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After the hurricane on Sept. 8, 1900, that destroyed Galveston, the headline in the Abbeville Meridional read, “We Missed the Storm.” It’s true that south Louisiana felt nothing like the Texas coast, but we were not entirely missed.
The hurricane was the worst natural disaster ever to devastate an American city. It came ashore between Freeport and Galveston, cutting the island off from the mainland and completely submerging it.
David G. McComb wrote in a history of the city, “No one knows for certain how many people died on Galveston Island and the mainland. … The best estimate for Galveston alone is 6,000 deaths. … The Galveston Daily News on Oct. 7, 1900, listed 4,263 identified dead.” (Galveston: A History. Austin: University of Texas Press, 1986.)
According to a New York Times report, “the waters of the Gulf and bay met, covering the island to a depth of from six to twelve feet.”
The National Weather Service noted in 2000, the 100th anniversary of the storm, “The number of people who lost their lives on that single day represents more than the combined fatalities resulting from the 325 tropical storms and hurricanes that have struck the United States since then. In fact, that single event accounts for one third of all tropical storm or hurricane-related fatalities that have occurred in the nation since it was founded.”
In the words of Clarence Ousley, editor of the Galveston Tribune, on Saturday, Sept. 8, 1900, it was “a city of splendid homes and broad clean streets; a city of oleanders and roses and palms; a city of the finest churches, school buildings, and benevolent institutions in the South, a thriving port.” On the next day it was reduced to “a city of wrecked homes and streets choked with debris sandwiched with six thousand corpses; a city . . . with the slime of the ocean on every spot and in every house; a city with only three churches standing, not a school building or benevolent institution habitable … a city whose very cemeteries had been emptied of their dead as if to receive new tenants.” (Galveston in Nineteen Hundred: The Authorized and Official Record of the Proud City of the Southwest as it was Before and After the Hurricane of September 8, and a Logical Forecast of Its Future. Atlanta: William C. Chase, 1900.)
At least one “benevolent institution” was standing after the storm, and that was a fortunate thing for Alida Broussard, a young girl from Abbeville who was a student at the Ursuline Convent there. “While the storm raged violently … and did great damage to property, blowing down some of the buildings, there was no loss of life among the inmates of this institution. The good sisters threw open their doors and gave refuge to hundreds of persons driven from home during the storm,” according to the Meridional.
The storm at first looked like it might land south of Lake Charles and came close enough to raise tides in Cameron Parish and send gusty winds as far inland finally as DeRidder before it turned west and drifted along the coast to Texas.
In Abbeville, the wind blew “very hard” and “the tide in the bayou was higher than known in 25 years.” As far east as New Orleans there were gusts of more than 50 miles per hour.
Fifteen “pleasure seekers” from Mermentau who were caught aboard a boat in the Gulf may have experienced the scariest episode in Louisiana.
Another boat, the steamer Bernie Holmes, went looking for them after the storm and sent back the report after hours of searching that “the Danton was lost on the gulf, but the people were safe at Grand Cheniere.”
According to that report in the Mermentau Messenger, “The … Bernie Holmes got back Tuesday with the rescued party, from whom we learn that they were on the beach in the water after the Danton broke away, and finally the women and children were pulled through the water in a boat that had been saved, to a tree upon which they all climbed and remained from Saturday morning until Sunday noon, when they crossed the river to the ridge and were cared for by the people living there. They were 42 hours without food or drink.”
You can contact Jim Bradshaw at jimbradshaw4321@gmail.com or P.O. Box 1121, Washington LA 70589.

KAPLAN — On a night that saw a nearly two-hour lightning delay in the third quarter, the Kaplan High Pirates dominated Berwick with a 38-19 win to improve to 2-0 on the young season.
The score could easily have been much more lopsided had the game not been canceled with just over three minutes to go in the third quarter of Thursday’s game.
Kaplan, which had already racked up 396 total yards to Berwick’s 172 yards, was facing a second-and-goal at the BHS 1-yard line when yet another lightning strike led to a delay, and after a few minutes, Berwick opted to end the game there, giving the Pirates the win.
“It’s awesome to be in a place like this where we had a two-hour delay, and we still had all these fans in the stands supporting our boys, and not leaving, not going home,” Kaplan coach Cory Brodie said. “It’s another day I’m proud to be the football coach at Kaplan High School.”
And for the second straight week, a Kaplan runner finished with more than 200 yards on the ground. One week after fullback Jed Devoltz led Kaplan to an 18-14 win at North Vermilion, rushing for 231 yards and two touchdowns on 31 carries, it was wingback Daylon Landry’s turn.
Landry carried the ball 16 times for 233 yards and a pair of TDs, one covering 65 yards and the other going 38 yards. He also had a 57-yard run to the BHS 8-yard line to set up a touchdown, and had a 42-yard touchdown catch from quarterback Sabe David for 281 total yards.
“We challenged Daylon a lot this week,” Brodie said. “Coming into it I thought he was going to be our guy, and he had 11 carries for under 40 yards against North Vermilion. He’s just one of those kids where I can get on him and he took it personally and he responded.
“He wanted the football, and he just had a huge game for us. I think if we had played four quarters, he would’ve eclipsed that 300 yard mark. I’m pretty positive not too many teams have had two guys go back-to-back weeks go over 200.”
Landry said he was a little disappointed he didn’t get to carry the ball a few more times.
“I think I’d have gotten better if the game had lasted a little bit longer,” Landry said, adding the Pirates need to stay focused and practice harder to keep on the winning track.
Devoltz rushed for 63 yards on eight carries and Bradyn Bearb had 31 yards and a TD on five runs. Tight end Carter Petry added 10 yards and a touchdown on three totes, with Devoltz getting one 2-point conversion, Petry running the ball in twice for 2 points and Landry also scoring a 2-point conversion.
Coy Terro had an interception for Kaplan.
Unfortunately for the Pirates, Devoltz was hurt when he was brought down at the end of a 26-yard run just before half. The fullback and defensive lineman apparently suffered a dislocated elbow, but the extent of the injury and the time it will take for him to return was unknown at press time.
Brodie said the worst thing about the injury is it’s Devoltz’s senior season, and he might be playing his last year of football.
“We’re all praying about it,” Brodie said. “We’re all making sure we’re there for Jed.
“We just hope that it’s a couple of weeks instead of a couple of months. But he’s a tough kid. He comes from a tough family, so I know he’s going to be out there as soon as humanly possible.”
Brodie said that it’s great to be 2-0, and to have beaten two teams that beat the Pirates the year before. Berwick won 36-8 in 2022, but Kaplan completely dominated on Thursday night.
Namon Bennett had 52 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries for Berwick and Cole Morris had 50 yards and a TD on 11 runs. Quarterback Evan Crappell threw for 70 yards, including a 45-yard TD to Carter Whipple, but completed only three of 10 pass attempts.
“Just a great job by our guys of being able to focus on a short week,” Brodie said. “We had off of school on Monday, so we had two practices (Sunday and Monday) without school, and we had great attendance. That’s kind of been our mentality. I think we won this game earlier in the week, so that’s nice.
“The kids are super confident. Last year I think we were young. Them just kind of getting beat up last year helped them this year, knowing what we need to do to get better.”
Kaplan is scheduled to play LaGrange at home on Friday.

