 The first known storm of the season — which would also become the strongest — is listed in the hurricane database as having formed on August 8 in the eastern Gulf of Mexico , just offshore the west coast of the Florida peninsula , although it is possible the hurricane was related to a heavy gale encountered by a ship on August 5 during its voyage from Havana , Cuba to New York City . The cyclone drifted southwest for three days , gradually intensifying to attain a strength corresponding to Category 3 major hurricane status on the modern @-@ day Saffir @-@ Simpson Hurricane Scale . Beginning on August 11 , the hurricane slowly curved to the north , then gained an easterly component to its movement , and was at its peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph ( 210 km / h ) about midday . 
