New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-10-18
CYCLONES SWEEP CUBA
AND FLORIDA COASTS
Enormous Damage Reported to
the Crops in the
Island.
WAVES FLOOD CAPITAL
Many Wrecks in Harbor-Few
Deaths Reported-Troops and
Police Make Rescues-
Aid May Be Asked.


has probably sustained the greatest ma
terial disaster IN all her history in the
practically continuous cyclone which
began with light rains on Thursday
morning, developed into tOrrentiaI foods
and devastating hurricanes, and contin-
ued until this evening. The western halt
OF the island suffered more severely than
the east.
The first cyclone. Of which there was
some warning. had hardly abated on Sun
day night. when suddenly the wind
which up 10 then had been southeast
changed TO southwest. and with renewed
fury the blasts swept over Natanzas
Pinar del Rio and Havana provinces
completing the destruction wrought by
the first storm.
Rumors Of the approach of a third
storm reported to be forming south of ia
maica seem to be UnfOunded- Rain was
still falling with frequent heavy gusts at
9 o'clock tonight. but the wind had
abated considerably. the sea was falling
and later the weather conditions greatly
improved
1t is impossible to estimate even
roughly the amount Of damage. which
doubtless will aggregate many millions
of dollars. In addition TO the great de-
struction 10 sugar and tobacco planta-
tons. many thousands of peasants in
the three western provinces have been
rendered homeless and destitute by the
loss of their homes and the food crops.
nd ?
seems probable that the republic may be
compelled TO request international aid
for the relief of these sufferers, whose
condition is most depIOrable.
Three Provinces Believed Safe.
While all communication with the in
terror has been cut off. there is reason TO
hope that Oriente. Camaguey and Santa
Clara have escaped the greatest fury OF
the storm. In the city Of Havana the
losses probably will exceed s1.0OO.000,
mainly due to the destruction Of the Gus
toms house sheds. which were filed with
perishabIe goods. the sinking Of scores OF
lighters. many Of them containing valu-
able cargoes which had been unIoaded
from steamers. and the submerging Of
about one square mile OF the residential
section of the city facing the sea The
flooding OF this section was caused by
the tremendous waves. which, when the
wind suddenly veered this afternoon.
we're driven with tremendous violence
over the MaIecon sea wall inundating as
well a great portion of the suburb We
dada.
Few fatalities UP TO the present have
been reported. Three men we're drowned
in the harbor. but no deaths from the
storm occurred in the city II is prob
able. however. that the casualty list in
the interior will be large.
The American Consul General. J. Linn
Rodgers. succeeded yesterday in reach
ing Artenisa. thirty-fve miles southwest
Of Havana He returned here this morn
ing and reports that the country has
been devastated by the foods.
Conditions from Artemisa 10 Cape San
Antonio, it is said. are even worse than
in the territory explored by Consul
Rodgers. All the tobacco seed beds and
barns have been destroyed The pro-
spective crop. it is asserted. will not ex-
coed 10 per cent Of normal The sugar
plantations suffered less severe loss. but
great damage has been done 20 standing
cane by the change Of wind in the second
storm.
Breach in maIeccn Sea Wall.
For hours during the night and all
through this morning Cuba was in the
grin of a storm. which blew up with
great violence from the southwest and
attained its greatest force shortly be
fore noon. Then the wind shifted To the
west and the sea began 10 rise. the
waves sweeping in upon the city Within
ar hour the pounding OF the waters had
broken a breach through the Malecon
sea wall The waves quickly increased
10 mountainous height. engulfing the
Malecon driveway and flooding the
residences facing thereon for
a distance Of a mile.
The waters. still rising. invaded all
the seward part OF the city. until
o'clock in the afternoon. when the sec
ton bounded by the MaleCon, the Prado
and the boulevards Calzada de Galiano
and Animas We're several feet under
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