Rough seas were reported throughout the Texas coast ahead of the storm on August 16, with waves cresting high. Coastal inundation of city streets was reported in all towns between Corpus Christi and Orange. Ten houses were destroyed in Victoria. Telephone service in the city was disrupted, rendering 165 telephones out of commission. The agitated waters of Matagorda Bay flooded the Matagorda Peninsula a day before landfall, and nearby Freeport observed their highest tide in many years. Many oil derricks in the area were destroyed. The life-saving station in Freeport near the mouth of the Brazos River was destroyed, killing 19 people. Upstream the Brazos River in Brazoria, strong winds damaged crops, fences, and trees. Most crops in Matagorda County withstood the storm, though 25–35 percent of the rice crop was lost, including Blue Rose, Honduras, and Japan varieties. Aside from cotton losses, Port Lavaca along Matagorda Bay suffered light damage to property. Bathhouses in Port Aransas were destroyed.