Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-10
STORY OF THE STORM
Originated August 80 in Vicinity
of Windward Islands.
CAUSED TREMENDOUS RAINS IN CUBA
Developed Hurricane Ferocity in
the Gulf Of Mexico.
ITS COURSE DESCRIBED

The West Indies storm, which developed
into hurricane after reaching the United
States. was central in Oklahoma this morn
ing and was rapidly losing it's destructive
character, the wind at Oklahoma City being
reported as blowing at thirty miles an hour.
1t will probably pass into history one Of
the most disastrous, as well as peculiar,
storms on record.
The weather bureau was informed that
the first sign of the disturbance was noticed
August 80 near the Windward Islands. Au-
gust 81 it was still in the same neighbor-
hood at or about the point indicated on the
accompanying map, which shows it's track
daily throughout it's course up to its arrival
this morning in Oklahoma. The storm did
not develop any hurricane features during
its slow passage through the Caribbean
sea and across Cuba, but was accompanied
by tremendous rains. During the first
twelve hours of September 3, in Santiago,
Cuba, 1880 inches of rain fell and $50
inches fell in the next twelve. September
the rainfall during twelve hours in San
tiago was 4.44 inches, or total fall in
thirty-six hours of 1920 inches
There were some high winds in Cuba the
night of September 4.
Developing Destructive Features.
By the morning of the 9Th the storm CEN
ter was short distance northwest of Key
West. Fla, and the high winds had COM
menced over southern Florida. forty-eight
miles an hour from the east being reported
from Jupiter and forty miles from the
northeast from Key West.
At this time 1t became a question to the
weather bureau officials as to whether the
storm would recurve and pass up along the
Atlantic coast, most natural presumption
judging from the barometric conditions
10 nf
States. or whether 1t would continue north
westerly over the Gulf of Mexico.
Advisory messages were sent as early as
September l to Key West and the Bahama
Islands, giving warning of the approach OF
the storm and advising caution to all ship
ping. These warnings were supplemented
by others on the I'd. Sd and 4th, giving more
detailed information, and were gradually
Galveston, and the Atlantic coast to Nor
folk
Storm Warning Sent.
On the afternoon Of the 4th the first
storm warnings were issued to all ports in
Florida from Cedar Keys to Jupiter. On
the 9th they were extended to Hatteras
and advisory messages issued along the
coast as far as Boston. Hurricane warn
ings were also ordered displayed on the
night Of the 5th from Cedar Keys to Sa-
vannah. On the 9th storm warnings were
also ordered displayed on the gulf coast
from Pensacola, Fla. to Port Eads, La.
During the 9th barometric conditions over
the eastern portion of the United States SO
far changed as to prevent the movement
OF the storm along the Atlantic coast, and
1t. therefore. continued northwest over the
Gulf OF Mexico. On the morning of the Tth
1t was apparently central south Of the
Louisiana coast, about longitude 50, lati-
tude 2S At this time storm signals were
ordered up on the north Texas coast and
6pyr r{pey hn dow
entire coast. On the morning of the Sth
the storm was nearing the Texas coast and
was apparently central at about latitude
%, longitude "a.
The last report received from Galveston,
dated $40 pm, September s, showed a
barometic pressure Of 1922 inches, with
wind of forty-two miles an hour northeast,
indicating that the center Of the storm was
quite close to that city. AT this time the
heavy sea from the southeast was con-
stantly rising and already covered the
streets of about half the city. Since then
nothing has been heard direct from Gal
weston. Up to yesterday morning no
ports were received from southern Texas,
but the barometer at Fort Worth gave
some indications that the storm was pass
ing into the southern portion of the state.
An observation taken al San Antonio at II
o'clock but not received until $50 indi-
Gated that the center of the storm had
passed a short distance east of that pace,
and had then turned to the northward.
The next information received this morn
ing was that it had reached Oklahoma, as
stated.
Within the radius of the effect Of the
disturbance high winds prevailed. Septem-
ber 6 the wind was thirty-sx miles an
hour at Charleston, s. c.. from the east,
while the same night in Port Eads, La, 1t
blew fifty-six miles an hour from the north
east. AT New Orleans Saturday the wind
reached a velocity of forty-eight miles,
and at Forth Worth yesterday of tifty-two
miles.
Good Work Of Weather Bureau.
The announcement of the approach Of
the storm from it's birthplace to the states
is regarded as another valuable proof of