.

 

“A report from Springfield, Mo., says that Mrs. Mary Stevens, an aged woman living on a farm near that city, was frozen to death.

 

“The blizzard has materially interfered with the passenger and freight business of all railroads entering this city. Trains arriving at the Union station Tuesday were from 20 minutes to three hours late….” (Logansport Daily Reporter, IN. “Cold Brings Death.” 2-1-1899, 1.)

 

Feb 2:

 

CO: “Denver, Feb. 2.–The snow storm that has raged with brief intermissions for more than a week in Colorado was renewed to-day with energy unabated. The snowfall during the latter hours of the night and nearly all day was very heavy, while strong winds piled it up, filled railroad cuts almost completely and blocked railroad traffic in mountain districts.

 

“Snow slides occurred at several points, one eighteen miles west of Leadville, on Mount Elbert, carrying down a miner’s cabin and burying William Manning, aged 60 years. Many mountain towns are cut off from the world, the only means of communication being by men on snow shoes….

Arctic Weather.

 

“Denver, Feb, 2.–The present arctic weather is driving many people to seen assistance from the county commissioners, and many cases of poverty and cold weather are being poured into the ear of the clerk, and Chairman Nichols, of the county commissioners. The coal is secured by the county commissioners from ne company which this morning found itself hard pressed to supply the demand in delivering it. When the county room opened at 8:30 this morning thirty orders for coal were placed and thirty-three people stood in line waiting to state their case. The investigator is kept busy, and the telephone constantly telling tales of distress and asking for relief. The investigators have found many suffering for food and in many cases the last lump of coal was burning. From 8 o’clock yesterday morning to 6 o’clock at night thirty-three people had been supplied with coal and twenty-six with groceries. The Soldiers’ Aid society are taking care of twenty-eight families who are wholly dependent upon them. Nine of these families are in wretched circumstances and have sickness in the family as well. The society is providing coal and groceries.” (Morning Times, Cripple Creek, CO. “The Worst in Many Long Years. Storm in the Mountains is Still Raging Furiously.” 2-3-1899, p. 1.)

 

Pittsburgh PA: “Pittsburgh…Feb. 2–This was the coldest day of the winter, the mercury dropping to zero in the city, while in the surrounding towns of western Pennsylvania it registered from five to thirteen degrees below. At Vandergrift, James Fryer of Apollo, was found frozen to death. He had fallen and broken his leg and died before he could reach home. The Monongahela river is frozen over from Pittsburgh to the headwaters and the Allegheny is closed above Sharpsburg, Pa.” (Fort Madison…Democrat, IA. “Coldest Day of Winter.” 2-2-1899, p. 1.)

 

Feb 3:

 

Deadwood, SD: “Deadwood, S.D., Feb 3.–Bitter cold prevails in this section. The thermometer in Deadwood registers 31 below zero. The blizzard has partly abated, however, and traffic on the railroads is being resumed.” (Daily Reflector, Norwalk, OH. “32 Below Zero.” 2-3-1899, p. 1.)

 

Denver, CO: “Denver, Feb. 3.–It is still extremely cold today and reached 12 below early this morning. Zero was the highest mark today. The conditions of the Rio Grande is practically the same as yesterday. The road is still blocked. In the Grand Canon, where the snowslides occurred yesterday only three were killed. They were John McMahon, roadmaster, J. Dempsey and J. Mulvahill, section men. Five others were injured. All were employes of the railroad. The Midland reports line open, with fair weather, except between Arkansas junction and Basalt. The Hagerman pass is still blocked. The South Park road has reached Kokomo with the weather clear and calm….” (Aspen Daily Times, CO. “The Storm Continues.” 2-4-1899, p. 1.)

 

Leadville, CO: Leadville, Feb 3.–The snow storm which ceased a short time last night, is worse this morning, with a high wind. No trains were run west of here, but the roads are open to Denver. Thirty-six cars of coal have been received, but there is still a great shortage.” (Aspen Daily Times, CO. “Storming at Leadville.” 2-4-1899, p. 1.)

 

MN: “St. Paul, Minn., Feb 3.–The cold still holds on, 4 below in St. Paul and 23 below at Winnipeg, indicating the run of the mercury. All Northwestern weather stations report below zero. (Aspen Daily Times, CO. “Forty-Five Below.” 2-4-1899, p. 1.)

 

MT: It has been snowing four days in Montana and almost every range is covered with from one to two and a half feet of snow. Although it has turned colder, being 20 degrees below at Helena, cattlemen do not anticipate any specially heavy loss on account of the storm. Range cattle are in food condition throughout the state and will be able to withstand a short season of severe weather. All sheep growers and many cattlemen in Montana are better supplied with food this winter than usual. Throughout Montana trains are from five to twelve hours late on account of the great amount of snow. Reports from all other the state indicate unprecedented cold weather, some places the thermometer registering as low as 45 below.” (Aspen Daily Times, CO. “Forty-Five Below.” 2-4-1899, p. 1.)

 

Portland, OR: “Portland, Ore., Feb. 3.–The weather tonight in this city and vicinity is the coldest of the winter, the thermometer having reached 10 above zero. Several inches of snow has fallen west of the Cascade mountains. In eastern Washington and Oregon very cold weather is prevailing.” (Aspen Daily Times, CO. “Cold at Portland.” 2-4-1899, p. 1.)

 

WY: Buffalo, Wyo., Feb. 3.–Mrs. J. E. Yost, wife of a ranchman, living six miles from town, was frozen to death during yesterday’s storm, and her daughter was also frozen to death. They had started to drive home from town and became bewildered in the storm. Finally their sleigh overturned and the team broke away. They were beyond help when found some hours later. There have been several narrow escapes from death and the losses in sheep and cattle will be large. The snow is so badly drifted that the roads are impossible for vehicles.” (Aspen Daily Times, CO. “Mother and Child Frozen.” 2-4-1899, p. 1.)

 

WY: “Cheyenne, Wyo., Feb 3.–A blizzard has prevailed in all portions of Wyoming excepting along the western line during the past twenty-four hours. The thermometer has ranged from 12 to 20 degrees below zero and from four to eight inches of snow has fallen. This, with Monday’s storm, makes an average of twenty inches of snow covering all the ranges. Stockmen are getting cattle and sheep sheltered as much as possible and are preparing to feed hay. Where feed and shelter are not available severe losses are inevitable. Advices from northern Wyoming tonight are that the weather is clearing but that the thermometer is 20 degrees below zero. In other parts of the state snow is falling but reports from weather stations indicate the storm will break tonight. To the present railway travel has not been interfered with.” (Aspen Daily Times. “Blizzard in Wyoming.” 2-4-1899, p. 1.)

 

Feb 6:

 

IL: “It has been a good many years since the ground has been frozen to the depth it is at present. The frost has now reached a depth of fur feet, and fears are being entertained in various cities, that if the cold weather continues it will reach the waterpipes and cause great damage. It will take a long time for the ground to thaw out sufficiently for spring plowing in the country. This freezing to such great depth is caused by the absence of snow.” (Daily Journal, Freeport, IL. “Deep Frost.” 2-6-1899, p. 8.)

 

NE: “Lincoln, Neb., February 6.–The State Board of Agriculture has begun to receive reports touching the stock loss in the State, as a result of the late severe weather. The indications are that much loss has been sustained by both cattle and sheep-owners. The weather has been unprecedentedly severe for the past week, concluding with the blizzard of February 2 and 3. During the period the sheep perished in all parts of the State. These sheep were principally bands that had been brought in form the South during the past summer for feeding purposes, and hand not become inured to the rigors of the Nebraska winter.” (Indianapolis News, IN. “Stock Frozen To Death.” 2-6-1899, p. 2.)

 

OR & WA: “Portland, Ore., February 6.–The cold weather of the past few days over the entire Pacific Northwest still continues. Reports from eastern Oregon and eastern Washington show that the thermometer ranged from 10 to 20 degrees below zero. West of the Cascade mountains it was 10 above.” (Indianapolis News, IN. “Cold Weather Continues.” 2-6-1899, p. 2.)

 

Feb 7:

 

“Washington, Feb 7, 8 P.M….The temperature has fallen decidedly in Eastern Tennessee and the East Gulf States and freezing temperature tonight reaches to the Louisiana and Western Florida coast; elsewhere the temperature changes are not marked except in Colorado and Utah, where there has been a rise of 12 degrees to 22 degrees. Extremely cold weather continues in the Northwest and the zero line extends to Southern Iowa….” (Baltimore Sun. “Government Weather Report.” 2-8-1899, p. 1.)

 

Feb 8:

 

“The whole country has experienced a taste of the bitter cold wave which swept down from the frozen regions of the north. Weather reports from various parts of the United States showed great differences in temperature. Telegrams to the Chicago weather office showed the entire middle West to be affected, temperatures of from 15 to 20 degrees below zero being recorded in many places. Fears have been expressed for the winter wheat, as the cold came when there was but little or no snow on the ground. The following table shows temperatures at various points:

 

Winnipeg…                                        -30

Swift Current [Saskatchewan]…       -30

Minnedosa [Manitoba]…                   -28

…Bismarck…                                    -26

Chicago…                                           -13

Duluth…                                             -12

Huron…                                              -10

Marquette…                                       -10

Green Bay…                                       -10

Milwaukee…                                        -4

St. Paul…                                             -4….

 

(Nashua Reporter, IA. “Blows Icy Blasts. Frigid Wave Sweeps Down from the North.” 2-9-1899, p. 14.)

 

Boston: “Boston, Feb 8.–A terrific blizzard is raging along the coast today and lives are in great danger. The thermometer is way down.” (Daily Journal, Telluride, CO. “Blizzard at Boston.” 2-8-2018, p. 1.)

 

Chicago: “Chicago, Feb. 8.–The temperature reached 12 below in Chicago today with 15 below predicted for tonight. The cold wave shows no diminution of energy in the northwestern states, while there is increased severity in the central portions of the country. St. Paul, Minn., reports 23 below; Bismarck, N.D., 36 below, and Williston, N.D., 40 below.” (Daily Times, Dubuque, IA. “Down a Peg or Two. Colder Weather Reported at St. Paul, Chicago…” 2-9-1899, p. 7.)

 

Leadville, CO: “Leadville, Colo., Feb. 8.–A snow storm which began here last night [7^th] developed into a blizzard today. The high wind has filled the railroad cuts with snow and the railroads are again blockaded both east and west of Leadville.” (Daily Times, Dubuque, IA. “Down a Peg or Two. Colder Weather Reported at St. Paul, Chicago…” 2-9-1899, p. 7.)

 

South Bend, IN: “South Bend, Indiana, February 8.–The thermometer registered 18 below zero in this vicinity this morning.” (Daily Journal, Telluride, CO.  2-8-2018, p. 1.)

 

St. Paul, MN: “St. Paul, Feb 8.–Last night reached the lowest record for cold, the bureau reporting 28 below, while unofficial temperatures ranged down to 35 and 40 below. In the extreme northwest the mercury is approaching zero on the upgrade and a slight abatement of the cold is promised later in the week. The weather continues clear, but there has been a cutting wind. This is the lowest since January, 1888. On account of the intense cold the public schools were dismissed today.” (Daily Times, Dubuque, IA. “Down a Peg or Two.” 2-9-1899, p. 7.)

 

St. Louis: “St. Louis, Feb. 8.–The cold spell in this vicinity reached a climax at 8 a.m. when the thermometer at the weather bureau observatory touched 6 degrees below zero. At Shaw’s Botanical gardens 8 below was the record, while at Forest Park it was 11 below. It is getting slightly warmer. At Alton, Ill., the thermometer registered 11 below, and at Belleville, Ill., 9 below.” (Daily Times, Dubuque, IA. “Down a Peg or Two. Colder Weather…” 2-9-1899, p. 7.)

 

Feb 9:

 

Feb 9: “Chicago, February 9.–The cold wave [is now] felt eastward to the Atlantic coast. Its intensity increased in the central portion of the country. It has moderated slightly in the extreme northwest. The line of zero temperature passes from the Chesapeake Bay westward over to thee northern portion of Tennessee. The extreme condition continues in the middle and eastern gulf states, freezing temperature being reported this morning s far south as central Florida.” (Daily Republican, Decatur, IL. “Winter’s Icy Grip,” 2-9-1899, p. 1.)

 

Feb 9, CO: “Denver, Feb 9.–This was the sixteenth day of the great snow storm in the mountains. The wind was blowing a gale, filling the railroad cuts with snow and fresh slides occurred covering the tracks with great piled of snow, rocks, etc. at various points. Not a wheel was turning and the outlook is more serious than at any time since the storm began….

 

“Leadville, Colo., Feb 9.–Two feet of fresh snow has fallen in this vicinity yesterday and today. People have begun to realize the fact that the camp is facing a desperate situation. The ordinary consumption of coal in the camp is 600 tons per day. There were today but a few carloads left and the railroads were blockaded on both sides of the city….” (Arizona Republican. “Gazing at Despair.” 2-10-1899, p. 1.)

 

Feb 9, DC: “Washington, Feb 9.–The thermometer went to 7 below zero early this morning, the lowest since December, 1881.” (Arizona Republican. “Weather at Washington.” 2-10-1899, p.1.)

 

Feb 9, IA: “Dubuque, Iowa, February 9.–Last night was the coldest since 1888, when 30 degrees below was recorded. During the night the temperature ranged from 25 to 29 below. There is much suffering among the poor people. Reports from the country tell of the serious condition of the stock.

 

“Creston, Iowa, February 9.–It was 21 below at 7 o’clock this morning. Business practically suspended.” (Daily Republican, Decatur, IL. “Winter’s Icy Grip,” 2-9-1899, p. 1.)

 

Feb 9, IL: “Freeport, Ill., February 9.–The coldest in years here, 24-30 below….

 

“Peoria, Ill., Feb. 9.–Twenty-four degrees below here….

 

“Chicago, February 9.–It is the coldest since 1872. The weather bureau thermometer registered 22 below at 6 o’clock this morning. Many unofficial thermometers recorded 25 to 28 and 30 was registered in some of the suburbs. Twenty severely frost bitten people were taken to the police station early. The ground is frozen very deep and the water mains are frozen up on some parts of the city….” (Daily Republican, Decatur, IL. “Winter’s Icy Grip,” 2-9-1899, p. 1.)

 

“Quincy, Ill., Feb 9.–It is 27 below zero, the coldest weather known here for thirty years.” (Arizona Republican, Phoenix. “Coldest in a Generation.” 2-10-1899, p. 1.)

 

Feb 9, IL: “The mercury reached the very lowest point of the winter this morning and today the people of Decatur are suffering with the coldest day they have passed through for a number of years. At 7 o’clock Prof. Coonradt’s thermometer registered 22 degrees below zero. At 8 o’clock it was up to 20 degrees and during the forenoon it has been in the neighborhood of 15 degrees below. There has been a good deal of wind to add to the discomfort of those who were on the streets. Everyone suffered more or less and those whose business compels them to be out of doors have suffered extremely. Quite a number have received frost bites.

 

“This morning Maffit & McGorray were compelled to stop cutting ice. The temperature was so low that the water in the trenches froze up and was simply too cold for the men to work. It was next to impossible for a human being to work on the river and in the ice houses.…The water pipes in all parts of the city are freezing and breaking….” (Daily Republican, Decatur, IL. “Like Klondyke. This is the Coldest Day of the Winter. 22 Below this Morning,” 2-9-1899, p. 1.)

 

Feb 9, IA: “Ottumwa, IA., Feb 9.–It is 23 below zero here. Business is prostrated. Stock is suffering.

 

“Creston, IA., Feb 9.–It is 31 degrees below zero today and business in practically suspended.” (Arizona Republican, Phoenix. “Iowa is Arctic.” 2-10-1899, p. 1.)

 

Feb 9, KS, Topeka: “Topeka, Kansas, February 9.–The weather record since 1892 was broken last night. Thermometers registered 15 degrees below.” (Daily Republican, Decatur, IL. “Winter’s Icy Grip,” 2-9-1899, p. 1.)

 

Feb 9, KY, Louisville: “Louisville, KY., February 9.–Coldest weather since 1884. This morning the government thermometer registered 14 below, many private one were as low as 18 degrees below.” (Daily Republican, Decatur, IL. “Winter’s Icy Grip,” 2-9-1899, p. 1.)

 

Feb 9, MI: “Detroit, Mich., Feb 9.–The lowest point reached by thermometers in Detroit this winter was 13 below this morning.” (Arizona Republican, Phoenix. “The Detroit Reading.” 2-10-1899, p. 1.)

 

Feb 9, MN: “St. Paul, Minn., Feb 9.–The winter’s cold record was again broken last night. The mercury reached 33 below.” (Arizona Republican, Phoenix. “Thirty-Three at St. Paul.” 2-10-1899, p. 1.)

 

Feb 9, MO: “Kansas City, Feb 9.–It is 20 degrees below zero. In the northern part of the state it is 30 below.” (Arizona Republican, Phoenix. “Missouri’s Chilliness.” 2-10-1899, p. 1.)

 

“St. Louis, February 9.–Coldest since 1884, touching 16 below this morning, with 22 below in nearby towns in Missouri and Illinois….” (Daily Republican, Decatur, IL. “Winter’s Icy Grip,” 2-9-1899, p. 1.)

 

Feb 9, NE, Omaha: “Omaha, NEB., February 9.–The weather bureau thermometer registered 23 below this morning, the coldest recorded here since February, 1993.” (Daily Republican, Decatur, IL. “Winter’s Icy Grip,” 2-9-1899, p. 1.)

 

Feb 9, NY: “New York, Feb 9.–The coldest day of the winter is one degree below zero. The forecaster says it will be colder tonight.” (Arizona Republican. “New York’s Coldest Day.” 2-10-1899, p. 1.)

 

Feb 9, ND, Huron: “Huron, H.D., Feb 9.–With 36 below zero this was the coldest place in the United States today. Bismarck, N.D., and La Crosse, Wis., report 32 below zero….” (Arizona Republican. “Huron the Highest.” 2-10-1899, p. 1.)

 

Feb 9, OH: “Columbus, Ohio, February 9.–Today was the coldest in years; 13 below in the central part of the city, to 17 below in the suburbs.

 

“Cleveland, Ohio, February 9.–The local weather bureau thermometer this morning registered 14 below, or within three degrees of the low record of January, 1873.

 

“Cincinnati, Ohio, February 9.–The weather bureau thermometer registered 16 below….

 

“Bowling Green, Ohio, February 9.–Eighteen below this morning. Much damage was done in the oil fields. Work there is practically suspended. All gas lines to the city are frozen and the fuel supply is cut off.” (Daily Republican, Decatur, IL. “Winter’s Icy Grip,” 2-9-1899, p. 1.)

 

Feb 9, PA, Pittsburgh: “Pittsburgh, PA., February 9.– Ten degrees below zero by the weather bureau thermometer and from 15 to 20 degrees below in more exposed places, was the record here today. The is the coldest it has been since January, 1879, when the official mercury dropped to 12 below.” (Daily Republican, Decatur, IL. “Winter’s Icy Grip,” 2-9-1899, p. 1.)

 

Feb 10:

 

Feb 10, NY: “Nyack, N.Y., Feb. 10–The temperature in the interior of Rockland county was 15° to 20° below zero at 5 a.m. today. This is five degrees colder than yesterday. The Hudson river, which is over three miles wide between Nyack and Tarrytown, is frozen across.” (Boston Globe, MA. “Hudson River Frozen.” 2-10-1899, p. 3.)

 

“Niagara Falls, N.Y., Feb. 10.–Cold weather has solidified the ice bridge so that it will take a period of warm weather to break it up. With the ice that has formed in Lake Erie coming over the falls, indications are that the bridge will assume formidable proportions….” (Baltimore Sun, MD. “Cold-Wave Incidents.” 2-11-1899, p. 2.)

 

Feb 10, PA, Pittsburgh: “Pittsburg, Pa., Feb. 10.–All cold records for this section were broken today and a new record of 20 degrees below zero was established by the Weather Bureau. Private thermometers registered from 7 to 10 degrees lower. Business is almost at a standstill. Schools were dismissed, outdoor laborers refused to work and every form of industry necessitating exposure to the weather was practically paralyzed. Many persons were severely nipped by Jack Frost, but no fatalities have been reported. One gruesome phase of the blizzard is its effect on live stock shipped from surrounding towns to the stock yards. The ears of many hogs dropped off, being so badly frozen that the least touch caused them to fall to the ground. Cattle likewise suffered severely.” (Fresno Morning Republican, CA. “Death Came in its Wake. Grim Progress of the Blizzard.” 2-11-1899, p. 1.)

 

Feb 13:

 

Feb 13, Boston: “Boston, Mass., Feb 13.–The heavy snow storm which began here on Saturday increased in force during the night, and this morning a high northeast wind was driving the snow in big drifts and covering the railroad tracks with a mass of snow that soon began to delay traffic in spite of all efforts to keep open the lines. Thermometer 12 degrees above zero.” (Oakland Tribune, CA. “Boston Blockaded.” 2-13-1899, p. 5.)

 

Feb 13, CT: “New Haven, Conn., Feb. 13.–The worst blizzard of recent years is raging throughout Connecticut. All traffic is tied up. The harbors along the coast are frozen solid.” (Daily Journal, Telluride, CO. “Harbor Frozen Solid.” 2-13-1899, p. 1.)

 

Feb 13, DC: “Washington, Feb 13.–Washington is having the weather of its life. The oldest inhabitant has been silenced. Never was there such cold, never such quantities of snow, and never such a mix-up of snow and wind as whirls through the streets. It is weather which would do credit to Chicago. In this winter resort it has simply struck the inhabitants stiff and numb. At 9 o’clock in the morning the street lamps were still burning in th residence portion of the city. All street car lines have come to a stop. Sidewalks are impassable, and the few venturesome people who try to go about wade through the middle of the street. The public departments are virtually shut down, office clerks being too small in number to conduct any business. Cabs and carriages are at a premium and can scarcely be had for long trips for love or money. It is practically impossible to deliver coal, except in very small lots; and for a week there have been standing advertisements for carts….Congress has appropriated $5,0000 to cut a channel in the Potomac so as to prevent an ice jam at the Long bridge….The great quantity of snow proved too much to be handled by the custodian of the Capitol building. The drains on the roof were soon choked up, and water leaked through the house side in large quantities. Neither branch of congress had a quorum, but as long as no one raised the point, business went on.” (La Harpe Quill, IL. “Cold and Blizzards…Washington Buried Under Snow.” 2-16-1900. p. 3.)

 

Feb 13, KY: “Louisville, Ky., Feb 13.–The coldest weather ever known in Kentucky was recorded Monday. At Louisville the thermometer only reached ten below, but at Lebanon, Ky., a temperature of 39 below was registered; Carlisle, 30; Princeton, 30, and the highest recorded in reports from 25 stations was 13 below. At Paducah a negro woman and her child were frozen to death in the field. In many towns business has been suspended, and a coal shortage is reported from all parts of the state.” (Daily Illinois Courier, Jacksonville, IL. “Weather in Old Kaintuck.” 2-14-1899, p. 4.)

 

Feb 13, LA: “New Orleans, Feb. 13.–New Orleans was wrapped in a mantle of white this morning, almost four inches of sleet having fallen since Saturday night [Feb 11]. Early yesterday morning thermometers registered sixteen below, breaking all records. Cold weather prevails throughout the state today. The thousands of guests are thoroughly uncomfortable and carnival plans are considerably interfered with….Advices from the lower coast are to the effect that orange groves valued yesterday at millions of dollars are valueless today, and land held at $1500 an acre could be bought today for $5.” (

 

Feb 13, MO: “Louisiana, Mo., Feb. 13.–A block was destroyed here this morning by fire; loss $50,000. The thermometer is eight below, and the firemen look like ice bergs.” (Daily Journal, Telluride, CO. “Fire at Louisiana,” 2-13-1899, p. 1.)

