Birmingham state herald., 1896-10-03
FLOR|DA'S DREADFUL STORY Stripped of All the Accessories
 of Sensationalism, II IS TRULY HEARTRENDING A AStupendous Tidal Wave Sweeps Over Cedar
 Keys, Submergng the Streets. IMPOSSIBLE TO STATE LOSS OF LIFE The Sponging Fleet Got the Full Fury of the Storm-The Turpentine and Phos-
 phate Industries Ruined-Thou-
 sands Will Be Destitute.
IMPOSSIBLE TO STATE LOSS OF LIFE

Savannah, Ga, Oct. "A letter from Cedar Keys, Fla, dated October 1 says: The West India hurricane, of which the weather bureau gave warning, struck Cedar Keys about 3:30 o'clock Tuesday morning and left scene of wreck and devastation in it's wake. It is by far the most destructive storm that has vis- tied this portion of the gulf coast in twenty years, and the property loss is immense.
 Though warning had been given, noth- ing indicated a blow of unusual severity. Up to Il o'clock the night was calm and quiet. At that hour a moderate breeze sprang up from the eastward, increasing gradually until a thirty mile wind was blowing. About 4 a. m. it blew perfect tornado, and suddenly changed to the southeast, bringing in a perfect deluge of water, the tide rising two feet higher than in the memorable gale of 1894, which was at the time said to be the severest storm on record.
 At o'clock an immense tidal wave cane in from the south, carrying de- strretion with it. Boats, wharves and small houses were hurled upon the shore, and, breaking into fragments. covered the streets with wreckage, and rendered them almost impossible, while the tor rents of water rushing through every open space would take the strongest man off of his feet
 At 10 a. m. the worst was over, the wind subsided, the water began to recede and by 3 p. m. people could begin the task Of reckoning up the losses and clearing away the wreckage. The property loss is very heavy. Aside from the direct damage from the storm, while the gale in ha Bettelini house and it was burned.
 The force of the wind totally demol- ished the large and handsome Metho- dist Episcopal church, south, the Cedar Keys high school building, the Christian church, and three colored churches, sev- erai private residences and all the fish houses except one. It also badly dam aSedf1 number of residences and stores, and the Suwanne ice factory, Wolfs cedar mill and the Eagle Pencil umbsr S1mpsnsS mill m of als0 J. the Harlong, 1aFgs and he blaming mill of Mover & Sons, just completed and ready for work, suffered considerably. The ice factory is so badly damaged that 1t is doubtful if 1t starts up again. The others will re- pair and resume business.
 The Florida Central and Peninsular railroad is heavy loser, as all the track, trestiing, etc, is washed away from here to No. 4, distance of three and half miles. It will probably be month before trains run through, but the people are told they will run within four miles by tomorrow and mails will be dispatched and received, with boat as connecting link.
 The adjoining island of Atsienaotie also suffered considerable, the Faber com pany being the principal losers. Their storage room, with about 1900 cases of cedar ready for shipment, was washed away, and the cedar has gone to sea. They also lost the office buildings and contents, wharf and cedar logs.
 Bae as the loss of property Is, 1t Is fear ed that the next few days will reveal a deplorable loss of life as we'll; so far as heard up to Tuesday, eighteen persons have been drowned.
 Of the whites six belonged to one fami- ly, mother, four children and a niece
 The Mary Eliza, a sponging schooner, came in at 10 o'clock Tuesday morning jury rigged," having had to cut away both plasts to prevent capsizng. She re- ported that at dark Monday night nearly 100 vessels were anchored on the sponge bars, and at daylight this morning not one was in sight Some may have made harbor at other points, but some must have gone down. At p. m. Wednesday part of the crew (eight mem of the sponge Rosalie came in in their small dlngeys and reported that their schooner had capsized and sunk off shore, and four men had been drowned.
 Much anxiety is felt in regard to fisher men, some encamped on small islands along the coast and others who left for camps yesterday. The result of the storm will be particularly disastrous to those engaged in the fish and oyster business, which had opened up with most fiatterng prospects for a successful season, cut off though from shipment by railroad. They will lose at least a month of their best time, and cannot hope to do more than pay expenses.
 Some of the handsomest and appa- rently most substantial buildings are damaged beyond repair. The large store of c. B. Rogers & Co., lost part of the front and nearly all of one side wall. The entire building will have to come down. Other large stores, warehouses, boat houses and residences were unroofed and otherwise damaged.
 The schooner Gertrude is dismasted and abandoned fifteen miles south of Cedar Key. The Mallory is fast in the Suwannee river swamps. The steamers Belle of Suwannee and c. D. Owens were both wrecked in the Suwannee river. The Owens is fast in the river swamps, while the Belle steamed slowly in this after noon with both smokestack and all up- per works gone.
 Numerous small crafts are lost. Crews of some are saved and others lost. Many of the rescued men report terrible expe- riences, some clinging for life to capsized boats, and others hanging to tree tops beaten and buffeted by wind and waves until almost exhausted. They all show the effects in their tattered clothing and bruised flesh, but are thankful to escape with their lives. Many others are still unaccounted for and families and friends are filled with anxiety. hoping for the best but fearing the worst. There has been no communication with the outside world by wire or mail for two days.