The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-10-24
THE HURRICANE.
At SAN TAROsA
ISLAND
Official Report On the Big
Storm by Captain
Broadbent.
How the Lives of Those At
Station Were Saved.
KEEPER OF SANTA ROSA LIFE
SAVING STATION SENDS INTER.
EsTlNe REPORT ON RECENT
STORM TO AUTHORITIES AT
WASHINGTON.

Capt Robert Broadbent, the keeper
of Santa Rosa life saving station, has
completed his report to be forwarded
to the general superintendent Of the
life saving service at washington,
upon the hurricane of last month. The
report is an interesting one, and
shows the manner in which the lives
of those employed at the station and
also those who had taken refuge there
were saved. 1t is as follows:
OFFICIAL Report.
Santa Rosa Station, Oct %.
General Superintendent, Life Saving
Service, Washington. D. c.
"Sir:-In compliance with instruc-,
tons contained in your letter of thet
18th instant, have the honor to SUBJ
NIT the following report, covering the
hurricane that recently visited this
coast and which wrecked the Santa
Rosa Life Saving Station:
"On the 26th day of September
"wednesday during the whole day it
was blowing hard from the N. E. with
high surf running. and increasing
during the afternoon until about 3
p. M, the wind had reached a 'heayX
gale The barometer was falling rap
idly and the indications looked very
| bad: the sea was increasing and
about D. m, was of fearful violence,
breaking. well up on the sand hills
facing the station, the footings OF
which began to disappear. The wind
still increasing and the barometer
still falling it was deemed prudent to
take the large Monomoy surf boat
from the station building, first taking
| it off the carriage Gas the wind would
have turned all over and roll 1t to-
ward the back ebay side) of the sta
ton and plant a 60 pound anchor
with a big scope of cable, then ran al;
long line to the base of the station
building, as lead or guide to assist
nine more people who had taken
refuge in it some time previous,
These consisted of four women, two
of whom were the keepers daughters
and five children ranging In age FROM
three twelve years.
"a large bathing house about this
time, and about three hundred feett
to the southeast of the station, began
washing away and soon disappeared.
The storm still increased until at
about 10 D. m, the raging waters be-
gan to make a clean breach across
the island. Between the hours of ID
midnight and / a. m, of the 9th alp
the people, including crew, managed
r., -of 20 In hn 70 hfn
wind was blowing a hurricane and tha
flying water, binding rain and wee
sand making 1t impossible to see tho;
station building, only about $50 yards
distant
About a. m, crash was heard
caused by the station lookout having
blown of. At this time the boat was
riding to her anchor, and a heavy
grapnel which held on. Soon aftef
this large masses of wreckage began
sweeping by the surfboat, showing
that the station had collapsed, and It
required the best efforts of the crew.
with boat hooks and oars to steer
same away to prevent the staving OF
the boat, which was the only means
OF saving the lives OF the sixteen per
sons that 1t contained Everyone was
drenched and cold. The women and
children were protected as far as
possible by wrapping them In two
large blankets and the taupauIins. The
surf boat road to her anchor with
that fearful wind and sea splepdidly,
buoyant and safe.
"As daylight began breaking the
wind had veered to the southeast and
1t was thought best to run the boat
before II. The anchor was tripped
and with drouge out at her stern, with
the assistance Of two quartering oars
the start was made across the bay
| towards the woods. and while the
sea was running very high and wind
but little decreased. the Monomoy
boat with its living freight made the
trip safely. landing on high ground
near Woolsey. Three seas were
shipped during the trip All hands.
after securing the boat, walked to the
navy yard, some two miles. asked for
and received shelter at the hospital
where we remained until the 29th,
when with boat proceeded to Pensa-
cola and telegraphed report Of the
disaster to Washington and the dis
| trict superintendent.
The transcripts are being made GOV.
ering the whole time from Sept. 23rd.
excepting the reading OF the Their
mometer. barometer, passing vessels.
ETC.,
Respectfully,
"ROBT. BROADBENT, :,
"Kaeper Santa Rosa l. 8. Station 4