The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-10-05
DISTRESS IN ITS PATH.
SAVANNAH WILL PROBABLY SEND
AID TO THE STORM SUFFERERS.

narrowing Reports of Damage by
the Hurricane in Southeast GeOr-
gia and in Northern and Eastern
FIorIda-WhOIe Farms Ruined,
Crops Destroyed And the People
SuneriHG-A Citizens Meeting VIII
Probably he Called.
1t is very likely that Mayor Myers viii
be requested by business men to cali
meeting of citizens at the city exchange
for the purpose Of taking steps to secure
funds and supplies for the relief of the
people in the counties of Georgia and
Florida through which the storm of last
Tuesday passed. Prominent business men
have expressed themselves in favor OF
such action and it is likely that the mat
Mayor Myers to-day
1t is now known that the damage and
loss of life in the counties through which
the storm passed is much greater than
was at first supposed. From the point on
the west coast Of Florida where the
storm left the Gulf, to Savannah, swain
Of from thirty to sixty miles wide was
cut for almost the entire distance. In
this belt practically all the turpentine
timber has been leveled, stills destroyed,
saw mills and gin houses blown down and
farm houses and buildings demolished.
THE damage is much greater than has
been generally supposed" said Hon. S. G.
McLendon of Townsville to a Morning
News reporter yesterday. There was no
damage in our section, but in Southeast
Georgia the loss is terrible. The reports
of the actual conditions of affairs have
not reached you for the simple reason
that the roads are so blocked that the
people have not been able to get to the
railroads. One man told me that it would
take a large force of hands six months
to cut out the road from the railroad to
his place, 10 miles in the country Relief
is undoubtedly needed"
Supt. w q. Denham of the fourth and
sixth divisions of the Plant system with
headquarters at Gainesville, Fla, was
in the city yesterday. To several gen
tlemen whom he met, Supt. Denham said
that the damage done by the storm in his
district is incalculable. From Gainesville
to Jacksonville, but affecting neither city
seriously, the country is a wreck. Tim
her, houses and everything which the
wind could lay hold upon are down. Supt.
Denham said that he believed the loss
of life will be found to be much greater
than has been reported.
Mr.. J. w. West of the firm OF West,
Wigs & Co.. arrived in the city yester-
day morning from Houston, Fla THE
country which l traversed is a wreck"
said Mr.. West. Columbia, Baker Levy
and the lower part of Suwanee counties
in Florida, have suffered terri
BILE damage with probably large
loss of life. In Georgia from the ST.
Mary's river to Savannah, along the line
of the Florida Central and Peninsular
railroad the timber is down almost the
entire distance on both sides of the road
The turpentine farms are absolutely
wrecked. There Is no timber left. The
majority of farm houses in the path of
the storm are down, and considerable
suffering must be the result Many deer
were killed in the woods by the falling
trees. There is no doubt that relief is
needed, and that ii should be afforded
at once. The county commissioners of
Baker county have been called to meet
tomorrow for the purpose of issuing an
appeal for assistance to the state and
federal government. Unless relief is af-
forded at once, there must be much suf-
fering"
Mr. j. P. Williams said IT favor taking
action at once. Not only are the large
turpentine operators in the path of the
storm absolutely ruined, but hundreds of
small farmers have had their houses
blown down and must be in great desti-
tuition. Almost the entire path of the
storm is in Savannahs territory, and
we should be the first to take action An
appeal to our people will meet with
ready response. The authorities in the
counties through which the storm passed
should be communicated and requested 20
appoint relief committees in order that
the aid furnished may be intelligently dis,
| tributed."