The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-10-04
LIGHTHOUSE KEEPERS LOST.
urLF STORM DESTROYS SEVERAL
LIGHTHOUSES.

-. E..pers and Their Families Mlsaing
damage 20 Forts ~ Pensacola and
Nobl,e-AII the ships Beached at PEN
sncolA Ma ne saved and Repaired.
EXAMINATION, Oct. Sew eral keepers
ARE lost and their lighthouses destroyed
- the recent hurricane which swept over
~. Gulf Of Mexico. Reports received at
.hs Office Of the Lighthouse Board in this
- Indicate that the damage to thel light
Lu,ses. bcacons and buoys in the Gulf
nos been large. The keepers Of the Horn
I.land light, their dau ghters and grand
laughter are missing, and the channel
4. now where the light formerly stood.
The Fast Pascagoula station has been en-
,ralv DESTROYED and no Ii ghts are in service
,D that section. The keeper at the Sands
I.and light is also reported as missing.
The lights at the entrance OF Pensacola
nav and Devil Point beacon were de-
.,roved. In addition many buoys have
ban displaced and carried out TO sea.
commander James H. Sears, lighthouse
;,snector for the Eighth district, with
b~sadouarters at New Orleans, reported
that grave rumors OF destruction had come
trorn the vicinity OF Mississippi Sound.
He IL cruising aboard the lighthouse tender
Magnolia and will visit ALI the stations
along the Gulf coast to ascertain the exact
damage. He has been authorized TO tax
.nv necessary steps to restore the destroyed
lighthouses as quickly as possible.
The War Department to-day received
two dispatches from the headquarters
n the Department of the Gulf at Atlanta.
Ca, telling Of the damage Ion by the
recent storm at Fort Barrancas and Fort
McRae. Fla, and at Fort Morgan, Ala.
The first despatch says:
AT Fort McRae all buildings destroyed,
with all Government and personal property
pertaining to Twenty-second Company,
Coast Artillery. Casualties by drowning:
Company Quartermaster Sergeant Norris
q. Oberlander and Private Roy A. Jordan
q, the ~Tweuty-second Company. In addi-
ION the wife and son Of Ordnance Sergeant
Prentice reported drowned. The storm
nclrred night September 20 and q. Lieut..
Edwards and majority Company took,
refuge on eight inch battery, from which
thew we're rescued with difficulty in the
afternoon Of the 9th. At Fort B~aTrancas
no casualties. but nearly all buildings
damaged. Steam launch Mendenhall was
washed ashore. No damage TO hull, but
boiler displaced and connections broken.
A. Fort Pickens no casualties. Buildings
damaged, nut sui Je1dDles DOCh udLIlhBous
Steamer Poe, due to splendid work OF
captain and crew, rode storm successfully
and is about the only steamer in Pensacola
harbor in condition for navigation. Twenty
second Company now at Barrancas. Many
refugees from Warrington were given o
and shAlter at Barrancas.'
The second despatch said:
Capt. Dryer 10Y reports that Corporal
Frank Beatty, Eighth Company Coast Ar
tillery is believedto have been swept away
nv sea. No other casualties reported at
Fort Morgan. About twelve civilians in
vicinity OF post not employees reported
lost; names unknown. Storm began early
September 2G'and lasted until late on the
27th. II washed over post from Gulf to Bay,
ooeening foundations of some buildings,
which were overturned. Barracks and
officers quarters badly damaged and leak
ing. Sewage and water systems useless.
Water now obtained from rainwater tanks.
Pumping and distilling plant believed can
be put in operation shortly. when water
can be distilled. Six mules lost and all
wagons washed away. Pump house, boat
house, part OF quartermaster dock, ord
nance s~torehouse, oil house, fire engine
and apparatus and engine house, post res
ervoir for coal, oil and forage destroyed.
Steamer Ratchelder is in shape and now
making regular trips"
The Navy Department has received a
telegram from Naval Constructor Caps,
In which he says that there are good pros
poets Of saving all OF the ships which were
beached at Pensacola during the recent
storm. The work is progressing rapidly
and satisfactorily, and the indications are
that the stranded ships are in such condl-
ton that thew can be repaired.