The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1910-10-20
CUBA Hit HARD H
The Isyaaa Saaeied srealea Material
Damage IA History.
"a STORM PLAYS HAVOC

a STORM PLAYS HAVOC
sIany People Have Been Killed in
the Interior Region, and 1t Is Be-
# lteved That Many People Have
hi Been Victims Of the Terrific Storm
That Swept the Island
"A dispatch from Havana says the
1 island Of Cuba has probably sustain
cd the greatest material disaster In
her history in the practically contin-
nous cyclone which began with light
rains on Thursday morning, develop
ed into trrental, floods Sand ,deYasta-
ting hurricanes until Monday after
moon. The western half of the is
Hand suffered more severely than the
east.
The first cyclone Of which there
was some warning had hardly abated
ON Sunday night. when suddenly the
cyclone blasts swept over Matanzas,
4Pinar del Rio and Habana provinces.
completing the destruction wrough.
by the first storm. at nine o'clock
Monday night the rain was still fall
ing in frequent heavy gusts, hut, the
wind had abated considerably and
the sea was falling
1t is impossible even to estimate
roughly the amount OF damage that
doubles will aggregate many mil
lionH Of dollars. In addition to the
great destruction Of sugar and to-
bacco plantation. many thousands of
peasants in the western provinces
have been rendered homeless aud de-
3stitrte by the loss Of their homes
and the food crops. 1t now seems
probable that the republic may be
compelled to request international
aid for. the relief Of these sufferers
whose condition is most deplorable.
In the city Of Habana the losses will
probably exceed s1,000,000.
Few fatalities up to the present
have been reported. Three men were
drowned in the harbor but no death
from the storm occurred in the city.
It is probable, that the casualty list
in the interior will be large.
For hours during the night and
all through Monday morning Cuba
was in the grip Of a storm which
blew With great violence from the
south west and attained Its greatest
force shortly before noon. Then the
wind shifted to the west and the
sea begun to rise. the waves sweep
ing in upon the city Of Havana.
I Within an hour the pounding Of
the waters had opened breeeh in
;the Malecon sea wall. The waves
quickly increased to mountainous
height, engulfing the Malecon drive
way and flooding the handsome resi-
.dences facing thereon for distance
.of a mile.
The waters. still rising. invaded,
all the seaward part Of the city un-
til three o'clock in the afternoon.
when the section bounded by the
Malecon. the Prado and the boule-
wards Calzada de Galiano and AMI
mas were several feet under water.
The residents OF the lower floors
were driven to seek refuge on higher
aevehs, while detachments OF soldiers.
rural guards. police and firemen, as
sisted. by members Of the Red Cross
and fishermen with boats which
were dragged from the harbor. has
tened to the submerged district. aud
rescued hundred from buildings
that threatened to collapse at any
moment.
Vedado, residential suburb. was
to the full fury Of the storm.
The sea advanced some hundred
yards inland. demolishing many
:s1nall structures and probably caus-
ing loss OF life.
The rumor that the city had been
.struck by tidal wave added to the
general panic. which was allayed
shortly after three o'clock. when the
wind perceptibly abated and the wa
ter ceased to rise. The upper part
of the Prado was then filled With
throngs OF panicstricken negroes.
carrying such household effects as
they could rescue from their OWE
homes.
The Jail in front OF the Prado
was completely surrounded BY water
sand the prisoners, mad with fear.
clung to the barred windows. clam
.orously demanding to be removed
to a place OF safety. 1t was feared
stor time that tn: prisoners wonlG
break loose. but armed guards held
iNhem in check until the waters be-
gan to recede.
AL steamers in the harbor remain
S,ed at anchor. the engines WORKING
holding their ground At $50 p. NJ.
the rain ceased. but the wind re-
manned strong from the northwest.
The barometer stood al 1923 .haV-
ing risen eight-tenths OF an inch IN
two hours. giving rise to the hope
that the worst was over.
Practically all communications
Il