I just discovered the Library of Congress' 1905-1906 images from the Pensacola Journal editions. I'm reading the issues day by day to get a feeling of reporting back then. Having seeped myself in Pensacola history for the past few years, I find many "aah" moments when I recognize a person, a business, or government leader. As I was reading about the D'Alemberte wedding in Greenville, Ala., the ads of bookstore owner John Coe and his promise of a new opera house for Pensacola, and the fond farewell statements made at the passing of Dr. J.M. Brosnaham, I also read about the growing troubles of the emperor of Russia, anxious moments about Cuba and the thriving shipping industry here. Then I recalled that 1906 was the year of one of the most devastating hurricanes in our history. When I lived in San Francisco, 1906 was always recalled as the year of one of the most devastating earthquakes in our history. So I moved up to September 27, 1906, edition pictured above.
While the Library of Congress has done a great job preserving these issues and posting them up for us to read, the OCR translation still leaves a lot to be desired and I have cleaned this up.
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn87062268/1906-09-27/ed-1/seq-1/
Pensacola Journal
VOL IX NO 232 1
PENSACOLA FLORIDA THURSDAY MORNING SEPTEMBER 27 19O6
PRICE 5 CENTS
MOST TERRIFIC TROPICAL HURRICANE
PENSACOLA SWEPT BY GREATEST AND
MOST DISASTROUS STORM IN HISTORY
Whole Water Front Is Strewn With
Wreckage and City Is Almost Devasted
TEN LIVES ARE
REPORTED LOST
Big Bayou and Many Houses
Along Bay Front Are
Swept Away
LOSS WILL RUN INTO MILLIONS
AND MONTHS WILL ELAPSE
BEFORE DAMAGE CAN BE REPAIRED OR SHIPPING BUSINESS
AGAIN FULLY RESUMED
The most terrific storm in the history of Pensacola or since the village of Pensacola on Santa Rosa Island was swept away 170 years ago broke over this city in all its fury Wednesday afternoon and kept up with increasing violence until about noon today when it moderated to a considerable extent. During the height of the storm property valued in the millions was destroyed and it is stated that at least ten lives were lost although the names of those supposed to have been drowned cannot be ascertained at this time.
The greatest loss was to the shipping interests and a large number of ocean going vessels, tugboats fishing smacks, launches and craft of all kinds are wrecked upon the beach, the wreckage being strewn from Magnolia Bluff to the entrance of the harbor. During the height of the storm, people of the city were panic stricken, many believing that a repetition of the Galveston disaster was imminent, and large numbers of people took refuge to the higher portions of the city braving the high wind and stinging rain in the hope of reaching a haven of refuge.
Duly Bulletined
While the approach of the storm was bulletined by the weather department and although it was believed that it would be felt in this city, the idea prevailed that as usual Pensacola would escape the full fury of the hurricane. When the wind reached a velocity of sixty miles an hour on Wednesday night, it was apparent that Pensacola was in the track of the storm, and every effort was made to protect property of every description. People were driven from their homes along the water front, the conveyor of the L. & N. elevator was carried away, trees were uprooted, and vessels in the harbor began to drag their anchors, being slowly but surely forced upon the beach.
The tide was the highest on record, and terrific waves, lashed to fury by the howling gale broke upon the beach, carrying all before them. The entire waterfront was inundated, the water reaching as far as Main street, and all the residences along Main street, many in the vicinity of Muscogee wharf, and houses along the entire waterfront in the western portion of the city were either carried away completely or damaged to such an extent that they were uninhabitable.
Ten Fatalities Feared
As far as can be learned, there are about ten fatalities. Capt. John Walters of the launch Pauline, which berthed at a wharf at the head of the slip between Palafox and Baylen streets, was seen near his vessel about 10 o’clock last night but has not since been heard from. The vessel sank in the slip, but if the captain drowned, his body has not been recovered.
