115th Anniversary of the Great Sea Island Storm

We remember the 115th Anniversary of the Great Sea Island Storm of 1893 at the end of August. It hit at high tide on the morning of August 28, 1893 and raged for hours. Sources debate exactly how many people died as a result of its fury, but the dead numbered into the thousands.

Over the next couple of days, we will share snippets from the diaries of Susan Hazel Rice who wrote about the storm and its impact on her life. Here's what she wrote on 26 August 1893:

We were very busy all morn. Mr Wilkins took Lewis to ride to the Chemical works in the morn. At 4 o'clock I went to Mr. Emmons funeral. The services were at the house & the interment at the Baptist church. A large number out. I went from there to Julies & then on Bay & bought collars ties & handkerchiefs Stopped in at the Givens but only found Mrs. Baynard(sic) at home. Mr. W. took Lewis walking & then staid to tea with us. Lewis is to preach for us tomorrow. Very stormy & a gale outside. Had a postal from Mr W- saying come to the Worlds Fair.

The Beaufort District Collection is a division of the Beaufort County Library, a department of Beaufort County Government of South Carolina.