FLORIDA STORM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22206, 5 September 1935, Page 12

FLORIDA STORM

TRAGIC_RESULTS i NUMEROUS DEATHS TELOCITY OF TIIE WIN!) TRAIL OS' .DESTRUCTION By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received September 4, 5.45 p.m.) NEW YORK. Sept. S E'espatchof! from Miami, Florida, stale that more than 100 deaths are reported to hnve been caused along the hurricane swept areas by tho tropical storm which raged along the west coast. The velocity of the wind is estimated at 100 miles an hour at Boca Grande. '< Unconfirmed reports telephoned to the Miami Daily News stated that 78 people,. 75 of whom were war veterans, encamped in Florida Keys, were killed in the hurricane, which partly destroyed Tavernier early this morning Si:orm-bntterod refugees, braving the tossins waters of Snake Crock in small boats, hnve reached Miami. Thov say tho veterans' camp was. situated on Upper Matectimbo Key. Broken communications have prevented definite confirmation of tho deaths along the Keys. Three people were drowned at Tnvfflrnier when a bus capsized. St. Petersburg and Tampa have made ready for the approaching storm. St. Petersburg with a falling barometer experienced a wind with a velocity of (58 imiles an hour. The New Yark coastguard intercepted a message saying that a British tanker, tho Capulet. was in distress 40 miles off Hollywood. Florida, her engines having broken down. Later advices stated that the Capulet had been hove-to for repairs but she did not need assistance. A message from Jacksonville, Florida, eavs the weather bureau announces that the hurricsne has passed into tho Gulf of Mexico near tho city of Everglades and is continuing on a northwestward course.

STRANDED VESSEL RESCUE SHIPS STAND BY A NO APPARENT DANGER (Received I'Jeptember 4, 6.15 p.m.) :J NEW YORK, Sept. 8 The master of, the steamer Dixie, ■which went a.'ihore yesterday on Carysfort Ueef, Florida, with 260 paNsongors and a crew of 140 men on board, Captain K W. Srjndstrom, sent a wireless message to the owners' New York office at 10 p.m. stating: " The chief engineer reports that the floor plates in the firerooin are up two inches. The vessel is making no water except in the doublebottom. She is pounding slightly. The morale of the passengers is high." A representative of Associated Press on board the steamer Platano, which is standing by the Dixie, says the latter's captain wiro!tssod after 10 p.m. stating that the vessel was still in no apparent danger. The. Platano and three other rescue vessels are standing by wailing for daylight to attempt rescue operations. Through squalls, rain nnd mist from the mountainous waves, the Dixie is visible intermittently rbout three miles off the Platane's starboard bow. The three other vettsels standing by are tho Limon, Gatun and el Occidente. The oil tanker Reaper v.'ns on the scene, but is no longer in sicrbfc. Previously tho captain of tho Reaper had reported that he was attempting to reach the stranded Dixie, which was two miles off. He «aid be could not see the Dixie and was taking radio bearings to follow it in. The vicinity was enshrouded in fcg. A gale with a velocity of 80 miles an hour sent huge waves pounding against the Dixie, and the Itoa;per'rj captain thought she was tn danger of breaking up. The regular radio apparatus on the stranded vessel was not functioning, but with an emergency wireless set she sent out brief, vague ceports. BIG CANAL SCHEME PRESIDENT APPROVES VOTE ATLANTIC TO MEXICAN GULF (Recerved IHeptember 4, 5.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON. Sept. 8 Coincident with the hurricane and tho damage lo shipping in Southern Florida, it was announced in Washington that President Roosevelt had approved the allotment of 5,000,000 dollars for preliminary work on a canal to connect tho Atlantic Ocean with the Gulf of Mexico across Northern Florida, using the St. J-jhns and other riveru. Tho scheme would save from one to two days' shipping time between New .York and New Orleans, and avoid the dangerous area where the Dixie is now ashore. It is estimated that the canal would ipost about" 100.000,000 dollars.