Last night, when the first of the heavy gale accompanying the storm struck the city, a party of nine were seen in a boat near Fisheryllle. Four were rescued, and it is believed that the other five perished. The wife and child of Tom Harris, who runs the store at Palmetto Beach, are said to be among the dead. Two children are reported to have been drowned in the vicinity of Muscogee wharf, and it is also reported that three men were drowned at different parts of the waterfront.
Some Narrow Escapes
Several narrow escapes are reported. Two negroes were taken from a house near the corner of Intendencia and Cevallos streets this morning after the house was half submerged. One of them, an old woman, was sitting on the mantel piece with her feet hanging in the water when found by the rescuers who were forced to swim to the house at imminent peril of their lives.
Early Wednesday afternoon, the surf was reported breaking over Santa Rosa island and is believed that the waves have cut the island in two, which would account for the height of the tide, to some extent. Every effort to see the island by the aid of marine glasses was futile, but it is believed that the pavilion is wrecked, and a rumor was current on the streets at noon that the Life Saving Station had also been blown away
Three vessels were reported in the gulf late yesterday afternoon, and they certainly have not yet made port. What their fate has been can only be surmised and it will be several days before the extent of the calamity to shipping will be known even partially.
Waterfront Havoc
The havoc along the waterfront seems to have been evenly distributed, every section suffering greatly. The storm serried to be most severe in the western portion of the city, but the damage is so great in all sections that it is impossible to make any reasonable estimate of it.
Along the eastern waterfront, the damage was great. The bridge over the entrance to Bayou Texar, which was covered completely with wreckage, is said to be badly damaged, although the extent of the damage cannot be learned until the storm subsides. It is also said that the entire waterfront from the city to Escambia Bay has been badly damaged, being washed away in places. The Escambia trestle was under water yesterday morning.
South of the Bayou Texar trestle, a number of small buildings were wrecked, most of them being located on or near the waterfront. The wind in this section, when the storm began, was not severe, East Hill offering protection while the wind remained in the east. When it veered to the south, however, the full fury of the storm was felt, and great damage done.
PHOTO: Beautiful Bay Front Residence of W. H. Knowles just completed at a cost of $75,000. The veranda was washed away by the storm and the whole front is settling down as a result of the undermining effect of the water.
Muscogee Wharf Wrecked
Muscogee wharf, the magnificent structure of the L. & N. R.R. Co., is practically a wreck, having been broken in two in the middle, and the tracks on either side of the main deck washed away. Thirty eight coal cars which were on the wharf have gone overboard and five large vessels which were at the wharf when the storm began are hard ashore near the head of the wharf. These vessels are the Norwegian bark Superb, Italian ship Olivero, Swedish bark Alfhild, Portuguese ship Ferere, and one other vessel whose name could not be ascertained. The office at the end of Muscogee wharf is completely washed away.
The boom between Muscogee wharf and Wright's mill (now owned by the
Escambia Land and Manufacturing Co.) was broken and the timber cast adrift, this timber and wreckage of every description being jammed upon the beach in a torn and twisted mass. Wrights mill is practically destroyed, the big mill building having been totally wrecked by the storm and the three big wharves washed away. Last night, something over 2,500,000 feet of lumber was stored on the wharves and in the yards of the company, but this morning not a stick was left. The only parts of the plant that remain are the planing mill and a dry kiln recently constructed, and both of these are badly damaged.
Boats Wrecked
West of Wright's mill wharves, a number of pleasure boats were anchored last night, but all have been wrecked and not a vestige of them remains. The tug Celestine, owned by the Escambia Land and Manufacturing Company, is also a wreck, being sunk at the west of the mill property. The entire basin at the foot of East Government street is a mass of timbers and wreckage, and the houses in this vicinity are all more or less damaged, one being torn entirely from its foundations.
The ditch that runs through the Wright's mill property caused the water to back up in the low ground north of Intendencia street, where several cottages occupied by colored people were inundated, the water in places reaching a depth of ten feet. As far as can be learned, there were no fatalities in this section, although many narrow escapes were reported.
