Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-11
LIFE AND PROPERTY LOSS
ARE CERTAIN. SAYS MOORE
Urgent Warnings Flutter Along
South Atlantic Coast.
CUBAN CAPITAL SUFFERS MUCH
Torrential. Rains, Wild Winds and
Mountainous Seas Work Ruth
less Wreck and Ruin on
Queen Of the Antilles.

Great destruction to property and loss
of life on the south Atlantic coast, and
even in the interior. according to Prof.
Willis L. Moore, Is certain to result
from great hurricane which has al
ready touched southern Florida and is
making its way up the coast. The
weather bureau has received informa-
tion that has led Prof Moore to take
every measure possible to protect the
Inhabitants Of the sea islands Off the
Florida coast from the approaching
storm
Destruction Is Threatened.
At noon Chief Moore sent the fol-
lowing instructions by wire to the sig
nal office observer at Jupiter Inlet.
Tampa. Jacksonville and Thomasville,
Ga:
Hurricane now central near Key
West promises to be destructive to life
and property over large portion of
the Florida peninsula You are au-
thor1zed to incur any necessary expense
ana to adopt every reasonable measure
10 disseminate warnings to the islands,
NAelSS anu CtCI Tie interior OF
the state"
Barometer Low; Wind High.
Just before noon the barometer at Key
West recorded the remarkably low read
ing OF 2S.64, and already at that point
the wind had reached hurricane force.
In the opinion of the forecasters the
storm will certainly cover the entire
Florida peninsula. but will be felt in less
docrR 30 H.
It fs due in full force tonight and the
weather bureau appeals to all newspapers
and all commercial organizations In tho
threatened district to spread the news
Of Its approach.
At o'clock this morning the hurricane
was central, just west of Key West, Fla
At Sand Key. Fla. the wind was sixty
miles from the east. At Key West the
wind velocity was ffty-six miles, also
from the east. The swell was very high.
All Shipping Warned.
Storm warnings were ordered yester-
day afternoon from Key West to Mobile
and changed to hurricane warnings early
this morning Warnings were also order
ed on the Atlantic coast as far north
as Charleston.
The center OF the storm will probably
pass northward over Florida tonight and
tomorrow. and be felt tomorrow on the
in the affected area has been warned to
seek .fuge Immediately. Hourly OBJ
servations will be taken and all ports
kept advised OF the direction Of the
storm.
In order to safeguard the life Of the
weather bureau observer at Sand Key,
a small island to the southwest of Key
West Chief Moore ordered the man to
abandon his post. This he reluctantly
did and has reported to Washington thek
he has taken refuge from the storm in
the lighthouse located on the island
HAVANA, October 11.-This city was
storm-laShed In the early hours of today,
and although the damage wrought prom
ises to be less than was indicated when
day broke. much suffering was entailed
and the money loss will be considerable
In the city.
To what extent the districts outside
the city have suffered cannot be deter
mined here. as telegraphic and telephone
communication has been cut on.
The fatalities in the city were confined
to one family, the five members Of which
were killed when their home fell in upon
them.
Fifty Small Craft Sunk.
At Regla, across the harbor from Ha-
vana, between forty and fifty small craft
were sunk or driven ashore. 1t was ru-'
mored today that a steamer with two
tunnels was ashore on the beach east OF
Moro Castle. but the truth of the re-
port cannot be determined. as the wireless
apparatus at Morro Is down. and because
Of the heavy sea 1t is still impossible this
afternoon to enter the harbor.
1t Is believed that the damage to the
tobacco crop will be limited to the de-
struction of seed beds, which 1t is not too
late to replant. The storm, combining
terrific wind and torrential downpour
of rain, reached the city from the west
ward about o'clock this morning. and It
did not subs.de until we'll toward noon.
The streets were flooded with water and
electric power plants rendered jnopera-
tive No steamers have arrived today.
The property loss will be due chiefly to
the destruction of roofs. telephone and
telegraph wires.
Three Days Of Rain.
Torrential rains have fallen cease
lessly during the past few days. The
storm of this morning was Of tre-
mendous severity, and for six hours
wrought damage similar to that done
by the great cyclone. of October II.
The wind tore down telegraph and
telephone wires throughout the city.
uprooted or broke down every tree In
its path, and put out Of operation the
electric railway system. the overhead
trolley lines and the many works de-
pendent upon the electric power plant.
No papers were issued this morning.
the newspaper plants being crippled.