Today in Cape Canaveral history: 20 October 1893: The storm changed the topography of Canaveral beach very much, leveling it off where it was steep, and piling it up where it was level. The barometer at the lighthouse was lower than in Titusville, during the gale. The clock in the tower refused to run, the pendulum striking the glass with every gust of wind, and the tower shook threateningly. The sea cut some deep gullies; one in the old lighthouse road, which C. P. Honeywell found by driving into it. He says he does not know how deep it is, but the mule swam and the wagon body floated. The water was even with the second step of the quarters of the workmen. The damage to the work at the lighthouse is estimated at a thousand dollars. The frame for one of the houses at the new location was blown down and long stretches of the loose sand thrown up for the tram road, were washed away. The pier was entirely submerged; but, except for the washing away of the earth at the shore end, is standing as firm as ever. One more blow of that kind and the Banana river people will have to buy oranges to eat, if they have any this winter. It twisted off two orange trees in E. J. Burns’ grove, which were a foot in diameter, and blew over a number of others. In Captain Wilson’s adjoining grove, it blew over a lime tree and a large lemon tree, which had withstood the storms of forty years. There is not a banana plant left standing on the old Hall place, and the oranges and leaves were entirely stripped from the trees. Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Hood had the hardest experience of any one we have heard of. The sea came so close to the house they deemed it expedient to get away while they could do so, and in getting to the lighthouse they had to wade through water waist deep. The three old bachelor-keepers could furnish Mr. Hood with dry clothing, but the best they could do for Mrs. Hood was to send her to bed until her clothes could be dried. Neither Mr. nor Mrs. Hood care to repeat the experience. The channel in the east end of Banana creek is entirely filled up by the gale. Unless it washes out again, it will be impossible for any boat to go through there in a norther. The sea broke completely over Pepper Haulover, near Canaveral club-house. The stable, wagons, etc., owned by the millionaire naturalist and founder of Canaveral Club – Mr. C. B. Cory, of Boston – were carried away by the great seas that swept over into the creek.
Posted on: Mon, 20 Oct 2014 12:25:36 +0000
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