The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-09-28


hours has been churning the waters of
the Gulf of Mexico and doing much dam
age on the coast and far inland. is to-
night whipping through North Alabama in
a northeasterly direction at a velocity
but slightly less than that recorded In
New Orleans during the day.
Reports received by the Associated
Press do not indicate any loss of life, but
the damage to property over the terri
tory touched by the storm is something
enormous.
All wire communication is seriously dis
arranged, and in some instances has re-
suited in cutting off cities completely, Mo-
bile not having been heard from In nearly
twenty-four hours.
Pensacoia's Loss Is $3,00o,0o
Numerous washouts have occurred, the
interruption from this cause in one case
extending for thirty miles. Pensacola,
where the maximum velocity of wind
was probably felt early this morning, re-
ports q property loss of 100000 in the
city alone and sends r-umors of loss of
life which it is impossible to confirm to-
night as the uncertain wire which held
long enough to CLEAN this Information late
this afternoon failed with the coming of
night.
New Orleans furnished the subject Of
numerous wild rumors during the day,
but authentic reports from there tonight
indicate that while there was considerable
damage to property, there has been no
loss of life in the city.
Wires between New Orleans and the
gulf are prostrated, and 1t will be sew
eral days before anything can be heard
from the vast territory between the Cres-
cent City and the gulf, and before any
thing can be heard from the shipping
which is riding out the storm in the open
gulf.
Towns Not Heard From.
Biloxi, Mississippi City and Moss Point.
Miss, have not been heard from for twen-
ty-four hours Moss Point reporting the
water four feet deep in the streets of the
little town at 10 o'clock Wednesday night
There was heavy rain and high wind
at Montgomery during the day, but no
serious damage was done.
A gale is blowing at Birmingham tonight
after a day of steady rain, and a Meul-
phis the rain has been continuous for
thirty-six hours.
Atlanta began to feel the storm at noon
today, but UP to 3 o'clock tonights its
force had not been increased to an effect
portending serious results.
The damage to railroads is very heavy.
Reports to the officials of the Louisville
and Nashville road from south of Mobile
and Montgomery divisions indicate that
lIt lOSStS one million QOl-
lars.
The tracks between Flomaton, Ala, and
Pensacola, Fla. are obstructed In many
places and in some places badly torn up
by falling trees, while the section between
Georgian and Graceville, Fla, has suffered
similarly.
At Pensacola the Louisville and Nash
vile grain elevator has been destroyed
and the entire trackage to Escambia Bay
is ruined. The railroad wharf at Pensa-
cola is reported to be a total loss, and
many cars of coal of the company were
washed into the bay.
L. & N. Roadbed Badly Damaged.
Further reports Indicate that the road
bed between Bay Mnette. Ala. and Mo-
bile, a distance of thirty miles has been
washed away, rendering traffic impossible.
Five hundred section workmen being
rushed tonight from Montgomery and Bir-
mingham TO the scene of the damage.
The Louisville and Nashville also suf
fered several washouts near New Orleans
and no trains are running tonight over
certain sections of this trackage. The
New Orleans and Northeastern roads re-
ports its track under water at several
places in the vicinity of New Orleans.
No word has come from any of the other
railroads having their terminals at New
Orleans. The waters of Lake Ponchar-
train, which for the past twenty-four
hours have been five feet above normal,
causing a serious overflow in part Of New
Orleans. receded apprecably. The water
in the submerged districts began to drain
off and the wind which veered to the
northwest, began TO drive the waters of
the larke towards the gulf.
Efforts to Estimate Damage FrultIess.
New Orleans, September H.-All efforts
to estimate the damage has beeen fruitless
tonight almost twenty-four hours after
the appearance of the storm. Apprehen-
sion was increased by the fact the many
places beginning at Lake Catherine, at
the scene of the flooding of the Louisville
and Nashville tracks, to the farthest point
east, are much more exposed to wind and
water than some places on the Immediate
gulf. Bay ST. Louis. Pass Christian
mississippi City, Biloxi, Pascagoula and
other places face the Mississippi sound
across which the wind has long sweep
receiving the brunt of the gale.
Although the papers have tried heroicai-
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