The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-10-01
THE BIG STORM
Caused Death and DeS-
tructiOn on Coast.
Scores of Lives Now Known
to Have Been Lost.
Florida and Georgia Appear to Have
Been Worst Sufferers.

Mempnls, Oct i. - n special TO The
Commercial-Appeal from Jacksonville,
Fla, says: 1t is a conservative estimate
to say that so people have lost their lives
from Tuesdays hurricane, and the num-
ber may run much higher. News from
that portion of the state where the storm
first struck Is very slow in coming, for
wires are down and railroads are i'm
passable. Wrecking parties which went
out yesterday morning have not re-
turned, and 1t will be tomorrow before
the full extent Of the damage Is known.
The hurricane struck Florida at tCedar
Keys, and reports show that IL passed
In path OF destruction over 20 towns and
villages. and that between 80 and 40 peo-
pie have certainly been killed. Cedar
Keys is about 100 miles southwest of
Jacksonville. The hurricane, which has
been churning the water OF the Gulf,
first struck this place. a village of 1000
Inhabitants. The only report which has
come concerning Cedar Keys is that the
town has been swept away and many
lives have been lost This report comes
from Gainesville. which Is so miles away.
Nobody has been able to get anything
direct from Cedar Keys. Moving north
easterly, the storm struck Willistown, a
small town, where IL houses were blown
down, one person was killed here and
several so badly hurt that Ii is expected
that they will die. Near here is large
turpentine farm. on which state con-
v!cts are employed. Twenty OF these
were huddled together in a cabin. A
heavy tree was blown across the CABIN
and six Of the convicts were crushed to
death.
In Alachua county the storm did
frightful work. In Gainesville the
Methodist church and about 20 resi-
dences and business houses were de-
troyed. and a number of people were
hurt. No fatalities are reported. At
La Crosse, 10 bridges were Destroyed.
Rev. w. A. Barr. Mrs Il. +. Mcintosh
and her babe are reported killed. Near
there four laborers, who were I'm a cabin
at a turpentine farm, were crushed by
falling trees. Newburgh, in West Ala
chua, is totally wrecked. c. j. Eastlin,
Mrs. Nancy Moss, Frank Olmstead and
David Jones were killed. At High
Springs, Melissa Hardin, Jane Morris
and Sallie Mobiles. colored. are reported
to have been killed. At this place a
number OF people took refuge In a box
car. which was in the path OF the cy-
clone. Ii was blown along the track,
and then off at distance of so feet, and
every person in 1t was badly hurt. Steve
Mason and George Johnson have since
died
At Gracy, small place. IL houses were
blown down, and woman was killed.
and a baby at her breast was uninjured,
although II had been carried some dis
tance by the force of the wind At Lake
Butler, Bradford county Mrs. G. III.
I1arkey, Mrs. j. IL. Fitch, and her In
funt were fatally hurt Many buildings
were blown down. At this place the
wind blew TO pieces two cars loaded with
bricks, and a negro was killed by being
struck by one of the flying bricks. On
Judge Richards turpentine farm, four
convicts were killed by falling trees.
In Baker county, four towns were al
most totally destroyed. They were Nc
Klenny, Sanderson. Glen st. Mary ana
Olustee. No one was killed outright in
these towns, but many were injured,
four fatally.
At Live Oak the destruction is COM
plete, but no loss of life is reported.
Near Welborn, the house of Amos
White was destroyed, and two OF his
children killed. At Lake City, eight busi-
ness houses and Is houses were de-
stroyed. Three persons were killed and
three were fatally injured.
Six persons are reported killed at Fort
White, in Columbiana county.
The hurricane passed over Duval
county, striking the edges Of Jackson
vile, but doing very little damage, and
there was no loss of life. Just north of
here. however, in Nassau county. con-
siderable destruction is reported. Five
children were killed in the wreck of q
schoolhouSe.
At billiards, another schoolhouse was
wrecked, and four children were killed.
At Kings Ferry FIVE persons were killed.
Three sailors were killed on schooners
that were loading lumber at Kings
Ferry.
Across the line, into Georgia, the de-
vastation was continued. At Folkston,
which is near the Okefenokee swamp.
the schoolhouse was wrecked and four
children killed. Several casualties are
reported In Camden county, Ga.
The storm then continued on its way
to Florida. The losses may seem heavier
than when closely examined, but the
opinion OF the insurance men here, is
the Florida Losses will foot up So. .0O0, 900.
This seems, however, an excessive es-
innate.
Rlchmond's Dose.