Clara Barton And Beaufort’s Hurricane of 1893

The region of Beaufort, South Carolina is referred to as the Lowcountry. While this usually evokes peaceful images of grandiose live oak trees draped with Spanish moss, pristine waters, and beautiful beaches, it also means Beaufort is just above sea-level! In fact, most of the Beaufort area is only 10 – 20 feet above sea level. Couple this with the fact that the Beaufort region has some of the highest normal tides found on the East Coast (about 7-8 feet) and that peaceful image of the Lowcountry can turn violent during a hurricane.

This was the case during the carefree summer of 1893, when Mother Nature’s powerful hurricane forces paid an unwelcome visit. On August 27th, the deadly Hurricane of 1893 struck the northern Georgia, and southern South Carolina Sea Islands.The Savannah paper offered a gentle warning, reading “At its present rate of progress the storm will pass Savannah early this morning, causing northeast gales along the Georgia coast.” Sometimes referred to as the “Sea Islands Hurricane,” this casual reference to a storm did not sufficiently warn Beaufort residents of the devastation the hurricane could bear. In fact, the powerful Hurricane of 1893 left at least 2,000 dead, making it one of the five deadliest hurricanes in recorded history, according to the National Weather Service. The Hurricane of 1893 was a Category 3, and packed winds of 120 mph.

None other than famous Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross, lead the “Sea Island Relief” efforts. In an interview conducted after the Sea Islands Hurricane struck, Clara Barton reflected on the “Sea Islands Relief Effort.” Ms. Barton reported that much of the Sea Islands were under water, and it was initially thought that thousands must have perished. While the first reports were grim, it was determined that although their homes and crops were destroyed, most had survived the Hurricane of 1893 without the benefit of a warning. The city of Beaufort was covered in debris, making movement through the main streets nearly impossible. To add to the chaos, nearly 20,000 refugees were said to have migrated to Beaufort searching for food, shelter, and clothing. All “storehouses” were ordered to close, and distributions were made under a “ration” system through strategically placed distribution centers.

Eventually, the areas submerged by the Sea Islands Hurricane were drained. To assist this effort, three hundred miles of ditches were dug. Clara Barton reported a million feet of lumber was purchased, and houses were rebuilt. It was at this time that domestic gardens came in favor. Prior to the Hurricane of 1893, the Sea Island farmers focused their attention on raising famous “Sea Island Cotton.” During her short time in the Lowcountry, Ms. Barton was impressed with the resilience of Beaufort’s people. In fact, she said “by July of 1864, it was nearly difficult for a pedestrian to make his way on the narrow sidewalks of Beaufort because of piled-up vegetables.” Finally, success was declared, and the 10-month “Sea Island Relief” effort came to a close.