 

Feb 13: New Orleans: “At New Orleans, the minimum temperature was six degrees which was nine degrees lower than any previous record.” (Trenton Evening Times, NJ. “Blizzard Here and Elsewhere.” 2-13-1899, p. 1.)

 

Feb 13, NY: “New York, Feb. 13.–The fearful storm has increased in violence and together with the snow which has drifted in many places has almost paralyzed traffic. Surface cars are almost entirely stalled, the elevated trains running without regard to schedule, and ferryboats make a few trips as best they can. The upper and lower bay is one mass of ice. There are very few people on the streets and, it being a holiday, even the main streets of New York look like those of a little town. The people living in the suburbs have in some instances been unable to reach the city, owing to the stalling of the surface cars.” (La Harpe Quill, IL. “Blizzard in New York.” 2-16-1899, p. 3.)

 

Feb 13, PA, Harrisburg: “Harrisburg, Pa., Feb 13.–Harrisburg is storm-bound. Twenty inches of snow have fallen in the past 24 hours. Traffic on the trolley lines is seriously impeded, and all railroad lines are blocked. Passenger trains on the railroads are from four to eight hours late. There have been no trains from Pittsburgh since last night, and the train due here from Philadelphia at five o’clock had not reached here at noon. The snow has drifted ten feet high in some parts of the city, and business is practically at a standstill. A handful of senators and members met in joint assembly at noon and went through the form of balloting for a United States senator. There was no quorum present, an, of course, there was no choice for senator..” (Daily Illinois Courier, Jacksonville, IL. “Harrisburg Snowbound.” 2-14-1899, p. 4.)

 

Feb 13, PA, Philadelphia: “Philadelphia, Pa., Feb 13.–The storm in this vicinity has assumed the proportions of a blizzard. This has had the effect of piling the light, dry snow up in drifts until some of the streets became impassable to trolley cars. Railroads are all seriously affected by the blizzards. Trains are all late, and in some instances schedules have been abandoned. Shipping remains at a standstill in the Delaware river. A coal famine is imminent in ports that depend on Philadelphia for a supply of coal.” (Oakland Tribune, CA. “Philadelphia Blizzard.” 2-13-1899, 5.)

 

Feb 13, PA, Pittsburgh: “Pittsburg, Feb. 13.–Never in the history of navigation has the situation in Pittsburg river affairs been so critical as it is now. After three days of the coldest weather ever known in this section of the country the rivers are frozen s tight as a mill race at many points and the ice is growing thicker every hour….To these conditions add the fact of an almost unprecedented accumulation of snow in the watersheds of the Monongahela and Allegheny and it becomes apparent that the inevitable break up in the rivers is to be feared. River men are fearful of a flood that will do great damage along the rivers. Twenty years ago a similar state of affairs resulted disastrously. A number of vessels were wrecked and much coal was lost. At that time a record for low temperature (12 degrees) was established, but that record has been smashed with all others for persistently low temperature. Both rivers are frozen over from Pittsburgh to the headwaters, notwithstanding the constant efforts of pool boats to keep an open channel. It is hardly possible that the snow and ice will be able to pass off without extraordinary results.” (La Harpe Quill, IL. “River Men are Anxious. Situation at Pittsburg in a very Critical Condition.” 2-16-1899, p. 3.)

 

Feb 13, Southern States: “Atlanta, Ga., Feb 13.–The south shivered in a temperature of unprecedented severity. From the Gulf of Mexico northward and from the Atlantic coast to the west boundaries of Texas the cold wave has settled heavily on the country and produced the lowest temperature ever known. Anniston, Ala., reported the lowest temperature–15 degrees below at 7 o’clock in the morning. Atlanta comes next with 8½ below, recorded officially. This is the lowest ever known here, the low mark being broken by 6 degrees. Street thermometers recorded 10 and 12 below, and this temperature, accompanied by a wind which reached a velocity of fifteen miles an hour, made the cold almost unbearable. Great suffering was reported to the police early in the day and prompt measures were taken for relief. The Atlanta Journal and Atlanta Constitution company operated with the police and furnished coal and provisions to hundreds of families. A large number of people with frost-bitten hands, faces, ears and noses were cared for early in the morning, and ten cases were sent to the Grady hospital. One week ago the temperature was 72. Street car traffic is demoralized, no cars having been run on some lines since Saturday night. Four inches of snow covers the ground….

 

“Among the temperature reported to the weather bureau are the following, all below zero: Nashville, 12; Knoxville, 10; Selma, Ala., 6; Birmingham, 5; Columbus, GA., 4; Mobile, Ala., 1; Montgomery, Ala., 4; and many others hovering near the zero mark.” (La Harpe Quill, IL. “Suffering in the South. Unprecedented Cold Weather–Fifteen Below at Anniston, Ala.” 2-16-1899, p. 3.)

 

Feb 13, VA: “Staunton, Va., Feb. 13.–The Chesapeake & Ohio railroad officials have sent dining cars to the relief of the vestibule trains this morning, which are snowbound at Afton on the east side of the Blue Ridge mountains. The Valley branch of the B. & O. has annulled all trains. One passenger train is snowbound at Cave Station, fourteen miles from here.” (Daily Journal, Telluride, CO. “Trains Snowbound.” 2-13-1899, p. 1.)

 

Feb 13-14, DC: “Washington, Feb 15.–The storm swept past Washington about midnight Monday night [Feb 13] and Tuesday morning the sun shone bright from a clear blue sky on a city buried approximately three feet deep in snow. The gale of wind-driven snow traveled north-north-eastward during Monday, leaving its heavy mantle of snow and its tales of hardships and suffering behind it in the south. Washington is cut off from railroad communication with the outside world, but now the storm has ceased the companies have started to open up their lines and belated trains probably will begin arriving. The storm suspended a large part of the business of the city and also many social functions. The president ordered that the reception to the general public, which was to have been held Tuesday night, be postponed until the weather is more auspicious. Coal has gone up over a dollar a tone. Eggs have advanced from 28 to 50 cents a dozen; pork has gone up seven cents a pound; Irish potatoes have jumped from 45 to 85 cents and vegetable prices have advanced 75 per cent.

 

“The telegraph is the only thing that saves the capital city from being shut off from the outside world, the wires working well in all directions. The railroads are at a standstill, no mails have arrived or been sent out from Washington since one o’clock Monday afternoon and all railroads announce ‘all trains annulled.’

 

“Fortunately, up to this time the police reports show that there have been no casualties from the storm, the harm thus far inflicted being frost-bite and exhaustion, but great destitution among the poor, who were illy prepared to withstand the elements. With the exception of some inconsequential local traffic, not a train reached the city on the three principal railroads Tuesday. Passengers who were fortunate enough to get in tell remarkable stories of snowdrifts and the extent of the storm along the route.” (Sycamore True Republican, IL. “Work of the Blizzard.” 2-18-1899, p. 2.)

 

Feb 14:

 

Feb 14, Baltimore: “Baltimore, Md., Feb. 14.–Snow has been falling in this city without intermission since nine o’clock Saturday night [Feb 11] and the wind has been blowing a gale from the northwest, with the result that the street car lines and all the steamboat lines leading into the city are at a standstill. Reports from all parts of the state show the same condition of things and much suffering both among the farmers and the poor. All trains are behind, owing to snowdrifts on all lines.” (Hartford City Telegram, IN. “Baltimore Gets Her Share.” 2-15-1899, 6)

 

Feb 14, Frederick and vicinity: “Frederick, Md., Feb. 14.–The wind, which blew a perfect gale during the prevalence of this week’s blizzard, subsided about 4 o’clock this morning, after clearing all the snow from the mountain tops of the Catoctin range down into the valley of Frederick. Last night’s blizzard was the most terrific that has ever been experienced in Frederick, and as a consequence the city is practically walled in by snow.

 

“On the Emmitsburg road, leading north from Frederick, the drifts are so high that the fence posts are buried beneath them, and nothing but one vast expansive body of snow covering the entire country can be seen.

 

“The Washington pike south of the city, and the Baltimore pike entering the city on the east side and passing out the west, are obliterated. In many places the snow is piled up to the second story windows of the dwellings. Some of the side streets in Frederick City are impassable, and on Market street the snow is from four to five feet deep.

 

“Myersville[141] is walled in by snow seven and eight feet deep, with great drifts in the town. Travel to or from the town will be impossible for some days. At Ellerton the conditions are the same with drifts ten feet high. Jefferson[142] is also blockaded, and snow is piled up to thee second floors of the houses. In Liberty like conditions exist.[143] Similar reports also come from all sections of Frederick county. Everywhere are great drifts, ranging from seven to twenty feet in height, and it will take much labor, even if aided by a sudden thaw, to open the country roads….

 

“There is a great demand for coal [in Frederick], but carts are not able to get through many of the side streets. Not a railroad train came into Frederick yesterday or today, and not one has left since Sunday afternoon [Feb 12]. The Pennsylvania, Western Maryland and Baltimore and Ohio systems are completely blocked and traffic suspended….

 

“For the first time in its history Frederick had no market today.” (Baltimore Sun, MD. “Drifts From Catoctin.” 2-15-1899, p. 6.)

 

Feb 14, Ocean City, MD: “Ocean City, Md., Feb. 14.–On Sinepuxent Beach at Ocean City the surf was frozen last night ten feet thick as far as the inner bar…” (Baltimore Sun, MD. “Frozen Sea Surf.” 2-15-1899, p. 6.)

 

Feb 14, New Orleans: “New Orleans, February 14.–The weather in New Orleans has moderated somewhat to-day, but it is still too cold and damp under foot to make pedestrianism pleasant. The mercury steadily rose yesterday and last night, from 6.8 above, the lowest ever recorded in this section, but toward morning it again began to fall. At 7 this morning it stood at 22 degrees.

 

“Throughout the State it has been bitterly cold, and heavy damage has been done to the vegetable and orange crops in spite of the warnings that were sent in advance of the approach on the cold wave. As showing the severity of the weather, Gibbsland’s record may be cited. It was 16 below zero there at last reports. Bayou Terre Bonne and La Fourche are frozen for the first time since the war. Lake Providence in north Louisiana is likewise frozen. Such an event has not been noted before  in the past twenty-five years. Bayou St. John, at the Esplanade bridge on the outskirts of this city, is frozen, and there was skating on the ice this morning. Trains on all the roads are way behind time, and there has been serious interruption to the mail service….” (Indianapolis News, IN. “Severe in the South.” 2-14-1899, p. 1. 2-14-1899, p. 1.)

 

Feb 14, NY: “New York, Feb 14.–The storm which has been raging since Saturday [Feb 11] night increased in violence Monday, becoming a thorough blizzard. Snow fell all day, and is still coming down. A bitter northwest wind drives the snow in clouds through the streets, piling up three-foot snow drifts. The street cleaning department, after struggling for 36 hours to clear the principal streets, gave up entirely, even surrendering Broadway to the wind and snow. The surface railroads run snowplows over the roads at intervals, and maintain a service, but the cars are not heated, and are not well patronized. The elevated roads are running, but trains pay no regard to schedule time.

 

“In the suburbs, where the winds have free sweep, the drifts are five to ten feet high; street railroads have stopped altogether, and suburban steam railroads re blocked. Many neighboring towns are cut off from New York altogether.

 

“Few trucks and delivery wagons were seen on the streets Monday. Floating ice cakes in the rivers hinder the ferries greatly. Few persons ventured from their homes unless obliged to do so. Courts had to be closed because of the cold, and the special Lincoln day celebration and the theaters were thinly attended.

 

“All the charitable societies are taxed beyond their resources, owing to the sudden demands made upon them. Of the 15,000 destitute families in the city, as estimated by Blair, superintendent of the outdoor poor, nearly all are either freezing or starving. The continued storm has handicapped all efforts to aid, and the blizzard has necessitated a complete suspension. The thousands of poor Jews, Italians, Greeks, Syrians and Armenians who make a living by selling fruit, confectionery and other small articles from push carts and stands, have been driven out of business altogether and brought to the verge of starvation. Persons employed outdoors have lost employment temporarily. They number many thousands, and some of them will swell the list of destitute. At the city lodging house 310 persons were housed Sunday night. Of these 266 were men, 22 were women, and the remainder children.

 

“Three deaths from cold were reported Monday [Feb 13]. They were: Richard Atcheson, 56 years of age, frozen to death in the snow; George Hatzen, an agent, at 744 Broadway, found dead in a snow drift; Lee Sing, a Chinaman, 22 years old, frozen to death in Brooklyn….” (Logansport Daily Reporter, IN. “East Gets A Taste. Remarkable Blizzard and Low Temperature Reported.” 2-14-1899, p. 1.)

 

Feb 14, Alexandria, VA: “Alexandria, Va., Feb. 14.–The Pennsylvania Railway began this evening running local trains between this city and Washington. Mails reached here tonight, the first time since Sunday. The snow is six to ten feet deep near Falls Church. Forty Alexandrians detained at power house near Four-Mile run without food twenty-four hours walked to this city amid the snowdrifts, three miles, and reached here at 9 o’clock this morning.” (Baltimore Sun, MD. “At Other Virginia Points.” 2-14-1899, p. 6.)

 

Feb 14, Bristol, VA: “Bristol, Va., Feb. 14.–The coldest weather in six years prevailed in this section. The mercury reached 20 below zero this morning….Coal is scarce and many poor people are suffering.” (Baltimore Sun, MD. “At Other Virginia Points.” 2-14-1899, p. 6.)

 

Feb 14, Petersburg, VA: “Petersburg, Va., Feb. 14.–In consequence of the snow and cold weather all of the tobacco factories here have closed, and fully 3,000 persons, mostly colored people, are thrown out of employment. There are over 5,000 persons out of employment in Petersburg and vicinity by reason of the cold weather….” (Baltimore Sun, MD. “Factories Shut Down.” 2-15-1899, p. 6.)

 

Feb 14, Richmond, VA: “Richmond, Va., Feb. 13.–A sunny day helped the people to do much to relieve themselves from the thrall of the seventeen inches of snow which fell in this vicinity…James river is frozen over as far as can be seen….Wood is scarce and teamsters are overwhelmed with orders, which they can fill but slowly, as three horses are now needed where two were commonly used. Some of the factories…are closed today for lack of fuel…The hotels are full of passengers who laid over here because of stopped trains. Governor Tyler has not been at the executive office for two days…” (Baltimore Sun, MD. “Richmond’s Thralldom.” 2-15-1899, p. 6.)

 

Feb 14, Winchester, VA: “Winchester, Va., Feb 14.–The city council today made appropriations for cleaning the streets of snow, which is in many places eight and ten feet deep, stopping all travel. Systematic efforts are being made to relieve the numerous cases of distress reported, and the council also appropriated a sum of money for this purpose. Large forces of men are endeavoring to clear the drifts from the railroad tracks.” (Baltimore Sun, MD. “At Other Virginia Points.” 2-14-1899, p. 6.)

 

Feb 14, Charlestown, WV: “Charlestown, W.Va., Feb. 14.–The heavy snowstorm ceased at 8 o’clock last night, and today the temperature rose to 25 above zero, giving great relief. All trains are blocked on the Baltimore and Ohio and Norfolk and Western railroads, s the snow drifts are nearly twenty feet deep in many places. The snow is three feet deep on the level and all the country roads are drifted full. Demand for laborers to shovel snow cannot be half met, and the railroads are offering 20 cents her hour. No mails have reached this place since Sunday morning.” (Baltimore Sun, MD. “At Other Virginia Points.” 2-14-1899, p. 6.)

 

Feb 15, Hagerstown, MD: “Four years ago, almost to a day, Hagerstown was enfolded in the icy embrace of a blizzard, which, previous to that time, was unprecedented. It simply overwhelmed the community. That it would never be equaled was the hope of everyone, but today conditions are much worse than then.

 

“Every day since February began snow has fallen until a layer of falf a foot or more covered the ground. On Saturday evening [Feb 11], after two or three days of the most painfully cold weather known here, it began to snow. For 48 hours it kept steadily as it until a blanket two feet or more deep covered the ground. While it was falling a wind prevailed more or less violent and the result is what would be expected. Drifts here and there, shifting like the sands of the desert, now piled six feet high at one corner and an hour later the place would be almost bare. Every shelter where the whirling wind could eddy it deposited its white burden, blocking streets, highways and railroads; shutting off the town from the outer world, and cutting one part of the town completely off from the other.

 

“There has never been such severe weather in Hagerstown. There is no record of any such conditions as now prevail.

 

“As the night closed down on Sunday [Feb 12] the fast falling snow, the wind and the extreme cold forebode a fearful night. All through the night it grew worse and worse, and Monday morning brought no mitigation. In the early hours it was possible to get from place to place. Some wagons, a few sleighs and a few people were moving about. But by midday everything practically closed and by night fall the town was enwrapped in an all prevailing, blinding, freezing blizzard, traffic closed entirely and all business was suspended. The snow ceased falling as though to give the wind a better chance and the howling demons from the caves of Boreas came raging and relentless to fill the sum total of the worse spell of weather known here in the century.

 

“The thermometer fell with the close of day and in a few hours after dark, which shut in from the gloomy vault of the sky like a pall, the cold was intense. Each succeeding hour was worse than the one before. It was a night long to be remembered….

 

“Monday will long be remembered as one of the most disagreeable of disagreeable days, the weather conditions being even worse than Sunday. Snow fell throughout the day and in addition the wind seemed to blow in all directions at the same time….In many places it was next to impossible for pedestrians to walk. Drifts in the Public Square were from eight to ten feet deep….” (Herald and Torch Light, Hagerstown, MD. “In the Icy Grip of the Blizzard.” 2-16-1899, p. 5.)

Feb 15:

 

Feb 15, NY: “New York, Feb. 15.–With clear skies and warmer weather New York started to dig itself out of the snow Tuesday morning [Feb 14]. The thermometer rose smartly. By noon the mercury had reached 25 degrees above zero and there was not a cloud in the sky. After Saturday’s half holiday and the suspension of business on Sunday and Monday, Tuesday’s street traffic was tremendous, with the result of blockades everywhere.

 

“In response to the piteous cries for aid that went up from many sections of the city, Gov. Roosevelt has ordered the opening of the armories of the Eighth, Ninth, Twelfth, Sixty-ninth and Seventy-first regiments for the shelter of such portions of the homeless poor as might take refuge there.

 

“The snow contractor estimated that upwards of 45,000 loads of snow were removed from the street up to six o’clock Tuesday night. This means about 70,000 cubic yards and an expense of over $21,000. At six o’clock at night a force of about 1,800 men started to work with between 800 and 1,000 carts. All the night force was practically concentrated on Broadway, an it was expected this thoroughfare would be cleared by the time of opening business from Forty-second street to the Battery.” (Sycamore True Republican, IL. “Work of the Blizzard.” 2-18-1899, p. 2.)

 

Feb 15, TX: “Houston, Tex., Feb 15.–The weather in Texas for the past week has been terrible. In the southwest for the first time since 1882 there has been skating. In northern Texas the blizzard Saturday and Sunday was the most severe in history.” (Daily Journal, Freeport, IL. “Terrible Weather in Texas.” 2-15-1899, p. 3.)

 

Feb 16, Waynesboro, PA: “Waynesboro is still snow bound. The only team in the town Tuesday morning [Feb 14] from outside of town was a milk wagon drawn by four horses. The roads and pike are all blocked, business is at a standstill as far as country trade is concerned….The coal supply in town is running very short, which causes some alarm.” (Herald and Torch Light, Hagerstown, MD. “In the Icy Grip of the Blizzard.” 2-16-1899, p. 5.)

 

Feb 16, The South: “The blizzard did great damage in many sections of Georgia. Experienced fruit growers are unanimously of the opinion that practically all fruit in the middle tier of counties, except plums, have been killed by the severe cold. Some growers say at least two-thirds of the peach crop was ruined before the present spell came….

 

“A Nashville, Tenn., dispatch says: The situation as to coal in Nashville Monday was as bad as any day since the famous [coal] famine developed. While considerable coal was delivered Sunday, the receipts were comparatively small Monday, and one-tenth of the demand could not be filled. Long lines of people took their turn at every coal yard, and more coal was sold to people who brought wagons than was delivered by dealers. People who could not get wagons brought sacks, and many men carried coal home on street cars and in buggies. Several more manufactories closed down Monday, including the publishing house of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, which finished out the day by burning old records and other books.

 

“A Columbia, S.C., special says: South Carolina, particularly its capital city, is feeling the effect of the blizzard very keenly. The snow is eleven and a half inches deep, the heaviest ever had here, save in February, 1894, when it was 11.8 inches. All previous temperature records have been broken.

 

“All records for low temperature in Arkansas have been broken and February 12, 1899, will be treasured up in the memory of the ‘oldest inhabitant’ for years to come.

 

“At New Orleans the mercury went to 7 Sunday night, being eight degrees lower than previous records. The ground was covered with sleet and snow. On account of severe weather the Proteus display and ball was postponed….

 

“At Vicksburg, Miss., dispatch says: This section is experiencing the coldest weather ever known. The thermometer reached one degree below zero Sunday morning. The river is frozen for 200 feet from the shore and ll river craft is tied up by the ice. Floating ice is passing in the channel continuously.

 

“For the first time in its history Waco, Texas, and vicinity experienced zero weather. Sunday morning the mercury showed 7 below and Monday morning 3 below. Oats are ruined and wheat so seriously injured as to amount to destruction….The Brazos river is frozen from bank to bank.” (Vienna Progress, GA. “In Icy Grasp of Blizzard. Cold Wave Does Great Damage…” 2-16-1899, p. 6.)

