Croatians

and the

Hurricane of 1893 in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana

 

Adam S. Eterovich

 

The first day of October, 1893, will long be remembered in the annals of the United States Weather Bureau. The raging storm came from the cradle of Cuba and without warning, devastated 500 miles of coastline from Timbalier Bay in Louisiana to Pensacola, Florida. The area south of New Orleans from Bayou Lafourche to the Balize at the mouth of the river received the full wrath of the storm.

Some refer to it as "Hurricane Cheniere Caminada" because this small island just southwest of Grand Isle received the first fury of its ravishing winds and monstrous tidal waves . . Others just call it "The Great Gulf Storm of 1893." Whatever one calls it,  it is one of the saddest parts of Louisiana history.  By early evening October 1, the streets of New Orleans were flooded and gale winds were twisting street signs. The barometer at both New Orleans and Port Eads in Plaquemines Parish read 29.78. There were lower readings on the Texas Coast which was not affected by the hurricane.

The storm had not lost any of its fury as it swept across Bayou Cook in Plaquemines Parish, where there was a thriving little village made up of oyster fishermen and their families, mostly Slavonian (Croatian) people. They had worked hard to make a start in a new country and were succeeding. " The Protector”  said that one hundred and fifty lost their lives there ; others report 200 .

The storm hit on a Sunday night and by midday Monday, the         survivors were using Fred Stockfleth's store at Tropical B e n d as a p I a c e of safety. Mr. Stockf1eth should be remembered for his generosity in feeding and caring for these poor souls and helping all he could in trying to find dry clothing for them. Every bit of the supplies in his store were  willngIy  used  trying to help those  victims of the hurricane.

Buras was completely destroyed, only two houses in the area         left standing. The Buras Catholic Church (Our Lady of Good Harbor-1864) was off its pillars and in shambles" The bell, though damaged, was salvaged and on it were the names of its sponsors: Felix Ragas, Marceline Buras, Mrs Nico1e Cognevich and Mrs. Rosalie Buras. (After this the Catholics did not have a place to worship until1905 when a church was built, and it was struck by lightning in 1914 and burned.)

There were corpses everywhere from the lower end of Plaquemines Parish to above Pointe-ala-Hache. Neptune, Ostrica, Point Pleasant, Doullut were all almost or completely destroyed.

Not an orange was left on the trees. Many trees were uprooted. Ninety-five percent of the orange crop of the whole parish was destroyed according to "The Protector" and sixty percent was totally destroyed. The rice growers had expected a good year but their crops were now destroyed. The cane crop faired better.

Word finally reached New Orleans by late Tuesday night of the destruction downriver and headlines in the "Daily Picayune" on October 3, 1893 were: "Daily Picayune" The Winds Wipe Out Bohemia. The 1itt1e Plaquemines town ceased to exist.

 

Joseph Frelich was reported in the papers as a hero, but his sister whom he was closer to then most brothers and sisters, gave her life that he might save his. When the reporter spoke with him, he had just buried his mother. Before the storm, this lad, still in his teens, had 7 in his family, his parents, 2 brothers, 3 sisters and himself.Their camp at Bayou Cook crumbled about 10 p.m. on that fated night. Joe and his sister, Rosilie, had managed to find each other in the raging waters. They clasped each other and Joe led her to a piece of a roof, but their support was soon swept away. Joe said, no fear had shown on his pet sister's face. He told her to get on his back and he tried to swim to save them both, but Rosalie soon saw they both would drown and she made the supreme sacrifice that night of horrors. She pulled his head down and kissed him twice. Joe said he would never forget how beautiful she looked as she gazed into his eyes for the last time. She shouted in his ear, "Joe , darling, now go quick, I'll help you all I can." She slipped off his neck, big logs swirling among the twirling waves. It was nearly a mile to land. The Mississippi River had never had a better swimmer than Joe Frelich, His sister's arms around his neck was interferring with his breathing and he behgan to feel faint. He began to go deeper and deeper in the foul water. Rosalie saw what was happening, she shouted in his ear, " Joe, Joe, goodby darling, goodby forever, save yourself" she quickly let go of him. Joe tried to grab her hair which was floating like a beautiful mass of ivy moss as she swept past him. He could not. She sank before his eyes. With his remaining strength, he dove into the black water searching for Rosalie. He was completely exhausted. He roseto the surface. His Rosalie was gone. As he related the story to repoeters, he broke down and wept. "There can't be a good Lord" he said " He never would let this happen" (for those interested there is a picture of Joe Frelich in the "Times Democrat" dated 7 Oct 1893 edition)

