Sam Doyle.
The Red Cross Boat Responding To the Sea Island Hurricane of 1893.
Signed.
Watercolor and graphite on found paper.
Minor foxing and loss at middle right, otherwise great environmental condition.
Image is 16.5"w x 13"h.
Frame is 21"w x 18"h.
Est. $3,000-5,000. Ship: $55

Sam Doyle documented the people and events of the Gullah Islands in South Carolina in his artwork. This pair of works depicts the Sea Island Hurricane of 1893, a disaster of epic proportions.

In August of 1893, the Sea Island Hurricane, the largest natural disaster to ever hit Beaufort Co. SC Carolina's Coast killed 2,000-3,000 people, destroyed millions of dollars of property and left thousands homeless and desperate - almost all of them African American from Beaufort, St. Helena and Lady’s Island. An accurate count is difficult to determine as many were swept out to sea. After the storm, people were left with nothing. The bridge was destroyed so boats were the only way to get any thing in out and most of these didn't survive the storm. Rubble and bodies piled up. Governor Ben Tillman asked Clara Barton and her Red Cross to take charge. This was the very first hurricane relief effort in the history of the United States Red Cross. Barton and her staff arrived in Beaufort on Sept. 20th and stayed for 10 months.

These pieces were purchased from an estate in Waynesboro, GA belonging to a prominent Indian Artifact Collector. The collector purchased this piece from Sam Doyle directly in the 1970’s and had it frame at the same time by Marjories Frames which went out of business several decades ago.