The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-09-29

In chronicling the results of one
storm, comparative data of preceding
hurricanes always proves of unusual
intertst. and the following resume of
the storms of 1916 and 1906 offer a
good comparison to the present blow:
In the first STORM of 1916, which
occurred July 5, the wind reached 1O4
mills an hour at 1:35 o'clock in the
afternoon. Compared with the 1906
storm the damage of this gale was
slight, due probably to the lower tide
level attained in July, 1916, and Sep
tember, 1906. The tide in 1916 July
storm was ony four feet above nor
NAL, while in the hurricane of 1906
it reached 8 IL feet above normal.
In the July storm Of 1916 the bar
oraeter reading was lowest at 1:3O
five minutes before the highest wind
velocity was recorded, when the glass
registered 1921. In 1906 the barom
etric pressure fell to 29:17 at 5 o'clock
a. ~, more than an hour after the
highest wind velocity of S3 miles had
been attained.
In the second storm of 1916, which
occurred On October 10, the wind at
tanned record velocity for this port
the thermometer atop the weather OBJ
S6TVdCOIy IC<1ClllAS LA 1IlllCS Oil llo01
at 3:12 o'clock in the morning. The
storm was 1905. Both storms of 1916
were scheduled, and warnings issued
by the weather bureau. In October,
heavy gales were predicted from the
east-northeast, and ct 9:O5 a. m. on
the 18th, the wind was bowling from
that direction at a rate of 90 miles
on hour.
A short lull occurred. Pensacola
was in the center of the greatest hur-
ricane ever recorded in the city. At
9:12 the center had passed and the
double red flags with the square black
centers were flung to the breeze at
the weather bureau. With terrific
roar the storm blew at la miles an
hour, and the low tide in the harbor
is believed responsible for the COM
paratiyely slight damage.
Of the three storms of the past
eleven years, the one of 1906 was I'M
doubtedly the worst in point of dam
age to the city and shipping. At that
time Santa Rosa island gave way
before tn pounding of the gulf and
two cuts were made through it. one
a half mile wide, the other mile
and a quarter. Though the tide in the
harbor was high at the time, this
increased the water and caused noun
famous pillows in the bay itself.
Damage to the water front interest
was severe, and residences on the in
shore all were severely injured by
water and wind.
The ten-foot bluff which linde the
shore on the inner side of the bay,
was leveled even with the beach.
Yards were piled high with timber
not a dock was left standing. Fishing
schooners of the local companies were
severity damaged, and many was
ashore in the bay or outside. Ocean
going vessels weathered the storm in
comparative safety in the h arbor,
though some ran aground and others
foundered.
Water rose in the city to Main
street and stores on the lower Pala-
fox suffered greatly as result of
the wind and high water. Trains
could not operate, wires were down,
street cars could not run. In sections
of the city houses were overturned
and many buildings unroofed.
In the July storm of 1916, much
damage was done in the city and
waterfront, though the lower tide
than that of 1906 accounts for smallei
damage. In the first storm of last
year the electric company's car ser
vice and lighting facilities were in
terrupted when the power plant near