TOLL OF THE STORM

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 19 September 1928, Page 5

TOLL OF THE STORM

GREAT HAVOC WROUGHT.

MORE REPORTS OF DAMAGE MILITARY .CONTROL ESTABLISHED. - , (United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph Copyright.) (Australian Press Association— United Service.) NEW YORK, Sept. 18. Shocking details off the havoc wrought in the West In'dian Islands and In certain of the States arc. still coming in. The total ddath roll 'and the extent of th e damage to property cannot yet be accurately guaged, for communciation with, many districts is completely cut off. Nor has the storm yet spent its fury. The hurricane is moving along the Florida boast and the inhabitants of some town's are fleeing for their lives. Porto. Rico to face an almost hopeless economic, situation, due to the latest ruin .following a period 'of debt,. • A Johnsonville report states that totally unconfirmed estimates place the hurricane death roll at '27. The Storm was seemingly as -severe as that Which wrecked Miami in 1926.. West Beach was the centre of the gale, but the losses throughout a large area 'are apparently disastrous. Property da nidge is immense and many 'are homeless. Military 'control has been established. Communications are largely non-exist-ent. The hurricane is reported to have turned somewhat and it is feared that it, will not spend itself in the Gulf but will reach other iStates. President Co’olidge and Governor A. Smith are appealing for immediate aid for the destitute centres. The residents -off Porto Rico are slowly organising for rehabilitation, but the losses there and in the French West Indies are mountainous. ißed Gross de-tachments-are rushing to 'the areas of devastation; The death toll at the French West Indies is reported at 300. . A message from Jamaica states that the neighbouring islands were heavily' damaged in a wind that reached 120 miles velocity. Several small vessels were lost, and there were at le'ast 30 'deaths. Nassau 'reports state that there were no deaths reported there, (but the property' damage was heavier than in 1926. Nagua and Mnyaguna report heavy* losses Of life. The latest news from Florida comes from the West Palm Be'ach Tadio station, which reports that three-quarters of the homes there w r ere damaged and all the houses of business demolished. Later Jacksonville reports state that the latest known death total is 33, with the lost 'of injured standing at 140. 'The hurricane is now moving lower on the Florida east coast.

In Florida, states another message, the homeless are crowding the hotels and warehouses, especially In the neighbourhood of West Palm Beach, where the wind reached 125 miles an hour velocity. Only 'one store in the chief business (thoroughfare ) the re. 5 escaped serious damage. The only reports come bv radio and these are fragmentary.

General desolation secm& to cover a 25-mile stretch 'from the 'Palm Beaches to Pompano. The naval radio station at Jupiter suffered much damage. A large area is without light or 'power. The hospitals arc grdatlv 'hampered and arc calling 'for medical assistance.. The food problem is serious, especially' among ytmng children dependent upon milk supplies. Many people are reported as drowned on the shores 'of Lake Okeechobee, which is without communication. Havana is reported to have received tlie backwash of the gale which swept tremendous seas over the boulevards, causing 'heavv damage.

DEATH ROLL IN FLORIDA. in: excess o<f one hundred. TORNADO DIMINISHING IN force:. RELIEF MEASURES ORGANISED. Received 10.25 a.m. to-day. 1 WASHINGTON, Sept. IS. While reports of the hurricane damage remain unconfirmed, there is ],it);i!e doubt that it is (in excess of one hundred persons killed in Florida, lb is estimated that eighty-five are dead at Palm Beach, while reports from the inland cities indicate that the n umber of deaths exceed thirty. The hurricane, which has now diminished in velocity, suddenly veered its course. As a result tlmre vveic high winds in Jacksonville and t-orrented rains at Savannah and Charleston, neither of which, cities are said to have sustained serious loss. The sudden falling in temperature over the entire eiast coast of U.S.A. has caused an | alarm, but the present north-easterly i course of the tornado encourages tiie belief tha,t ■tihe' hiiin-ieane is moving o-ub to sea. . „ , • Miami is organising relief unus and is rushing them to the aid of the less fortunate sections of Florida. The civic officials of Miami issued a statement attesting to the immunity of 11 or id a from winter storms, thereby malang heroic efforts to quell the fear in Hie minds of those contemplating a I lorida vacation, many of whom. are miow likely to spend their holiday elsewhere. President Oaoliidge’s plea for dli eviction of suffering in Porto Rico. has already received a warm response, in tne United States. It is probable that a number of Government boats mil be pressed in to the service for I orto Rican relief. . t Fragmentary desipatohes ciontimie .o emphasise the destitution and declare that the huriuane .is the worst that cvoi struck the West Indies. IP,C> dead "in 7 southern FLORIDA. Received 10.25 a.m. w-day MIAMI, Sept. IS. A death list of 139 in southern Florida, as-a result of the Humean , was reported to-day.