The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-10-12
Key West Is Most Severe
Sufferer From Hur-
. ricane.
GANGS
ARE WIPED OUT
Estimated That Wind Blows
Hundred Miles an
Hour.

NEW ORLEANS, La. Oct. f2.-
Wireless messages from Tampa, the
| nearest point of communication
from the hunicane-swept distriet Of
Key West, today convey <the in
| |tslligence that hundreds of people
have lost their lives in the storm
which has swept the southeast coast. .
Today, in addition to the dead. thou
S,snds are homeless, hundreds of
houses are in ruins.
While the death toll was great in
all sections Of southern Florida. and
the Keys, where the hurricane
struck, the brunt Of it is believed TO
have been borne by the immense
gangs Of worknen who were en-
gagged in railroad construction. Of
them at least 400 are declared to
have periShed.
MI " I'd MRELhEU.
The city to suffer the most dam
age, however. is Key West. Today
it is one great mass of wreckage.
with property loss of not less
than $1,000. 900
While full warning was given to
the inhabitants along the Florida
coast, the West Indies. and the
Florida Keys. little if anything
could be done save TO make fast the
ships in the harbors. When the
first puff of the hurricane struck
the city it was apparent the storm
would be one Of almost unpre-
eedented severity. The wind gain
ed a velocity of sixty miles an
hour. then eighty, and occasionally
spurts of 100 miles were attained
with awful loss of life and prop
erty.
Houses in exposed places col
lapsed, and pinned the victims be-
meath the ruins.
Terrible as the storm was, It's
worst phases we're quickly over,
and by o'clock last night the
situation. as far as Key West was
concerned, was we'll in hand. The
Key West guards were ordered out
TO patrol the city, martial law was
proclaimed, and appeals made both
to the State and Federal Govern
7y7nnfu
LOSS ON RAILROADS.
While reports are still meager from
any but the largest cities in the stricken
district. enough news has been received
from the keys. where a great amount
of railway construction is under way, to
know that the loss Of life there Is
Between 200 and 800 men were
employed there IN construction work,
and it is believed certain tha1 hundreds
Of these have perished.
While shipping in the Southern har-
bors was generally taken care Of be-
cause of the warning given by the
Weather Bureau OF the approaching
storm, it is feared that many steamers
were caught in the open sea and heavy
loss Of life and ships IS also feared.
Worry About Ship.
At Tampa great concern is felt for the
steamer Lampasas. of the Mallory line.
and the Pacific and Oriental steamer
Olivetto. Both of these should have
reached port Monday. but until lac last
night nothing had been heard or seen
Of them, and all efforts to communicate
bv wireless Hs-yed Futile
Other steamers in the New Yorx-New
Orleans trade are also. it is feared. vic
Tins OF the sale Among these is the
Momus, with a large list Of tourists on
board. which sailed from New York sat
urday
The Antilles. whIch was on its wav
from ST. Louis 90 New Aork. has on
board Governor Sanders. Of Louisiana,
and the greatest fears are being enter
tanned for his safety
As vet communication has not vet been
received from any Of tie many boats
that are known TO have been caught IN
the gale. or the smaller vessels scores
are known 20 have been wrecked. aud
reports from places along the coast,
even close TO the harbors. are that the
beaches are strevn with wrecksge.