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.