 

Sources

 

Alton Evening Telegraph, IL. “Mail Carrier Frozen to Death.” 2-14-1899, p. 4. Accessed 12-17-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/alton-evening-telegraph-feb-14-1899-p-4/

 

Arizona Republican, Phoenix. “Gazing at Despair.” 2-10-1899, p. 1. Accessed 12-17-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/phoenix-arizona-republican-feb-10-1899-p-1/

 

Arizona Republican, Phoenix. “Huron the Highest.” 2-10-1899, p. 1. Accessed 12-17-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/phoenix-arizona-republican-feb-10-1899-p-1/

 

Arizona Republican, Phoenix. “Jack Frost in Chicago.” 2-10-1899, p. 1. Accessed 12-17-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/phoenix-arizona-republican-feb-10-1899-p-1/

 

Arizona Republican, Phoenix. “Missouri’s Chilliness.” 2-10-1899, p. 1. Accessed 12-17-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/phoenix-arizona-republican-feb-10-1899-p-1/

 

Arizona Republican, Phoenix. “One Death at St. Louis.” 2-10-1899, p. 1. Accessed 12-17-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/phoenix-arizona-republican-feb-10-1899-p-1/

 

Arizona Republican. “Weather at Washington.” 2-10-1899, p. 1. Accessed 12-17-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/phoenix-arizona-republican-feb-10-1899-p-1/

 

Aspen Daily Times, CO. “Blizzard in Wyoming.” 2-4-1899, p. 1. Accessed 12-22-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/aspen-daily-times-feb-04-1899-p-1/

 

Aspen Daily Times, CO. “Cold at Portland.” 2-4-1899, p. 1. Accessed 12-22-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/aspen-daily-times-feb-04-1899-p-1/

 

Aspen Daily Times, CO. “Forty-Five Below.” 2-4-1899, p. 1. Accessed 12-22-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/aspen-daily-times-feb-04-1899-p-1/

 

Aspen Daily Times, CO. “Storming at Leadville.” 2-4-1899, p. 1. Accessed 12-22-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/aspen-daily-times-feb-04-1899-p-1/

 

Aspen Daily Times, CO. “The Storm Continues.” 2-4-1899, p. 1. Accessed 12-22-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/aspen-daily-times-feb-04-1899-p-1/

 

Associated Press. “More Women Freeze to Death in New York,” Oakland Tribune, CA, 2-15-1899, p. 2. Accessed 12-17-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/oakland-tribune-feb-15-1899-p-2/

 

Associated Press. Sixteen Skaters Carried Away on Ice Floes — Ten Rescued.” Bradford Era, PA. 2-13-1899, p. 1. Accessed 12-16-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/bradford-era-feb-13-1899-p-1/

 

Associated Press. “Thrilling Region of Thick-Ribbed Ice.” Oakland Tribune, CA. 2-9-1899, p. 1. Accessed 12-17-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/oakland-tribune-feb-09-1899-p-1/

 

Athens Banner, GA. “Blizzard in Tennessee.” 2-3-1899, p. 5. Accessed 12-18-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/athans-weekly-banner-feb-03-1899-p-5/

 

Avalanche Echo, Glenwood Springs, CO. “Death and Destruction. Snow Slides at Shoshone Send Souls Swiftly to Eternity.” 2-2-1899, p. 3. Accessed 12-18-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/glenwood-avalanche-echo-feb-02-1899-p-3/

 

Baltimore Sun, MD. “An Aged Couple Frozen To Death.” 2-18-1899, p. 8. Accessed 12-20-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/baltimore-sun-feb-18-1899-p-8/

 

Baltimore Sun, MD. “At Other Virginia Points.” 2-14-1899, p. 6. Accessed 12-20-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/baltimore-sun-feb-15-1899-p-6/

 

Baltimore Sun, MD. “Believed to be Dead.” 2-14-1899, p. 6. Accessed 12-19-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/baltimore-sun-feb-14-1899-p-6/

 

Baltimore Sun, MD. “Below Zero in The South.” 2-14-1899, p. 6. Accessed 12-19-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/baltimore-sun-feb-14-1899-p-6/

 

Baltimore Sun, MD. “Blizzard in the South,” 1-1-1899, p. 6. Accessed 12-22-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/baltimore-sun-feb-01-1899-p-6/

 

Baltimore Sun, MD. “Died After Shoveling Snow.” 2-14-1899, p. 1. Accessed 12-19-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/baltimore-sun-feb-14-1899-p-1/

 

Baltimore Sun, MD. “Drifts From Catoctin.” 2-15-1899, p. 6. Accessed 12-20-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/baltimore-sun-feb-15-1899-p-6/

 

Baltimore Sun, MD. “Factories Shut Down.” 2-15-1899, p. 6. Accessed 12-20-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/baltimore-sun-feb-15-1899-p-6/

 

Baltimore Sun, MD. “Fears for Two Sailors.” 2-17-1899, p. 6. Accessed 12-20-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/baltimore-sun-feb-17-1899-p-6/

 

Baltimore Sun, MD. “Found Frozen to Death.” 2-2-1899, p. 10. Accessed 12-19-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/baltimore-sun-feb-02-1899-p-10/

 

Baltimore Sun, MD. “Frozen Near His Home.” 2-15-1899, p. 2. Accessed 12-19-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/baltimore-sun-feb-15-1899-p-2/

 

Baltimore Sun, MD. “Frozen Sea Surf.” 2-15-1899, p. 6. Accessed 12-20-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/baltimore-sun-feb-15-1899-p-6/

 

Baltimore Sun, MD. “Frozen To Death.” 2-11-1899, p. 2. Accessed 12-19-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/baltimore-sun-feb-11-1899-p-2/

 

Baltimore Sun, MD. “Frozen To Death.” 2-17-1899, p. 3. Accessed 12-20-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/baltimore-sun-feb-17-1899-p-3/

 

Baltimore Sun. “Government Weather Report.” 2-8-1899, p. 1. Accessed 12-22-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/baltimore-sun-feb-08-1899-p-1/

 

Baltimore Sun, MD. “In the Virginias. A Man Frozen at Charleston, W.Va.,” 2-11-1899, p. 2. Accessed 12-19-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/baltimore-sun-feb-11-1899-p-2/

 

Baltimore Sun, MD. “Only One Day Colder. Philadelphia Experienced The Most Frigid Weather for a Century.” 2-11-1899, p. 2. Accessed 12-19-2018: https://newspaperarchive.com/baltimore-sun-feb-11-1899-p-2/

 

Baltimore Sun, MD. “Richmond’s Thralldom.” 2-15-1899, p. 6. Accessed 12-20-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/baltimore-sun-feb-15-1899-p-6/

 

Baltimore Sun, MD. “Snow in Baltimore.” 2-1-1899, 6. Accessed 12-22-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/baltimore-sun-feb-01-1899-p-6/

 

Baltimore Sun. MD. “Storm Fatalities.” 2-15-1899, p. 6. Accessed 12-20-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/baltimore-sun-feb-15-1899-p-6/

 

Baltimore Sun, MD. “Worst Blizzard Ever Known Here.” 2-14-1899, p. 1. Accessed 12-19-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/baltimore-sun-feb-14-1899-p-1/

 

Bar Harbor Record, ME. “Frozen to Death.” 2-8-1899, p. 8. Accessed 12-19-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/bar-harbor-record-feb-08-1899-p-8/

 

Boston Globe, MA. “Body Half-Covered in Snow.” 2-9-1899, p. 5. Accessed 12-20-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/boston-daily-globe-feb-09-1899-p-15/

 

Boston Globe, MA. “Body on the Way to Boston.” 2-12-1899, p. 4. Accessed 12-20-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/boston-sunday-globe-feb-12-1899-p-64/

 

Boston Globe, MA. “Colder in Connecticut.” 2-11-1899, p. 7. Accessed 12-20-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/boston-daily-globe-feb-11-1899-p-19/

 

Boston Globe, MA. “Dog Guarded Aged Man’s Body.” 2-12-1899, p. 4. Accessed 12-20-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/boston-sunday-globe-feb-12-1899-p-64/

 

Boston Globe, MA. “Exposure Did It. Cause of the Death of Mrs. O’Brien.” 2-13-1899, p. 6. Accessed 12-20-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/boston-daily-globe-feb-13-1899-p-6/

 

Boston Globe, MA. “Hudson River Frozen.” 2-10-1899, p. 3. Accessed 12-20-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/boston-daily-globe-feb-10-1899-p-15/

 

Boston Globe, MA. “New York Man Frozen to Death.” 2-10-1899, p. 1.  Accessed 12-20-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/boston-daily-globe-feb-10-1899-p-1/

 

Brimfield News, IL. “Week’s News Record,” 2-9-1899, p. 2. Accessed 12-16-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/brimfield-news-feb-09-1899-p-2/

 

Burlington Hawk-Eye. “Frozen to Death. Sad Fatality of the Intense Cold near Leon, Iowa.” 2-14-1899, p. 3. Accessed 12-19-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/burlington-hawk-eye-feb-14-1899-p-3/

 

Carbondale Free Press, IL. “Five Deaths Reported from Kentucky Due to the Extreme and Unusual Cold.” 2-18-1899, p. 2. Accessed 12-17-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/carbondale-free-press-feb-18-1899-p-2/

 

Centralia Daily Sentinel, IL. “Death in an Avalanche.” 2-13-1899, p. 4. Accessed 12-17-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/centralia-daily-sentinel-feb-13-1899-p-4/

 

Centralia Sentinel, IL. “Telegraphic Notes.” 2-16-1899, p. 1. Accessed 12-17-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/centralia-sentinel-feb-16-1899-p-1/

 

Colorado Transcript, Golden, CO. “News from the Western Region.” 2-1-1899, p. 2. Accessed 12-17-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/golden-colorado-transcript-feb-01-1899-p-2/

 

Colorado Transcript, Golden, CO. “News from the Western Region.” 2-8-1899, p. 2. Accessed 12-18-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/golden-colorado-transcript-feb-08-1899-p-2/

 

Corydon Republican, IN. “News from Indiana.” 2-16-1899, p. 6. Accessed 12-19-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/corydon-republican-feb-16-1899-p-6/

 

Daily Illinois Courier, Jacksonville. “Found Frozen to Death.” 2-11-1899, p. 4. Accessed 12-16-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/jacksonville-daily-illinois-courier-feb-11-1899-p-4/

 

Daily Illinois Courier, Jacksonville, IL. “Found Frozen to Death in His Sleigh.” 2-11-1899, p. 4. Accessed 12-16-2018: https://newspaperarchive.com/jacksonville-daily-illinois-courier-feb-11-1899-p-4/

 

Daily Illinois Courier, Jacksonville, IL. “Frozen to Death in His Wagon.” 2-14-1899, p. 4. Accessed 12-17-2018: https://newspaperarchive.com/jacksonville-daily-illinois-courier-feb-14-1899-p-4/

 

Daily Illinois Courier, Jacksonville, IL. “Harrisburg Snowbound.” 2-14-1899, p. 4. Accessed 12-17-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/jacksonville-daily-illinois-courier-feb-14-1899-p-4/

 

Daily Illinois Courier, Jacksonville, IL. “Telegraphic Notes.” 2-15-1899, p. 4. Accessed 12-17-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/jacksonville-daily-illinois-courier-feb-15-1899-p-7/

 

Daily Illinois Courier, Jacksonville, IL. “Weather in Old Kaintuck.” 2-14-1899, p. 4. Accessed 12-17-2018: https://newspaperarchive.com/jacksonville-daily-illinois-courier-feb-14-1899-p-4/

 

Daily Journal, Freeport, IL. “Deep Frost.” 2-6-1899, p. 8. Accessed 12-16-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/freeport-daily-journal-feb-06-1899-p-8/

 

Daily Journal, Freeport, IL. “Storm Fatalities in West Virginia,” 2-15-1899, p. 3. Accessed 12-17-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/freeport-daily-journal-feb-15-1899-p-3/

 

Daily Journal, Freeport, IL. “Terrible Weather in Texas.” 2-15-1899, p. 3. Accessed 12-17-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/freeport-daily-journal-feb-15-1899-p-3/

 

Daily Journal, Freeport, IL. “Weather is Moderating.” 2-11-1899, p. 6. Accessed 12-16-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/freeport-daily-journal-feb-11-1899-p-6/

 

Daily Journal, Freeport, IL. “Woman Frozen to Death.” 2-8-1899, p. 2. Accessed 12-16-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/freeport-daily-journal-feb-08-1899-p-2/

 

Daily Journal, Telluride, CO. “Blizzard at Boston.” 2-8-2018, p. 1. Accessed 12-16-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/freeport-daily-journal-feb-08-1899-p-2/

 

Daily Journal, Telluride, CO. “Blizzard Reaches New York.” 2-13-1899, p. 1. Accessed 12-18-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/telluride-daily-journal-feb-13-1899-p-1/

 

Daily Journal, Telluride, CO. “Fire at Louisiana,” 2-13-1899, p. 1. Accessed 12-16-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/freeport-daily-journal-feb-08-1899-p-2/

 

Daily Journal, Telluride, CO. “Harbor Frozen Solid.” 2-13-1899, p. 1. Accessed 12-16-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/freeport-daily-journal-feb-08-1899-p-2/

 

Daily Journal, Telluride, CO. “Saved from Fire to Freeze to Death.” 2-8-2018, p. 1. Accessed 12-18-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/telluride-daily-journal-feb-08-1899-p-1/

 

Daily Journal, Telluride, CO. “Silver Plume is in Mourning.” 2-13-1899, p. 1. Accessed 12-18-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/telluride-daily-journal-feb-13-1899-p-1/

 

Daily Journal, Telluride, CO. “Trains Snowbound.” 2-13-1899, p. 1. Accessed 12-18-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/telluride-daily-journal-feb-13-1899-p-1/

 

Daily Reflector, Norwalk, OH. “32 Below Zero.” 2-3-1899, p. 1. Accessed 12-21-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/norwalk-daily-reflector-feb-03-1899-p-1/

 

Daily Reflector, Norwalk, OH. “Froze to Death.” 2-9-1899, p. 4. Accessed 12-21-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/norwalk-daily-reflector-feb-09-1899-p-4/

 

Daily Republican, Decatur, IL. “Like Klondyke. This is the Coldest Day of the Winter. 22 Below this Morning,” 2-9-1899, p. 1. Accessed 12-16-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/decatur-daily-republican-feb-09-1899-p-1/

 

Daily Republican, Decatur, IL. “Winter’s Icy Grip,” 2-9-1899, p. 1. Accessed 12-16-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/decatur-daily-republican-feb-09-1899-p-1/

 

Daily Times, Columbus, IN. “Explosion of Frozen Water Pipes.” 2-12-1899, p. 1. Accessed 12-18-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/columbus-daily-times-feb-12-1899-p-1/

 

Daily Times, Dubuque, IA. “Down a Peg or Two. Colder Weather Reported at St. Paul, Chicago…” 2-9-1899, p. 7. Accessed 12-22-2018: https://newspaperarchive.com/daily-times-feb-09-1899-p-7/

 

Evening News Review, East Liverpool OH. “To Continue Cold.” 2-11-1899, p. 32. Accessed 12-21-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/east-liverpool-evening-news-review-feb-11-1899-p-32/

 

Fort Madison Evening Democrat, IA. “Coldest Day of Winter.” 2-2-1899, p. 1. Accessed 12-19-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/fort-madison-evening-democrat-feb-02-1899-p-1/

 

Fort Madison Weekly Democrat. “East Gets a Taste. Remarkable Blizzard…” 2-15-1899, p. 3. Accessed 12-19-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/fort-madison-weekly-democrat-feb-15-1899-p-3/

 

Fort Wayne Morning Journal, IN. “Two Deaths Result,” 2-12-1899, p. 4. Accessed 12-18-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/fort-wayne-journal-feb-12-1899-p-4/

 

Fresno Morning Republican, CA. “A Prospector Frozen to Death.” 2-7-1899, p. 2. Accessed 12-17-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/fresno-morning-republican-feb-07-1899-p-2/

 

Fresno Morning Republican, CA. “Death Came in its Wake. Grim Progress of the Blizzard.” 2-11-1899, p. 1. Accessed 12-17-2018: https://newspaperarchive.com/fresno-morning-republican-feb-11-1899-p-1/

 

Fresno Morning Republican, CA. “Frozen to Death.” 2-17-1899, p. 3. Accessed 12-17-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/fresno-morning-republican-feb-17-1899-p-3/

 

Fresno Morning Republican, CA. “Two Women Frozen to Death.” 2-2-1899, p. 2. Accessed 12-17-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/fresno-morning-republican-feb-02-1899-p-2/

 

Goshen Daily News, IN. “Frozen to Death.” 2-8-1899, p. 3. Accessed 12-18-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/goshen-daily-news-feb-08-1899-p-3/

 

Goshen Daily News, IN. “Lives Lost in Intense Cold.” 2-8-1899, p. 3. Accessed 12-18-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/goshen-daily-news-feb-08-1899-p-3/

 

Goshen Daily News, IN. “Weather Bureau Predicts Continuance of the Cold Wave.” 2-11-1899, p. 3. Accessed 12-18-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/goshen-daily-news-feb-11-1899-p-3/

 

Goshen Democrat, IN. “Here and There.” 2-18-1899, p. 2. Accessed 12-19-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/goshen-democrat-feb-18-1899-p-2/

 

Goshen Mid-Week News, IN. “Frozen to Death Going to School.” 2-4-1899, p. 8. Accessed 12-18-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/goshen-mid-week-news-feb-04-1899-p-8/

 

Goshen Daily News, IN. “Northwest in Icy Grip of Winter.” 2-9-1899, p. 3. Accessed 12-18-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/goshen-daily-news-feb-09-1899-p-3/

 

Hartford City Telegram, IN. “Baltimore Gets Her Share.” 2-15-1899, p. 6. Accessed 12-19-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/hartford-city-telegram-feb-15-1899-p-6/

 

Henry, Alfred J. “The Weather of the Month.” Monthly Weather Review, Vol. 27, No. 2, Feb 1899, p. 50. Accessed 12-16-2018 at: https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/attachments/Monthly-Weather-Review-February-1899.pdf

 

Herald and Torch Light, Hagerstown, MD. “In the Icy Grip of the Blizzard.” 2-16-1899, p. 5. Accessed 12-20-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/hagerstown-herald-and-torch-light-feb-16-1899-p-5/

 

Herald Democrat, Leadville, CO. “Silver Plume’s Catastrophe from Gigantic Snowslide.” 2-13-1899, p. 1. Accessed 12-18-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/leadville-herald-democrat-feb-13-1899-p-1/

 

Home Journal, Perry, GA. “Sidewalk Gleanings.” 2-16-1899, p. 3. Accessed 12-18-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/perry-houston-home-journal-feb-16-1899-p-3/

 

Indianapolis News, IN. “Cold Weather Continues.” 2-6-1899, p. 2. Accessed 12-22-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/indianapolis-news-feb-06-1899-p-2/

 

Indianapolis News, IN. “Frozen to Death.” 2-13-1899, p. 1. Accessed 12-18-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/indianapolis-news-feb-13-1899-p-1/

 

Indianapolis News, IN. “General State News.” 2-14-1899, p. 6. Accessed 12-18-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/indianapolis-news-feb-14-1899-p-6/

 

Indianapolis News, IN. “Severe in the South.” 2-14-1899, p. 1. 2-14-1899, p. 1. Accessed 12-22-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/indianapolis-news-feb-14-1899-p-1/

 

Indianapolis News, IN. “Stock Frozen To Death.” 2-6-1899, p. 2. Accessed 12-22-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/indianapolis-news-feb-06-1899-p-2/

 

Indianapolis Sun, IN. “Severe Cold in New York.” 2-10-1899, p. 2. Accessed 12-18-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/indianapolis-sun-feb-10-1899-p-2/

 

Jacksonville Daily Journal, IL. “Dr. Adams in the South.” 2-18-1899, p. 4. Accessed 12-17-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/jacksonville-daily-journal-feb-18-1899-p-4/

 

Journal-Advance, Orchard, AR. “Mother and Child Frozen.” 2-3-1899, p. 1. Accessed 12-17-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/journal-advance-feb-03-1899-p-1/

 

La Harpe Quill, IL. “Blizzard in New York.” 2-16-1899, p. 3. Accessed 12-17-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/la-harpe-quill-feb-16-1899-p-3/

 

La Harpe Quill, IL. “Cold and Blizzards…Washington Buried Under Snow.” 2-16-1900. p. 3. Accessed 12-17-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/la-harpe-quill-feb-16-1899-p-3/

 

La Harpe Quill, IL. “River Men are Anxious. Situation at Pittsburg in a very Critical Condition.” 2-16-1899, p. 3. Accessed 12-17-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/la-harpe-quill-feb-16-1899-p-3/

 

La Harpe Quill, IL. “Suffering in the South. Unprecedented Cold Weather–Fifteen Below at Anniston, Ala.” 2-16-1899, 3. Accessed 12-17-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/la-harpe-quill-feb-16-1899-p-3/

 

Lemhi Republic, Salmon City, ID. “Northwest Notes.” 2-16-1899, p. 1. Accessed 12-19-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/salmon-lemhi-republic-feb-17-1899-p-1/

 

Logansport Daily Reporter, IN. “Cold Brings Death.” 2-1-1899, p. 1. Accessed 12-18-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/logansport-reporter-feb-01-1899-p-1/

 

Logansport Daily Reporter, IN. “East Gets A Taste. Remarkable Blizzard and Low Temperature Reported.” 2-14-1899, p1. Accessed 12-19-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/logansport-reporter-feb-14-1899-p-1/

 

Logansport Daily Reporter, IN. “Frozen to Death in Texas.” 2-14-1899, p. 1. Accessed 12-19-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/logansport-reporter-feb-14-1899-p-1/

 

Monthly Weather Review (Prof. E. B. Garriott). “Forecasts and Warnings.” Vol. 27, No. 2, Feb 1899, P. 41. Accessed 12-16-2018 at: https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/attachments/Monthly-Weather-Review-February-1899.pdf

 

Morning Times, Cripple Creek, CO. “Children Drowned.” 2-3-1899, p. 1. Accessed 12-18-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/cripple-creek-morning-times-feb-03-1899-p-1/

 

Morning Times, Cripple Creek, CO. “Killed in Snow Slide,” 2-3-1899, p. 1. Accessed 12-18-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/cripple-creek-morning-times-feb-03-1899-p-1/

 

Morning Times, Cripple Creek, CO. “The Worst in Many Long Years. Storm in the Mountains is Still Raging Furiously.” 2-3-1899, p. 1. Accessed 12-18-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/cripple-creek-morning-times-feb-03-1899-p-1/

 

Mountain Democrat, Placerville, CA. “United States.” 2-11-1899, p. 2. Accessed 12-17-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/placerville-mountain-democrat-feb-11-1899-p-2/

 

Nashua Reporter, IA. “Blows Icy Blasts. Frigid Wave Sweeps Down from the North.” 2-9-1899, p. 14. Accessed 12-16-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/nashua-reporter-feb-09-1899-p-14/

 

Naugatuck Daily News, CT. “Campbell’s Ignominious End.” 2-4-1899, p. 1. Accessed 12-18-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/naugatuck-daily-news-feb-04-1899-p-1/

 

NOAA, National Centers for Environmental Information. Climate History: The Great Arctic Outbreak of February 1899. Accessed 12-16-2018 at: https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/news/climate-history-great-arctic-outbreak-february-1899

 

Oakland Tribune, CA. “Boston Blockaded.” 2-13-1899, p. 5. Accessed 12-17-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/oakland-tribune-feb-13-1899-p-5/

 

Oakland Tribune, CA. “Philadelphia Blizzard.” 2-13-1899, 5. Accessed 12-17-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/oakland-tribune-feb-13-1899-p-5/

 

Pontiac Sentinel, IL. “Frozen to Death.” 2-17-1899, p. 10. Accessed 12-17-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/pontiac-sentinel-feb-17-1899-p-10/

 

Pontiac Sentinel, IL. “Victims of the Cold.” 2-17-1899, p. 10. Accessed 12-17-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/pontiac-sentinel-feb-17-1899-p-10/

 

Rochester Weekly Republican, IN. “News From Indiana,” 2-16-1899, p. 1, col. 6. Accessed 12-19-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/rochester-weekly-republican-feb-16-1899-p-1/

 

Rochester Weekly Republican, IN. “Victim of Heart Failure.” 2-16-1899, p. 1. Accessed 12-19-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/rochester-weekly-republican-feb-16-1899-p-1/

 

Salem Leader, IN. “Frozen to Death.” 2-17-1899, p. 6. Accessed 12-19-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/salem-leader-feb-17-1899-p-6/

 

Sycamore True Republican, IL. “Work of the Blizzard.” 2-18-1899, p. 2. Accessed 12-17-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/sycamore-true-republican-feb-18-1899-p-2/

 

The Gazette, Cedar Falls, IA. “Four Deaths by Freezing.” 2-7-1899, p. 2. Accessed 12-16-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/cedar-falls-semi-weekly-cedar-falls-gazette-feb-07-1899-p-2/

 

The Landmark, Statesville, NC. “State News,” 2-17-1899, p. 6. Accessed 12-21-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/statesville-landmark-feb-17-1899-p-6/

 

The News, Frederick, MD. “Froze to Death at His Home.” 2-18-1899, p. 1. Accessed 12-20-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/frederick-news-feb-18-1899-p-1/

 

The News, Frederick, MD. “Frozen to Death in His Home.” 2-18-1899, p. 1. Accessed 12-20-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/news-feb-18-1899-p-1/

 

The Sun, Indianapolis, IN. “Icicles.” 2-13-1899, p. 1. Accessed 12-18-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/indianapolis-sun-feb-13-1899-p-1/

 

The Sun, Indianapolis, IN. “The Mercury Rises.” 2-14-1899, p. 1. Accessed 12-18-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/indianapolis-sun-feb-14-1899-p-1/

 

Trenton Evening Times, NJ. “Blizzard Here and Elsewhere.” 2-13-1899, p. 1. Accessed 12-22-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/trenton-evening-times-feb-13-1899-p-1/

 

Trenton Evening Times, NJ. “Robert B. Hill Dead.” 2-14-1899, p. 1. Accessed 12-21-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/trenton-evening-times-feb-14-1899-p-1/

 

Vienna Progress, GA. “In Icy Grasp of Blizzard. Cold Wave Does Great Damage Over Wide Section.” 2-16-1899, p. 6. Accessed 12-18-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/vienna-progress-feb-16-1899-p-6/

 

Weekly Illinois Courier, Jacksonville, IL. “Found Dead in a Beer Car.” 2-15-1899, p. 8. Accessed 12-17-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/jacksonville-daily-illinois-courier-feb-15-1899-p-8/

 

Weekly Pantagraph, Bloomington, IL. “Illinois News in Brief.” 2-10-1899, p. 1. Accessed 12-16-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/bloomington-weekly-pantagraph-feb-10-1899-p-1/

 

Weekly Pantagraph, Bloomington, IL “Long List of the Dead.” 2-17-1899, p. 5. Accessed 12-17-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/bloomington-weekly-pantagraph-feb-17-1899-p-13/

 

Weekly Sentinel, Fort Wayne, IN. “Northern Indiana Notes.” 2-1-1899, p. 4. Accessed 12-18-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/fort-wayne-weekly-sentinel-feb-01-1899-p-4/

 

 

[1] Alton Evening Telegraph, IL. “Mail Carrier Frozen to Death.” 2-14-1899, p. 4.

