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In October 1886,
Sabine Pass was the second
largest town in Jefferson County, boasting a new rail line and an
optimistic outlook on continued growth as a major coastal port. On the
afternoon of October 12, just two months after a hurricane had destroyed
the Texas port of Indianola (200 mi. SW), a fierce storm ravaged the
town of Sabine Pass. The hurricane's strength lay in its 100
mile-per-hour winds and the swiftly rising water that swept homes off
their foundations and carried people and animals as far as 25 miles
away. Eighty-six people, including entire families, were killed, and
only two of 77 houses remained intact after the waters subsided. Stories
of survival are documented as well, signifying the determination of
residents to endure the storm. Rescue and cleanup efforts began
promptly, with the citizens of Beaumont, Orange, Galveston and Houston
providing boats, rescue teams and financial assistance. Special
legislative action provided tax relief for the storm-ravaged area,
exempting citizens from payment of state and county taxes in 1886. As
one of several difficulties Sabine Pass faced in the late 19th and early
20th centuries, the 1886 hurricane contributed significantly to the
town's decline in the years to come. |
