FLORIDA STORM

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 22 September 1926, Page 9

FLORIDA STORM

THE DEVASTATED AREA. ANOTHER CITY STRUCK. DAMAGE AT MOBILE. BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT. Received 11.40 a.m. to-day. NEW YORK, Sept. 21. News from Miami states that it is estimated that there are 400 dead, 5000 injured and 50 missing -as- a. result of the hurricane, which devastated an area of sixty miles along the' east coast. New® from New Orleans states that a tropical storm severed communications between Mobile and the outside world on Monday. Meagre reports indicated that there was no loss of life at Mobile, where extensive preparations were made for the storm its a result of a forecast made by the weather bureau. It is believed that- the damage is not serious. FURTHER. REPORTS OF DAMAGE. Received 12.25 p.m. to-day. NEW YORK, Sept, 21. Birmingham, Alabama, reports heavy property damage and .probable lo»ss of life through the storm. The first word (received yesterday) from Pensacola, Florida, since communication was '.severed, reports that the clocks and railway buildings are in ruins. A message from Grnad Turk, Turks Island, Bahamas, .states that 4000 are homeless and immense property damage has been caused in Turks and Galena as a result of the hurricane. News from Mobile states that a .survey to-day after a nineteen hours’ battle with the hurricane reveals property damage estimated at several hundred thousand dollars, chiefly in. unroofed structures and water damage.

GALVESTON DISASTER

TIDAL WAVE OF 1900

CABLES REPUBLISHED

Mention of Galveston in the cable messages recalls the disaster that occurred there in the autumn of 1900.

Messages from New York on. September 10, 1900_ stated.; A tidal wave submerged Galveston, destroying 4000 houses and drowning from. 1000 to 2000 persons. The sea penetrated six. miles inland. Several Texas town® were completely wrecked by the hurricane. Eaght steamships were wrecked in Galveston Harbour. The wind reached a velocity of 84 miles. The loss of life in Texas is estimated at 5000. The people of Galveston are roofless, and Mr Elihu Root, Secretary of War, has sent 10,000 rations to the aid of the sufferers. The damage, including that to cotton crops, which are spoilt by rain, is 15,000,000 dollars. Later message® stated: that steam launches and schooners were carried ten miles inland at Galveston by the tidal wave, while the dead in the cemeteries were washed out to sea . On September 13, New York cabled: Five, thousand persons- perished at Galveston. Many of the ruins were burnt in order to cremate the bodies within, them. Scores of survivors became frenzied from thirst and died. Others lost their reason. The troops of Galveston a crested 100 drunken .negroes an d 43 • of them were coiirt-martialled and .shot for possessing loot. One of the culprits had in his pocket 23 human lingers with-rings on them. Next dav’s cables stated : A thousand bodies have liee-n cremated! at Galveston, while 1100 were dropped into the sea tied together to prevent washing ashore. Hundreds of negroes are still looting Galveston. Ninety have been shot. Most of the negroes refuse to work, and some are forced to the point of the bayonet to assist .in the cremation of the dead. Four "thousand one hundred bodies have been recovered. There were 10,000 casualties. Every tide brings ashore scores of bodies. New York, Sept. 17, —Ten thousand are destitute in Galveston, and, 20,000 in the adjoining mainland.