The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-09-29
PENSACOLA BADLY
INJURED BY STORM
Woodlawn Man Tells About the
Destruction There
FOUR PERSONS PERISH
F. P. Dunnam Comes From PENSACOLA
On the First Train Out of That
city-Business Is Temper
arily Demoralized.

f. P. Dunnam of Woodlawn returned
from Pensacola yesterday afternoon on
the only train out of the city since We'd
nesday night and gave an account, first
hand, of the devastating storm of Wednes-
day and Thursday. Mr.. Dunnam left Pen
saeola Thursday morning at 11;55 O'Clock
and reached Birmingham at 2:4O o'clock
yesterday afternoon, nearly twenty-seven
hours being required to make the trip of
about $50 miles.
All along the railroad between Pensa-
cola and Flomaton trees were fallen
across the track and telegraph wires all
broken down. The numerous trees had to
be removed as they were come to, and
this accounts for the time required to
make the trip.
In speaking of the storm Mr.. Dunnam
stated that the wind began to rise at 3
o'clock Wednesday afternoon and in
creased steadily until a velocity of So
miles an hour was reached at 4 o'clock
Thursday morning. At o'clock Wednes-
day night all electric lights and street
cars were put out Of commission and the
city was In total darkness. The water was
the highest In the remembrance of any
body living in Pensacola, the waves at the
height OF the storm reaching at least
90 feet. Captain Krieder, an old sailor,
who resided In the city for thirty years
says that he has never seen anything to
compare with it.
Despite the severity of the storm the loss
of life was comparatively light 81 know
4 /.
dren and a sailor" said Mr.. Dunnam
1.-The woman and three chislren were
caught on Muskogee wharf and there per-
ished
Up to late Thursday morning the water
was up to within one-half a block of the
government building, and 1t had at that
time reeeded considerably. A great many
houses In Pensacola are flooded and a
number of buildings were carried off their
foundations. but few were blown away.
Nearly every tin roof In the city was
blown off. and very few windows of any
description are left whole There is not
an awning on Its bearings in the entire
city.
All of the shade trees are blown down.
At o'clock yesterday morning a saw
mill near the electric plant caught fire
and set fire to the power house. The dam
age was sufficient to put tho street cars
and lights out for months until the neces-
,sary repairs can be made. The loss is
Judged to be between four and five mill
lion dollars.
All railroad tracks between Flomaton
and Pensacola are probably out of use
since the heavy rains of Thursday night.
No trains or mail has come into the city
since Wednesday night TT was stated
to me on good authority" said Mr. Dun
nam, "that the Louisville and Nashville
had 15O cars, loaded principally with coal,
on the wharves, and these were all lost
in the bay. All trains out of Birmingham
on the Louisville and Nashville are tied
up at Bay Minette. There will probably be
no trains between Pensacola and the river
junction in four or five days or more"
The town is under very strict police
law, and there is very little trouble Moth
ing but drug stores and coffee saloons
are open. 1t is impossible to secure meals
at the hotels.