STORM'S DESTRUCTION

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 302, 21 September 1928, Page 11

STORM'S DESTRUCTION

COMPLETE ESTIMATE IMPOSSIBLE MANY DISTRICTS WITHOUT COMMUNICATION FURY OF HURRICANE APPARENTLY SPENT Now York messages stale that it is impossible still to give a complete estimate of tlie storm’s destruction, but tlie hurricane has apparently spent its fury. (United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Australian Press Association.) (Rec. September 20, 7.5 p.m.) New York, September 19. Fifteeen thousand people are homeless in this country in consequence of the hurricane. National guardsmen and civilians are recovering bodies and are burying many unidentified negroes where they are found. Refugees report "conditions are horrible beyond description.” Many families have been found living in two to three feet of water, their only food being peanuts, the unfortunate people being huddled among the dead. The flat swampy country is interwoven with canals, which makes rescue work most difficult. Citizens are contributing generously to the Red Cross and other relief workers. A complete estimate of the storm’s destruction is still impossible, for many districts are without any communication, all parts of the stricken area reporting with difficulty. FLORIDA TOWNS WIPED OUT DAMAGE IN NEW YORK CITY (Australian Press Association.) (Rec. September 20, 7.35 p.m.) New York, September 18. The hurricane has apparently speut its fury by inflicting minor damages on the nearby coastline. Heavy rain, and winds reaching a velocity of seventyfive miles an hour, and mountainous seas, disrupted the aviation services and shipping, driving many small vessels to the rocks. New York City suffered considerable damage to trees and windows. Motor traffic was much impeded. Guadeloupe and Porto Rico continue to report increasing misery. Thousands of dead cattle lie rotting in the sun, spreading disease. The population’s morale appears to be of a high order, but women and children are suffering greatly and many are going insane. Suicides are increasing. The Florida lake towns have been wiped out, particularly in the Okeechobee region, where waters swept in the wake of the wind, drowning hundreds. The suffering there is intense and a pneumonia epidemic is threatening. Rescue squads are toiling through the debris. They report over 170 dead at present. The property losses in the Palm Beach country alone total thirty million dollars. DAMAGE IN THE ISLANDS REPORT TO COLONIAL OFFICE MANY PEASANTS LEFT HOMELESS (British Official Wireless.) Rugby, September 19. The Colonial Office has received a telegram from the Governor of the Leeward Islands giving details of the loss of life and damage caused by the hurricane. The Governor visited Montserrat, where he found the destruction and damage very heavy. The hospital nurses’ and matron’s quarters were demolished, bridges were destroyed, the jetty was badly damaged, and all the Government buildings were stripped. The telephone exchange and lines throughout the island were destroyed. Two-thirds of the peasant houses were totally destroyed, and several of the principal houses in Plymouth were damaged. Five Protestant churches, a Roman Catholic church, a Wesleyan chapel house, and several estate residences were wrecked. Forty deaths have been reported, with seventy injured. The total estimated damage to Government property and peasant huts was £30,000. In Nevis little damage was done to Government property, but many huts of the poorer classes were demolished. The deaths were thirteen, and the injured fifty. In Saint Kitts, the Government building was slightly damaged, and many small huts were demolished. Six deaths were reported. In Antigua, Government property and peasant huts were damaged to the extent of £7OOO. The Administrator of Dominica reports one death, four jetties demolished, and one damaged. The Roseau seafront was partially destroyed, great damage done to roads, country telephones demolished, and the electric lighting system seriously damaged, with heavy loss to general cultivation. It is feared that there will be a food shortage later owing to the destruction of crops. The estimated damage to the Public Works Department is £60,000. The total estimated damage to Government property and peasant huts in Dominica. Montserrat, Antigua, Saint Christopher, and Nevis, is £lOO,000. All the deaths and injuries occurred among the labour class. A telegram from the Governor of Jamaica states that the damage at Grand Turk was reported to bo not verj* great. THE HOMELESS IN PORTO RICO (United Service.) New York, September 19. A cablegram has been received reporting that 700,000 people have been rendered homeless by the hurricane in Porto Rico. '

(The cable nows In this issue accredited to the London "Times- Inis that journal, but only 'L 1 , l Fnrinl onlnlon stated Is such news the editorial opinion of “The Times.”),