The Washington herald., 1906-10-21

Sent by President Roosevelt.
Miami Fla. oct. 20.-Details from the
district stricken by Thursdays hurri-
cane indicate that the death list viii
total 1.6CO and that the monetary loss
will mount well into-the millions.
Every hamlet along the coast, and on
the higher keys that escaped some OF
the fury of the storm, IS turned into a
place of refuge and is thronged with the
homeless mortals who escaped with their
lives.
At each Of these places are dozens Of
injured, while each incoming steamer
brings the bodies of the dead. Searching
parties have been sent out from maly
places. and are securing the coast for
the dead and injured.
Workmen on the extension of the Flor
ida East Coast Railway. from Miami to
Key West suffered most. Ten bargss.
each bearing 150 men. were torn from
their moorings and carried out to sen.
OF these barges. Nos. g and were
blown across Biseayne Bay and went
aground with the loss Of only few
lives.
Over Thousand Missing
Another one OF these barges, No l.
was broken UP by the heavy sea, and
all of the men lost, except fogy-nine,
who were picked up by the Austrian
steamer Jennie.
Other barges, with their human freight
of 1850 workmeu, have not been heard
from. and it is feared they have been
destroyed by the wind and the waves.
Fears are entertained for the entire fish
ing and fruit feet of this coast, as no
word has been received from any OF the
vessels. The lighthouses are also keep
ing Il careful lookout for ali vessels at sea.
Great damage has been done to many
of the lighthouses along the coast So far
as is known, however, none Of the lights
were put out OF commission by the storm,
aad each one is dping its besf sid,es
the wor,- of 1escue
Passengers Blown Into sen.
The Florida East Coast Railway will
suffer heavily from the storm, and much
or the work on the extension from Ions
Key 20 Key Brown, the mainland. and
Key West, viii have to be done over
again. There is also the possibility that
tho plans OF the builders may be changed
on account OF the danger of storms.
The Miami steamer St. Lucie wa.
crushed by the high waves, and out ol
1cO persons on board 55 were lost The
steamer Peerless. also lost about tho sam,
number. they being blown off the vessel
No persons at Miami were hurt
Heavy Loss of Life on Dredges.
About fifty men have just arrived al
Miami from Long Key. They repor
twenty-five men, and the quarter boat
at Long Key safe, also that two barge,
remain at Long Key. but the remainder
of the men and plant located there are
gone
II is estimated that fifty lives were los
on dredgers at Lower Metecumbo. TIL,
dredges Oyama. Mikado. Manotto, an
Dodge are safe. Two men were lost or
the pile driver. At Long Key about forty
men were picked up and are safe. Their,
was heavy loss Of life on the dredges al
Long Key.
The steamer Biscayne arrived this
morning in good condition. She met the
steamer Virginia on her way after the
bodies of the men who were washed
ashore from the St Lucie.
Waves EnguIf Island.
Among those rescued from the little
steamer St. Lucie was Capt Bravo, one
of the most competent shippers Of the
Florida and East Coast Line. He is now
in the hospital at Miami, where to-day he
gave out an interview, describing the dis
aster at EIHotts Island
When the storm broke the waves ran
the highest [ ever have seen in Florida
waters Everything loose was carried
away by the first gust, and in few mo-
ments our instruments showed the wind
had reached a velocity of eighty miles
an hour
"The storm had been running for about
an hour and a half when the tidal wave
nit the little island from the windwarc
side. Our boat was lifted, and our an
ohOr started to drag. Seeing that it would
be fatal to remain there, we slipped ouI
chains and attempted to run for the oper
sea. But it was too late. The wall o
water swept over Elliotts Key enguldns
houses and trees and shutting
sight OF land"
Blow on Atlantic COas
New York, Oct. 2O.-Travelin
westerly from Cuba and the
coast, the storm which has
much damage in Florida and tn
is now general at nearly all of
Iantic Coast points. The down
rain is the heaviest in many moni
CONTINUED on SECOND PAG
Free Oyster roast to-day at