TROPICAL STORM

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 208, 5 September 1935, Page 7

TROPICAL STORM

DEATHS IN FLORIDA i HURRICANE SWEEPS KEYS I Received Sept. 4, 9.5 p.m. MIAMI, Sept. 3. As a result of the storm which affected Miami, more than 100 deaths are reported along Florida’s hurricaneswept Keys. Winds estimated at 100 miles per hour were experienced at Bc-cca Grand. Unconfirmed reports telephoned to the Miami Daily News said that 78 nersons, 75 of them war veterans, cni <'impcd ?n the Florida Keys, died as a result of t’he tropical hurricane, which partly destroyed Tavernier early ou Tuesday. Storm-battered refugees reached Miami after braving the tossing waters of Snake Creek in small boats. Deaths at, the veterans’ camp No. .1 on Upper Matecuinbe Key are variously estimated at from 25 to 100. Broken communications prevented definite confirmation of deaths along the Keys. Throe persons were drowmed at Tavernier when a bus overturned. St. Petersburg and Tampa made ready for the approaching storm. St Petersburg with a falling barometer had a 68-mile-an-hour wind. GREAT CANAL ACROSS NORTHERN FLORIDA A GOVERNMENT GRANT Received Sept. 4, 11.5 p.m. WASHINGTON, Sept. 13. Coincident with the hurricane damage to shipping in Southern Florida, it was announced that President Roosevelt had approved of a 5,000,000-dollar allotment for preliminary work on a canal to connect the Atlantic Ocean and tho Gulf of> Mexico across Northern Florida, using the St. John’s and other rivers. The canal would save one to several days’ shipping time between New York and New Orleans, and avoid the dangerous area where the Dixie is now grounded. It is estimated that the project will cost about a hundred million dollars. A copyright message from the Associated Press correspondent aboard the s.s. Platano, which is standing by the Dixie, said; “ The Dixie wirelessed shortly after 10 p.m. stating she was still in no apparent danger, and would like the rescue vessels standing by to wait for daylight to attempt rescuo operations. Through the squalls of rain, with mist from the mounlaious waves, the IDixie was visible intermittently earlier to-night about three miles off our starboard bow. Three other vessels are also hove to, tho Limon, the Gatun and El Occidente. The oil-tanker Reaper is no longer in sight.” The Dixie sent the following wireless message to its New York office at 10 p.m. Eastern Standard time: “Chief engineer reports floor plates in stokehold up two inches. Making no water except in double bottom. Ship pounding slightly. Morale of passengers high. Signed—Captain E. W. Sandstrom.” It is not known what the. reference to the floor plates meant. TANKER IN DISTRESS STOPPED TOR REPAIRS Received Sept. 4, 11.5 p.m. NEW YORK, Sept. 3. The Coast Guard intercepted a message stating: “Tho British tanker Capulet is iu distress on the Florida Coast. The engines are broken down but we don’t think we need help.” Later advices stated that the Capulet had engine trouble 40 miies east of Hollywood, Florida. The vessel had stopped to make repairs but was not in need of assistance.