[2] Colorado Transcript, Golden, CO. “News from the Western Region.” 2-1-1899, p. 2.

[3] John McMahan was a roadmaster. John Dempsey and John Mulvahill were section men. (Avalanche Echo, Glenwood Springs, CO. “Death and Destruction. Snow Slides at Shoshone Send Souls Swiftly to Eternity.” 2-2-1899, p. 3.)

[4] Morning Times, Cripple Creek, CO. “Killed in Snow Slide,” 2-3-1899, p. 1.

[5] Morning Times, Cripple Creek, CO. “Children Drowned.” 2-3-1899, p. 1.

[6] Fresno Morning Republican, CA. “A Prospector Frozen to Death.” 2-7-1899, p. 2.

[7] It is our assumption that the Silver Plume avalanche is the location of the referenced avalanche — on Feb 12. (Daily Journal, Telluride, CO. “Silver Plume is in Mourning.” 2-13-1899, p. 1.

[8] Herald Telluride, CO. “Silver Plume is in Mourning.” 2-13-1899, p. 1.

[8] Herald Democrat, Leadville, CO. “Silver Plume’s Catastrophe from Gigantic Snowslide.” 2-13-1899, p. 1.

[9] Colorado Transcript, Golden, CO. “News from the Western Region.” 2-8-1899, p. 2.

[10] Boston Globe, MA. “Colder in Connecticut.” 2-11-1899, p. 7.

[11] Naugatuck Daily News, CT. “Campbell’s Ignominious End.” 2-4-1899, p. 1. Coroner speculated that Mr. Campbell was intoxicated when he got onto bed, without lighting a fire, or pulling a cover over him.

[12] Baltimore Sun, MD. “Found Frozen to Death.” 2-2-1899, p. 10.

[13] Rochester Weekly Republican, IN. “Victim of Heart Failure.” 2-16-1899, p. 1.

[14] “Further north and even in Georgia, people froze to death last Monday [Feb 13], and there was considerable loss of animal life.”

[15] Baltimore Sun, MD. “Below Zero in The South.” 2-14-1899, p. 6.

[16] The Sun, Indianapolis, IN. “Icicles.” 2-13-1899, p. 1.

[17] Weekly Illinois Courier, Jacksonville, IL. “Found Dead in a Beer Car.” 2-15-1899, p. 8.

[18] Goshen Daily News, IN. “Northwest in Icy Grip of Winter.” 2-9-1899, p. 3.

[19] Daily Journal, Freeport, IL. “Weather is Moderating.” 2-11-1899, p. 6.

[20] Daily Journal, Freeport, IL. “Weather is Moderating.” 2-11-1899, p. 6.

[21] Arizona Republican, Phoenix. “Business Paralyzed.” 2-10-1899, p. 1.

[22] Weekly Pantagraph, Bloomington, IL. “Illinois News in Brief.” 2-10-1899, p. 1.

[23] Arizona Republican, Phoenix. “Business Paralyzed.” 2-10-1899, p. 1.

[24] Arizona Republican, Phoenix. “Jack Frost in Chicago.” 2-10-1899, p. 1.

[25] Associated Press. “Thrilling Region of Thick-Ribbed Ice.” Oakland Tribune, CA. 2-9-1899, p. 1.

[26] Weekly Pantagraph, Bloomington, IL “Long List of the Dead.” 2-17-1899, p. 5.

[27] Indianapolis News, IN. “General State News.” 2-14-1899, p. 6.

[28] Goshen Daily News, IN. “Weather Bureau Predicts Continuance of the Cold Wave.” 2-11-1899, p. 3.

[29] Indianapolis News, IN. “General State News.” 2-14-1899, p. 6.

[30] Rochester Weekly Republican, IN. “News From Indiana,” 2-16-1899, p. 1, col. 6.

[31] Indianapolis News, IN. “General State News.” 2-14-1899, p. 6.

[32] Weekly Sentinel, Fort Wayne, IN. “Northern Indiana Notes.” 2-1-1899, p. 4.

[33] Goshen Democrat, IN. “Here and There.” 2-18-1899, p. 2.

[34] We do not know how many children, which is why we note “at least two.” It is noted that “The thermometer registered 20 below zero when the fire broke out.” Also noted that the children were lightly dressed. (Daily Journal, Telluride, CO. “Saved from Fire to Freeze to Death.” 2-8-2018, p. 1.)

[35] Corydon Republican, IN. “News from Indiana.” 2-16-1899, p. 6.

[36] Burlington Hawk-Eye. “Frozen to Death. Sad Fatality of the Intense Cold near Leon, Iowa.” 2-14-1899, p. 3.

[37] Goshen Daily News, IN. “Frozen to Death.” 2-8-1899, p. 3.

[38] Daily Journal, Freeport, IL. “Frozen to Death.” 2-11-1899, p. 6.

[39] Goshen Daily News, IN. “Lives Lost in Intense Cold.” 2-8-1899, p. 3.

[40] Daily Illinois Courier, Jacksonville. “Found Frozen to Death.” 2-11-1899, p. 4.

[41] Daily Illinois Courier, Jacksonville. “Telegraphic Notes.” 2-15-1899, p. 4.

[42] Carbondale Free Press, IL. “Five Deaths…Kentucky Due to the Extreme and Unusual Cold.” 2-18-1899, p. 2.

[43] Carbondale Free Press, IL. “Five Deaths…Kentucky Due to the Extreme and Unusual Cold.” 2-18-1899, p. 2.

[44] Carbondale Free Press, IL. “Five Deaths…Kentucky Due to the Extreme and Unusual Cold.” 2-18-1899, p. 2.

[45] Daily Illinois Courier, Jacksonville, IL. “Weather in Old Kaintuck.” 2-14-1899, p. 4.

[46] Carbondale Free Press, IL. “Five Deaths…Kentucky Due to the Extreme and Unusual Cold.” 2-18-1899, p. 2.

[47] Daily Journal, Telluride, CO. “Old Man Froze to Death.” 2-13-1899, p. 1.

[48] Daily Journal, Jacksonville, IL. “Dr. Adams in the South.” 2-18-1899, p. 4. Writes that he reported that the temperature was six degrees above zero one night and that “The streets were covered with ice and sleet and for two days it was not impossible to have baggage moved from the depots.”

[49] Boston Globe, MA. “Body on the Way to Boston.” 2-12-1899, p. 4.

[50] Bar Harbor Record, ME. “Frozen to Death.” 2-8-1899, p. 8.

[51] Daily Times, Columbus, IN. “Explosion of Frozen Water Pipes.” 2-12-1899, p. 1.

[52] Baltimore Sun, MD. “Died After Shoveling Snow.” 2-14-1899, p. 1.

[53] Baltimore Sun, MD. “Frozen Near His Home.” 2-15-1899, p. 2.

[54] Baltimore Sun, MD. “Frozen To Death.” 2-17-1899, p. 3.

[55] Baltimore Sun, MD. “Believed to be Dead.” 2-14-1899, p. 6.

[56] It was written that “several deaths occurred.” For the purpose of a tally we convert several to “three or more” or “at least three.” Baltimore Sun, MD. “Suburbs and County. People…Digging Out of Snowdrifts.” 2-17-1899, p. 6. Fallston is about 30 miles from downtown Baltimore. It was noted that “the roads have been impassable.”

[57] Boston Globe, MA. “Dog Guarded Aged Man’s Body.” 2-12-1899, p. 4. Datelined out of Cumberland, MD.

[58] Baltimore Sun, MD. “Frozen To Death.” 2-17-1899, p. 3. Is written that “He left Mt. Airy late at night in the snow-storm then prevailing” for a nearby farm. “He succeeded in getting only about half way home, when it is supposed he fell from exhaustion.”

[59] The two men left the Chase on or about Feb 9 “after a boat that had got adrift from the Chase. They landed…in a gale and it was impossible for them to return to their vessel. They were not seen afterward from the fleet and had not returned to the Chase when Captain Travers left the river last Tuesday [Feb 14]. Thus, they were presumed dead from exposure. (Baltimore Sun, MD. “Fears for Two Sailors.” 2-17-1899, p. 6.)

[60] Baltimore Sun, MD. “Worst Blizzard Ever Known Here.” 2-14-1899, p. 1.

[61] Boston Globe, MA. “Exposure Did It. Cause of the Death of Mrs. O’Brien.” 2-13-1899, p. 6.

[62] Boston Globe, MA. “Body Half-Covered in Snow.” 2-9-1899, p. 5. Notes that a doctor was called to see the body. It is not clear at what time during the night the death occurred, thus we note Feb 8-9.

[63] Pontiac Sentinel, IL. “Frozen to Death.” 2-17-1899, p. 10.

[64] Pontiac Sentinel, IL. “Frozen to Death.” 2-17-1899, p. 10.

[65] Goshen Daily News, IN. “Northwest in Icy Grip of Winter.” 2-9-1899, p. 3.

[66] Logansport Daily Reporter, IN. “Cold Brings Death.” 2-1-1899, p. 1.

[67] Pontiac Sentinel, IL. “Frozen to Death.” 2-17-1899, p. 10.

[68] Date from: Logansport Daily Reporter, IN. “Cold Brings Death.” 2-1-1899, p. 1.

[69] “Clark was overcome by the cold while going to his place of employment.”

[70] Succumbed while searching for work.

[71] Slipped on ice outside home, stunned by fall, died soon thereafter from exposure.

[72] The Gazette, Cedar Falls, IA. “Four Deaths by Freezing.” 2-7-1899, p. 2.

[73] Arizona Republican, Phoenix. “One Death at St. Louis.” 2-10-1899, p. 1.

[74] Lemhi Republic, Salmon City, ID. “Northwest Notes.” 2-16-1899, p. 1.

[75] Goshen Daily News, IN. “Lives Lost in Intense Cold.” 2-8-1899, p. 3.

[76] Associated Press. “More Women Freeze to Death in New York,” Oakland Tribune, CA, 2-15-1899, p. 2.

[77] Fresno Morning Republican, CA. “Death Came in its Wake. Grim Progress of the Blizzard.” 2-11-1899, p. 1.

[78] William Duland, 19. Fresno Morning Republican, CA. “Death Came…Progress of the Blizzard.” 2-11-1899, p. 1.

[79] Fresno Morning Republican, CA. “Death Came in its Wake. Grim Progress of the Blizzard.” 2-11-1899, p. 1.

[80] Trenton Evening Times, NJ. “Robert B. Hill Dead.” 2-14-1899, p. 1.

[81] Salem Leader, IN. “Frozen to Death.” 2-17-1899, p. 6.

[82] Baltimore Sun, MD. “Frozen To Death.” 2-11-1899, p. 2.

[83] Indianapolis News, IN. “Frozen to Death.” 2-13-1899, p. 1.

[84] Logansport…Reporter, IN. “East Gets A Taste. Remarkable Blizzard and Low Temperature…” 2-14-1899, p. 1.

[85] Daily Illinois Courier, Jacksonville, IL. “Found Frozen to Death in His Sleigh.” 2-11-1899, p. 4. Another account spells the last name “Wirth.” (Baltimore Sun, MD. “Frozen To Death.” 2-11-1899, p. 2.)

[86] Baltimore Sun, MD. “Frozen To Death.” 2-11-1899, p. 2.

[87] Article dated Feb 13, notes the two mail carriers left Hart Island to deliver mail to City Island during high wind and floating ice. Article notes that “Six men in a larger boat, who attempted to rescue them, were unable to do so, and it is feared that the light boat was carried off into the sound and perhaps crushed or overturned.” (Indianapolis News, IN. “Frozen to Death.” 2-13-1899, p. 1.) We note that on the 5^th day afterwards, they were unaccounted for.

[88] Daily Illinois Courier, Jacksonville, IL. “Frozen to Death in His Wagon.” 2-14-1899, p. 4.

[89] Fresno Morning Republican, CA. “Frozen to Death.” 2-17-1899, p. 3.

[90] Indianapolis Sun, IN. “Severe Cold in New York.” 2-10-1899, p. 2.

[91] Indianapolis News, IN. “Frozen to Death.” 2-13-1899, p. 1. Last name also spelled “Hatzen” in: Logansport Daily Reporter, IN. “East Gets A Taste. Remarkable Blizzard and Low Temperature Reported.” 2-14-1899, p. 1.

[92] Logansport…Reporter, IN. “East Gets A Taste. Remarkable Blizzard and Low Temperature…” 2-14-1899, p. 1.

[93] The Sun, Indianapolis, IN. “The Mercury Rises.” 2-14-1899, p. 1.

[94] The Sun, Indianapolis, IN. “The Mercury Rises.” 2-14-1899, p. 1.

[95] Associated Press. “More Women Freeze to Death in New York,” Oakland Tribune, CA, 2-15-1899, p. 2.

[96] Boston Globe, MA. “New York Man Frozen to Death.” 2-10-1899, p. 1. Notes that body was found Feb 9 AM.

[97] Fort Madison Weekly Democrat. “East Gets a Taste.” 2-15-1899, p. 3. Notes Mr. McCane was a Yonkers resident.

[98] Fresno Morning Republican, CA. “Frozen to Death.” 2-17-1899, p. 3.

[99] The Landmark, Statesville, NC. “State News,” 2-17-1899, p. 6.

[100] Evening News Review, East Liverpool OH. “To Continue Cold.” P. 32.

[101] Goshen Daily News, IN. “Weather Bureau Predicts Continuance of the Cold Wave.” 2-11-1899, p. 3.

[102] Goshen Daily News, IN. “Northwest in Icy Grip of Winter.” 2-9-1899, p. 3. Paper notes that “Wednesday was the coldest day in seven years.”

[103] Goshen Daily News, IN. “Weather Bureau Predicts Continuance of the Cold Wave.” 2-11-1899, p. 3.

[104] Baltimore Sun. MD. “Storm Fatalities.” 2-15-1899, p. 6.

[105] Daily Reflector, Norwalk, OH. “Froze to Death.” 2-9-1899, p. 4.

[106] Brimfield News, IL. “Week’s News Record,” 2-9-1899, p. 2.

[107] The Sun, Indianapolis, IN. “Icicles.” 2-13-1899, p. 1.

[108] Baltimore Sun, MD. “Frozen To Death.” 2-11-1899, p. 2.

[109] Fort Wayne Morning Journal, IN. “Two Deaths Result,” 2-12-1899, p. 4.

[110] Fort Wayne Morning Journal, IN. “Two Deaths Result,” 2-12-1899, p. 4.

[111] The News, Frederick, MD. “Frozen to Death in His Home.” 2-18-1899, p. 1.

[112] Goshen Daily News, IN. “Weather Bureau Predicts Continuance of the Cold Wave.” 2-11-1899, p. 3.

[113] Goshen Daily News, IN. “Weather Bureau Predicts Continuance of the Cold Wave.” 2-11-1899, p. 3.

[114] Baltimore Sun. “Only One Day Colder. Philadelphia experienced…most frigid weather…century.” 2-11-1899, 2.

[115] Pontiac Sentinel, IL. “Victims of the Cold.” 2-17-1899, p. 10.

[116] Logansport…Reporter, IN. “East Gets A Taste. Remarkable Blizzard and Low Temperature…” 2-14-1899, p. 1.

[117] Pontiac Sentinel, IL. “Victims of the Cold.” 2-17-1899, p. 10.

[118] Logansport…Reporter, IN. “East Gets A Taste. Remarkable Blizzard and Low Temperature…” 2-14-1899, p. 1.

[119] Logansport…Reporter, IN. “East Gets A Taste. Remarkable Blizzard and Low Temperature…” 2-14-1899, p. 1.

[120] The News, Frederick, MD. “Froze to Death at His Home.” 2-18-1899, p. 1.

[121] Fort Madison Evening Democrat, IA. “Coldest Day of Winter.” 2-2-1899, p. 1.

[122] Goshen Daily News, IN. “Lives Lost in Intense Cold.” 2-8-1899, p. 3.

[123] The Sun, Indianapolis, IN. “Icicles.” 2-13-1899, p. 1. [It does appear unlikely that two Maples would freeze.]

[124] The Sun, Indianapolis, IN. “Icicles.” 2-13-1899, p. 1.

[125] Mountain Democrat, Placerville, CA. “United States.” 2-11-1899, p. 2.

[126] Baltimore Sun. MD. “Storm Fatalities.” 2-15-1899, p. 6.

[127] Baltimore Sun. MD. “Storm Fatalities.” 2-15-1899, p. 6.

[128] Baltimore Sun, MD. “An Aged Couple Frozen To Death.” 2-18-1899, p. 8.

[129] It is possible this is a reference to Washington, DC, not Washington state.

[130] Goshen Mid-Week News, IN. “Frozen to Death Going to School.” 2-4-1899, p. 8.

[131] “Cincinnati, Feb 16.–West Virginia specials to The Commercial-Tribune report casualties by the storm as follows: Wheeling–Fatalities from freezing are already about thirty in the state. Reports are current of many fatalities in the mountains.” We highlight in yellow to denote we are not using for our tally in that we could only document reports of four specific deaths, even when looking through Bluefield Daily Telegraph, Feb 1-15.

[132] Baltimore Sun, MD. “In the Virginias. A Man Frozen at Charleston, W.Va.,” 2-11-1899, p. 2.

[133] Centralia Sentinel, IL. “Telegraphic Notes.” 2-16-1899, p. 1. Notes: “It is believed that many deaths from similar cause have occurred there.”  Baltimore Sun. MD. “Storm Fatalities.” 2-15-1899, p. 6.

[134] Baltimore Sun. MD. “Storm Fatalities.” 2-15-1899, p. 6.

[135] Baltimore Sun, MD. “Believed to be Dead.” 2-14-1899, p. 6.

[136] Daily Journal, Freeport, IL. “Woman Frozen to Death.” 2-8-1899, p. 2.

[137] Logansport Daily Reporter, IN. “Cold Brings Death.” 2-1-1899, p. 1.

[138] Journal-Advance, Orchard, AR. “Mother and Child Frozen.” 2-3-1899, p. 1. Another account notes “They had started to drive home from town and became bewildered in the storm. Finally their sleigh overturned and the team broke away. They were beyond help when found some hours later.” (Fresno Morning Republican, CA. “Two Women Frozen to Death.” 2-2-1899, p. 2.)

[139] Logansport Daily Reporter, IN. “Cold Brings Death.” 2-1-1899, p. 1.

[140] Colorado Transcript, Golden, CO. “News from the Western Region.” 2-8-1899, p. 2.

[141] Northwest of Frederick on road over mountain ridge on way to Hagerstown, MD.

[142] Southwest of Frederick.

[143] Several miles northeast of Frederick.

–126  Blanchard tally from State and locality breakouts below.

 

Summary of State Breakouts of 1899 Yellow Deaths

 

Florida            (83)      Aug 31-Dec 20           Key West (68), Miami (14), Port Tampa City (1)

Louisiana       (23)      Sep 2-Dec 9                New Orleans

Maryland       (  1)      Oct 7-14                      Baltimore

Mississippi      (11)      Sep 10-Nov 9              Jackson (9), Mississippi City (2)

Virginia          (  8)      July 21-Aug 1                        Hampton, Soldiers’ Home (Spanish-American War)

 

Breakout of 1899 Yellow Fever Deaths by State, Localities, and Dates

 

Florida            (83)      Aug 31-Dec 20           Key West (68), Miami (14), Port Tampa City (1)

–83      Blanchard tally based on locality breakouts below.

–65  Jacksonville.                               (1291 cases)    Augustin. History…Yellow Fever, 1909, 455.[1]

–68  Key West, FL     Aug 31-Nov 30. (1320 cases). US MHS. Public Health Rpts. 12-29-1899, 177.

–53      “                                                          Blanchard tally of date breakouts below.

–7        “          Sep 8               (96 cases)        NY Med. Jour., V.70, 9-16-1899, p. 417.[2]

–3        “          Sep 9-12                                  NY Med. Jour., V.70, 9-23-1899, p. 456.

–7        “          Sep 14-19        (164 cases)      NY Med. Jour., V.70, 9-30-1899, p. 490.

–9        “          Sep 25-29        (166 cases)      NY Med. Jour., V.70, 10-7-1899, p. 528.

–8        “          Sep 29-Oct 5   (232 cases)      NY Med. Jour., V.70, 10-14-1899, p. 560.

–4        “          Oct 5-10          (137 cases)      NY Med. Jour., V.70, 10-21-1899

–9        “          Oct 6-16          (182 cases)      NY Med. Jour., V.70, 10-28-1899, p. 633.

–4        “          Oct 16-27        (  61 cases)      NY Med. Jour., V.70, 11-04-1899, p. 680.

–2        “          Oct 28-Nov 1  (    9 cases)      NY Med. Jour., V.70, 11-11-1899, p. 714.

–0        “          Nov 1-6           (  19 cases)      NY Med. Jour., V.70, 11-18-1899, p. 751.

–0        “          Nov 6-11         (    6 cases)      NY Med. Jour., V.70, 11-25-1899, p. 787.

–2        “          Nov 11-20       (    2 cases)      NY Med. Jour., V.70, 12-02-1899, p. 823.

–0        “          Nov 26-30       (    4 cases)      NY Med. Jour., V.70, 12-23-1899, p. 931.

–14  Miami, FL           Aug 31-Jan 15 (220 cases)      Straight. “Yellow Fever…Miami…1899,” 54.[3]

–1        “          Sep 5-22          (    2 cases)      NY Med. Jour., V.70, 10-07-1899, p. 528.[4]

–0        “          Oct 23-26        (    7 cases)      NY Med. Jour., V.70, 11-04-1899, p. 680.

–0        “          Oct 31-Nov 6  (  27 cases        NY Med. Jour., V.70, 11-18-1899, p. 751.

–2        “          Nov 6-14         (  24 cases)      NY Med. Jour., V.70, 11-25-1899, p. 787.