Vermilion Catholic junior quarterback Jonathan Dartez seems to be like a bottle of wine and gets better with time.
Playing in what could be his 26th high school football game, Dartez did something he has never done thus far.
In the 30-28 win over Ascension Episcopal on Friday, Dartez ran for an amazing 359 yards on 31 carries and scored three touchdowns.
He also completed six of eight passes for 52 yards and threw one interception.
In one game, Dartez accumulated 411 yards of offense.
It was the first time he had run for more than 230 yards in a game. When told of his accomplishment, he was shocked.
“I don’t know what to say, honestly,” said Dartez. “I knew I had more yards than last week but did not think it was that much. I am speechless.”
VC head coach Broc Prejean continues to be amazed by his quarterback. He also gave praise to his offensive line and running back Tyjh Williams.
“This is unbelievable,” said Prejean about the 359-yard night. “A lot also had to do with the offensive line and Williams paving the way for him. The wide receivers did a fantastic job.
“John-John does an amazing job because of the rest of those guys.”
At halftime, VC was down 17-14. Dartez had 148 yards rushing, and Williams had 44 yards on nine carries.
On the Eagles’ game-opening drive, they moved the ball 93 yards for the first score.
On the scoring play, Dartez dropped back to throw but saw everyone was covered and scooted nine yards for a touchdown with 1:34 to play in the first quarter.
Ascension tied the game 7-7, went ahead 14-7 with 6:40 to play in the first half, and then led 17-14 at halftime.
Williams finished the game with 15 carries for 49 yards.
With catches for VC were Dane Richoux (2-15 yards), Hudson Hebert (1-15 yards), Ethan Hebert (1-14 yards) and Ross Dartez (2-8 yards).
“Both teams never gave up and never quit at any point tonight,” Prejean said. “This was a great game to be a part of tonight.”
The Eagles (2-0) will travel to Loreauville (2-0) on Friday for the next game.
It will be the battle of the undefeated.

Most kickers dreams about kicking that game winning field. VC kicker Dane Richoux got to experience it Friday night on the road.
With 10 seconds left in the game, and the ball on the Ascension Episcopal 14 yard line, VC head coach Broc Prejean called on the kicking team to trot out there and win the game.
Richoux and holder Johnathan Dartez got in place and waited on the snap. It was an excellent snap from long snapper Andrew Prejean.
Richoux launched his right foot into the ball and it sailed past Ascension defender Brandon Mitchell (son of Abbeville High great Brandon Mitchell).
It cleared the uprights and the VC bench and crowd started celebrating. The field goal gave VC a 30-28 come from behind win.
VC improves to 2-0, while Ascension falls to 1-1.
“I was nervous a little bit. I was still pretty confident about making the kick even after missing the point after,” Richoux said about his game-winning kick. “I just kept my head clear and lined up the kick.”
One person who had a lot of faith in his leg was VC head coach Broc Prejean. When it was fourth down with 10 seconds left in the game, Prejean knew who to send out onto the field.
“He has been making kicks all week in practice,” said Prejean. “We made a big play to get the ball down field. I knew if we got him inside the 30 yard line, he was going to make a kick.”
The crazy thing about Richoux’s game winner was two minutes earlier Richoux missed an extra point that could have put VC ahead 28-20. Instead, the missed extra point gave Ascension life, down only 27-20.
Ascension marched 75 yards in two minutes, scored and successfully converted the two point play to go ahead, 28-27, with 2:19 remaining in the game.
But that is all VC quarterback Jonathan Dartez needed to lead the VC offense down field and win the game.
In a two-minute drill, Dartez moved the offense with his arm and legs. He had a huge 44-yard run on the second play of the drive. He completed two passes. A three-yard pass to Ross Dartez and a 13-yard pass to Ethan Landry. The 13-yard catch moved VC to the Ascension 20. On first down, Dartez ran six yards, down to the 14-yard line with only 10 seconds left in the game.
Dartez is the holder. Before the kick, he did not tell his kicker anything.
“No,” Dartez said. “I don’t bother him or say anything to him when he’s lined up to kick a field goal. Especially in this situation.”
His plan worked.