The storm was first observed east of the Leeward Islands on September 12, later intensifying to a Category 3 hurricane on the modern-day Saffir–Simpson scale while approaching Puerto Rico.

Continuing inland, the San Felipe Hurricane gradually weakened over the United States, reaching near Cape Cod before dissipation on September 19.

Overflowing rivers and the storm itself carried away many bridges and caused significant losses to coffee, rice, and sugarcane estates.

By early the next day, the cyclone briefly intensified into a Category 3 hurricane, peaking with winds of 115 mph (185 km/h), several hours before striking Puerto Rico between Yabucoa and Humacao.

[2] The system moved west-northwestward across the Mona Passage and struck the Dominican Republic, weakening to a tropical storm on September 14 as it traversed Hispaniola.

[1] The storm briefly re-attained Category 1 hurricane status while crossing the Windward Passage early on September 15, based on a 2000 re-analysis by meteorologist Louis A. Pérez Jr., and soon made landfall in Cuba near San Antonio del Sur.

[1][5] Weakening to a tropical storm, the cyclone continued west-northwestward until turning northward over the central part Cuba early on September 16, several hours before emerging into the far southwestern Atlantic.

[4] The hurricane made landfall in North Carolina between Surf City and Topsail Beach around 14:00 UTC with winds of 90 mph (150 km/h).

Scientist and scholar Benito Viñes went to Puerto Rico from Cuba to conduct a study to calculate the damages of the hurricane.

[10] A more recent study, published in 2004, determined that impacts on the island in some cases reached the equivalency of an F3 tornado,[11] although F2-level damage was widespread.

[12] However, historians suspected the Spanish Government withheld the actual damage and death toll data for Puerto Rico,[6] due to the potential for commerce to suffer negative impacts.

[6] Weather stations on Cuba reported decreasing atmospheric pressures, including 999 mbar (29.5 inHg) in Sagua La Grande.

Winds also toppled some signs and sheds at the Centennial Exposition fairgrounds, though few large buildings suffered serious damage, with the exception of a hotel and restaurant.

Overall, however, The Sun noted that "New York City gained more than she lost by the storm" due to rainfall replenishing nearby waterways, with up to 2.4 in (61 mm) of precipitation at the New Croton Dam.