–2        “          Nov 15-22       (  25 cases)      NY Med. Jour., V.70, 12-02-1899, p. 823.[5]

—  1  Port Tampa City, Sep 11                                    NY Med. Jour., V.70,   9-23-1899, p. 456.

–0        “          Sep 4-Nov 16) ( 10 cases)       NY Med. Jour., V.70, 11-25-1899, p. 787.

 

Louisiana       (23)     

–23  New Orleans                                                       Carrigan 1961, p. 220; N. O. Public Library.

–1        “          Sep 2               (  2 cases)        NY Med. Jour., V.70,  9-16-1899, p. 417.

–1        “          Sep 3-11                                  NY Med. Jour., V.70,  9-23-1899, p. 456.

–2        “          Sep 12-23                                NY Med. Jour., V.70, 10-07-1899, p. 528.

–2        “          Sep 23-Oct 4   (18 cases)        NY Med. Jour., V.70, 10-14-1899, p. 560.

–4        “          Oct 4-Oct 12   (  2 cases)        NY Med. Jour., V.70, 10-14-1899, p. 560.

–2        “          Oct 21-25        (  7 cases)        NY Med. Jour., V.70, 11-04-1899, p. 680.

–4        “          Oct 28             (12 cases)`       NY Med. Jour., V.70, 11-11-1899, p. 714.

–6        “          Oct 28-Nov 6  (16 cases)        NY Med. Jour., V.70, 11-18-1899, p. 751.

–1        “          Nov 6-10         (  1 case)          NY Med. Jour., V.70, 11-25-1899, p. 787.

–0        “          Nov 25-Dec 2 (  1 case)          NY Med. Jour., V.70, 12-16-1899, p. 895.

–0        “          Dec 2-9           (  1 case)          NY Med. Jour., V.70, 12-23-1899, p. 931.

 

Maryland       (  1)

–1  Baltimore              Oct 7-14          (  1 case)          NY Med. Jour., V.70, 10-28-1899, p. 633.[6]

 

Mississippi      (11)

–0  Centreville            Sep 29             (  2 cases)        NY Med. Jour., V.70, 10-14-1899, p. 560.

–9  Jackson, MS         Sep 10-Nov 9  (61 cases)        US MHS. Public Health Rpts. 12-29-1899, 177.

–4        “          Sep 10-Oct 2   (  4 cases)        NY Med. Jour., V.70, 10-14-1899, p. 560.

–1        “          Nov 1              (  6 cases)        NY Med. Jour., V.70, 11-11-1899, p. 714.

–2  Mississippi City    Sep 1-29          (27 cases)        US MHS. Public Health Rpts. 12-29-1899, 177.

–1        “          Sep 10-29        (29 cases)        NY Med. Jour., V.70, 10-14-1899, p. 560.

 

Virginia          (  8)      July 21-Aug 1

–8  Hampton, Soldiers’ Home, July 21-Aug 1 (40 cases). NY Med. Jour., V70, 8-12-1899, 241.[7]

 

Narrative Information — Miami

 

Straight: “On October 27, Camp Francis P. Fleming was established ‘about where the Rickenbacker Causeway is today.’ The detention camp consisted of the steamer Santa Lucia, which had apparently been brought up from Cape Florida, and a cluster of smaller vessels. Dr. Horsey was in charge of the facility, which could accommodate forty to sixty residents. Miamians exposed to yellow fever or desirous of leaving the city were detained there for about ten days. If they had shown no signs of the disease at the end of this period, they were taken by boat to Lemon City, which was beyond the quarantine line, and were free to leave for points north — but not south. If, however, they exhibited signs of the disease, as happened on two occasions, they were taken back to Miami for treatment. After having served about forty retainees, Camp Fleming closed around November 6, and Camp William E. McAdam, a second, more adequate detention camp was opened at Fulford, twelve miles north of Miami, on November 2.

 

“Initially, Camp William E. McAdam accommodated sixty residents, both blacks and whites, but it was later expanded to accommodate over 100 internees as the demand increased. The tent camp was pleasantly situated in ‘the orange grove of Judge [P.W.] White of Quincy.’….” (pp. 48-49.)

 

Sources

 

Augustin, George. History of Yellow Fever. New Orleans: Published for the Author by Search & Pfaff Ltd., 1909; General Books reprint, Memphis, TN, 2010. 1909 copy digitized at: http://archive.org/stream/historyofyellowf00auguuoft#page/n4/mode/1up

 

Carrigan, Jo Ann. The Saffron Scourge: A History of Yellow Fever in Louisiana, 1796-1905 (Doctoral Dissertation). Louisiana State University, LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses, 1961. Accessed 3-11-2018 at: https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1665&context=gradschool_disstheses

 

New Orleans Public Library, Louisiana Division. Yellow Fever Deaths in New Orleans, 1817-1905. Accessed 3-7-2010 at: http://nutrias.org/facts/feverdeaths.htm

 

New York Medical Journal (A Weekly Review of Medicine). Volume 70, July-Dec 1899. NY: D. Appleton and Co., 1899. Internet Archive digital copy accessed 5-17-2018 at: https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=nnc2.ark:/13960/t0ht5b28h;view=1up;seq=7

 

Straight, William M., MD. “Yellow Fever at Miami: The Epidemic of 1899.” Tequesta, Issue 66, 2006, pp. 39-60. Accessed 5-17-2018 at: http://digitalcollections.fiu.edu/tequesta/files/1995/95_1_02.pdf

 

United States Marine-Hospital Service, Treasury Department. Public Health Reports, Vol. XIV, No. 52, 12-29-1899. Google preview accessed 5-17-2018 at: https://books.google.com/books?id=bfF7sY11tWIC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

 

 

[1] Highlighted in yellow to denote non-inclusion in our tally. It appears that Augustin meant Key West.

[2] In all New York Medical Journal entries below, cited are United States Marine-Hospital Service health reports.

[3] In addition to Straight, Joseph Y. Porter, the State of Florida Health Officer, wrote to the Surgeon-General of the U.S. Marine-Hospital Service, on December 20, 1899, noting there had been 14 yellow fever deaths.

[4] Straight writes that yellow fever entered Miami on August 31, via a refugee from Key West, from the steamship City of Key West. He was not found to be sick in bed with fever until September 2. (p. 45)

[5] Straight notes” “The quarantine [at Miami] was finally lifted on January 15, 1900.” (p. 53.)

[6] “Taken from S.S. Armstor, from Santiago de Cuba.”

[7] Amongst soldiers recently returned from duty in Havana, Cuba. (Straight. “Yellow Fever at Miami: The Epidemic of 1899.” 43

–17  Baillod, Brendon.[1] “Steamer L. R. Doty Located in 300 ft of Water off Milwaukee.” 2010.

–17  Nat. Public Radio. “Sunken Treasure in Lake Michigan: Century-Old Ship.” 6-24-2010.

–17  Oleszewski. “The First of the Doomed Sisters.” Stormy Disasters: Great Lakes Shipwrecks, p. 25.

–17  Wisconsin Shipwrecks. “L.R. Doty (1893).”[2] Wisconsin Historical Society, 2018.[3]

 

Narrative Information

 

Baillod: “A group of Wisconsin marine historians and divers have announced the discovery of the missing steamship L.R. Doty, which vanished in a violent Lake Michigan storm 112 years ago, on October 25, 1898. The Doty was the largest wooden ship still missing on Lake Michigan, with an overall length of 300 ft. She was bound from South Chicago to Midland, Ontario with a cargo of corn and the four-masted schooner Olive Jeanette in tow when she was struck by a tremendous storm several miles north of Milwaukee. Waves reportedly reached 30 ft, with 70 mph winds. The Olive Jeanette was severely damaged, but survived the storm. The Doty however, was never seen again. On June 16, 2010 a group of explorers led by marine historian Brendon Baillod and charter captain Jitka Hanakova relocated the site, which had been snagged by a commercial fish tug in 1991, and investigated by local Milwaukee charter captain Jerry Guyer nearly 20 miles off Oak Creek, Wisconsin….

 

“The L.R. Doty was built in 1893 at West Bay City, Michigan by F.W. Wheeler & Co. for the Cuyahoga Transit Company of Cleveland, Ohio as hull number 97….

 

“By all accounts the storm of October 1898 was one of the worst in 30 years….

 

“In all, 17 men were lost with the Doty….

 

“The L.R. Doty is protected by Wisconsin law as a publicly owned historic wrecksite….”

 

WI Historical Society: “The wooden three masted bulk freighter L.R. Doty was built by F. W. Wheeler & Company at West Bay City, Michigan in 1893. The Doty was named after the manager of the Cuyahoga Transit Company, Lucius Doty. The official registry number was 141272. The triple expansion steam engine had three cylinders: 20 “, 33″ and 54″ wide X 42” stroke producing 1,000 horsepower at 74 rpm. The engine was built by Frontier Iron Works. The two scotch boilers were 11 3/4 feet X 121 inches and built by Wickes Brothers from Saginaw, Michigan.

 

“The L.R. Doty was one of six sister vessels and was one of the last of the giant wooden lake steamers. She was given the highest rating for lake vessels, A1, qualifying her for any cargo. She was valued at $125,000. The Doty made trips on the Great Lakes as wide spread as Duluth to Cleveland carrying primarily iron ore and coal along with some grain. She normally towed the four masted, 242 foot long, schooner barge Olive Jeanette for additional capacity….

 

“On October 25, 1898, the L.R. Doty was towing the schooner Olive Jeanette from Chicago to Midland, Ontario. Both ships were heavily loaded with corn and after discharging their cargos, the two were to proceed to Lake Superior to load iron ore for Cleveland. At about 1 pm that day, the vessels were off Milwaukee when the winds began to freshen.

 

“By 4 pm, the Doty and Jeanette were well north of the city when the winds began to increase … When the tow line between them finally broke at 5 pm, winds were estimated at 70 miles per hour and waves reaching heights of up to 30 feet. In the storm, the crew of the Jeanette quickly lost sight of the Doty, and were then forced to endure three more days of stormy weather before finally being rescued off Chicago. The Doty and its seventeen-man crew were never seen or heard from again.

 

“On October 26, the tug Prodigy located a debris field about 25 miles off Kenosha, Wisconsin. The field contained large amounts of wood trim and hatch coverings, along with a sternpost, cabin door and other items bearing the brown colored markings of the Doty….”[4]

 

“After being lost for 112 years the wreck…was found in 320 feet of water about twenty miles off of Milwaukee.”

 

Sources

 

Baillod, Brendon. “Steamer L. R. Doty Located in 300 ft of Water off Milwaukee.” Ship-wreck.com, Great Lakes Shipwreck Research, 2010. Accessed 7-6-2018 at: http://www.ship-wreck.com/shipwreck/doty/

 

National Public Radio. “Sunken Treasure in Lake Michigan: Century-Old Ship.” 6-24-2010. Accessed 7-6-2018 at: https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128086639

 

Oleszewski, Wes. Stormy Disasters: Great Lakes Shipwrecks. Gwinn, MI: Avery Color Studios, Inc., 2001.

 

Wisconsin Shipwrecks. “L.R. Doty (1893).”[5] Wisconsin Historical Society, 2018. Accessed 7-6-2018 at: http://www.wisconsinshipwrecks.org/Vessel/Details/346?region=Index

 

 

 

 

 

 

[1] Brendon Baillod is a Wisconsin marine historian.

[2] Year built.

[3] The “By The Numbers” section at the top of the webpage notes the Doty sank in 1899. The narrative section beneath clearly notes the date of loss as October 25, 1898.

[4] Credits as source: Association for Great Lakes Maritime History Newsletter, July-August, 2010.

[5] Year built.

–23 Finn. “Off Tillicum Beach, Lincoln County; 1898: Ship skipper doubled down…” 5-5-2019.
–23 Marshall, Don. Oregon Shipwrecks. Portland, OR: Binford & Mort Publishing, 1984, p. 73.

Narrative Information

Finn: “….Shortly after midnight on the morning of Nov. 17, still sailing through sheets of rain and blustering wind, seaman Francis McMahon sought out First Mate Charles Hunter, the officer on deck, and pointed out a light off the port bow. The light didn’t look right to McMahon. It was too steady. It looked to him like a land light. Hunter told him that was impossible. ‘We are passing another vessel,’ he assured McMahon.

“But an hour or so later, the men on watch realized the Atalanta was sailing through breakers. They were literally just a few hundred yards away from the beach….

“The sailors swarmed over the sails, racing desperately to get the ship away from the beach. But it was too late. With a shuddering crunch, she slammed into one of the rocky underwater reefs that lie just offshore in the Tillicum Beach area, between Waldport and Yachats.

“Immediately the breakers started sweeping over the stricken ship. She was lifted and slammed onto the reef a few more times, then broke neatly in half and settled into the drink. Sailors held on for their lives as the breakers continued pounding the decks. Some scrambled to free the boats; others climbed up into the rigging.

“Out of the ship’s complement of 27 crew members, only three sailors survived the sinking of the Atalanta – by swimming to the lifeboat that someone had cut loose when the ship first struck…”

Marshall: “Atalanta 11/17/1898 Clipper, British, 1753 tons carrying 92,405 bushels of wheat valued at $65,000….The Atalanta struck a reef where the rocks extend some two miles offshore near Seal Rocks, five miles north of Alsea. The captain paid with his life for the error, as did 22 others; only three lived…”

Sources

Finn, John. “Off Tillicum Beach, Lincoln County; 1898: Ship skipper doubled down on a bad bet…and lost it all.” 5-5-2019. Accessed 4-16-2020 at:
http://offbeatoregon.com/1905a.shipwreck-atalanta-wager-gone-wrong-546.html

Marshall, Don. Oregon Shipwrecks. Portland, OR: Binford & Mort Publishing, 1984.

1898 — Nov 10, White Racial Riot & Political Violence (local coup d’état), Wilmington, NC–22-26

Compiled by B. Wayne Blanchard in Dec 2012 and June 2020 for incorporation into website: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com

–22-26 Blanchard, using numbers from the 1898 Wilmington Race Riot Commission report of
2006, which notes that the deaths noted by the source showing twenty-six deaths could not be substantiated above the twenty-two noted in the report.

–Hundreds. Twagilimana, Aimable. “Wilmington [NC] Riot of 1898,” p. 718, in Rucker.
–Perhaps dozens. Tyson. “The Ghosts of 1898: Wilmington’s Race Riot…” News & Observer, 11-17-2006, H1.
–60-300 Cane. “Not Just Tulsa: Five Other Race Massacres…” BET TV, June 2020.
— 250 Faulkner. “Wilmington Race Riot.” Derived from Encyclopedia of [NC]. 2006.
–20-100 Hofstadter and Wallace. American Violence: A Documentary History. 1970, p. 230.
— 100 Kirk, Rev. J. Allen (wrote that a woman told him she thought over 100 were killed.
— 90 NPR. “How the Only Coup D’état in U.S. History Unfolded.” 8-17-2008.
— 14-90 Hayden, Harry. The Story of The Wilmington Rebellion. 1936.
–14 Cited is the black coroner, David Jacobs.
–20 Cited in Colonel Waddell estimate.
–90 “a gross exaggeration” attributed to Judge George Rountree.
— 14-60 Collins. “A Buried Coup D’état in the United States.” The New Yorker, 9-12-2016.
— >30 The Gazette, Colorado Springs, CO. “A historical perspective.” 1-20-2000, A8.
— 26 1898 Wilmington Race Riot Commission. 1898 Wilmington…Report. 2006, 179-180.
— 22 1898 Wilmington Race Riot Commission. 1898 Wilmington…Report. 2006, 177-178.
— >20 (blacks). Book Review: Prather. We Have Taken a City: Wilmington Racial… 1984.
— 18-20 Worth, James, in letter to wife. Cited in 1898 Wilmington Race Riot Comm. P. 175.
— 12-15 Parsley (Wilmington Chamber of Commerce member). Cited in 1898 Wilmington…, p. 175.
— 14 to scores or hundreds. NC Dept. Cultural Resources. “Alex Manly 1866-1944,” hwy marker.
— >13 Kirk, Rev. J. Allen. (Wrote that a white saw 10 dead and “some” found dead under homes.)
— 10-12 Clawson. “The Wilmington Race Riot in 1898: Recollections and Memories.” P175 in 1898…
— 11 Faulkner. “Wilmington Race Riot.” Derived from Encyclopedia of [NC]. 2006.
— 11 Knight, Gladys L. “Election Riots of the 1880s and 1890s,” in Rucker/Upton. 2007, 203.
— ~11 Mallett, Peter (Fayetteville businessman note in his daybook). Cited in 1898…Race…, p.175.
— 11 Progressive Farmer, Raleigh NC. 11-15-1898; cited in report of 1898 Wilmington…, p176.
— 10 (Killed outright, as reported in Raleigh, NC on Nov 12. P. 175 in 1898 Wilmington…
— 10 “Wilmington Coup” historic marker, outside Wilmington Light Infantry bldg., Wilmington.
— 9 The News, Frederick, MD. “Killed in Race Riots. Nine Negroes…” 11-11-1898, 1.
— 8 Daily Northwestern, Oshkosh WI. “Resort to Violence. Angry Whites…” 11-10-1898, 1.
— 7 Franklin, John D. (black restaurateur who assisted coroner Jacobs. P. 175 in 1898.
— 6-7 Rountree, in Williamson. “The Wilmington Riot,” in The Crucible of Race. 1984, 201.

Narrative Information

1898 Wilmington Race Riot Commission: “Dead and Wounded.”

“Of the men who received the inquest, burial for John Townsend, Charles Lindsay, William Mouzon, John Gregory, Josh Halsey and Dan Wright took place on the eleventh. [Footnote 57 at this point notes “Only two grave markers in Pine Forest Cemetery bear death dates related to the riot. Josh Halsey’s entry recorded that he was born around 1846, and died November 10, 1898 of a gunshot and was buried in the Halsey family plot, section C. Sam McFarland’s record indicated that he was born in South Carolina around 1850, ‘died of a gunshot in his body’ on November 12, 1898, and was buried in lot M or N, section 2.”] (p. 173)….

“The News and Observer had a correspondent in the city who observed that he…watched as men in an undertaker’s office on Second Street made wooden coffins for 6 men….” (p. 174, column 1)

“In response to the call by doctors, representatives of the Red Cross and others traveled through the city late in the day and into the eleventh to tend to the needs of the wounded and take them to the hospital. Several black men who were taken to the hospital were identified. Dan Wright, riddled with at least 13 bullets and left to lie in the street, was taken to the hospital late in the afternoon of the riot and died from his wounds the next day. Taken to the hospital on the eleventh were George Henry Davis (shot 6 times), George Miller (shot 2 times), John Dow (shot 2 times), Alfred White, William Lindsay, Sam McFarland (shot 4 times and died on November 12), and John R. Davis (shot in kidneys and back). On the twelfth, John Brown or J. William Bryan, was admitted with 3 bullet wounds in his left leg and one in his right.

“Dr. Robert Zachary, resident at the Wilmington City Hospital, gave his colleagues insight into his job as it was affected by the riot when, in 1899, he spoke to the North Carolina Medical Society Convention about his treatments of gunshot victims. His short report of the treatment given men wounded in the riot described treatment and wounds for 2 white and 12 black men who were admitted to the hospital on November 10. Zachary observed that ‘all except the two white men were shot in the back’ and that one of the white men had been shot in the foot. All of the men admitted that day recovered except 2 black me who died soon after arriving at the hospital. Zachary prided himself on the fact that ‘twelve of the fourteen will perhaps live to tell their grandchildren of their experience…” [p. 174, column 2.]

“As to the actual number of dead, contemporary sources and subsequent accountings have varied greatly. ‘There has always been a tendency to minimize or magnify the casualties’ said Harry Hayden, explaining that many victims were ‘removed from time to time from places of hiding under buildings, houses and shanties and in the woods’ after dying from their wounds. [The Hayden referred to is Harry Hayden, a former Wilmington Morning Star reporter, who wrote a pamphlet published in 1936 entitled The Story of The Wilmington Rebellion.] The Wilmington Evening Dispatch predicted that an accurate count of the dead would never be recorded. Thomas Clawson, editor of the Wilmington Messenger, stated that 10 to 12 blacks died and 2 whites were seriously wounded. George Rountree believed that 6 or 7 blacks were killed. Willie Parsley believed that 12 to 15 were killed. Fayetteville businessman Peter Mallett recorded in his daybook that 8 blacks and several whites were reported dead as a result of the riot. James Worth wrote his wife that ‘there couldn’t have been less than 18 or 20 blacks killed and scores wounded.’

“African American restaurant owner John D. Franklin recalled that he worked with coroner Jacobs and saw 4 dead men at the funeral home plus one man dead at his home on Sixth between Brunswick and Bladen. Franklin also recalled that 2 black men died at the hospital.

“Rev. J. Allen Kirk wrote that the streets were ‘dotted’ with dead, and a white man informed him that he saw 10 men at the undertaker’s office. Kirk also noted that some dead were found later because of the ‘stench and miasma that came forth from their decaying bodies under their houses.’ Kirk claimed that an eyewitness told him that she believed that more than 100 people [were] killed.

“In Raleigh it was reported on the twelfth that 10 were dead outright and that at least 25 were seriously wounded. [end of p. 175]

“….These varying accounts from local and statewide sources, many by witnesses, prove that no actual number of dead will ever be known. For the purposes of this report, an attempt was made to identify dead from as many sources as possible and compare those sources to eliminate duplication. The following list provides, with as much detail as possible, the names of dead and wounded men and the location in which they were murdered. The names of some dead will remain unknown whereas others have been identified. Again, due to the paucity of definitive sources on the names of the dead, the locations where murders took place, and conflicting information provided by existing sources, no accurate tally can be made. It is unclear if Wilmington’s whites sought to cover up many of the deaths or if they were boastful of the numbers of dead. Another impediment to making calculations is the scarcity of tombstones to mark the graves of men who died immediately as well as those who died from their wounds after languishing in the hospital and homes of Brooklyn. [end of p. 176]

Pages 177-179 contain a table of identified and unidentified dead and wounded. We do not attempt to duplicate the table, but summarize and number the deaths:

1. Unknown. Killed at Carolina Central Tracks west of 2nd on Harnett.
2. Unknown. Killed east of railroad repair shop near Third street.
3. Unknown. Killed at Manhattan Park.
4. Unknown. Killed at Fourth Street bridge.
5. Unknown. Killed at Seventh and Bladen.
6. Unknown. Killed (supposed dead) on Fourth near Red Cross.
7. Unknown. Killed at Tenth and Princess after failing to stop for a patrol.
8. Unknown. Killed at railroad tracks on 11th by a soldier.
9. Unknown. Killed at Tenth and Mulberry for failing to stop for a patrol.
10. Bizzell, [Gray]. Killed at home on 411 Harnett.
11. Gregory, John L. Between Third and Harnett and Swann.
12. Gregory, Sam. Died between Harnett and Swann.
13. Halsey, Josh. Killed on Bladen near Seventh.
14. Lindsay, Charles. “…among first killed at Fourth and Harnett, age, 25.”
15. McFallon, Sam. Found under house on Fourth between Harnett and Swann; died in Hosp.
16. McFarland, Sam. Shot on Harnett at SAL tracks and thought dead.
17. Miller, George. Either dead (one report) or expected to die in a hospital (in another).
18. Mouzon, William. “…among first killed at Fourth and Harnett.”
19. Peamon, Carter. Shot as he jumped off train.
20. Rowan, Tom. Bar owner killed on wharf.
21. Townsend, John. “Among first killed at Fourth and Harnett.”
22. Wright, Daniel. Shot and died at hospital on 11th.

Nine people noted as wounded and their fate unknown. Pp. 178-179.

