 An article published in The Times @-@ Picayune contrasted this hurricane with the cyclone of August , noting that the two storms were of similar intensity , and although the September system did not last as long in any one location , hydrology played a more significant role : " in August the swamps were nearly dry and the waters from the lake found a natural outlet ; whereas , yesterday , the swamp being full , the water rose in the streets of <unk> and covered the railroad track for some distance . " In New Orleans proper , heavy rain and gusty winds were reported , but no flooding was observed . The worst damage from the hurricane most likely occurred in Biloxi , where the coastline itself was altered by up to 20 to 30 ft ( 6 @.@ 1 to 9 @.@ 1 m ) and the lighthouse was swept out to sea . A hotel collapsed amid the disaster , killing at least one person , and loose debris covered the town . At East Pascagoula , Mississippi , the sea rose well beyond that of any storm in around 40 years , and nearby a wharf was totally destroyed . Initial estimates placed total damage in the area at $ 40 @,@ 000 . The storm was just as severe in Mobile , Alabama , and the majority of the $ 1 million in losses there was from lost cotton stored on flooded wharves . At Pascagoula , water reportedly rose 7 ft ( 2 @.@ 1 m ) in 20 minutes . 
