The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-10-15
HALF OF KEY WEST IN RUINS.
Five Hundred Homes Destroyed and
100 Ships Wrecked.

five hundred homes have been de-
stroyed, and more than a hundred
ships wrecked as a result of the hur-
rieane which swept this city yester-
day afternoon. Seven churches and
nine Of the largest cigar factories in
the South also were destroyed.
Hundreds Of men are now at
work cleaning up the streets under
the direction Of Mayor Fogarty.
One death is reported, that of
Frank Gray, photographer
To-day hundreds Of homeless were
roaming the streets. Fortunately
the weather is bri ght and warm, and
there is little physical suffering.
The war department has instructed
the commandant Of the coast artil-
1ery companies stationed here to aid
the city authorities in every way pos
sible, and tents and bedding will be
distributed by the soldiers.
At this time no estimate can be
given of the financial losses incurred
by the storm, but it is believed it
will be between two and three million
dollars. It will be weeks, and in
some instances months before the big
tobacco factories Will be able to re-
sumo operations and business gener-
ally will be at a standstill for at least
several days.
As soon as darkness fell last night
thieves began their raid on the homes
and Office buildings destroyed by the
storm. The police were unable to
cope with the situation and Mayor
Fogarty Immediately called for the
Kew West Guards, the local military
organization. and the city was placed
under martial law.
In the residence districts the streets
IN many instances we're renderd i'm
passable by ruins of theihouses. Whole
buildings were picked up by the gale
and hurled across the street, and only
the advance warnings Of the weather
bureau prevented heavy loss Of
life.
Along the water front the beaches
we're strewn with the wreckage of
small boats of all kinds, and here
hardly a building was left standing,
while piers and wharves were all
swept away. At the time the storm
broke yesterday afternoon there were
narly 100 vessels in the harbor, the
majority Of these were swept to sea
or broken up on the beaches.
Second Mate Andrew Cooper, Of
the schooner Medford, lost his life
at tbe Government wharf, and his
body was washed overheard. Three
members Of the crew of another
schooner are missing, and it is
thought they were drowned.
katacumbie reports no loss Of life
there.
The reported loss Of eight hundred ,
lives along the east coast is believed
to be unfounded.
The United States weather bureau
and ship-reporting station at Sand
Key was swept to sea at 10 O'Clock
yesterday morning. Observers Dague
aBd Keiter and Willard, on duty
there, are safe.
The launch Lunette, with the crew
Of the dredge Nimke, arrived here
at 5 o'clock this aftrnoon, bringing
additional details Of the effects Of the
hurricane along the coast. The dredge
Nimke, Of the East Coast Extension
feet, lies disabledSn No. 5 trestle Eli,
between Matacumbie and Long Key,
which is badly washed in places. The
grade Of the extension at Jewish
Bush, is washed away, the dock at
Pigeon Key is wrecked, the fill at
knights Key is washed away, leav-
ing the trestle firm, the approach to
the viaduct at Long Key is gone and
wreckage is piled on the shore every
where.
All Of the massive concrete viaducts
Of the extension are reported safe, as
is the bridge from Knights Keys to
the piers.
The master of the Lunette reported
that in coming down he saw several
dre1ges and concrete mixers sub
merged along the coast, in some cases
ri'os from tho work.
Many small boats and other wreck
ago we're seen on the shore. but be
eo~13 not sN>, whether there was any
loss IF life.
J F. Gre~. :he photographer, lost
hi 1;fe IN - o'npting to save his
Ybo +.