 

Busco Lupis said he had been an oyster fisherman for twenty years. His camp was at Bayou Shute. He had a wife, 4 girls and a boy that terrible night. He said he had a clock in his hand as his camp broke apart; it was 12:30. There was no warning. His wife and children drowned. Jim Sentled picked him up the next day, naked, all but for a tattered shirt. Alfred Battle was a leader in a search party. He had been in New Orleans the night of the storm. He said he lived at Tropital Bend. He told the reporter that grown men had to turn back. They could not endure the terrible sight of decomposed bodies.

Peter Beridich whose wife and son was lost was reported lost also. He was a prominant man among the fishermen.

 

Vincent Pausina survived by cutting holes in his floor to let the water in, then as the water rose he got on the roof, then finally when the house gave way, he grabbed a piling that held and stayed that way from eleven until after daylight. He was so stiff that after he let himself down in about four feet of water he had trouble walking, but he slowly began wading water looking for others. He thought he was the only survivor then he ran into Tony Negodich, who did not know where he was, as no land marks were left. They finally found a camp that was not totally destroyed and found clothing. They were fortunate and found beneath the camp a skiff tied up that was damaged but still would stay afloat. They went to Bayou Adam and found a Camp that had little damage and the family, Zuvich by name, was safe and gave them food and bed. The VENUS later came and took them into Fred Stockfleth's store (Tropical Bend). They told of 89 they knew were dead.

 

Luke Vucinovich was visiting Bayou Cook. His family was safe at Home Place. John Stuk, to escape rising water, grabbed a rafter and lifted himself out of the water. A water moccasin on the rafter bit him and soon he could hold on no longer and was swept away by the water. Found safe wife of Captain Negodich. Luke Zibilich had been reported lost, he was found safe.

 

A plead for help was published in an issue of "The Protector" as follows: "To the Public: "Pointe-a-la-Hache " l Oct 1893 "In behalf of over 11000 poor sufferers, whose crops and livestock and whose homes were swept away by the terrible storm which visited this section Sunday night, we appeal to a generous public for provisions such as flour, meat, coffee and sugar in order that hunger may not be added to the sufferings which exposure and injury have already caused these poor people." (Armstrong 1893)

 

 

List of Croatian dead, not all, as reported in Louisiana newspapers ( estimated at over 400):

 

NAME                                              OCCUPATION              PLACE                               STATE

 

ANTOVICH, CLEMENT                    Fisherman                  Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

BANAC, JOHN                                 Fisherman                  Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

BANAC, NICOLA                              Fisherman                  Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

BANAC, STEVE                               Fisherman                  Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

BARBIER, CHILD                             Died                             Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

BARICH, JOHN                                Fisherman                  Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

BARICH, STEPHEN                          Fisherman                  Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

BEGOVICH, JOHN                           Fisherman                  Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

BENADVICH, IDA                            Died                             Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

BENDICH, JOHN                             Died                             Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

BENDICH, PETER, Wife, Son           Fisherman                  Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

BERETICH, PETER, Wife, Son         Fisherman                  Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

BRAICA, AUT, Wife, 2 Child            Fisherman                  Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

CEFARCOVICH, WIFE, 2 Child        Died                             Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

COISICH, VASO                               Fisherman                  Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

COSHCINO, JOSEPH                       Fisherman                  Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

COSTINA, BEPPO                            Fisherman                  Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

FRANATOVICH, WIFE, 3 Sons         Died                             Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

FRANKOVICH, JOHN                       Fisherman                  Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

FRANOVICH, BASILE                      Died                             Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

FRANOVICH, DAUGHTER. Baby      Died                             Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

