The Sentinel=record., 1909-10-12
Looters in Key West.

 wreckage and the damage to property ds estimated at $2.0O0O0O
 Martial law was proclaimed by the mayor at 6 o'clock and the Key West Guards are patrolling the city.
 The government f-as been asked to dispatch troops here without delay 10 assist in patroning the storm-swept area
 Chaos reigns on every hand and people have lost their homes, hun 1reds of which have either been to- tally wrecked or damaged. It is i'm possible at this hour to say whether there has been loss of life, but it is feared that many lives have been claimed along the coast.
 It is known that many have re- ceived more or less serious injury and reports are current that several lives have been lost. but these have not been verified.
 The storm reached it's height at o'clock this afternoon, when the wind reached an estimated velocity Of 100 miles an hour. This was a hard, steady blow from a. m. to 3 D. m., when the wind began to die down, and by o'clock the center of the hurri. cane had passed this point.
 While the hurricane is the worst that Ka., Meet hoe ,,,o, ,,.,,,,.i ,,..,a the local weather observer announced tonight that the indications are that the entire east coast of Florida will suffer terribly tonight.
 Of one hundred local vessels in the haTbor this morning, but five remain iiv unvilor. the others having either gone to sea or been washed upon the beach. The streets along the water front are a mass of wreckage. Brick as well as frame buildings throughout the city suffered alike from the fury of the heavy wind aid many miracu. lcus escapes from death or serious in jury have been reported
 Besides the several scores of resi-. dences either totally wrecked or blown from their pillars, nine facto- rfes were partially destroyed, includ- ing the Havana-American Martinez, Nicholas. Hny Lopez Manuel Fleitas Torrs, Cortez and Wolf cigar nanu- factories.
 Engine houses and of the city fire department were destroyed. the flremen narrowly escaping, but sev- eral of the horses were killed. The top of the First National Bank was blown off, the postoffice damaged and two running gears of the govern. ment station were wrecked
 Every telephone and electric light pole on Duval street, the principal thoroughfare of the city, were blown down
 As soon as the wind had subsided plundering began. The city police force was unable to cope with the situation and the mayor decided to take stringent measures to suppress the footing, his proclamation of mar tial law resulting.
 Almost every nationality is repre- sented among the cityls population of morethan 10000, about one half or whom are employed in the cigar man. ufactories. sponge, fisheries and sal wage companies.
 5000 Worknen In Danger.
 Miami, Fla. Oct 1.-The storm which has prevailed here since yes terday afternoon increased in inten- sity this afternoon. the rain comlng down in sheets. driven by strong winds from the south People are fortifying their houses and vessels Tn the harbor against the hurricane, which is expected to arrive tonight.
 At D. m. the storm is growing more furious here and the wind is driving from the south at great rate.
 All efforts of the officials of the Florida East Coast Railroad here 70 get in communication with the men at work on the roads extension on the Keys of the extreme southern peninsula have beeen in vain. Be. tween 2,500 and 5000 workmen are employed in the construction work on the lower keys, where there is slight opportunity for prorection from the fury of the storm.
 It is said that the construction camps are better fortified now and it Is known that the engineers on the work have beei preparing for big blow for a number of days past. Tn spite of this. however, the exposed location of the railroad which skirts the very brink of the ocean stretches of the massive concrete columns even being out of sight of land leads to grave concern for the safety of The wofimen