(1898 Wilmington Race Riot Commission (LeRae Umfleet, Principal Researcher). “Dead and Wounded,” pp. 173-174 in:1898 Wilmington Race Riot Report. North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources, Office of Archives and History, Research Branch. May 31, 2006.

Knight: “The Wilmington, North Carolina, riot of the same year [Phoenix, SC violence, 1898] decimated the prosperous black community of Brooklyn [a neighborhood]. The origins of the riot can be traced back to white Democrats who were conspiring to remove the remaining black Republicans who held political offices and seats on the city council in Wilmington. Whites found their cause when Alex Manly, the editor of a local black newspaper, published an anti-lynching article that claimed that white men were as guilty of assaulting black women as the black men they accused of assaults against white women.

“This affront gave whites an opportunity to subdue their political adversaries, as well as to damage the well-to-do black community of Brooklyn. White mobs destroyed Manly’s press and attacked blacks. Although ‘black officials resigned in a vain attempt to prevent further violence,’ at least 11 blacks were murdered and 1,500 Brooklyn blacks left their homes, which were then seized by whites at low cost. Only one black politician remained – George H. White, a congressman who represented Wilmington and North Carolina’s second district. White ‘served out the remainder of his term and then moved north’ (Hine et al., 318 ).” (Knight, Gladys L. “Election Riots of the 1880s and 1890s,” pp. 203-207 in Rucker, Walter C. and James N. Upton (Eds.). Encyclopedia of American Race Riots (Vol. 1 of 2). Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 2007.)

NPR: “Think of a coup d’état and images of a far-flung banana republic likely come to mind. So it might come as a surprise that it happened here in the United States — just once, in 1898. A mob of white supremacists armed with rifles and pistols marched on City Hall in Wilmington, N.C., on Nov. 10 and overthrew the elected local government, forcing both black and white officials to resign and running many out of town. The coup was the culmination of a race riot in which whites torched the offices of a black newspaper and killed a number of black residents. No one is sure how many African-Americans died that day, but some estimates say as many as 90 were killed….

“Especially chilling was the fact that the insurgency had been carefully planned — a conspiracy by powerful white Democrats. Southern Democrats lost their grip on power in North Carolina in 1894 and plotted to wrest control from the biracial Republican Party in 1898 elections. They campaigned on a platform of white supremacy and protecting their women from black men. As
The Nov. 8, 1898, vote approached, whites in Wilmington mobilized. They held supremacist rallies and parades and organized militias of “Red Shirts” to intimidate blacks from voting. The statewide election restored Democrats to power, and two days later, the white supremacists descended on Wilmington’s City Hall. Their leader, Col. Alfred Moore Waddell, had publicly threatened in a pre-election speech to “choke the current of the Cape Fear River” with black bodies, according to a 2006 report chronicling the events by the 1898 Wilmington Race Riot Commission. After the coup, Waddell was elected mayor of Wilmington.

“North Carolina Democrats began passing a flurry of Jim Crow laws in 1899, and new voting restrictions further disenfranchised blacks through a poll tax and literacy test….” (NPR. “How the Only Coup D’état in U.S. History Unfolded.” 8-17-2008.)

NC Dept. Cultural Resources: “Marker Text:

“ALEX MANLY 1866-1944

“Edited black-owned Daily Record four blocks east. Mob burned his office, Nov. 10, 1898, leading to ‘race riot’ & restrictions on black voting in N.C.

“Essay:

“The events of November 10, 1898, in Wilmington constitute a landmark in North Carolina history. Over a century later some details are still in question. The number of casualties, for example, is disputed with the total running from the coroner’s fourteen to unconfirmed reports of scores or even hundreds of deaths. All of the victims were black. More certain is the fact that the event marked the climax of the white supremacy campaign of 1898 and a turning point in the state’s history. Restriction on black voting followed soon thereon marking the onset of the Jim Crow era of segregation.

“What is traditionally termed a “race riot” has also been called a massacre, rebellion, revolt, race war, and coup d’état. The peculiar circumstances of the Wilmington events, involving the removal of the legally elected mayor and city council and installation of revolt leader Alfred Moore Waddell, make this last term an apt one.

“Waddell, a former Confederate officer and U.S. Congressman, in the days preceding the election of 1898 called for the removal of the Republicans and Populists then in power in Wilmington and proposed in a speech at Thalian Hall that the white citizens, if necessary, “choke the Cape Fear with carcasses.” What had particularly incensed Waddell and others was the publication in August of an editorial in the Daily Record, a local black-owned newspaper. Alex Manly (1866-1944), the editor, charged that “poor white men are careless in the matter of protecting their women” and that “our experience among poor white people in the country teaches us that women of that race are not any more particular in the matter of clandestine meetings with colored men than the white men with colored women.” The sexually charged editorial, reprinted across the state, provided Democrats with an issue to inflame racial tensions as Election Day approached. Yet the day passed without notable incident.

“At 8:00 A.M. two days later about 500 white men assembled at the armory of the Wilmington Light Infantry and, after several others declined, Waddell took on the task of leading them to the Daily Record office in Free Love Hall four blocks south of Seventh Street between Nun and Church Streets. The crowd swelled to perhaps 2,000 as they moved across town. Manly, in the meantime, had fled the city, as had numerous other blacks in expectation of violence. The mob broke into the building, a fire broke out, and the top floor of the building was consumed. The crowd posed for a photograph in front of the burned-out frame. Within hours violence had spread to other parts of the city.

“Dr. Silas P. Wright, the white Republican mayor, resigned under pressure as did members of the city council and other officers, both black and white. Waddell then took office as mayor. The revolt had the support of many of the most powerful men in the city. George Rountree, an attorney and adviser to the coup leaders, in 1899 served as chairman of the state legislative committee of constitutional reform that drafted and sponsored the so-called “Grandfather Clause,” providing that male citizens could vote if they could read and write or if their grandfather voted, thereby denying most blacks the franchise.

“The Wilmington “race riot” of 1898 has been widely written about by historians and novelists. Charles W. Chesnutt’s The Marrow of Tradition (1901), Thomas Dixon’s The Leopard’s Spots (1902), and Philip Gerard’s Cape Fear Rising (1994) used the event as a backdrop. A symposium held at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington in November 1998 commemorated the centennial and sparked renewed interest in the subject. In 2000 the General Assembly authorized the creation of the 1898 Wilmington Race Riot Commission to study the event and its impact. That group delivered its final report and recommendations to the General Assembly in May 2006.” (North Carolina Department Of Cultural Resources, Office of Archives & History. North Carolina Highway Historical Marker Program (website). “Alex Manly 1866-1955.” 2008.)

Twagilimana: “The Wilmington (North Carolina) Riot of 1898 was a violent coup d’état engineered by the North Carolina Democratic Party, resulting in the death of hundreds of African American residents of Wilmington, the forceful expulsion of thousands of others, and the removal of a democratically elected government of black and white Republicans and Fusionists. The ultimate goal of this white supremacy rebellion was to reverse the political and economic progress African Americans had made since Reconstruction (1865-1877)….

“The immediate cause of the riot is found in the result of the 1894, 1896, and 1898 elections in Wilmington, which white democrats lost to Republicans and Fusionists, a relatively large number of whom were black. As a result of these democratic elections, blacks were appointed to various positions in the administration of the city, leading white Democrats to cry foul over what they called Negro domination. If a number of African Americans had achieved real economic and political power, this constituted a threat to white supremacists, who could not tolerate such a rise to power….

“The North Carolina newspapers played a critical role in the campaign to disenfranchise African Americans in Wilmington. For example, the Raleigh News and Observer and the Wilmington Messenger ran a ruthless campaign demeaning African Americans in general but reserving the most severe disparagement for black civil servants and professionals. In the months leading to the 1898 elections, newspapers were saturated with articles that depicted lawlessness, black self-assertion and takeover, and sexual crimes by blacks, a favorite pretext for white supremacists to start mass violence against blacks in the post-Reconstruction South….

“On November 9, 1898, the day after the election that the Democrats had lost to Republicans and Fusionists, the Secret Nine at the forefront of the violence presented what they called the ‘White Declaration of Independence,’ rejecting the black man’s right to vote and hold office and calling for the government to be given to the white population paying most of the taxes. For the Secret Nine, only whites had the right to a job in the city….” (Twagilimana, Aimable. “Wilmington [NC] Riot of 1898,” pp. 717-722 in: Rucker, Walter C. and James N. Upton (Eds.). Encyclopedia of American Race Riots (Vol. 2 of 2). Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 2007.)

Newspapers:

Sep 30: “Raleigh, N.C., September 30. – (Staff Correspondence) – The white race and the black race in North Carolina are engaged to-day in a momentous struggle for supremacy. Although it has been conducted in peace, without loss of life or even the letting of blood, it is as much a war for conquest as was ever fought and won or lost by armed hosts.

“The black race, united, solid, aggressive, is marching as one man against, the divided white with the avowed purpose of over-throwing what slight vestige of their power remains and setting up themselves a sovereign negro state. Then they will repeal the laws against inter-marriage between the races and mixed schools, and all other laws which, in any manner, shape or form, provide for separate accommodation for whites and blacks. This may be denied for political effect, but there is abundant evidence to sustain the assertion, and the evidence is furnished by the colored people. Their aim is to colonize and negroize North Carolina and to so firmly establish themselves in possession that the black race will flock here form other Southern States.

“….If their plan succeeds, North Carolina is to be the refuge of their people in America. Their brethren from all the Southern States will be invited to come here, cast their lot among their fellows and together to work out their destiny in whatsoever degree of prosperity and advancement they may be able to achieve for themselves.

“This is no fairy story, no invention of the imagination, but a vital reality, for the invitation is going out even now and the word is spreading far and wide. I heard it Wednesday on the southern border of the State from reputable witnesses who had that day returned from South Carolina. Yesterday it was told to me by men who had just come from Virginia. The negroes in the adjoining States are discussing it and are enthused, and the idea is spreading in ever widening
concentric circles. “If North Carolina goes Republican again this year, we intend to move over there. The negro has more rights there than anywhere else.” This was the substance of the talk in both South Carolina and Virginia. The blacks are very much dissatisfied with the political conditions in the former Slates and are anxious to get away….

“The blacks are bent on capturing the State and carrying out their plan of colonization. They do not want to drive the white man out, but to have a State in which they will be supreme. It has been suggested that some of the blacks would prefer that the whites stay in order to lord it over them….

The Menace to Womanhood.

“And then there is the other danger, greatest of all, the menace to the womanhood of the State, the constant and growing peril of each man’s wife and daughter. That is the thought which is seared in the mind and on the heart of every man who loves his family. I know it to be a fact that the operatives in the cotton mills and the tobacco factories and the various shops and manufacturing concerns all through the State have given more attention to this phase of the subject than to any other.

“Fusion and the accession of the blacks to power have lessened the respect and fear of the law among the vicious. Incendiary speeches and writings by black men to black men must have inflamed some of them. Such a tremendous wave of indignation has just swept the State over a published slander on the white women that actual violence by the criminally inclined has to be cheeked. But if the campaign of the blacks for the conquest of the State succeeds this fall, an epidemic of assaults upon the unprotected in the country is predicted.

“This has aroused the pure woman-hood of North Carolina from the seashore to the mountains. They are asking their husbands and sons how they intend to vote—for the wives and mothers and sisters or for negro supremacy and a reign of terror?

“….The worst feature of black supremacy here comes from the character of negroes who get the offices. The intelligent, honest and respectable colored men are not in control, but the ignorant and dishonest members of the race receive the spoils. One of the educated, upright, respected colored men in Goldsboro, I think it was, stated that it would be useless for him to apply for an appointment or run for a nomination. The other class of his people would defeat him with some barkeeper or other man of low associations among his race. ‘There is no encouragement from his own people for a decent man to try to do something for himself and his race,’ he said…. In Tarboro, Edgecombe county, the Republican nominee for coroner was pointed out. He is a black drayman who cannot make out an intelligent and correct expense account for holding an inquest…. In Newbern, Craven county, Isaac H. Smith, the Republican nominee for the Legislature, has been twice convicted of forgery and he was finally let off by the negro solicitor….

“The situation in Wilmington is worse in some respects than in Newbern. A special chapter must be devoted to Wilmington to tell of the outrages of the negro officials there….”

(The Landmark, Statesville, NC. “Blacks Propose to Colonize and Control North Carolina. They are at Work on a Startling Solution of the Race Problem. A War for Conquest. The Negroes are Solidly United to Capture the State. They Want Commonwealth of Their Own. In the Struggle the Whites are Divided –How the Blacks Have Attained Domination and Exercise Their Power. (Frank Weldon in The Atlanta Constitution.” 10-14-1898, p. 1.)

Oct 14: “The business men of Wilmington have held a meeting and taken steps to substitute white for negro laborers. By their conduct the negroes of Wilmington have made themselves a menace to the community and the men who furnish them employment and consequently a support are determined that they will no longer give them aid and comfort.” (The Landmark, Statesville, NC. “State News.” 10-14-1898, p. 10.)

Oct 24: “Wilmington, N.C., Oct. 24, ´98. Hon. D. L. Russell [Governor], Raleigh, N.C.:

“`Dear Sir: We have been deeply concerned during the past week by the very excited state of our inhabitants, in view of the approaching election, which threatens to provoke a war between the white and black races. We have frequently observed during political campaigns in the past, a degree of hostilities which, at times, appeared to threaten the public peace, but which passed off when wiser counsel prevailed; but the present state of excitement is apparently and really beyond bounds, and we make to you our declaration that we are on the brink of a revolution, which can only be averted by the suppression of a Republican ticket.

“`The white people and tax payers generally, protest that they have been driven to desperation, and we have no hesitation in saying that even the usual indiscretion of political partisans on the next election day will precipitate a conflict which may cost hundreds and perhaps thousands of lives, and the partial, or entire, destruction of the city.

“`We, therefore, on behalf of the conservative business firms in Wilmington, deeply interested in the peace and welfare of our community, entreat you, as the representative of the Republican party here, to meet the emergency and avert a calamity by the means which we have indicated, or by some other personal or political sacrifice which would be gratefully recognized and approved by our conservative and patriotic people, who look to you in this extremity.

“Respectfully,
Alex Sprunt & Sons,
John Wilber Atkinson,
J. H. Sloan,
Wm. Gilchrist,
Corbett & Gore.

“Governor Russell’s reply was as follows:

“Gentlemen: The substance of your letter is that the Republican ticket of New Hanover county must be suppressed; that is, that the Republican voters of that county shall not vote the ticket of their party. That if they do so, there will be revolution and conflict which may cost hundreds and perhaps thousands of lives, and the partial or utter destruction of the city.

“Who constitute—who are the men on this Republican ticket! The Republican convention of New Hanover county has not nominated a ticket. According to my information they propose to nominate a ticket that will be composed, with one exception, of white men. That exception is the register of deeds, a colored man, who has held that office for two years, who, I am informed and believe, is competent and has made a reasonably good officer, and as to whom I have heard no complaint as to his official conduct.

“The Republicans propose, as I am informed, to vote for the following members of the Legislature: For the Senate, B. F. Keith; for the House, D. L. Gore and R. B. Davis.

“Now who are these men? Mr. Keith is a reputable merchant of your city. He was voted for by perhaps 90 per cent of the Democrats of your county in the last election as an elector on the presidential ticket and was elected by the people of North Carolina by a majority of some 20,000.

“Captain R. B. Davis has been for many years a leading man in North Carolina. He has been one of the leaders of the Democratic party in the State. He has been elected by their votes and has served as one of their most important men in the State Legislature. He is a gentleman of education and culture, and an orator of distinction. He was also an elector for the State at large in the last presidential election and was elected by the whole people of the State by some 20,000 majority.

“Mr. D. L. Gore is a man of large property and of extensive business connections. As I understand it, he had generally acted politically with the Democratic party until the election of 1896, when he voted for McKinley.

“All of these men are North Carolinians and are as well connected, as capable and as closely associated with the business, social and material interests of the State as any three men who could be found in your community.

“I am informed that the Republicans of New Hanover are willing to adopt such a ticket for county commissioners as will give the highest assurance of protection of property rights and of honest and economical administration.

“You say the Republican ticket must be suppressed. Do you mean to suppress the Republican ticket, which will be not only to deny the Republicans of New Hanover the privilege of exercising their constitutional right to vote for members of the Legislature and county officers, but also would deny their right to vote for members of Congress and judges and such State officers as are to be voted for in this election? They would thus be deprived not only of their rights under the State constitution, but those secured to them under the United States constitution as well.

Very truly yours,
D. L. Russell, Governor.””

(The Landmark, Statesville, N.C. “The Wilmington Situation.” 11-1-1898, p. 1.)

Oct 28: “A private letter received in Statesville a few days ago from a resident of Wilmington, fully confirms all that has been printed about the awful condition of affairs there. So great is the tension that trouble may be precipitated at any moment. It is said that the negroes are well supplied with arms and of course the white people are fully prepared for any emergency. There is a perfect understanding among the whites as to what shall be done to protect the women and children if there is a conflict. Traveling men say that business is at a standstill in Wilmington; that there is a dreadful calm as if in anticipation of some awful event. May God avert it. But if it comes we hope that those who are responsible for the conditions which brought it on may suffer in consequence rather than their ignorant dupes.” (The Landmark, Statesville, NC. “An Awful State of Affairs at Wilmington.” 10-28-1898, p. 7.)

Nov 1 (Waddell): “What a commentary it is upon our boasted civilization that here, in the most quiet and conservative of the original thirteen States, and at the end of the nineteenth century, we are reduced to the pitiful necessity of choosing whether we will live under the domination of negroes led by a few unprincipled white men, and see the ruin of all we hold dear, or prove ourselves worthy of the respect of mankind by restoring good government at all hazards and at every cost. Yet this is the issue and the only issue in the pending election. There is with the people of eastern North Carolina no question of gold or silver, or tariff, or the like, and still less any question of mere local and factional politics. The man who would, even for a moment, inject such an issue into the contest is both a fool and an enemy of society.

“We are in the presence of a crisis before which all such questions sink into insignificance. The salvation of society depends on the outcome of this election—not the restoration of good government only, or the protection of property, or the reduction of taxation, or of the public expenditures, but all these, together with the preservation of peace, and good order, and prosperity for all of both races. To suppose that under such circumstances North Carolinians will
fail to meet the issue squarely and manfully is to attribute to them an imbecility and a pusillanimity which they have never, in the two hundred years of their history, exhibited, and which would make them forever contemptible in the eyes of tho civilized world.

“Are we less intelligent, or less courageous, or more degraded than the people of the other States who have settled this question for themselves? What is tho matter with us? I will tell you. We are afflicted with an excess of the virtue of forbearance which, beyond a certain point, ceases to be a virtue at all, and becomes a want of self-respect.” (The Landmark, Statesville, N.C. “An Excess of Forbearance. That is What is the Matter With us, Says Col. Waddell. (Extract From Col. Waddell’s Speech at Wilmington).” 11-1-1898, p. 1.)

Nov 1: “A committee of Wilmington citizens, having of their own motion called on Governor Russell to ask him to use his influence to prevent in the interest of peace, the nomination of a Republican legislative and county ticket in New Hanover, the Governor agreed on one condition:
That the present Democratic nominees for the Legislature in New Hanover be taken down and that the business men name two representative businessmen in their stead. As we understand it, these two representative business men may be Democrats. They will at least be men who are in favor of white supremacy. The Democrats, it is believed, will assent to these conditions and there will be no Republican county or legislative ticket in New Hanover.” (The Landmark, Statesville, NC. Editorial. 11-1-1898, p. 2.)

Nov 1: “The crowd here to-day was very large. It was composed of men of influence from all parts of the State. F. M. Simmons stated that the object of the great gathering was to have people from all sections pass resolutions concerning the condition of the east under negro rule. He portrayed the east as it really is and then introduced Major Guthrie as chairman of the convention.

“Major Guthrie made a strong and impressive appeal for Anglo-Saxon rule. He drew a beautiful parallel from the book of Nehemiah, saying, in substance, that the Anglo-Saxon people of North Carolina to-day are like the Jews at the time of the Babylonian captivity. The conditions were brough about by division among themselves, as is the case in this State. But Nehemiah rebuilt the walls around Jerusalem, as the white men in North Carolina will stop negro domination. Maj. Guthrie was at his best and the people heard every word of his speech with intense enthusiasm.

“The sensation of the day was caused by Mr. W. E. Fountain, of Tarboro. He made a strong speech declaring his intention to do all that he could to do elect the Democratic ticket. He said that en endorsed every work that Messrs. Simmons and Guthrie had said. He knows that the affairs in the east cannot continue as they now exist. Fountain, realizing the gravity of the situation in the east, and feeling the force of public opinion, has concluded to cast his lot with the white people and pledges his best efforts to the cause of white supremacy.

“The following gentlemen spoke to-day: Messrs. W. H. Neal, T. J. Jarvis, Ed W. Pou, C. B. Aycock, A. M. Waddell, Donnell Gilliam, Cyrus B. Watson and others. It was a great day.

“The following resolutions were adopted by 5,000 voters to-day:

We, a portion of the citizens of eastern North Carolina, in mass meeting assembled, being mindful of the obligation we are assuming and being desirous of informing our fellow citizens of the condition of affairs in our section of the State, do publish to the world the following plain statements of facts:

First. The population of this section of our State is divided into two distinct races – the Anglo-Saxon and the African.

Second. That in some counties the whites exceed the blacks and in others the blacks largely exceed the whites, but in all of them the negro is found in large numbers.

Third. It is not claimed, even by his white leaders, that the negro is capable of administering a government; on the contrary, the man who is the present Governor of the State has declared in the most emphatic language that he is wholly unfitted for it.

Fourth. That in many of the counties, cities and towns of the east the local governments have been turned over wholly or in part to the negroes. Among these we mention Bertie, Craven, Edgecombe, Halifax, New Hanover, Warren, Greenville, New Berne and Wilmington. In these counties, cities and towns, negroes may be found holding the offices of register of deeds, deputy sheriff, constable, justice of the peace, school committeeman, town commissioner, policeman and the like. In several other counties many of these offices are filled by negroes and many of the post-offices are filled by them.

Fifth. That counting offices of register of deeds, deputy register of deeds, deputy sheriffs, constables, justices of the peace, school committeemen, town commissioners, post-masters, collectors, storekeepers, gaugers and the like, there are now in office in the counties and towns in eastern North Carolina nearly 1,000 negroes, there being nearly 300 negro magistrates alone.

Sixth. That as a consequence of turning these local offices over to the negroes bad government has followed, homes have been invaded and the sanctity of women endangered, business has been paralyzed and property rendered less valuable, the majesty of the law has been disregarded and lawlessness encouraged. In many localities men no longer rely upon the officers of the law for protection, for they are known to be incompetent or corrupt. Conditions have become so intolerable in these communities that they can be no longer tolerated or endured.

Seventh. That this negro domination was made possible and these deplorable conditions were brought about through a division of the white men at the ballot-box. Had the white men remained together as they did for many years these things could not have been.

Eighth. That knowing these evils came about through a division of the white men, the white man’s party has been zealously working for months to reunite the white men at the ballot-box, where these wrongs can be righted and these evils remedied.

In view of these things it is resolved:

First. That the Republican leaders have a second time clearly demonstrated their inability and their unfitness to govern North Carolina.

Second. That the time has come when those who have followed these leaders should no longer do so and that all men who love their State and their homes should unite in one supreme effort to redeem the State and to place honest, capable men in office in State, county, city and town.

Third. That our appeal has been, is now and shall continue to be to the ballot-box and to honest white men. We have contemplated no violence, but we are determined to see all proper means to free ourselves of this negro domination, which is paralyzing our business and which hangs like a dark cloud over our homes.