The home and bath houses of Frank Segari, at the corner of Zarragossa and Cevallos streets, were completely wrecked, the waves not only washing away the buildings and piers but a number of fishing and oyster boats and even the ground
upon which the Segari residence stood. At an early hour this morning, the waves were breaking clear over the site of the house, not a sign of which remained.
The house on the south side of Zarragossa street immediately opposite the Segari residence was twisted around by the force of the wind and waves and badly wrecked. Next to this house is a small frame residence standing directly on the beach, which was only saved from being washed away by the fishing smack Chapman, owned by Saunders Co., which was washed ashore directly behind it and acted as a breakwater. The building was badly wrecked. All the houses along the beach in this section of the city suffered greatly.
The property owned by Mayor Bliss at the corner of Zarragossa and Florida Blanca streets suffered greatly, the bath houses being completely washed away, and the celebrated pier, which caused so much controversy in the city council being entirely removed by the elements. Two of the large palm trees which the mayor recently planted on his property have been washed away, the fences blown down and the beach cut away by the force of the waves.
About the greatest havoc was wrought along east Main street, the south side of which has been completely washed away. Beginning at the corner of Zarragossa and Florida Blanca, every house clear to the De Silva mill has been destroyed, and the mill which caught fire from some lime, which water managed to reach, is a total loss. The houses on the north side of East Main street are all more or less damaged. Saswell’s fish house at the foot of Alcaniz street is completely destroyed and all of the fishing vessels are ashore. A number of sail boats and launches which were kept in the basin near the fish house have also been wrecked.
A large sailing vessel lies half submerged on the rocks which form the timber boom off the foot of Alcaniz street and is in a dangerous position. It is the general opinion that the vessel will break in two as soon as the tide goes down.
The wharves of the L. & N. R.R. Co. were badly damaged by the storm, and immense quantities of freight that were stored upon them will be a total loss. The conveyor on the Tarragona wharf is completely demolished, and a large portion of the pier has disappeared. The damage to Commandancia wharf is also great, a number of vessels having been thrown clear to the platform.
In the slip between the wharves, several vessels found a safe haven from the storm, among them being the coasting steamer Tarpon, which was due to leave the city on its eastward trip on Tuesday night, but which was held in port owing to the storm signals. The large vessels are sunk in the slip between the wharves, and one is aground to the west of the slip. The tug Flanders managed to get in the slip before the heaviestortion of the storm broke, and is among the few vessels in the bay that was not damaged.
Sullivan’s wharf, which was used by the Pensacola, St. Andrews and Gulf Steamship Co., is a complete loss, only the shore end remaining.
In the slip between the head of this wharf and the Palafox street wharf, several vessels are ashore, among them the tug Okaloosa. The Florence Wetherbee is sunk at Palafox wharf, only her upper works being out of the water.
The entire plant of Saunders Co. is in ruins, and the wharf is practically destroyed. The main building was shifted to the west of its original location, and what now remains of it is tottering on the edge of the pier. Palafox street, which was inundated as far as the tracks of the Terminal Co., is filled with rubbish of every description, including timbers, lumber, reefs and pieces of vessels that were destroyed during the storm.
The Barge office at the bulkhead of the slip between Palafox and Baylen streets was badly damaged, the balcony being blown away by the wind, and the slip is literally jammed full of rubbish and wreckage, a number of vessels being mixed up with it. Several launches have been sunk in the slip -- in fact but few escaped damaged. All of the boat houses and buildings of various descriptions that occupied space on the sides of the slip have been blown away, and the rear of many of the buildings fronting on Palafox street suffered severely.
