Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1909-10-12
Warnings of Impending Danger Sent
to All Seaport Towns.
THOUSANDS FACE GRAVE DANGER
Vessels at Sea Get Wireless Reports
of 0ncOming Storm.
PEOPLE FORTIFY THEIR HOMES
Isle of Cuba Suffers Heavy Monetary
Losses to Buildings and Crops
American Cities Also
Report Disaster.

| HAVANA, Oct 1.-THE most serious tor
nado since the big blow of October IL,
1905, struck Cuba early this morning, caus-
! ing extensive devastation through the whole
western portion Of the island
| In the city of Havana many minor build
| ings were blown down or unroofed almost
all the trees were uprooted and five per-
sons were killed, one by an electric wire
and the others by falling buildings. About
twenty-five persons were injured.
The greatest damage done was in the
harbor, where forty or fifty lighters.
launches and small tugs were either sunk
or blown ashore. At Casablanca great anx-
iety was felt throughout the day for the
safety of the Ward Liner, MORO Castle
from New York. and the Plant Line
steamer Miami, from Key West. Both Of
these steamers, however, arrived safely at
$50 o'clock this afternoon, having kept
off-shore for hours awaiting an abatement
of the storm.
The total damage in Havana and vicin-
ity is estimated at $1OOO,OOO. The greatest
Individual loss has been caused by the
destruction of half the coal elevator con-
veyors Of the Havana Coal company at
Casablanca, estimated at $2O0000 1t will
be possible to raise the greater number Of
AhN MANNhCh AlBhAOiS oAiu StANA SANANs
Communication Interrupted.
Communication with the interior Of the
island has been interrupted except with
parts of Havana and Pinar Del Rio prov
| inces, in which the orange and other fruit
crops suffered severely. There were heavy
floods at Vuelta AbaJo. the tobacco re-
/ gion, but the tobacco crop has not been
seriously affected, beyond the washing
out Of the seed beds. which, at this sea-
son of the year, are capable Of renewal.
/ Following the heavy rains Of the last
few days, gale began at o'clock this
morning, which rapidly increased in in
tensity and reached cyclonic proportions
at $40 a. m. when the velocity of the
wind was about 100 miles an hour. The
| gale came from the south, southwest and
the vortex of the tornado was short dis
tance west of Havana. The storm con-
tinued with unabated fury until o'clock,
after which the rain was intermittent.
with occasional heavy squalls throughout
the day The wind subsided tonight and
the indications are for clearing weather.
At Arroyo Naranjo which is about
eight miles from Havana. the new tuber-
culosis hospital was blown down and
many patients were injured. During the
height Of the storm a small Spanish brig
| struck the wreck of the old battleship
Maine and remained fastened to it until
pulled off by tugs.
The only steamer overdue is the Chal-
mette from New Orleans, which was
scheduled to arrive here this morning.
Extensive Damage mt Key West.
KEY WEST, Fla, Oct. 1l.-Although the
hurricane is the worst that Key West has
ever experienced, the local weather OBJ
:, server said tonight that the indications are
that the entire east coast of Florida will
suffer terribly tonight. OF 100 vessels in
the harbor. but five remain at anchor
The others have either gone to sea or have
been washed upon the beaches. The streets
along the waterfront are mass of wreck.
age.
BriSk as we'll as frame buildings through
out the city suffered from the fury of the
=, hurricane and many miraculous escapes
from death have been reported.
Besides the several score of residences
either totally /recked or blown from theh
foundations, nine factories were partially
destroyed, including the Havana-American
Marines, Ruy Lopez, Manuel Lopez, Flelta'
Toryes and Wolf cigar manufactures. No
and No. of the city fire department;
were destroyed and the firemen narrowly
escaped. The top Of the First Natona
bank was blown off, the postoffice damaged
and two running gears Of the government
coaling station were wrecked.
Every telephone and electric wire pole OF
Duval street, the principal thoroughfare o.
the city. was blown down.
Hurricane sweeps Florida.
MIAMI, Fla, Oct. 1.-THE storm which
has prevailed here since yesterday after
noon increased in intensity this afternoon
the rain coming down in sheets, driven by
strong winds from the south. People are
fortifying their houses and vessels IN thu
harbor against the hurricane. which is ex
pected to arrive tonight.
At p. m. the gulf storm is growing
more furious here and the wind is driving
from the south at a great rate The sky
is overcast with a sulphurous yellow
houses are being unrooted and limbs blowI
from trees.
| All efforts Of the officials OF the Floridl
: East Coast railroad here to get into com
munication with the men at work on III,
roads extension on the keys OF the ex
treme southern peninsula nave been n
-nn