1886 Hurricane at Sabine Pass

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. (2001)

1886 Hurricane at Sabine Pass is a historical marker in Sabine Pass, Jefferson County, dedicated in 2001. It is one of 109 historical markers documented in Jefferson County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 137 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 29.7348, -93.8939 near Sabine Pass. The nearest cataloged historic site is City of Sabine and Sabine Pass (historical marker), about under a tenth of a mile away. Others within a short drive include Spaight's 11th Battalion, Fort Sabine, and Beach Road (State Highway 87).

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5245012425. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.