Fourth. That we declare it is not our purpose to do [two lines bottom of page unclear]…that while we propose to protect and encourage him in all his rights and duties of citizenship, we affirm that North Carolina shall not be negroized. It is of all the States of the Union peculiarly the home of the Anglo Saxon, and the Anglo Saxon shall govern it.

Fifth. That we affirm that no such conditions exist in this State as justify Senator Pritchard in calling upon the President to send troops to this State, or the Governor in issuing his brutal proclamation, and we hereby condemn in the most unmeasured terms the conduct of Senator Pritchard and Governor Russell in attempting to made it appear to the outside world that the descendants of the men of Mecklenburg, Halifax, Albemarle, the Cape Fear, Guilford Court House and King’s Mountain need the military power of the government which they helped to create and organize to compel them to observe the law. The white men of this State, above all others, are interested in maintaining law and order, and for them to be charged by Senator Pritchard and Governor Russell with having a purpose to become insurrectionary citizens is a foul slander, and we denounce them. They have been leaders in establishing negro domination among us and they are therefore responsible for the conditions now existing and in appealing to the President to send troops into this State to aid them in maintaining negro domination, they have shown they care less for the honor and reputation of their State than they do for their official position.

Sixth. That it is in the power of the Legislature to restore to the white men of the east the management and control of their local affairs; that if the Democratic party shall be placed in control of the Legislature this will be done. If the Republican party is placed in control it will not be done. We, therefore, appeal to our white brethren in every section of the State to go to the ballot-box on the day of election and vote for the Democratic candidates for the Legislature.

Seventh. That a learned and pure judiciary is necessary to the preservation of the rights of the weak, as well as of the strong. The Democratic candidates for this high position are men learned in the law and of eminent fitness for this great office. We, therefore, appeal to all men who desire learned and pure men to sit upon the bench to work and to vote for the Democratic candidates.

Eighth. That the president and secretary of this meeting are hereby directed to cause this statement of facts and these resolutions to be published in all the papers of the State, and that the Democratic executive-committee is requested to give them the widest possible circulation among the people.”

(The Landmark, Statesville, N.C. “The Anglo-Saxon at Goldsboro.” 11-1-1898, p. 2.)

Nov 3: “The speech by Col. A. M. Waddell at the opera house in the afternoon was one of the plainest, one of the boldest and most aggressive of all the utterances in this campaign. He spoke as a man that was facing evils too burdensome to be endured. He spoke as one whose mind was made up and fully made up to correct at all hazards these existing evils. He spoke as one who could easily see an impending crisis that called for courage, for valor, for patriotism, for heroism.
He spoke calmly, feelingly, eloquently, but he spoke also with the fervor, with the fire of the aroused orator.

“He pictured the conditions in his own city of Wilmington; told of the incompetency, the intolerance and the arrogance of the negro officials and their black henchmen. He told of insults to tender women, of mean, obscene language used by the vicious in the presence of ladies; of the terror that reigned in the homes of the people. He paid his respects to the unprincipled white leaders who have made a class of the negroes intolerable, and who are responsible for the evils of negro rule. As he spoke there came from his eyes flashes of righteous indignation, and when he declared, with powerful emphasis, that the white men of New Hanover county had made up their minds that they would protect their wives and daughters, their homes and themselves from these
insults at the risk of their lives, his audience cheered to the echo.

“”We are going to protect our firesides and our loved ones, or we are going to die in the attempt.” Thundered the eloquent speaker, “and I don’t say that for the purpose of rounding up an oratorical flight. That determination is in the minds of the white men of Wilmington, and we intend to carry it out.”

“Colonel Waddell had an immense, audience, many of them ladies, and his speech was applauded again and again.” (The Landmark, Statesville, NC. “Col. Waddell’s Speech.” 11-3-1898, p. 5.)

Nov 10: “Wilmington. N. C., Nov. 10. — The negroes not having complied with the demand of the business men by 7:30 this morning (the time fixed) a column of six hundred armed white men assembled at the corner of Market and Fifth streets and at 8:30 o’clock marched to the office of The Daily Record, the negro newspaper and destroyed all material found in the building. The building took fire but some assert that this was accidental. Those in command of the white men say they had no intention of firing the building. As soon as it was discovered that the building was on fire the leaders sent for fire engines and the flames were confined to The Record building. On the south only twenty feet distant is St. Luke’s, one of the largest negro churches in the city and on the north, within twelve feet a frame building, occupied by negroes.

“The Record building is a wreck, being almost totally burned. Excitement is intense as it is feared negroes will attempt to retaliate tonight. The streets are now full of armed whites, and at least one thousand men will be on guard tonight. The column that moved to The Record office was composed of the best citizens of Wilmington and e\’en ministers were either on the march or guarding the city with Winchesters.

“The negro laborers in the Champion compress, more than 500, became terrorized at the wild rumors and rushed into the streets. They were finally somewhat quieted and dispersed in small squads to their homes. At 11:30 a. m., serious trouble occurred in the Fifth ward. Three white men and three negroes have been killed. Large companies of armed citizens have gone to the scene. The negroes are reported to have retreated but are being quietly reinforced by laborers from the compress. Fayetteville has been telegraphed to for help.

“A representative of the Associated Press has seen a statement sworn before a. notary public by a reputable citizen in which it is positively stated that the first shot fired in the trouble in the first ward was fired by a negro. As a result of the fight Wm. Mayo, a well-known and popular young man, is fatally wounded in the side. Another man is wounded in the arm and three negroes are killed and two wounded.
Another Account.

“Washington, D.C., Nov. 10. – A Star special from Wilmington, N. C., says: Events have moved quickly in Wilmington this morning and the white people have made good their threats to take vengeance upon the negro newspaper which published the editorial detrimental to white women. At 7:30 o’clock the negroes not having responded to the demand for the removal of the press of The Record (the negro newspaper) ex-Representative Waddell, the chairman of the white committee of twenty-five, repaired to the light infantry armory where he was to meet the citizens by appointment.

“Eight o’clock was the last hour of grace for the negroes to reply and that hour passed without an answer being received. The citizens then waited half an hour for reinforcements. In the meantime armed men had begun to gather in the wide street in front of the armory. They carried rifles, shot guns and ammunition and the assemblage included some of the most solid citizens of the town.

“At 8:30 o’clock, the procession headed by ex-Representative Waddell, and the committee of twenty-five moved in the direction of Seventh and Nunn streets, where The Record printing shop is located. All along the line of inarch the procession was joined by armed citizens and when the negro quarter was reached the negroes could be seen a few blocks away running into their houses.

“When the crowd arrived in front of The Record office, a two-story frame building, picket lines were thrown out across the streets and squads of men sent to squares in the neighborhood. Leader Waddell with rifle on his shoulder went to the door of the building and knocked, but there being no response the door was soon burst open. The citizens surged into the place and commenced the work of destruction. The furniture was smashed and thrown into the street, the floors were gutted of moveables and the building was fired and destroyed.

“Someone turned in a fire alarm and when the engines responded the crowd discharged their weapons and a fusillade of gun and pistol shots, cheers and shouts filled the air. The affair was soon over, however, and no one was hurt. The publishing house was destroyed but the neighboring property saved. The colored editor, Manley, his brother and their associates have fled, and could not be found. After destroying the printing house, the marchers returned to the armory where they had left a rapid fire machine mounted in a wagon ready to be dispatched to the scene if a battle should occur. The leaders of the crowd said subsequently that it was not the intention to burn The Record building, that it was the work of some rash person orb by accident and did not have the concurrence of the committee of twenty-five.

“Today’s action of the whites was the sequel of yesterday’s meeting at the county court and that of the committee of twenty-five in the afternoon as a result of which the negroes were given until this morning to return an answer to the demand for the removal of the press and the cessation of the publication of The Record.

“Last night was an anxious one for the citizens in the residence section. About eight o’clock a street car came into the business section and reported that the negroes had fired into it and that the passengers had returned the fire. A car loaded with armed men was soon speeding toward the scene of the trouble but the offenders escaped. The entire eastern end of the town was aroused and armed men were on the street cars, on every corner and patrolling the dark streets.

“In the negro district thirty or forty young negroes were assembled but they were not armed and not violent, and the older men said they did not contemplate trouble and sincerely hoped for peace. All night long the whites kept guard about the business and resident sections but no incident occurred to disturb the night.

“At 10:30 o’clock, the scene shifted to another section of the city. Scarcely had the marchers disbanded at the armory before word was passed along that three hundred or four hundred negro laborers of the great cotton compress had knocked off work and were assembling. The armed men hurried to the river front and took positions at the head of the streets leading to the docks. The negroes, gathered in groups of fifteen or twenty, huddled together and were apparently very much excited. They were in a state of panic. Their wives hurried to them with reports that the whites were burning the negro quarters and were shooting the people and begged their husbands
to come home, and the whole force quit work.

“The white leaders endeavored to calm the excited men, told them no harm was intended and advised them to return to work. There was no violent talk nor threats by the negroes. In all the disturbances, the local authorities made no show of asserting themselves and not a policeman is around. The preservation of order is practically vested in the committee of twenty-five, who are now trying to restore order, quiet the situation, and hold in check the reckless element among the whites. The rapid fire machine gun on a wagon, manned by a crew armed with Winchesters was brought down in front of the post office but on the advice of the leaders was halted there.

“Soon after eleven o’clock, word was brought that reinforcements were needed in the negro section of Brooklyn. The men were sent. Twenty minutes later news came that there had been a collision between the whites and blacks and that blood had been shed. As a result of the trouble at Brooklyn it is believed that the number of negroes who have been killed will number four. A white man named Mayo, who was shot in the stomach has since died.

“Special trains are being run into Wilmington from other towns with reinforcements of arms. Goldsboro has started 500 men. Laurinburg has started 150 and other places have offered help if needed. The light infantry, a regular state militia organization will probably take command of the situation here and its officers direct the patrolling and guarding of the city.

“Between one and two o’clock there were several skirmishes. The total casualties at two p. m., were: Eight negroes killed, two wounded and three white men wounded –Mayo, Chadwick and Piner. Mayo is not dead as before reported, but is shot through the lungs. About 1.30 o’clock, two white men passing a house were fired upon. A detachment immediately surrounded the house and took away five negroes. It was at first proposed to kill them but it was finally decided to put them in jail. Another negro in the house broke and ran but after proceeding half a square was shot dead. The negro who shot Mayo was recognized, it is claimed, and a detachment found him at his house. He was riddled with bullets and left dead.

“The reinforcements from Goldsboro have been turned back and a committee of twenty-five is considering means of preserving order. The plan in favor is to appoint a sub-committee of six or ten men to have supreme charge of the city, superseding the mayor and other authorities.

“The situation is quiet at the scene of the trouble now. The negroes have gone into their houses. Squads of men are now halting all the negroes on the street and taking their pistols from them wherever found.” (Daily Northwestern, Oshkosh, WI. “Resort to Violence. Angry Whites at Wilmington, N.C., Carry Out Threats. Several People Killed.” 11-10-1898, p. 1.)

Nov 11: “Wilmington, N. C , Nov. 11 — After a day of bloodshed and turbulence Wilmington subsided last night into comparative peacefulness. Nine negroes were killed and three white men wounded during the day, one of them, William Mayo, seriously.

“Today the city is in the hands of a new municipal government, and law and order is being established. Yesterday afternoon the board of aldermen resigned one by one as each alderman vacated the remainder elected a successor, named by the citizens’ committee, until the entire board was changed legally. They resigned in response to public sentiment. The new board is composed of conservative Democratic citizens.

“The mayor and chief of police then resigned, and the new board elected their successors, according to law. Ex-Representative Waddell was elected mayor and E. G Parmelee chief of police. The first act of the new government was to swear in 250 special policemen, chosen from the ranks of reputable citizens. The citizens will remain on guard, however, throughout the town to prevent possible attempts at incendiarism. The new government will devote its attention to restraining recklessness among the whites as well as keeping down lawlessness among the negroes. Further trouble of a general or serious nature is not expected.

“The trouble in Wilmington commenced at 8:30 yesterday morning, when an armed body of citizens, numbering 400, and led by ex-Representative Waddell, chairman of a committee of 25 appointed for the purpose, proceeded to the publishing house of a negro newspaper, The Record, to wreck it. The editor of this paper had published an article defamatory of white women, and a mass meeting of citizens on Wednesday ordered his expulsion from the city within 24 hours and the removal of his press. Fifteen leading negroes were called in by the committee of 25 Wednesday night and directed to notify the chairman by 7:30 yesterday morning whether they would agree to the removal of the press. They were informed that if no answer were returned the press would be demolished….” (The News, Frederick, MD. “Killed in Race Riots. Nine Negroes Shot Down in the Streets of Wilmington, N.C. A New Municipal Government.” 11-11-1898, 1.)

Sources Cited

1898 Wilmington Race Riot Commission (LeRae Umfleet, Principal Researcher). 1898 Wilmington Race Riot Report. North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources, Office of Archives and History, Research Branch. May 31, 2006. Accessed 12-16-2012 at: http://www.history.ncdcr.gov/1898-wrrc/report/report.htm
Accessed 6-25-2020 at: https://www.ncdcr.gov/learn/resources-topic/1898-wilmington-race-riot-commission

Cane, Clay. “Not Just Tulsa: Five Other Race Massacres That Devastated Black America.” BET TV, 6-1-2020. Accessed 6-25-2020 at: https://www-bet-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.bet.com/news/national/2019/12/17/not-just-tulsa–five-other-race-massacres-that-devastated-black.amp.html

Cecelski, David S. and Timothy B. Tyson, eds., Democracy Betrayed: The Wilmington Race Riot of 1898 and Its Legacy. Chapel Hill and London: The University of North Carolina Press, 1998. Accessed 6-25-2020 at: https://archive.org/details/democracybetraye00cece/page/n3/mode/2up

Collins, Lauren. “A Buried Coup D’état in the United States.” The New Yorker, 9-12-2016. Accessed 6-25-2020 at: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/09/19/a-buried-coup-detat-in-the-united-states

Daily Northwestern, Oshkosh, WI. “Resort to Violence. Angry Whites at Wilmington, N.C., Carry Out Threats. Several People Killed.” 11-10-1898, p. 1. Accessed 12-16-2012 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=8930127&sterm=wilmington

Faulkner, Ronnie W. “Wilmington Race Riot.” Derived from Encyclopedia of North Carolina, edited by William S. Powell. University of North Carolina Press. 2006. Accessed 6-25-2020 at: https://www.ncpedia.org/wilmington-race-riot

Hayden. Harry. History of the Wilmington Light Infantry. New Hanover County Public Library, 1954.

Hayden, Harry. The Story of The Wilmington Rebellion. 1936. Accessed from: 1898 Wilmington: Debunking The Myths at: http://www.1898wilmington.org/hayden.shtml

Hine, Darlene Clark, William C. Hine, and Stanley Harrold. “White Supremacy Triumphant: African Americans in the South in the Late Nineteenth Century.” Chapter 14 in The African American Odyssey. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2000, 306-331. Accessed 6-25-2020 at: https://wps.prenhall.com/wps/media/objects/228/233833/im_ch14_1.pdf

Hofstadter, Richard and Michael Wallace (Eds.). American Violence: A Documentary History. Vintage Books, 1970.

Knight, Gladys L. “Election Riots of the 1880s and 1890s,” pp. 203-207 in Rucker, Walter C. and James N. Upton (Eds.). Encyclopedia of American Race Riots (Vol. 1 of 2). Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 2007.)

North Carolina Department Of Cultural Resources, Office of Archives & History. North Carolina Highway Historical Marker Program (website). “Alex Manly 1866-1955.” 2008. Accessed 4-10-2013 at: http://www.ncmarkers.com/Results.aspx?k=Search&ct=btn

NPR (National Public Radio). “How the Only Coup D’état in U.S. History Unfolded.” 8-17-2008. Accessed 12-16-2012 at: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93615391

Rucker, Walter C. and James N. Upton (Eds.). Encyclopedia of American Race Riots (2 Vols.). Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 2007. Partially Google digitized at: http://books.google.com/books?id=mQcrpqn0124C&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false, and
http://books.google.com/books?id=mQcrpqn0124C

The Gazette, Colorado Springs, CO. “A historical perspective.” 1-20-2000, A8. Accessed 6-25-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/colorado-springs-gazette-jan-29-2000-p-9/

The Landmark, Statesville, NC. “An Awful State of Affairs at Wilmington.” 10-28-1898, p. 7. At: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=159345098&sterm=wilmington

The Landmark, Statesville, N.C. “An Excess of Forbearance. That is What is the Matter With us, Says Col. Waddell. (Extract From Col. Waddell’s Speech at Wilmington).” 11-1-1898, p. 1. Accessed 1-6-2013 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/statesville-landmark-nov-01-1898-p-1/

The Landmark, Statesville, NC. “Blacks Propose to Colonize and Control North Carolina. They are at Work on a Startling Solution of the Race Problem. A War for Conquest. The Negroes are Solidly United to Capture the State. They Want Commonwealth of Their Own. In the Struggle the Whites are Divided –How the Blacks Have Attained Domination and Exercise Their Power. (Frank Weldon in The Atlanta Constitution.” 10-14-1898, p. 1. Accessed 1-6-2013 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=142868006&sterm=wilmington

The Landmark, Statesville, NC. “Col. Waddell’s Speech.” 11-3-1898, p. 5. Accessed 1-6-2013 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=142868021&sterm=wilmington

The Landmark, Statesville, NC. Editorial. 11-1-1898, p. 2. Accessed 1-6-2013 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=2218021&sterm=wilmington

The Landmark, Statesville, NC. “State News.” 10-14-1898, p. 10. Accessed 1-6-2013 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=142868004&sterm=wilmington

The Landmark, Statesville, N.C. “The Anglo-Saxon at Goldsboro.” 11-1-1898, p. 2. Accessed 6-25-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/statesville-landmark-nov-01-1898-p-2/

The Landmark, Statesville, N.C. “The Wilmington Situation.” 11-1-1898, p. 1. Accessed 1-6-2013 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=159345099&sterm=wilmington

The News, Frederick, MD. “Killed in Race Riots. Nine Negroes Shot Down in the Streets of Wilmington, N.C. A New Municipal Government.” 11-11-1898, 1. Accessed 12-16-2012 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=10999204&sterm=wilmington

Twagilimana, Aimable. “Wilmington [NC] Riot of 1898,” pp. 717-722 in: Rucker, Walter C. and James N. Upton (Eds.). Encyclopedia of American Race Riots (Vol. 2 of 2). Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 2007.

Tyson, Timothy B. “The Ghosts of 1898: Wilmington’s Race Riot and the Rise of White Supremacy.” The News & Observer, 11-17-2006, Section H. Accessed 6-25-2020 at: https://media2.newsobserver.com/content/media/2010/5/3/ghostsof1898.pdf

Waggoner, Martha (Associated Press). “Marker describing 1898 violence as ‘coup’ dedicated.” ABC News, 11-8-2019. Accessed 6-25-2020 at: https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/highway-marker-describes-1898-wilmington-violence-coup-66846991

Williamson, Joel. The Crucible of Race: Black-White Relations in the American South Since Emancipation. New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1984. Google preview accessed 6-25-2020 at: https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Crucible_of_Race/UWG-o7b5HGwC?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA1&printsec=frontcover

Additional References

Gerard, Philip. Cape Fear Rising. Blair, 2019.

Higuchi, Hayumi. “White Supremacy of the Cape Fear: The Wilmington Affair of 1898” (M.A. thesis, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1980.

Prather, H. Leon Sr. We Have Taken a City: Wilmington Racial Massacre and Coup of 1898. Rutherford: Fairleigh Dickinson University Press, 1984, and Dram Tree Books, 2006.

Steelman, Bennett L. “Black, White, and Gray: The Wilmington Race Riot in Fact and Legend,” North Carolina Historical Review, Vol. 2, No. 1, Spring 1994, pp. 70-81.

Umfleet, LeRae Sikes. A Day of Blood: The 1898 Wilmington Race Riot. Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press, 2009.

-255-269 Blanchard tally based on State and locality breakouts below.
–150-180 Monthly Weather Review, U.S. Weather Bureau, 19-98, 1891-1970…”
–150-180 Rappaport and Partagas. The Deadliest Atlantic Tropical Cyclones, 1492-1994. 1995.
— 179 Blake, et al. The Deadliest, Costliest, and Most Intense US Cyclones…, April 2007.
— 179 Sandrik. A Reevaluation of the [GA] and [NE FL] Hurricane of 2 [Oct] 1898… 1998.

Florida ( 2)
–2 Fernandina, wharf area. Two children in a home killed when it was swept away.

Georgia (247-258)
–247-258 Blanchard tally based on locality breakouts below:
— 8 Andrew’s Bar, off Brunswick; men from unknown vessels “wrecked” at the bar.
— 7-8 Brunswick
–70-80 Butler’s Island
— 20 Campbell Island
— 33 Darien Island (32 drowned, 1 killed). Ho. Extreme Hurricanes… 1989, p. 62.
— 5 Doboy. Morning News, Savannah. “The Flood Fatalities Increase.” 10-7-1898, 1.
— 1 Egg Island, Altamaha River mouth. Mrs. James Stockley; drowned off roof of home.
— 1 Jessup, about 100 miles inland. Building blown down by the storm; man killed.
— 1 Macon. Trolley conductor H.N. Burke electrocuted during the storm.
— 97 Ogeechee River rice plantations, south of Savannah. Drownings.
— >3 St. Catherine’s Island. Thompson, S.B. Hurricanes in Middle Georgia. 10-6-2016.
— 1 Thunderbolt, about 6 miles from Savannah, on Wilmington River.
— 179 Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “A look at some of Georgia’s worst hurricanes.” 9-10-2018.
— 179 Dunn and Miller. Atlantic Hurricanes (Revised). 1964, p. 312.
— 178 Thompson, Scott B. Pieces of Our Past. Hurricanes in Middle Georgia. 10-6-2016.
— >120 Butler Island, Darien, Brunswick. Ho. Extreme Hurricanes…[19th Cen.]. 1989, p. 60.
— ? Brunswick
— ? Butler Island (in Altamaha River 1 mile south-southeast of Darien, GA)
–33 Darien Island (32 drowned, 1 killed), p. 62.
— 120 “…land and sea around Darien and Brunswick…nine-tenths of whom are colored.”
— 7 Brunswick
— 20 Campbell Island
–70-80 Butler’s Island
— 5 Doboy
— 8 “…unknown vessels wrecked off St. Andrew’s bar.” [Brunswick]
Breakout of fatalities by locality when noted:
— 8 Andrew’s Bar, off Brunswick; men from unknown vessels “wrecked” at the bar.
— 8 Brunswick. Thompson. Pieces of Our Past. Hurricanes in Middle Georgia. 10-6-2016.
— 7 “ Morning News, Savannah. “The Flood Fatalities Increase.” 10-7-1898, p. 1.
— 4 “ Morning News, Savannah. “Loss of Property By The Storm.” 10-5-1898, 1.
— 2 “ (bodies found Oct 6). Morning News, Savannah. “The Flood Fatalities Increase.” 10-7-1898, p1.
–70-80 Butler Island. Morning News, Savannah. “The Flood Fatalities Increase.” 10-7-1898, p1.
— 80 “ Weekly Times-Enterprise, Thomasville GA. “One Hundred Dead.” 10-8-1898, p3.
— ~79? Butler Island. Between Altamaha and Butler Rivers; Rhetts Island and Darien northeast.
— <50 Campbell Island. Barnes, Jay. Florida’s Hurricane History. 1998, p. 80. -- >20 “ Altamaha River. Ho. Extreme Hurricanes in the [19th Cen.].1989, 60.
— ~37 “ Logansport Weekly Reporter, IN. “The List Growing.” 10-11-1898, p.2.
— 20 “ Morning News, Savannah. “The Flood Fatalities Increase.” 10-7-1898, p.1.
–20-50 “ Monthly Weather Review, Oct 1898, Boyer, Savannah Weather Observer.
–20-50 “ The Sun, Baltimore. “Drowned on Islands.” 10-5-1898, p. 2.
— ~50 “ Thompson. Pieces of Our Past. Hurricanes in Middle Georgia. 10-6-2016.
— 33 Darien Island (32 drowned, 1 killed). Ho. Extreme Hurricanes…[19th Cen.]. 1989, p. 62.
— 5 Doboy. Morning News, Savannah. “The Flood Fatalities Increase.” 10-7-1898, p. 1.
— 1 Egg Island, Altamaha River mouth. Mrs. James Stockley; drowned off roof of home.
— 1 Jessup, about 100 miles inland. Building blown down by the storm; man killed.
— 1 Macon. Trolley conductor H.N. Burke electrocuted during the storm.
— 97 Ogeechee River rice plantations, south of Savannah. Drownings; blacks.
— >3 St. Catherine’s Island. Thompson, S.B. Hurricanes in Middle Georgia. 10-6-2016.
— 1 Thunderbolt, about 6 miles from Savannah, on Wilmington River.

