LINER AGROUND

Taranaki Daily News, 4 September 1935, Page 5

LINER AGROUND

HURRICANE FEARED PASSENGERS IN DANGER SHIPS RACE TO RESCUE FIERCE FLORIDA STORM WARNING TO RESIDENTS By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Rec. 11.47 p.m. Miami, Sept. 2. The second fury of a tropical storm beat across Florida Keys to-night and as it whirled in a north-westerly direction the residents of the entire southern tip of the peninsula were warned of a possible hurricane wind. The ’ citizens of Key West were relieved as the storm centre moved to northward of the island city, but those in the mainland cities all the way round from West Palm Beach to Puntagorda on the Gulf took hasty precautions. ■ The steamship Dixie, of 8188 tons, owned and operated by the Morgan and Southern Pacific Steamship Lines, grounded on Carysfort reef off the southeastern Florida coast, 40 miles due south of Miami, on a voyage from New Orleans to New York. The ship, which has 260 passengers and a crew of 140, sent out distress signals. The captain said heavy seas were pounding the vessel, which is in the path of the hurricane sweeping the Florida area. The nearest rescue vessel is 50 miles away making slow progress in the heavy seas. The last message from the Dixie read: “Pounding heavily, not making much (garbled words). Seas and wind heavy. Radiomarine believed (garbled word) was water.” All' available coastguards are speeding to the rescue, but because of the heavy surf rescue attempts are expected to be hazardous. Communication with the Dixie has practically ceased owing to difficulties with the emergency wireless, the regular wireless plant having been destroyed. The exact location of the ship has not been determined. Jacksonville (Florida) weather bureau officials early on Tuesday believed that all danger of hurricane winds on the east coast of Florida had passed. The bureau located the centre of the storm that lashed Florid? Keys as about midway between Key West and Everglade City, moving slowly north-westward.