Norwich bulletin., 1910-10-18
Havana Front
Submerged
BIG BREACH TORN THROUGH
MALEcoN SEA WALL.
RuMoR OF A TIDAL WAVE
Added to the General Panic in the City
Caused by Hurricane Which Swepk
the Island of Cuba.

Havana. Oct. 1.-For hours during
the night and all through this morning
Cuba was in the grip of a storm which
blew up with great violence from the
southeast and attained its greatest
force shortly before noon. Then the
wind shifted to the west and the sea
began to rise the waves sweeping i'll
upon the city. Within an hour the
pounding Of the waters had broken
breach through the Malecon sea wall.
The waves quickly Increased to noun
famous heights ensuifing the main
driveway and flooding the handsome
residences facing thereon for a dis
tance of mile,
Buildings Threatened to Collapse.
The waters, still rising, invaded all
the seaward part OF the city until 8
O'Clock in the afternoon. when the sec
ton bounded by the Malacon. the Pra-
do and the Boulevatds Caizada de Gal
limo and Anirnas We're several feet un-
der water. The residents of the lower
doors we're driven to seek refuge on
higher levels. while deta chnents of
soldiers, rural guards. police and fire
men, assisted by members of the Red
Cross and fishermen with boats which
wera dragged from the harbor. hasten
ed to the submerged districts and res
cued hundreds from buildings that
threatened to collapse at any moment.
Nedado a residential suburb. was ex-
posed to the full fury of the storm. The
sea advanced some hundred yards in
land. demolisiling many small struc-
lures and probably causing loss of life.
The rulnorl that the city had been
struck by a tidal wave added to the
general panic. " ilich was all2yed short
1y after 5 o'clock. when the wind per-
ceptibly abated and the water ceased
TO rise The upper part of the, Prado
was then filled with throngs of panic
stricken negroes carrying such house
hold effects as they could rescue from
their own homes.
The jail at the foot of the Prado was
completely surrounded by water and
the prisoners, mad with fear. cllng to
the barred windows, clarnorously de-
nanding to be removed to a place of
safety. 1t was feared at the time that
the prisoners would break loose, but
armed guards held them in check With
rifles until the waters. began to recede.
Waves Topped Ramnarts of MORO
Castle.
At the height of the storm the great
waves preached clean over the ram
parts of Moro castle. They rolled with
terrific speed up the harbor. timbling
over the sea walls. inundating the
streets in fine lower parts Of the city.
carfydne away many of the small craft
along the shores and swamping many
lighters which escaped the blow during
80
the harooi, remained at anchor. the en-
gines were working and holding their
ground.
All Communications With the Interior
Were LcveIled.
At half past 3 O'Clock the rain ceased
but the wind remained strong from the
northwest The barometer stood at
1928 having risen eight-tenths of an
inch in two hours, giving rise to the
hope that the worst was over.
Practically all communications with
the interior we're Ievelled. and there
fore news concerning the effects Of the
storm in other parts Of the island is
lacking. but no doubt the damage was
enormous, especially in Havana and
Pinar del Rio provinces. The Alandres
river and other small streams in the
vicinity of this city are over their
banks. flooding the lowlands and car
rying off lluts barns and cattle. PROB
these sections.
Work of Raising the Maine Seriously
Delayed.
A barge containing all the outfit of
TIE divers working on the wreck of the
old battleship Maine was carried away
and stranded on the rocks of Moro
castle. Later the soldiers OF the fort
ress succeeded in saving part of the
apparatus. but all of the divers buoys,
stakes and other marks around the
Maine were swept away which prob
ably will seriously delay the work Of
raising the wreck.