Hurricanes and Storms
Hurricanes and Storms
August 22, 1896
Water Spout off Oak Bluffs
On Wednesday, the 19th about 1 o'clock p.m., there appeared over the waters of the sound, a wonderful phenomenon, such as only occurs but once in a life time, indeed, one may cross the ocean many times and not witness anything to compare with this. We refer to three water spouts, the second and grandest of which, we shall try to describe.
September 28, 1888
A Terrific Storm
A TERRIFIC STORM - Sweeps over the Vineyard Wednesday morning - Wind and rain unlimited - Chimneys, trees and fences laid low - No serious damage to shipping in this vicinity - The hardest storm known for 50 years up-island - Dams and Bridges swept away, and the elements playing havoc all through the west end.
August 22, 1879
“The Corn Cracker”
The inclement, sultry weather of Sunday and Monday terminated Monday night in one of the severest gales ever known in this vicinity at this season of the year, accompanied by the highest tide in the memory of our residents, for many years. The gale, which was rotary, blew heavily from the southeast during the first part of the night, then moderated to nearly a calm, next springing up from the northwest with terrific violence, after which it veered to the west and toned down to a strong breeze.
October 25, 1878
Vineyard Gales and Storms
Rev, Joseph Thaxter, in some notes, speaks of a great gale and rain storm Aug. 12, 1778, which caused terrible destruction of trees and injured the corn more than had ever been known, producing the greatest scarcity of bread ever known in New England.
Also, he speaks of very heavy rain August 23d, 1806, followed by a violent east wind the next day, which beat the corn down to the ground and stripped off the apples from the trees, doing much damage.
October 18, 1878
The Storm: Destruction by Land and Sea
A storm, the like of which in this vicinity the oldest inhabitant fails to remember, visited the Island last Saturday afternoon, and raged with steadily increasing fury till far into the night. On the morning of Sunday the appearance of the town was as if a light tornado had passed over it. Large trees were uprooted, chimneys “razeed,” fences down everywhere, windows in some instances forced in, a few old buildings utterly demolished, and the streets strewn with green leaves and branches wrenched from the unyielding trees.
October 8, 1869
Surf at South Beach
The storm of Monday was not very severe here. The surf at South Beach however, came up higher on the Plain than it was ever known to before by some two hundred feet. Quite a number of cranberry bogs around the Great Pond were completely submerged, materially damaging the fruit.
September 17, 1869
The Great Gale
Wednesday, September 8th, will ever be memorable from the fact of the furious gale of wind which raged in this section of the country. In fact, the newspapers all agree that it was the most fearful “blow-out” old Boreas has had since the historic September gale of 1815; and they all with one accord, express the hope that our land may never again be visited with such another powerful manifestation of strength and fury of the elements.
September 10, 1869
Weathering the Storm at Railway Wharf
STEAMER MONOHANSETT, Railway Wharf, Holmes’ Hole,
Sept. 8th, 1869, 7:20 P.M.
August 2, 1867
Almost a Hurricane
SEVERE STORM. - One of the fiercest storms of wind and rain ever known on this part of the coast, in the summer season, prevailed last Friday afternoon. The gale commenced between two and three o’clock and blew almost a hurricane until near sunset. The surf on the South Beach ran very high, many portions of the beach being entirely submerged. The boat-house of the Humane Society, located near the mouth of Mattakeeset Creek, was moved several feet from its position into the harbor by lodging against a high beach-hill. Fortunately we hear of but slight damage, or wrecks, along the coast.
November 8, 1861
Loss of Maritana
The storm of Saturday was very severe. We fear that we are yet to hear of much serious loss. The ship Maritana, Williams, of Providence, from Liverpool, with a valuable cargo and 14 passengers, struck on Egg Rock, off Hull, about midnight. About 7 A.M. the ship broke in two suddenly, and immediately went to pieces. The captain was instantly killed, and 21 others also perished. Thirteen were saved; nine of them by Samuel James, of Hull, in a dory, alone.
