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
TorrentiaI Rains, Wild Winds and
Mountainous Seas Work Ruth
less Wreck and Ruin on
Queen of the Antilles.
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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 a great hurricane which has al
ready touched southern Florida and is
making its way up the coast. The
weather bureau has received informa-
ton 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 a large portion of
the Florida peninsula. You are au-
thorlzed to incur any necessary EXPENSE
and to adopt every reasonable measure
coast cities and even the interior of
the state"
Barometer Low; Wind High.
Just before noon the barometer at Key
West recorded the remarkably low read
ing OF 2S.S4, 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
degree west of the Appalachicola river
1t is due in full force tonight and the
weather bureau appeals to all newspapers
and all commercial organizations in the
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
wind velocity was fifty-six miles. also
from the east. The swell was very high
In order TO safeguard the life of the
weather bureau observer at Sand Key,
a small island to the southwest OF Kew
West. Chief Moore ordered the man to
abandon his post. This he reluctantly
did and has reported TO Washington that
he has taken refuge from the storm in
the lighthouse located on the island.
Havana Storm Lashed.
HAVANA. October 1.-This city was
storm-lashed in the early hours of today.
and although the damage wrought prom
Uses 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 off.
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 Moro is down, and because
of the heavy sea it 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 1t
did not subside until well toward noon.
The streets were flooded with water and
electric power plants rendered inopera-
tive. Ma steamers have arrived today.
The property loss will be due chiefly to
the destruction of roofs. telephone and
wires.
Three Days of Rain.
Torrential rains have fallen cease
lessly during the past few days. The
storm of this morning was Of tre-
severity. and for six hours
damage similar to that done
by the great cyclone of October II.
1906
The wind tore down telegraph and
telephone wires throughout the city.
lprooted or broke down every tree in
It's 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.
he newspaper plants being crippled