FRANOVICH, NICOLA, Son              Fisherman                  Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

FRANOVICH, NICOR                        Died                             Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

FRELICH, JEAN                               Died                             Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

FRELICH, ROSALIE                         Died                             Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

FRELICH, WIFE, 5 child                  Died                             Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

GISICH, PAUL, Wife, 4 Sons            Fisherman                  Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

JAKSICH, PAUL, Wife 2 Child         Fisherman                  Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

JACOTICH, SELINA                         Died                             Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

JAKSICH, JOHN, Wife, 2 Child       Fisherman                  Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

JAKSICH, CHILD                             Died                             Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

JAKSICH, WIFE                               Died                             Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

JINATICH, FRANK                           Fisherman                  Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

JINATICH, HYACINTH                     Died                             Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

JURETICH, FRANK, 4 Child            Fisherman                  Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

JURETICH, FRANK, Wife                 Fisherman                  Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

JURETICH, HYACINTHE                  Fisherman                  Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

JURETICH, JASENT                        Fisherman                  Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

KUSAVICH, JOSE                            Fisherman                  Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

LARKO, JEAN                                  Fisherman                  Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

LUPIS, BOSO, Wife, 5 Child            Fisherman                  Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

MEHOVICH, LUKE                           Fisherman                  Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

MELICH, JOHN                                Fisherman                  Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

MICOVICH, LUKE, 3 Child              Fisherman                  Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

MIHOVICH,  3 CHILD                       Died                             Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

MILICH, JOHN                                 Fisherman                  Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

MILICH, JOHN                                 Fisherman                  Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

MIRKOVICH, JACO                          Fisherman                  Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

MISEVICH, JOHN                            Fisherman                  Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

MISUTIVICH, LUKE                         Fisherman                  Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

MOROVICH, TOM, Wife, 2 Child      Fisherman                  Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

NEGODICH, WIFE                            Died                             Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

NEGOTICH, MRS ANTONIO             Died                             Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

PETROVICH, BALDI                         Fisherman                  Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

PETROVICH, TOMAS, Wife, 4Dau   Died                             Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

PETROVICH, WIFE                           Died                             Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

RENDICH, PETER                            Fisherman                  Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

SAYITICH, BARITOLA, 2 Dau          Fisherman                  Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

SEFAROVICH, GEO, Wife, 2 Child   Fisherman                  Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

SOGLICH, CLARA                            Died                             Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

SOYLICH, ANNA                              Died                             Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

SPANOLA, ALEXANDER                  Fisherman                  Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

STEPCOVICH, ANTONIO                 Fisherman                  Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

STEPCOVICH, TONY                        Fisherman                  Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

STILPOVICH, TONY                         Fisherman                  Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

STIPOVICH, NICHOLAS                   Fisherman                  Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

STUK, JOHN                                    Fisherman                  Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

SUPVICH, SON                                Died                             Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

TABOLICH, JEROME                       Fisherman                  Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

THELICH, WIFE                               Died                             Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

TRANOVICH, MRS                           Died                             Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

TUSCOVICH, MATEO                      Fisherman                  Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

VOCITICH, JOHN                             Fisherman                  Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

VUCINOVICH, LUKE                        Fisherman                  Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

VUKASOVICH, WIFE, 4 Child          Died                             Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

VUSKOVICH, MATTHEW                 Fisherman                  Plaquemines Parish          Louisiana

 

Armstrong, Gladys. “Louisiana Hurricane of 1893.” Daily Picayune, October 3, 1893. List of dead.

Eterovich, Adam S. “Croatian Dead in Louisiana Hurricane of 1893.” Croatian American Times, July 31, 2001.

Eterovich, Adam S. “Croats and the Hurricane of 1893 in Louisiana.” Croatian American, October 10, 2004. Also lists some of the dead.

Eterovich, Adam S. “Louisiana Hurricane of 1893.” Croatian American Times, August 21, 2001.

Lupis, Ivan. “Najveca Katastrofa U Povijesti Naseg Iseljenistva.” Unpublsihed Paper 1893.1893 hurricane-Louisiana.

Major, Richard. “New Orleans Hurricane of 1893.” Zajednicar, October 14, 1988.