The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1909-10-14
5gul HOMES RUINED;
!. 100 SHIPS WRECKED
Hurricane at Key West Causes
Great Damage.
HUNDREDS ARE HOMELESS
War Department Aids in Preventing
Looting Jail Filled with
4 Thieves Martial Law
Prevails.

Key West, Fla, oct. 13.--Half the
city is practically in ruins, over 500
homes have been destroyed and more
than hundred ships wrecked as re,
suit of the hurricane which swept
this city Seven churches and nine
of the largest cigar factories in the
south also were destroyed.
Large forces of men are now al
work cleaning up the streets under the
direction of Mayor Fogarty. Hundreds
OF homeless are still roaming the
streets, hungry and with little prospect
Of shelter. Fortunately the weather is
warm and there is little physical SUI
fering.
The war department has instructed
the conmandant OF the coast artillery
companies stationed here to aid the
city authorities in every way possible
and tents and bedding will be distrib-
uted by the soldiers.
No estimate can be given of the
financial loss, but it is believed 1t will
be between two and three million
dollars.
One death is reported, that of Frank
Gray, a photographer.
Whole Blocks Raced.
In the city whole blocks Of frame
structures we're razed, brick houses
also fell before the gale. while the
great tobacco factories and ware
houses suffered considerable damage
II will probably be several weeks be-
fore they will be able to resume OPP
erations.
The city jail Is filled to overlooking
with yandals captured by the militia
and police during the night. Thieves
began operations as soon as the fury
of the storm had abated. the wreck
ing of the electric light plant having
plunged the city into darkness. The
mayor Immediately took stringent
measures to cope with the situation
and proclaimed martial law. The
Key West guards were called out and
patrolled the streets during the night
Loss Of Life Is Feared.
II is fully expected that incoming
reports will disclose severe damage
to shipping and much destruction to
property, perhaps some loss of life
among the Florida Keys, but undoubt-
eddy the destruction would have been
very much greater except for the
prompt action of the weather bureau
in spreading broadcast through every
available agency warnings of the ap-
preaching hurricane.
West Coast Escapes.
Tampa, Fla, Oct. 13.-News re.
ceived here indicates that the west
the full force of the hurricane, but
anxiety Is felt over shipping which
is known to have been in the path OF
the storm. Every effort was made tc
reach all vessels by wireless, but with.
out success in many instances.
1t is now believed that the damage
from the storm will be comparatively
light in the interior.
Havana Bears Brunt of Storm.
Havana, Oct. 13.-The effects of the
cyclone appear to have been consid.
erably less serious than at first sup
posed. Communication has been re-
opened with all parts of Hayans
province and a large part of Pinar del
Rio province. In the former some
damage has been done by floods, but
the sugar cane everywhere is in fine
condition. No extraordinary damage
is reported in the latter province. The
Isle of Pines, which it was feared was
devastated, escaped the storm entire
ly. No fatalities are reported from
the interior.
Apparently the brunt of the storm
was borne by Havana city and SUI
burbs. Careful estimates of the dam.
age suffered in the city and by the
shipping in the harbor indicate that
the loss will not exceed 100000