South Carolina ( 6-9) (We do not know if Jordan’s 9 deaths included schooner losses.)
–9 Jordan with Dukes, Jr. A History of Storms on the South Carolina Coast. Undated, p. 34.
–6 schooner Sarah E. Palmer sinks during storm off Charleston lightship, 7M off Charleston.
Capt. Whittier
First Mate Briggs
Second Mate M ’Donald
Steward Pat Healey
Seaman Wallace Stanford
Seaman Thomas
Two survivors who made it to shore on a plank.

Narrative Information

The 7th storm of the busy 1898 Atlantic tropical storm/hurricane season (10 storms). Formed on September 25th with speeds reaching 110 mph. On October 2nd the hurricane hit Cumberland Island, Georgia and Northeast Florida with winds of 135 mph, causing heavy damage amounting to around $2.5 million.

Dunn and Miller: “Table 28. Tropical Cyclones in the South Atlantic States – Carolinas and Georgia….1898 Oct 2 Coastal sections Extreme [intensity] 179 killed in Ga.”

Ho: “…Hurricane of October 2, 1898…Introduction

“This storm first appeared to the east of the Leeward Islands on September 25. By the evening of October 1, the storm passed 150 miles to the northeast of Jupiter, FL…During the night the storm was deflected to a more westerly course by an extensive high-pressure ridge located to the north of its position. By the morning of October 2, the storm center was located off the coast of Jacksonville, FL. At Jacksonville, the barometer fell to a minimum of 29.07 in. at 11 a.m. and the maximum wind of 60 mph occurred at 11:10 a.m. The storm center appeared to have passed north and east of Jacksonville, probably 40 to 50 nmi distant.

“The storm center entered the Atlantic coast near Brunswick, GA. The Brunswick area experienced its worse flooding since 1812. The height of the storms tide at Darien was about 13 ft above the men high water mark, inland, and 18 ft at Sapelo Lighthouse. Campbell Island, 12 miles from Darien, on the Altamaha River, was swept by water, and more than 20 of its inhabitants were drowned. At least 120 people were killed around Darien and Brunswick, mainly by drowning on Butler Island (Monthly Weather Review 1898).

“In the Savannah area, Hutchinson Island, opposite Savannah, was submerged to a depth of 4 to 8 ft. At the Isle of Hope the water rose 15 ft. All the lowland to the east of Savannah was inundated. The coastal islands on the Carolina coast escaped severe damage, although the tide was very high and the wind heavy….” (Ho, Francis P. Extreme Hurricanes in the Nineteenth Century. March 1989, pp. 60-65.)

Jordan and Dukes: “1898 Oct. 2 (2) Winds variable 50-70 mph (reported at Savannah): southern lowlands and islands partially submerged by 14-foot storm surge; conditions similar to that after the great tidal storm of 1893 in terms of lost property; farm crops, especially rice grown along the Combahee and Edisto rivers, suffered ‘incalculable loss’; but there were many fewer storm related deaths than in August, 1893 – nine (9).” (Jordan, Laylon Wayne, with Robert Dukes, Jr. A History of Storms on the South Carolina Coast. Undated, p. 34.)

Monthly Weather Review, Vol. 26, No. 10, October 1899, pp. 439-440: “The Weather Bureau West Indian reports of September 28, 1898, indicated the formation of a cyclonic storm in the neighborhood of Puerto Rico, and during September 29 the circulation of the winds, the character and movement of the clouds, and the action of the barometer showed that the central area of the disturbance had moved to a position off the northern coast of Santo Domingo. During September 30 the center moved north of west over the old Bahamas Channel and began to recurve northward. Conforming to one of the laws of cyclonic disturbances the storm-center deepened during the recurve, and by the morning of October 1 its influence had extended to the Florida coast. Advisory messages were sent to south Atlantic ports at 9:50 a.m., giving the position of the storm and stating that high north to northeast winds would prevail along those coasts. Special noon and 3 p.m. observations showed that the center of disturbance was approaching our southeastern coasts. Storm northeast signals were ordered from Key West to Norfolk, and the following warning was communicated to the Bureau of Navigation, Navy Department, Washington, the New York and Philadelphia Maritime Exchanges, and generally to Atlantic coast and east Gulf maritime interests:

Storm approaching the Florida coast near Jupiter. Dangerous shifting gales indicated for Florida coasts, and northeast gales as far north as Norfolk.

“By the evening of October 1 the storm center had moved to a position about 150 miles to the northeastward of Jupiter and was apparently moving in a northwesterly direction. During the night of October 1 the storm was deflected to a more westerly course by an extensive area of high barometer which occupied the Atlantic coast districts to the northward of its position, and, following a law previously referred to, in increased in intensity, until, by the morning of October 2, when it was central off the coast northeast of Jacksonville, Fla., it had acquired hurricane strength. Immediately following the receipt of the morning reports on October 2, the following message was telegraphed to all south Atlantic ports and to the Navy Department, the maritime exchanges, and all interests, both marine and land, which were subject to injury by hurricanes:

Hurricane off the northeast point of Florida will move north and cause northeast hurricane winds on the South Atlantic coast this afternoon, and to-night on the Middle Atlantic coast.

“….The storm center crossed the coast line about midway between Jacksonville and Savannah, in the neighborhood of 11 a.m. of October 2….

“A. J. Mitchell, section director, Weather Bureau, Jacksonville, Fla:

….The coast district from Mayport [FL] to Fernandina [FL] suffered heavily, in fact Fernandina was nearly destroyed. Great damage was caused on the coast near and south of Everet. On the south Georgia coast the wind was from the northeast, and the sea flooded level lands, destroying crops and stock and imperiling lives. From Savannah to St. Augustine all telegraph lines were prostrated and many miles of railroad track washed away. At Fernandina boats at anchor foundered or were blown into the marshes….

“H. B. Boyer, Observer, Weather Bureau, Savannah, Ga.:

….The conditions along the Ogeechee were fully as bad as along the Savannah, Mr. W. G. Morrill, who represents three-fourths of the rice planting interests in this section, stating that his losses from the two storms (August 30-31 and October 1-2) amounted to $350,000, which represents value of life and live stock destroyed. He also states that 97 negroes were drowned upon the plantation which he represents.

Hutchinsons Island, opposite Savannah, was completely overflowed to a depth of 4 to 8 feet, the salt water stretching back over the rice plantations in South Carolina to the pine ridges, about 3 miles to the northeast of Savannah. All the lowland to the eastward of Savannah was submerged.

At Thunderbolt [GA], about 6 miles from Savannah, and on the Wilmington River, one life was lost….At the Isle of Hope the water rose 15 feet, washing away bath-houses and boat-houses. Down the Savannah River wharves and oil houses were washed away. At Quarantine station the wharves were badly damaged, and the British steamer Syanara, and the schooners Fannie L. Childs and Millville, and the Italian bark Franklyn were blown ashore….The Tybee railroad was badly washed. At Warsaw the barracks were washed out, and a depth of 4 feet of water was reported in the magazine….At Beaufort the water came up into the streets….The greatest loss was sustained south of Savannah and nearer the storm center. Great havoc was caused at Brunswick, where a conservative estimate places the losses at $500,000. Nearly every business house and warehouse in the city was flooded….

Campbell Island, 12 miles from Darien, on the Altamaha, was swept by water, and all of its inhabitants, except three, were drowned – not less than 20 and perhaps 50. At Darien there were 31 persons drowned and 1 killed, and the loss to rice, stock, and lumber, vessels, etc., aggregated $350,000. The height of the tidal wave at that place was about 13 feet above mean high water mark, inland, and 18 feet at Sapels Lighthouse….

Sandrik, A Reevaluation: “On 2 October 1898, a significant hurricane impacted the Georgia coast near Cumberland Island. Wind, pressure, damage and storm surge data indicate that this was most likely a major, category three or greater storm at the time of landfall. This event generated the highest storm surge of record for large portions of the northeast Florida and southeast Georgia coasts and resulted in an estimated 179 fatalities.” (Sandrik 1998) This storm dissipated on its way through Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, southern Canada, and part of Maine and Newfoundland where it moved through on October 6th.

Sandrik and Landsea:
“Year: 1898
“Date(s): 2 October
“Principle Affected Area(s): Northeast Florida – hurricane
Upper Georgia – major hurricane
Lower Georgia – major hurricane
Lower Georgia – major hurricane
Upper Georgia coastal waters – major hurricane
Lower Georgia coastal waters – major hurricane
“Landfall Point(s): Cumberland Island
Remarks: Partagas and Diaz Storm 7, 1898, listed by Davis. A major hurricane event with landfall on central Cumberland Island. Moving on a due west course similar to “Dora” in 1964, but intensifying on landfall much like Hugo (1989). Dunn and Miller reported 179 killed in coastal Georgia. Severe impacts in Florida were restricted to the extreme northeast portion of the state. The Fernandina waterfront was heavily damaged with a possible 12′ storm surge. It was reported that 4 feet of water flowed into the office of the local newspaper, The Mirror. “The water invaded every building as high as Third street.”. The Cumberland Island Pilot Boat MAUD HELEN was left 20 feet high on a bluff at High Point, with a 16 foot storm surge in downtown Brunswick. This event caused the storm surge of record for most points in northeast Florida and southeast Georgia. Ho re-evaluated this event as being a 945 mb storm with an RMW of 24 nmi. A subsequent re-evaluation by Sandrik and Jarvinen ( 1999 ) determined a central pressure of 938 mb and a radius of maximum winds of 18 nmi. These values were derived based on multiple SLOSH runs to determine a best fit hurricane from observed storm surge values.”
Summary: This storm will be counted as a major hurricane for the entire Georgia coast as well as all of the coastal waters areas and a hurricane for Northeast Florida (though approaching major hurricane status in Fernandina). Clearly this event compares favorably to Hurricane “Hugo” of 1989.”
Sources
Barnes, Jay. Florida’s Hurricane History. Chapel Hill and London: UNC Press, 1998.

Blake, Eric S., Edward N. Rappaport, and Christopher W. Landsea. The Deadliest, Costliest, and Most Intense United States Cyclones From 1851 to 2006. Miami, FL: National Weather Service, National Hurricane Center, April 15, 2007 update, 45 pages. Accessed at: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/Deadliest_Costliest.shtml

Daily Times-Enterprise, Thomasville, GA. “Storm Swept. Savannah and Jacksonville Suffered Heavily.” 10-4-1898, p. 1. Accessed 8-27-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/thomasville-daily-times-enterprise-oct-04-1898-p-1/

Dunn, Gordon E. and Banner I. Miller. Atlantic Hurricanes (Revised Edition). Baton Rouge LA: Louisiana State University Press, 1964, 377 pages.

Garriott, R. B. “Forecasts and Warnings. The West Indian Hurricane of September 29-October 2.” Monthly Weather Review, Vol. 26, No. 10, October 1898, p. 440. Accessed 8-26-2022 at: https://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hurdat/mwr_pdf/1898.pdf

Ho, Francis P. Extreme Hurricanes in the Nineteenth Century (NOAA Technical Memorandum NWS HYDRO-43). Silver Spring, MD: Water Information Division, Office of Hydrology, National Weather Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce, March 1989, 148 pages. (A study completed under agreement EMW-84-E-1589 for the Federal Emergency Management Agency.) Accessed 8-16-2017 at: https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/7224

Jordan, Laylon Wayne, with Robert Dukes, Jr. A History of Storms on the South Carolina Coast. Charleston, SC: The South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium, undated. Accessed 8-26-2022 at: https://www.scseagrant.org/wp-content/uploads/South-Carolina-Hurricane-History-1980.pdf

Logansport Weekly Reporter, IN. “The List Growing. Loss of Life by the Coast Storm Was Appalling. Probably One Hundred Are Dead.” 10-11-1898, p.2. Accessed 8-27-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/logansport-weekly-reporter-oct-11-1898-p-2/

Monthly Weather Review. “The West Indian Hurricane of September 29-October 2.” Vol. 26, No. 10, October 1899, pp. 439-440. Accessed 8-26-2022 at: https://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hurdat/mwr_pdf/1898.pdf

Morning News, Savannah, GA. “Loss of Property By The Storm.” 10-5-1898, p. 1. Accessed 8-27-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/savannah-morning-news-oct-05-1898-p-1/

Morning News, Savannah. “The Flood Fatalities Increase.” 10-7-1898, p. 1. Accessed 8-27-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/savannah-morning-news-oct-07-1898-p-2/

Rappaport, Edward N. and Jose Fernandez-Partagas. The Deadliest Atlantic Tropical Cyclones, 1492-1994 (NOAA Technical Memorandum NWS NHC-47). Coral Gables, FL: National Hurricane Center, National Weather Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, January 1995, 42 pages. Accessed 8-20-2017 at: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pdf/NWS-NHC-1995-47.pdf

Sandrik, Al. A Reevaluation of the Georgia and Northeast Florida Hurricane of 2 October 1898 Using Historical Resources. Jacksonville, FL, National Weather Service Office, NWS, NOAA, DOC, 10-8-1998 last modified. Accessed at: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/jax/research/hurricanes/history/1898/index.html

Sandrick, Al, and Christopher W. Landsea. Chronological Listing of Tropical Cyclones affecting North Florida and Coastal Georgia 1565-1899. NOAA National Weather Service, Southern Region, NWSFO, Jacksonville, FL and NOAA Hurricane Research Division, Miami, FL, May 2003. Accessed 8-26-2022 at: https://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/Landsea/history/index.html

Savannah Morning News, GA. “Schooner Lost in Storm. Sarah E. Palmer Goes to Pieces off Charleston Light,” 10-5-1898, p. 9. Accessed 8-27-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/savannah-morning-news-oct-05-1898-p-9/

The Sun, Baltimore. “Drowned on Islands. Colored Families Said to Have Perished on a Small One Near Darien, GA.” 10-5-1898, p. 2. Accessed 8-27-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/baltimore-sun-oct-05-1898-p-2/

The Sun, Baltimore, MC. “Fernandina Flooded.” 10-5-1898, p. 2. Accessed 8-27-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/baltimore-sun-oct-05-1898-p-2/

Thompson, Scott B. Pieces of Our Past. Hurricanes in Middle Georgia. 10-6-2016. Accessed 8-26-2022 at: http://dublinlaurenscountygeorgia.blogspot.com/2016/10/hurricanes-in-middle-georgia.html

Weekly Times-Enterprise, Thomasville GA. “One Hundred Dead.” 10-8-1898, p. 3. Accessed 8-27-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/thomasville-times-enterprise-oct-08-1898-p-3/

Wikipedia. “1898 Atlantic hurricane season.” 8-10-2022 edit. Accessed 8-28-2022 at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1898_Atlantic_hurricane_season

–14-15 Blanchard estimated death toll from listing of fatalities placed at the end of this document.

While we have compiled a list of fifteen people reported as fatalities, the latest press report
we have located (10-26-2004) notes fourteen deaths. In that it is conceivable that my list
is inaccurate as to the death of one of the individuals noted there, we choose to show a
range of 14-15.

–14 ToledoBlade.com. “Sunday’s blaze was Toledo’s 3rd most deadly since 1898.” 10-26-2004.
–13 Massillon Evening Item, OH. “Thirteen are Dead.” 9-22-1898, p. 5.
–12 Perrysburg Journal, OH. “Death and Fire Do Destructive Work at the Union Elevator.” 9-24-1898, p.1.
–10 National Fire Protection Association. Report of Important Dust Explosions. 1957, p. 47.
–10 Newark Daily Advocate, OH. “Explosive Dust Causes Awful Accident.” 9-21-1898, p. 1.

Narrative Information

Sep 21: “Toledo, Sept. 21. – Ten men cremated, six more fatally burned and eight seriously injured, is the record of the most disastrous fire that ever occurred in Toledo. The spontaneous combustion of dust in the grain elevator owned by Paddock, Hodge & Company, caused this terrible destruction of life, and none of those who were taken out after the fire started were able to tell any of the details.
The Dead. [We reordered the list alphabetically.]

Samuel Alexander.
John Carr.
Fred Garrett.
Grace Parks [17-year-old daughter of the elevator superintendent, who was visiting].
Harold Parks [son of the elevator superintendent, who was visiting].
[Superintendent William Parks is noted as having died in last paragraph.]
John Smith.
Frank Van Housen.
Bert Wainright.
[Unknown injured work is noted as having died in the last paragraph.]

“….William J. Parks, the superintendent, after being blown through the window of the lower story, was conscious for a moment and said that about 8:30 a terrible explosion occurred on the south side of the elevator and that he knew there were about 20 men at work on the seven floors of the enormous building.

“None of those who are now alive will survive the burns and bruises with which they are covered. Besides those regularly employed at the elevator the three children of Superintendent Pars were visiting him at the time. One of these may recover from his burns, but Grace, a 17-year-old girl, is burned almost beyond recognition, and Harold, the third child, has not been found, being either blown to atoms or cremated.

“At 8:30 the people of East Toledo were startled by a terrible explosion, which caused a panic all over the neighborhood. Houses were shaken as in an earthquake, and windows were shattered for blocks around. Those in the vicinity of the Union elevator soon noticed flames bursting from all sides of the building.

“It was but a few minutes till the fire department of the city began the work of rescue, which was rendered difficult by the terrible heat of the fire. The river cut off escape on one side and there the flames seemed to be less fierce.

“….It was learned that the force of 20 men expected to load 80,000 bushels of grain during the night. Not one of the entire number could be seen in any part of the building, and it was impossible to reach them in any way.

“William Parks was found first. He was 20 feet from the building, frightfully burned and his clothing almost entirely torn off. He had been hurled from his place in the main room through a window and his agonizing cries were most pitiful.

“Another employe, John Carr, was hurled from the fifth floor of the building, and was bleeding and burned with many bones broken. He did not long survive. Fireman David Kemp and Charles Keifer, the engineer, were found at their places in the engine rooms. They were wounded by falling timbers, and their faces were charred to a crisp by the flames.

“The little daughter of William Pars was sitting at the desk in the office at the time of the explosion, and she was hurled out of the door. She walked down the elevation on which the building stands and dropped down, to be carried away unconscious, suffering from wounds from which she cannot recover.

“John Smith was fatally burned. He was literally disemboweled, and was taken to the hospital to die.

“The heat became so intense that 20 cars standing on siding near the burning building were added to the loss. The fire department had a hard struggle to save other elevators and property.

“The bridge across the Maumee river was on fire several times, but outside the loss of the elevator the damage is slight.

“Mr. Paddock, a member of the firm owning the plant, said that there was between 500,000 and 600,000 tons of grain in storage at the time, the most of it being winter wheat. The property and the grain is an entire loss, and will reach $550,000….

“Superintendent William Parks and one of the unknown injured men died of their injuries, making the total number of fatalities 10.” (Newark Daily Advocate, OH. “Explosive Dust Causes Awful Accident. Ten Men Cremated and Six Fatally Burned.” 9-21-1898, p. 1.)

Sep 22: “Toledo, Sept. 22. – Thirteen are dead as a result of the fire and explosion in the Paddock, Hodge & Co. elevator explosion Tuesday night. In addition to those already found and who have since died of injuries, Frank Perchinski [not on Sep 21 list above], Hamilton Parks, son of Superintendent William J, Parks [not on Sep 21 list above], and one unknown, who cannot be identified [there was one unidentified person on the Sep 21 list, though it is not clear if this is that person or yet another unidentified person], are added to the list of fatalities. The exact number of missing is not yet positively known.” (Massillon Evening Item, OH. “Thirteen are Dead.” 9-22-1898, p. 5.)

Sep 24: “At the fire of the Union elevator at East Toledo Tuesday night, at least a dozen lives were sacrificed and many so severely injured that there is no possible chance of recovery. These known to be dead are [we put into alphabetical order]:

Samuel Alexander.
John Carr.
Fred Garrett.
Charles Keifer.
Miss Grace Parks.
Harold Parks.
Frank VanHoesen.
Bert Wainright.
Two Poles whose names could not be learned. [This is ten people.]

“Among the missing is Everett Davenport, thought to be buried in the debris.

“The injured are: Wm. Parks, horribly burned….” (Perrysburg Journal, OH. “Death and Fire Do Destructive Work at the Union Elevator.” 9-24-1898, p.1.)

Blanchard summary of fatalities as noted in various press reports

1. Samuel Alexander.
2. John Carr.
3. Everett Davenport.
4. Fred Garrett.
5. Charles Keifer.
6. Miss Grace Parks [17-year-old daughter of the superintendent, who was visiting].
7. Harold Parks [son of the elevator superintendent, who was visiting].
8. Hamilton Parks [son of Superintendent William J, Parks, who was visiting].
9. [William Parks, plant superintendent, noted as having died in last sentence, 9-21 rpt.]
10. Frank Perchinski
11. John Smith.
12. Frank Van Housen.
13. Bert Wainright.
14. [Unknown injured work is noted as having died in the last paragraph, Sep 21 report.]
15. 2nd of two unidentified “Poles.”

Oct 26, 2004: “A fire and explosion at the Paddock & Hodge Grain Works in East Toledo killed 14 of the 18 workers in the factory on Sept 20, 1898.” (ToledoBlade.com. “Sunday’s blaze was Toledo’s 3rd most deadly since 1898.” 10-26-2004.)

Sources

Find a Grave. “Everett R. Davenport.” 11-27-2012 posting. Accessed 3-12-2023 at: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/101354380/everett-r-davenport

Massillon Evening Item, OH. “Thirteen are Dead.” 9-22-1898, p. 5. Accessed 3-12-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/massillon-item-sep-22-1898-p-5/

National Fire Protection Association. Report of Important Dust Explosions: A Record of Dust Explosions in the United States and Canada Since 1860. Boston: NFPA, 1957.

Newark Daily Advocate, OH. “Explosive Dust Causes Awful Accident. Ten Men Cremated and Six Fatally Burned.” 9-21-1898, p. 1. Accessed 3-11-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/newark-daily-advocate-sep-21-1898-p-1/

Perrysburg Journal, OH. “Death and Fire Do Destructive Work at the Union Elevator.” 9-24-1898, p.1. Accessed 3-12-2023: https://newspaperarchive.com/the-perrysburg-journal-sep-24-1898-p-1/

ToledoBlade.com. “Sunday’s blaze was Toledo’s 3rd most deadly since 1898.” 10-26-2004. Accessed 3-12-2023 at: https://www.toledoblade.com/local/police-fire/2004/10/26/Sunday-s-blaze-was-Toledo-s-3rd-most-deadly-since-1898/stories/200410260030