The plant of the Warren Fish Co. on Baylen street wharf is completely wrecked, and all of the vessels that were at the pier have been blown ashore. West from the Baylen street pier, the scene is one of ruin. Vessels of every description are upon the beach, some of them left high and dry by the receding waters. Others are smashed beyond all hope of repair. The ship yard is a total wreck, and a number of vessels that were undergoing repairs are badly injured. The steamer Columbia, which has been on the waves for some time, is wrecked, as are several of the vessels of the Dunwody-Aiken Towboat Co., which owned a large pier and had an extensive plant a little west of Baylen street. The houses along the bayshore from Barcelona street to Perdido are in ruins, and all along the shore innumerable vessels of every description are scattered as far as the eye can reach.
The tug Simpson, one of the largest in the harbor, is hard and fast on Sullivan’s ballast crib. The Simpson attempted to get to sea at 6 o’clock last night with the expectation of being able to weather the storm, but was forced to turn back and was run on the rocks to save her from being a total loss.
The Monarch and Mary Lee are high and dry with their noses almost in Pine street, but both can be floated with comparatively little loss. They were damaged to some extent by the wind and waves but were in a fairly safe position. The ship Avon was driven ashore near the end of Baylen street wharf, but will probably be saved with little loss.
A report from Fisherville at 2 p.m. is to the effect that the many homes along the bay shore in that vicinity suffered severely, many being practicallyl ruined. The new residence of Laz Jacoby which is some distance back from the waterfront was completely turned around and the building badly damaged. The home of Mitch Jacoby was also badly damaged, and a large fishing smack the Haskins and the big lighter Iris were thrown into his yard on the bay side. The Fisher residence was also damaged considerably, and all wharves and docks swept away. The Perdido wharf was also badly damaged, but the full extent of the damage could not be learned during the afternoon.
Reports from along the bayshore south of Fisherville are meager, but an impression prevails that immense damage was done.
=======================================
Pensacola Journal, Sept. 29, 1905 page four
Mrs. LeBaron Gonzalez and Son Are Drowned
Husband Makes Attempt to
Save Them, But His
Efforts Proved Futile.
Mrs. LeBaron Gonzalez and son George, twelve years of age, are among the drowned. They perished across the bay, where they, with the husband, had gone on a pleasure trip. Mr. Gonzalez made a heroic effort to save his wife and son, but without avail. The story is one of the many sad ones resulting from the hurricane.
Mr. and Mrs. Gonzalez, who reside at the corner of Alcaniz and Wright streets, went across the bay several days ago to spend a week or ten days fishing. They were in one of the houses there when the hurricane struck it and the place was carried away.
The husband, wife and son started for a place of safety, the husband carrying the boy, owing to the depth of the water that was then driving across the place. They battled with the storm for hours, the water continually growing deeper and deeper, until the exhausted wife was also taken in the arms of the husband. He struggled on the best he could in the middle of the night, with the waves dashing over him.
Finally, the wife and won were drowned, both having become exhausted and the bodies were washed away from the frantic husband by the waves.
Mr. Gonzalez, half-dead, finally succeeded in reaching the Dunham place, when he, with others, was brought back to the city yesterday. He was badly bruised and so weak and exhausted that he could not walk last night without assistance.
The body of the boy was recovered yesterday and brought to the city, and is now held at Pou’s undertaking parlors. Search is now being made for the body of Mrs. Gonzalez.
Mrs. J.F. Mathews and
Two Children Drowned
Information was received by the railroad officials yesterday to the effect that Mrs. J.F. Mathews and two chidren, the wife and daughters of the tender of the Escambia bridge, are among those to perish in the storm.
Mr. Mathews with his wife and children and an assistant were in the cottage that stood on the bridge when the hurricane struck that section. The house was carried away with the structure, and the mother and children were evidently drowned, but their bodies have not been recovered.
Parties from Ferry Pass came to the city yesterday and reported that Mathews and his assistant had both been found alive near that point. They had clung to wreckage from the bridge and had thus been saved.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
P.S. The 1906 San Francisco earthquake occurred about 6 months earlier on April 6. Here is a photo of City Hall after the shake. I didn't realize the dome survived. It is now gold-plated and the entire City Hall complex beautifully restored.
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