Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-10-12
Havana Is Lashed by Wind and
Rain-Family Is Killed, Crops
Ruined, and Wires Are Knock
ed Down.
FLOOD WARNINGS ARE
ISSUED FOR GULF COAST
Shipping Has Been Warned AL
the Way From Mobile to Charles
ton, and Great Damage Is
Feared There.
(RH Associated Press.l


HAVANA, Oct. u.-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.
To what extent the districts outside Of
the city have suffered cannot be deter
mined here, as Geographic 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 the roof of their home
on San Rafael street fell in upon them.
At Regla. across the harbor from Ha-
vana between 40 and so small craft were
sunk or driven ashore.
1t was rumored today that a stea mer
with two tunnels was ashore on the
beach east of MORO Castle, but the re-
port could not be verified as the wire
less apparatus at MORO Castle is down.
On account OF the heavy sea it was still
impossible this afternoon to cross the
'harbor.
1t is believed that the damage to the
tobacco crop will be limited to the de-
struction to seed beds, which is too late
to re-plant. The storm, combining ter
rifle wind and torrential downpour CT
rain. reached the city from the west
ward about 2 o'clock this morning and
did not subside till well toward noon.
The streets were flooded and electric
plants rendered imperative No steam
ers have arrived today. The property
loss will be confined to destruction OF
roofs, telegraph and telephone wires.
Torrential rains have fallen ceaselessly
during the past few days. At 2 o'clock
lhis morning a storm of tremendous Sc
verify which had gathered to the west
swept down upon the city and for six
hours wrought damage similar to What
done by the great cyclone of October II,
1906.
The wind tore down telegraph and tele-
phone wires throughout the city, uprooted
or brtke every tree in its path, and put
out OF operation the electric light system,
the overhead trolley lines and the many
works dependent upon the electric power
plants. While the wind was doing its
worst the downpour of rain flooded the
streets, making it impossible to open the
shops.
The smaller craft in the harbor were at
the mercy OF the storm and today many
of these are thrown high on shore. while
others have been sunk at their anchor
ages. No pa.srs were issued this MORN
ing, the newspaper plants being crippled
by the floods. The steamers of the Ward
and Plant lines, as we'll as the steamer
from New Orleans, which are due today.
had not arrived this forenoon. BY 9 O'Clock
the storm had begun TIC abate. and as the
morning progressed the wind continued
to subside, but a terrific sea was still
running.
The West Indian hurricane is. fast ap-
preaching Key West, according to dis
patch received at noon by the weather
bureau from its observer at that point.
He reported the barometer had dropped to
the remarkably low reading of $50 and
the wind was blowing at the rate of 6S
miles an hour
TO sAFEG} $, RID LIFE.
In order to safeA ard 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 that
he has taken refuge from the storm in
the light house located on the island.
Great destruction to property and loss
of life on the south Atlantic coast. and
even in the interior, according to Profess
or Moore, is certain to result from the
hurricane.
Additional informa ton has led Professor
Moore to take every measure possible to
off the Florida coast from the approach
ing storm At noon he sent the following
instructions by wire to the signal office
observers at Jupiter Inlet Tampa, jack
sonville and Thomasville, Ga.
ISSUES INSTRUCTIONS.
Hurricane now central near Key West
promises to be destructive to life and
property over a large portion Of the Flor
ida peninsula. You are authorized to in
cur any necessary expense and to adopt
every reasonable measure to disseminate
warnings to the islands. coast cities and
even the interior of the state"
In the opinion of the forecasters, the
storm will certainly cover the entire Flor
ida peninsula, but wilt be felt in less de-
gree west of the Appalachicola river. 1t
is due In full force tonight, and the
weather bureau appeals to all newspapers
and commercial organizations in the
threatened district to spread the news Of
its approach.
Storm Warnings Issued
for Gulf Coast by Bureau